GMT IIc: an early birthday punt...or wait?

[smurfario]

Hello fellow forum members,

I've been a lurking sort for a little while now (and a voracious thread monster to boot), and before I begin I'd like to pay homage to those of you who take the time and effort to impart their knowledge to those amongst us who are only beginning their Rolex journeys through life. It has been a fascinating and compelling read, not to say addictive. But the point of the post...

Having been window shopping and lurking like nobodies business looking for a new watch to celebrate my 30th birthday (christ, putting that in type makes it seem awfully real!) today I stumbled across an AD with a beautiful GMT IIc at list price. I went in, tried it on (along with the Sea Dweller - too chunky for my tastes - and Submariner and Submariner No Date, both lovely) and now I am in a pickle. For a start, I'm not strictly 30 until January and even if I were to buy the piece tomorrow I wouldn't wear until the big day (missus' orders!).

But, should I get it tomorrow because the chances of me seeing one at list price come January are scarce, or should I shelve the over excitement and wait because plenty will be available at list come January?

For information, along with half of Christendom I have lusted after the GV and had the pleasure of trying it on at a dealer's in London (Burlington Arcade for those who know it), but as time had gone on I've found myself drawn into the GMT, despite an initial reluctance to go down the bezel sports watch route. Still like the GV, but...

Anyway, clearly too many pints of Tribute and glasses of red has brought out the verbal diaorrhea in me, so I'll refer back to my question:

Does a man pile into a GMT IIc early for fear of not finding one come January, or does he wait? I feel the start of a collection coming on anyway, but the first step of a journey is often the hardest ;-)

Jim

[mfer]

Well, the missus doesn't understand! If you buy it now, you'll wear it now!!!!!

I did the same thing as you. I bought myself a Rolex for my 30th. The price increase was coming, so I got it a couple months early and wore it early. There is no real bad choice here. You are going to love it. The GV is still a very hard item to get right now. The IIc, not as much, but not guaranteed either way.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm, IIc shiny, mmmmmmmmmm

[SLS]

Welcome to the forum, I would buy it now....supply will be low after the holiday season. Good luck with your wife!!!
~Scott

[mfer]

Originally Posted by SLS

Welcome to the forum, I would buy it now....supply will be low after the holiday season. Good luck with your wife!!!
~Scott

Good point. Didn't think of that.

[jdc]

Welcome Jim, very eloquent first post. You were lucky to find an AD with that stock to try on
Can't advise you when to buy but when you choose make it the one that "smiles" at you most, I was not sure from your post if GMT stood out more than the LV. Good luck

[2careless]

Welcome to TRF and hope you enjoy your stay here!
I'd ask if there are payment plans so you can pay it out in stages and collect it in Xmas.
I do recall some UK members getting 10% off list price if you're a shareholder of a particular AD chain... that name escapes me at the moment...

Ed: found it here - http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=36673
Note that this is not an investment advice and for all stock trading issues please consult your financial advisor.

[shoppy]

Go for it, there are not many AD's with it in the shop front, many do have them in the safe for preferred customers. Also get you self some shares in the signet the group that owns earnest jones, and you will get 10% off card for all your purchases at any of the shops within the signet. Best of luck I had mine till I sold it and now I have the TT one. Which I am still very much in love with.

[mike]

I always think a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush. Lock it up now if you can.

[ashu2289]

[QUOTE=mike;702643]I always think a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush. Lock it up now if you can.


very well said mike

I would say go for it!!!

[gingi310]

I say buy it now AND wear it now...not to be morose, but you may not live to see your 30th birthday.

If you can afford it now and you want it now, DO IT! Life is too short to do otherwise...

[smurfario]

Originally Posted by gingi310

I say buy it now AND wear it now...not to be morose, but you may not live to see your 30th birthday.

If you can afford it now and you want it now, DO IT! Life is too short to do otherwise...

Now THAT made me laugh out loud! Wrinkled eyebrows from the (future) custodian of my early birthday present, but I didn't bother to explain. Thanks for all the comments. Earliest I'd get back to the AD is Monday - if it's in, I'll buy it; if not, c'est la vie and I'll wait. It's not an Ernest Jones sadly, so no discount for me beyond throwing in my customary wit, repartee and patent pending one-raised-eyebrow charming 'English gentlemen' routine. Still, that's some interesting info for future reference.

J

[taylor]

now, now, now

but I do have ADHD, so you may not want to take my advice

[MikeV]

Don't know about the UK but in the US, the GMT IIc is becoming more readily available so I don't think you'll have a hard time finding one if you wait. If they don't have one in stock and you do have to wait, it shouldn't be a long wait..maybe a couple of weeks (it's not a rare watch like the GV). My viewpoint is what's the point of buying it now if you're not going to wear it. And if you do buy it now, i seriously doubt that you will wait until the end of the year. The advantage of buying it now is that if there is a price increase towards the end of the year (btw no one knows when there will be a price increase so don't let this sway your decision) you get it cheaper. The advantage of waiting is that as it becomes more available you may be able to get a small discount 5% or so. The disadvantage of getting it now is that on your birthday you won't have that..."its my b-day and I get my watch" feeling.

[mickeydainish]

sounds like you have had some good advice on this thread, smurf..... Let us know what you decide!:-)

[harvey]

if you need one sourcing from ernest jones let me know... ive bought a couple of watches from them... they can normally get me one within 2 weeks to see.

10% off is a good deal from ernest jones... saying youre a shareholder. plus they will give you 12months interest free credit which is a bonus. buying now will ensure you will have one for your birthday... and beat any potential price increase...

alternatively buy from watches of switzerland with 20% down... and the rest over 24 months... no discount though...

hope this helps some... any queries re the shares for ernest jones... pm me... ive helped a few forum members out...

[toph]

great choice! i love my GMT IIC-
welcome to TRF

[Atlanta]

Buy it! I just bought mine two weeks ago for my 30th birthday present to myself - just have the misses store it away for you until the big day.

[MichDui]

Get it now!!!!

I love mine, can't wear it enough.

[Perdu]

It's not your birthday yet, is it?

[MrCowboy99]

Buy it!

[Z-Sub]

Get it now. You just don't know the availability in a few months and possbility of price increase is always possible

[pwrslider]

I have yet to actually see one at an AD! In fact..when I wear mine in....they start drooling! I'd say GET IT!!!

[smurfario]

Hmm. Been looking into that Ernest Jones discount and it would seem that for an outlay of perhaps £20 max (Signet Group shares are going at circa 60p, so one of those, plus the online trading fees of £10 - £15) gets you a saving of hundreds of pounds. Nice work! It's amazing more people don't do this - though perhaps they do and I don't know about it.

And Harvey.eu, thank you for your offer. I will be in touch! J

[harvey]

i bought 100 shares at 60p each in march sometime. paid about £13 trading fee, a few pence in duty... i then saved 10% of £3300 (seadweller). the shares are still trading about that price now.

be warned i would do this sooner rather than later cause i had a letterstating that the shares are being transferred to the new york stock exchange... i dont know if in future the 10% card would be valid or not.

[Bruce-YVR]

Originally Posted by smurfario

Hello fellow forum members,

I've been a lurking sort for a little while now (and a voracious thread monster to boot), and before I begin I'd like to pay homage to those of you who take the time and effort to impart their knowledge to those amongst us who are only beginning their Rolex journeys through life. It has been a fascinating and compelling read, not to say addictive. But the point of the post...

Having been window shopping and lurking like nobodies business looking for a new watch to celebrate my 30th birthday (christ, putting that in type makes it seem awfully real!) today I stumbled across an AD with a beautiful GMT IIc at list price. I went in, tried it on (along with the Sea Dweller - too chunky for my tastes - and Submariner and Submariner No Date, both lovely) and now I am in a pickle. For a start, I'm not strictly 30 until January and even if I were to buy the piece tomorrow I wouldn't wear until the big day (missus' orders!).

But, should I get it tomorrow because the chances of me seeing one at list price come January are scarce, or should I shelve the over excitement and wait because plenty will be available at list come January?

For information, along with half of Christendom I have lusted after the GV and had the pleasure of trying it on at a dealer's in London (Burlington Arcade for those who know it), but as time had gone on I've found myself drawn into the GMT, despite an initial reluctance to go down the bezel sports watch route. Still like the GV, but...

Anyway, clearly too many pints of Tribute and glasses of red has brought out the verbal diaorrhea in me, so I'll refer back to my question:

Does a man pile into a GMT IIc early for fear of not finding one come January, or does he wait? I feel the start of a collection coming on anyway, but the first step of a journey is often the hardest ;-)

Jim

Everyday is my birthday... like I said to my wife [ mother of 3 ]... everyday is our anniversary!!! and she knows it... I dont buy her stuff just because its her b-day or anniversary etc. I buy her stuff/ gifts... Just because I love her :-) and that is 24/7/365 [ the same goes for myself... I LOVE myself ha ha ha ha ha ]

[Chris B]

Originally Posted by Bruce-YVR

Everyday is my birthday... like I said to my wife [ mother of 3 ]... everyday is our anniversary!!! and she knows it... I dont buy her stuff just because its her b-day or anniversary etc. I buy her stuff/ gifts... Just because I love her :-) and that is 24/7/365 [ the same goes for myself... I LOVE myself ha ha ha ha ha ]

Well said

Beautiful pic, you're so blessed

[Chris B]

If you get it (which you should) please wear it straight away, you're over 21, don't deny yourself anything

[JG99]

Go for it - you won't be disappointed. I'm some months into ownership now, and the novelty simply doesn't wear off!

Plus I keep getting compliments on the watch, which is nice :)

I think they are still quite hard to get hold of in the UK - I've not seen any in any dealers' windows on my travels....