Ranking the hardest to get Rolexes: Did I get it right?

[Hulkhunter]

Originally Posted by JRell

Was much easier for me to get my sub LV vs the BLNR, so I do agree.

We all have different experiences so probably pointless arguing about it.

Took me 2 years to get a LV sub. Before that got the Pepsi in 6 months and the BLNR without asking.

Timing has a lot to do with it.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Coincidentally there is nothing on that list I want except the two Explorers which I already have and only took a few months each from my AD. If anyone is finding these watches hard to acquire I am not your competition.

[BogdanS]

Originally Posted by Djoker48

Non-precious metal only

1. Titanium Yachtmaster 42
2. Daytona White
3. Daytona Black
4. Pepsi
5. Skydweller Green
6. Skydweller Blue
7. Sprite
8. OP Celebration Dial
9. Batman / Girl
10. Bruce Wayne
11. Green Submariner
12. Submariner No Date
13. Submariner Date
14. White / Black Skydweller
15. Explorer 2
16. Explorer 1
17. Air King

Wtf is Bruce Wayne? I’m getting rusty.


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[cdmorenot]

I can’t comment on the whole list but based on my conversations with my AD which so far they have proven to be trustworthy, the blue/red is the hardest watch to get above all.

They have not seen a single blue/red GMT come into their inventory in over 18 months. During those same 18 months they have gotten 4 Ti YM, 3 White Dial Daytona and a handful of Sky Ds.


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[cdmorenot]

Originally Posted by BogdanS

Wtf is Bruce Wayne? I’m getting rusty.


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Some rich dude from Gotham.


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[fly4food84]

Originally Posted by cdmorenot

I can’t comment on the whole list but based on my conversations with my AD which so far they have proven to be trustworthy, the blue/red is the hardest watch to get above all.

They have not seen a single blue/red GMT come into their inventory in over 18 months. During those same 18 months they have gotten 4 Ti YM, 3 White Dial Daytona and a handful of Sky Ds.


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Any mention of black dial Daytonas? I feel like there’s more white ones available for the new ref.

[dmash]

Originally Posted by fly4food84

Any mention of black dial Daytonas? I feel like there’s more white ones available for the new ref.

I don’t get the white hype, love white dial on dress watches, perpetual calendars, other stuff. But I think chrono is best on black. Especially with the 126500, black is amazing. Lemans aside, best Daytona in years.

[Mystro]

Way too subjective but history will confirm the white ss Daytona will always be the tip of the spear in how AD’s guard it and use it as a reward to their very be$t customers. Significantly more desirable than anything on the list with long term duration supporting its #1 position.

[fly4food84]

Originally Posted by Mystro

Way too subjective but history will confirm the white ss Daytona will always be the tip of the spear in how AD’s guard it and use it as a reward to their very be$t customers. Significantly more desirable than anything on the list with long term duration supporting its #1 position.

I mostly agree I had the 116500 in both white and black and each had their time and place in my collection. However in the new reference I still like both but the black really pops this time around. I feel like the black is the one to get now and there’s less of them available on every gray website.

[BlondesNwatches]

I love seeing these lists. I would put the OP Celebration as 1 or 2. Any AD is not getting many of those. I would put the Pepsi just behind a white dial Daytona. I would add right near the Green Skydweller the OP36 Tiffany and close by the OP36 Pink.
I don’t think many dealers get too many steel skydwellers in general, so I would move up white and black near the Batman. I would move the sprite below the Bruce Wayne.

[123Blueface]

Originally Posted by garyk

Green dial YG Daytona was near impossible to get unless you were incredibly lucky or one of those special AD relationship VIPs that Padi mentioned.

I was offered one and turned it down. Had recently bought a DD40 and could not do another PM.

[BNA/LION]

All depends on what your AD gets and your relationship with them.

[SudiYunus]

Originally Posted by dmash

strongly disagree and grey market does too. I can buy a green sub for $14k easy today. Gmt 17-22k. Not even close actually.

+1

[Trice9]

Where would YM 40 slate fit rank? Thanks.

[fly4food84]

Originally Posted by dmash

I don’t get the white hype, love white dial on dress watches, perpetual calendars, other stuff. But I think chrono is best on black. Especially with the 126500, black is amazing. Lemans aside, best Daytona in years.

It took me a while to realize this, but I agree.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Originally Posted by dmash

I don’t get the white hype, love white dial on dress watches, perpetual calendars, other stuff. But I think chrono is best on black. Especially with the 126500, black is amazing. Lemans aside, best Daytona in years.

Agreed, and I feel the same way about the Explorer II as well.

[sambb]

i dont think the daytona is that hard to get if you are the right customer, and if they dont sell them out the back door to grays... i havent found it too hard ,,, but OP celebration is very hard to get in the 40

[SLWoodster]

Agree, going to expand.

In my experience, none of the stainless modern sports watches are rare in absolute numbers. I see modern Pepsis, GMTs, subs, stainless daytonas more often than G Shocks.

I don't think modern Rolex is rare in absolute numbers unless you go off catalog. But Rolex's market penetration is so deep. It's polled that 80% of the public US knows Rolex as a brand.

Originally Posted by Kinnakeet

I see several SS Daytonas most times I go to the mall or Disney. My husband was wearing one once in a meeting and there was 2 others wearing one. Saw a guy last week wearing one in David SW. Many subs. Green subs. See the new GMT’s often. Saw a blue sky dweller recently. But I have only seen 3 other exp 2’s in the wild other than a friend that has one. My AD said he rarely gets them in. I my experience steel Daytonas are not at all rare.

[TheDon2000]

When discussing "hard to get" it's important to understand WHY it's hard to get.

Reason 1: Some models are hard to get because there's low production and low demand (from a mass-Rolex market perspective). For example, firsthand experience with my AD-owning friend, the Yachtmaster 40 with blue dial. Didn't even see one for over two years. Reason 1 models you can get but you'll have to wait; the grey market premium usually isn't THAT high but you'll still wait a long time from an AD. I believe this option would include the Explorer range, potentially Sea-Dweller/Deep Sea as well.

Reason 2: Some models have high production (relatively speaking) and high demand. This would be the BLNR, 126 Daytonas (both white and black) etc. These are pieces that ARE able to be bought from AD's with the right relationship. The path is clear too; either spend a lot or know the right people. You will get one.

Reason 3: Some models have low production and high demand. These are the ultra-ultra hard to get pieces. This would be the Pepsi, Ti YM, most with meteorite dials, John Mayer's, etc. These pieces are murder on the grey market AND hard to get from an AD even with high spend and good relationships.

If you gave a reason for every watch on that list, I'd think it'd go something like this:

1. Titanium Yachtmaster 42 - Reason 3
2. Daytona White - Reason 2
3. Daytona Black - Reason 2
4. Pepsi - Reason 3
5. Skydweller Green - Reason 3
6. Skydweller Blue - Reason 3
7. Sprite - Reason 1
8. OP Celebration Dial - Reason 1
9. Batman / Girl - Tough one, probably reason 2
10. Bruce Wayne - Reason 1 or 3 depending on demand
11. Green Submariner - Reason 2
12. Submariner No Date - Reason 2
13. Submariner Date - Reason 2
14. White / Black Skydweller - Reason 1 or not hard
15. Explorer 2 - Not that hard, reason 1
16. Explorer 1 - Not that hard, reason 1
17. Air King - Not that hard, reason 1

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by TheDon2000

When discussing "hard to get" it's important to understand WHY it's hard to get.

Reason 1: Some models are hard to get because there's low production and low demand (from a mass-Rolex market perspective). For example, firsthand experience with my AD-owning friend, the Yachtmaster 40 with blue dial. Didn't even see one for over two years. Reason 1 models you can get but you'll have to wait; the grey market premium usually isn't THAT high but you'll still wait a long time from an AD. I believe this option would include the Explorer range, potentially Sea-Dweller/Deep Sea as well.

Reason 2: Some models have high production (relatively speaking) and high demand. This would be the BLNR, 126 Daytonas (both white and black) etc. These are pieces that ARE able to be bought from AD's with the right relationship. The path is clear too; either spend a lot or know the right people. You will get one.

Reason 3: Some models have low production and high demand. These are the ultra-ultra hard to get pieces. This would be the Pepsi, Ti YM, most with meteorite dials, John Mayer's, etc. These pieces are murder on the grey market AND hard to get from an AD even with high spend and good relationships.

If you gave a reason for every watch on that list, I'd think it'd go something like this:

1. Titanium Yachtmaster 42 - Reason 3
2. Daytona White - Reason 2
3. Daytona Black - Reason 2
4. Pepsi - Reason 3
5. Skydweller Green - Reason 3
6. Skydweller Blue - Reason 3
7. Sprite - Reason 1
8. OP Celebration Dial - Reason 1
9. Batman / Girl - Tough one, probably reason 2
10. Bruce Wayne - Reason 1 or 3 depending on demand
11. Green Submariner - Reason 2
12. Submariner No Date - Reason 2
13. Submariner Date - Reason 2
14. White / Black Skydweller - Reason 1 or not hard
15. Explorer 2 - Not that hard, reason 1
16. Explorer 1 - Not that hard, reason 1
17. Air King - Not that hard, reason 1

BLRO and BLNR are the same watch and with the same production numbers. Where this gets in the woods is when both watches became available with two bracelet options. It is speculated that both BLNR and BLRO production is cut in half to split their numbers to each bracelet variant.

The Daytona has a less production number than the GMT for a few reasons one is simply because of its complex movement and how many are made in a different department than the workhorse movement in the GMT line.

[TheDon2000]

Originally Posted by Mystro

BLRO and BLNR are the same watch and with the same production numbers. Where this gets in the woods is when both watches became available with two bracelet options. It is speculated that both BLNR and BLRO production is cut in half to split their numbers to each bracelet variant.

Maybe so. I don't know model specific production numbers. Just my off the cuff opinion.

I just heard that BLRO has always been lower due to QC of the bezel. Move the BLNR to reason 3 if what you say is true.

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by TheDon2000

Maybe so. I don't know model specific production numbers. Just my off the cuff opinion.

I just heard that BLRO has always been lower due to QC of the bezel. Move the BLNR to reason 3 if what you say is true.

That theory of the BLRO bezel production difficulties has not been proven other than a drop off for a 6 week period last fall. We do know the red/blue combo and the additional heat to make the hue can be more brittle but no one has substantiated a production difficulty. When BLRO models showed up in Jan of 2024, there wasn’t any noticeable changes in its hue so the theory of any Rolex changing the ceramic formula has faded without any 2024 changes in its hue the rest of the year. Rolex may have been putting more production efforts at that time for the new titanium YM?? No one really knows but it is common for Rolex to produce and release models in batches and then they dry up for a few months to half year before the next production is released again.
The final fly in the production problem is when Rolex releases a batch of a particular hot model, we don’t know if particular AD’s might hoard them away or set them aside to gradually sell them to select customers??? Some AD’s like to tell all kinds of stories from not getting one particular hot model in over a year or more…..? In the end all we can do is speculate and let years of history give us an idea of how hard some models are to get over another since AD’s are ultimately the gatekeeper in the end even over production numbers.

We long time forum WIS rats tend to notice trends year after year of incoming threads and grey market pricing to give somewhat of an educational guess.

[rockysw]

Originally Posted by BlondesNwatches

I love seeing these lists. I would put the OP Celebration as 1 or 2. Any AD is not getting many of those. I would put the Pepsi just behind a white dial Daytona. I would add right near the Green Skydweller the OP36 Tiffany and close by the OP36 Pink.
I don’t think many dealers get too many steel skydwellers in general, so I would move up white and black near the Batman. I would move the sprite below the Bruce Wayne.

I would agree with this. I think daytona white is still hardest steel watch to get. OP celebration is perhaps equally harder but less people expressing interest on the list I think.

Re Ti YM discussion, I have been bit surprised about the extent of its drop in preowned price (it is now below daytona). So I agree with most people when they say this will become perhaps a bit less sought after in some time.

[Potawatomi]

Bruce Wayne is impossible to get because there is no such rolex. Bruce Wayne wore a reverso. Nice try on that one though.

[dmash]

Originally Posted by rockysw

I would agree with this. I think daytona white is still hardest steel watch to get. OP celebration is perhaps equally harder but less people expressing interest on the list I think.

Re Ti YM discussion, I have been bit surprised about the extent of its drop in preowned price (it is now below daytona). So I agree with most people when they say this will become perhaps a bit less sought after in some time.

Honestly I don’t even think the celebration has *that* many buyers, it’s such a quirky dial. It just gets produced in such low numbers so it’s value on the secondary is sky high.

The Tiffany on the other hand seriously is a beautiful piece. Hated the price I had to pay, but it looks amazing on my wife. 10/10 would do again.