Rolex in Istanbul

[Waldorf369]

Hi everyone,

Yes the Rolex situation is pretty dire worldwide, but anyone knows how is it like in Istanbul if I'm looking at SS DJs or OPs / if there is a particular AD that is better? Looking to visit in December.

Thanks!

[seabreeze60]

Don’t think you want to walk around with a gold Daytona

[Waldorf369]

Originally Posted by seabreeze60

Don’t think you want to walk around with a gold Daytona

Haha I wouldn't! But diddn't know Istanbul is unsafe...

[arcadelt]

Originally Posted by seabreeze60

Don’t think you want to walk around with a gold Daytona

Why not? Turkey can at times be safer than the USA, UK and other western countries.

[Chewbacca]

Great bathhouses there.

[joeboy]

Originally Posted by Waldorf369

Hi everyone,

Yes the Rolex situation is pretty dire worldwide, but anyone knows how is it like in Istanbul if I'm looking at SS DJs or OPs / if there is a particular AD that is better? Looking to visit in December.

Thanks!

Can't help on the Rolex but can suggest Hagia Sofia, Sultanahmet area to stay in, grand bazzar and don't miss out on the cisterns over beside Sofia. My personal fave was the museum of antiquities in Topkapi palace. Istanbul rocks and is safe. Wear what you want.

[2001jesper]

Was there roughly 2 years ago and the place was empty. Cant imagine its better now. Prices in EUR to avoid the volatile local currency

[sagalassos]

Originally Posted by Waldorf369

Hi everyone,

Yes the Rolex situation is pretty dire worldwide, but anyone knows how is it like in Istanbul if I'm looking at SS DJs or OPs / if there is a particular AD that is better? Looking to visit in December.

Thanks!

Hey there, Rhodium (in Nisantasi area) is the Rolex AD in istanbul. They have a couple of branches around city.
As for the security, istanbul is one of the safest cities among big EU cities.
Hope you get what you want. Have fun.

[jcdevoe26]

I just came from living in Ankara for 3 years, all the Rolex boutiques in each city including Ankara, are owned by one company. I was able to purchase my 214270 Mk2 and YM 40 TT from there, but I had residency....much like most of the countries I have lived in, most places are now requiring proof of residency before putting you on any lists for SS models....I was just in Ankara last month and they had maybe 3 watches in the store, Istanbul has display models. hope that helps.

[Aquinas]

Since there have been quite a few questions like that - my wife worked at a gray dealer here in Germany between 2015 and 2018. Back then, before Christmas, the employees routinely flew to Greece and other crisis-hit countries with briefcases full of cash and bought their stock in order to provide those lovely lovely discounts to German customers (and a lovely margin to the dealer).
That was back when Submariners were nothing to be spoken of only in hushed tones, but plain entry-level luxury watches. So you can imagine how the situation is now.

[jcdevoe26]

Originally Posted by sagalassos

Hey there, Rhodium (in Nisantasi area) is the Rolex AD in istanbul. They have a couple of branches around city.
As for the security, istanbul is one of the safest cities among big EU cities.
Hope you get what you want. Have fun.

Ah yea the rolex in Nisantasi is nice and that whole area is nice, we stayed at the St. Regis on our last trip to Istanbul and it was amazing. I forgot that Rhodium owns a few rolex boutiques in Istanbul and Antalya, the other one is Ugur-Saat....they own 3/4 locations in Ankara.

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by Waldorf369

Hi everyone,

Yes the Rolex situation is pretty dire worldwide, but anyone knows how is it like in Istanbul if I'm looking at SS DJs or OPs / if there is a particular AD that is better? Looking to visit in December.

Thanks!

Not much chance it’ll be different to anywhere else in the world.

[Waldorf369]

Originally Posted by joeboy

Can't help on the Rolex but can suggest Hagia Sofia, Sultanahmet area to stay in, grand bazzar and don't miss out on the cisterns over beside Sofia. My personal fave was the museum of antiquities in Topkapi palace. Istanbul rocks and is safe. Wear what you want.

Thanks! Hopefully Winter in Istanbul will make it slightly different!

Originally Posted by 2001jesper

Was there roughly 2 years ago and the place was empty. Cant imagine its better now. Prices in EUR to avoid the volatile local currency

Thanks. Do you know how does the prices compare to UK/Europe then?

Do you also know if that's the case for luxury goods / watches / handbags in general where it's all in Euros?

Originally Posted by sagalassos

Hey there, Rhodium (in Nisantasi area) is the Rolex AD in istanbul. They have a couple of branches around city.
As for the security, istanbul is one of the safest cities among big EU cities.
Hope you get what you want. Have fun.

Thanks, yes seems like it when I was Google-ing. And I guess chain stores might make it harder to get anything vs independent ADs. Wonder if they do bundling if you buy other brands like JLC...

[jaySL350]

Originally Posted by Waldorf369

Thanks! Hopefully Winter in Istanbul will make it slightly different!



Thanks. Do you know how does the prices compare to UK/Europe then?

Do you also know if that's the case for luxury goods / watches / handbags in general where it's all in Euros?



Thanks, yes seems like it when I was Google-ing. And I guess chain stores might make it harder to get anything vs independent ADs. Wonder if they do bundling if you buy other brands like JLC...

Not sure about the Luxury goods but a steak at Salt Baes restaurant in Istanbul is under a third of the price when compared to his London restaurant,,,,
Gold leaf Burger anyone? lol,,

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by Waldorf369

Hi everyone,

Yes the Rolex situation is pretty dire worldwide, but anyone knows how is it like in Istanbul if I'm looking at SS DJs or OPs / if there is a particular AD that is better? Looking to visit in December.

Thanks!

Given what is happening with the Turkish Lira, buying jewelry is the least of the problems

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle...te-2021-11-23/

[Tomas Eriksson]

Was in istanbul a few weeks back. AD's are as dry as everywhere else.

On safety I felt safe in Istanbul, of course be vary of pickpocketing like in every crowded city... I haven't been to a place where I came across so many fake watches and handbags which means you see gold "rolexes" and LW handbags everywhere :P

[RolexBHR]

Originally Posted by Waldorf369

Hi everyone,

Yes the Rolex situation is pretty dire worldwide, but anyone knows how is it like in Istanbul if I'm looking at SS DJs or OPs / if there is a particular AD that is better? Looking to visit in December.

Thanks!

I was there 3 weeks ago, they had nothing. If your flying out of Ataturk airport, I would recommend going a bit early, they have a nice Duty free. The Duty free has a Omega boutique which is outstanding and has almost all the watches in stock except for Snoopy and 321 of course. There is a boutique that carries, Tag, Panerai, JLC and GP as well. GP was 30% off and Duty off as well, very good deal. Also a Bulgari boutique.

[jcapulet786]

Cases are full, Daytonas out of the whazoo.

[Omarion07]

I was in Istanbul back in September and Rhodium, one of the biggest Rolex AD/boutique chain had only display models that are not for sale. Forget about OPs, but they didn’t even have any DJs in any size. I’ve visited boutiques on Baghdad street and Akasia mall on the Asian side and Nişantaşı are on the European side. The situation over there is more dire than in Europe.


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[Waldorf369]

Originally Posted by Omarion07

I was in Istanbul back in September and Rhodium, one of the biggest Rolex AD/boutique chain had only display models that are not for sale. Forget about OPs, but they didn’t even have any DJs in any size. I’ve visited boutiques on Baghdad street and Akasia mall on the Asian side and Nişantaşı are on the European side. The situation over there is more dire than in Europe.


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So...a store of display models? No DJs in any size...jeez...

[GMT Aviator]

I work out of Istanbul. AD’s there same as rest of world. There’s nothing.

[eskiserkan]

Reporting from Istanbul, not a chance…

[cerendigit]

Do you think an AD would be willing to sell a watch to a tourist that has about zero chances of coming back to spend more money?

I doubt it.


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[TunaTuna]

The Rolex bug hasn't hit Istanbul yet, it will probably take another year or two before the Turks wear watches. Hurry up and buy all that you can there