116719 BLRO white gold GMT discontinued

[Lifeisarolliecoaster]

Just as the title suggests in the UK an AD has informed me that the Rolex 116719 BLRO white gold GMT had been discontinued. Probably a good thing as my wife I’m sure wouldn’t hit the roof if I asked her to join me on a purchase!

[JacksonStone]

That has been confirmed for months.

[Lifeisarolliecoaster]

I’m behind the curve :( I should have joined this forum sooner. Can only assume it’s still on the Rolex site so that the remaining inventory worldwide can be sold... wonder if there is any left anywhere

[Jim Smyth]

The search feature works great no matter how long you have been here. Welcome to the community.

[Duey]

It has been speculated for months but we'll find out for sure in a couple of days

[RTG]

Originally Posted by Lifeisarolliecoaster

Just as the title suggests in the UK an AD has informed me that the Rolex 116719 BLRO white gold GMT had been discontinued. Probably a good thing as my wife I’m sure wouldn’t hit the roof if I asked her to join me on a purchase!

You may have another chance. Could be updated with the newer movement...We'll know this week if they make a 126719blro

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by Lifeisarolliecoaster

I’m behind the curve :( I should have joined this forum sooner. Can only assume it’s still on the Rolex site so that the remaining inventory worldwide can be sold... wonder if there is any left anywhere

Members have hunted unsuccessfully. There were very few blue dials released. When word of the disco got out, it became clear this was one of the shortest Rolex runs ever, which I suspect led to remaining stock getting snapped up. It's only on the website now because Rolex doesn't like to show changes in the lineup prior to Basel. It should be gone come Wednesday.

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by RTG

You may have another chance. Could be updated with the newer movement...We'll know this week if they make a 126719blro

Possible, but doubtful. The black-dial WG BLRO was a slow-mover before the SS Pepsi came out. Sales fell off a cliff once the SS version came out. There isn't much incentive for Rolex to reintroduce it. Besides which, it was discontinued last fall. Discos in anticipation of an update or replacement usually happen in January or February.

[1665fan]

Did Rolex ever offer to swap the black dial for the blue? I thought I read a post awhile back mentioning of that service.

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by 1665fan

Did Rolex ever offer to swap the black dial for the blue? I thought I read a post awhile back mentioning of that service.

Yes. People have had varying degrees of success actually doing it, though.

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by 1665fan

Did Rolex ever offer to swap the black dial for the blue? I thought I read a post awhile back mentioning of that service.

Yes they did and one or two of our members did just that.

[RTG]

Originally Posted by JacksonStone

Possible, but doubtful. The black-dial WG BLRO was a slow-mover before the SS Pepsi came out. Sales fell off a cliff once the SS version came out. There isn't much incentive for Rolex to reintroduce it. Besides which, it was discontinued last fall. Discos in anticipation of an update or replacement usually happen in January or February.

You're correct on all points. I'm eager to see how the GMT line will shake out.

[Lifeisarolliecoaster]

With a black dial and the Oyster bracelet (oh wait the ‘slightly’ higher price) there was not much to differentiate the WG from the SS. The later model with the blue dial gave it a subtle yet noticeable feature

[Calatrava r]

Pure speculation until the formal announcements this week. ADs know nothing more than anybody else. They have no idea what inventory they will receive. Rolex corporate dos not leak anything to an AD. The fact a watch cannot be ordered today does not mean it will not be available once more stock is received from the factory to the regional Rolex importer.

[exador]

Originally Posted by Lifeisarolliecoaster

I’m behind the curve :( I should have joined this forum sooner. Can only assume it’s still on the Rolex site so that the remaining inventory worldwide can be sold... wonder if there is any left anywhere

There are 53 available on Chrono24.

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

Pure speculation until the formal announcements this week. ADs know nothing more than anybody else. They have no idea what inventory they will receive. Rolex corporate dos not leak anything to an AD. The fact a watch cannot be ordered today does not mean it will not be available once more stock is received from the factory to the regional Rolex importer.

The then-president of Rolex Canada (who is now the president of Rolex USA) confirmed to one of our members last November that it is no longer available. This isn't just an AD-based rumor.

Also, while you're right that ADs don't know what inventory they will receive, they DO know when they cannot order something, as well as when they are instructed by their reps to note an item has been discontinued. It's the only AD-based information that has any degree of reliability. When we get enough of those kinds of reports from enough different ADs, it's a pretty solid bet the model has been discontinued. We've seen this happen twice in the last two years with the SD4K and the black-dial WG BLRO.

Posted on November 7, 2018:

Originally Posted by Craigdwh

I attended a Rolex Boutique grand opening tonight. The President of Rolex Canada was present. Him and I had a nice chat. He noticed my WG BLRO, and commented that is an extremely rare piece and I should feel pretty good about owning it. I asked him, is the blue dial WG BLRO discontinued? He said, "it cannot be ordered anymore. It's still on the website to assist in selling for any dealers that still hold inventory". So, I'll take that as confirmation it's discontinued.

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by exador

There are 53 available on Chrono24.

Not with the blue dial. I counted five doing a cursory search, and they're all listing for over $50k. Knock yourself out.

[lee fowler]

Seen a Blue dial today for sale in the UK at £38K!

[Lifeisarolliecoaster]

Originally Posted by JacksonStone

The then-president of Rolex Canada (who is now the president of Rolex USA) confirmed to one of our members last November that it is no longer available. This isn't just an AD-based rumor.

Also, while you're right that ADs don't know what inventory they will receive, they DO know when they cannot order something, as well as when they are instructed by their reps to note an item has been discontinued. It's the only AD-based information that has any degree of reliability. When we get enough of those kinds of reports from enough different ADs, it's a pretty solid bet the model has been discontinued. We've seen this happen twice in the last two years with the SD4K and the black-dial WG BLRO.

Posted on November 7, 2018:

A second UK based AD has also said it cannot be ordered anymore..anyway Roll on Baselworld!

[ap1]

It will be back with new movement and/or Coke bez

[jonnyz1245]

Originally Posted by ap1

It will be back with new movement and/or Coke bez

And you're basing this on what? If it's back with a Coke bezel, thats really not the same watch is it?

[Craigdwh]

Originally Posted by ap1

It will be back with new movement and/or Coke bez

Coke bezel would be awesome and that has been my hypothesis for months now!

I'll buy it in a heartbeat if they release a WG Coke bezel.

[ap1]

Originally Posted by jonnyz1245

And you're basing this on what? If it's back with a Coke bezel, thats really not the same watch is it?

I’m guessing like the rest of us of course. But makes sense to me. Why have like a 3 month run.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by ap1

Why have like a 3 month run.

Yes, because if there's a Coke replacement, then the run of the blue Pepsi will have been longer.

[jonnyz1245]

Originally Posted by ap1

I’m guessing like the rest of us of course. But makes sense to me. Why have like a 3 month run.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Why not keep producing it? why kill it after 3 months? Its not like they didn't have the bezels(SS Pepsi), movements(BLNR and the other pm models as well as LN), bracelets(wg Daytona and sub) cases etc. People are trying to order a 40K watch in various countries and all are being told no. sounds like a poor business decision from a profit stand point No need to kill it if their intent is to reissue with new movement. They would just simply transition it to the new movement at Basel.

[ap1]

Originally Posted by jonnyz1245

Why not keep producing it? why kill it after 3 months? Its not like they didn't have the bezels(SS Pepsi), movements(BLNR and the other pm models as well as LN), bracelets(wg Daytona and sub) cases etc. People are trying to order a 40K watch in various countries and all are being told no. sounds like a poor business decision from a profit stand point No need to kill it if their intent is to reissue with new movement. They would just simply transition it to the new movement at Basel.

Yeah man - that’s what I said and think they’ll do. Guess I wasn’t clear. Burning through some wg cases was not the reason IMHO


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jonnyz1245]

Originally Posted by ap1

Yeah man - that’s what I said and think they’ll do. Guess I wasn’t clear. Burning through some wg cases was not the reason IMHO


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'll be shocked if they reissue with the new movement. It sold like crap to begin with. It makes the most sense that they did the blue to differentiate the existing stock. AD's were asked to send back the blacks left over in inventory and have the dial swapped. Once those were all sold, they killed it and even though they could have still filled incoming orders as they had all the pieces to make and sell a highly profitable piece, they chose not to. Doubt we ever see a wg Pepsi again but I could be wrong.

[ap1]

Originally Posted by jonnyz1245

I'll be shocked if they reissue with the new movement. It sold like crap to begin with. It makes the most sense that they did the blue to differentiate the existing stock. AD's were asked to send back the blacks left over in inventory and have the dial swapped. Once those were all sold, they killed it and even though they could have still filled incoming orders as they had all the pieces to make and sell a highly profitable piece, they chose not to. Doubt we ever see a wg Pepsi again but I could be wrong.

Someone will be right Wednesday. I would have purchase that blue dial piece. Didn’t have the opportunity


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[RTG]

Originally Posted by jonnyz1245

Why not keep producing it? why kill it after 3 months?

I don't know what quantity of WG cases, bezels, dials they have to make in order to be cost effective. Perhaps the demand of the new blue dial white gold pepsi at $36750 did not warrant another run of 500 or 1000 cases, dials, etc.

Rolex isn't stupid. They literally print money. I imagine it made good sense for them at the time.

[jonnyz1245]

Originally Posted by RTG

I don't know what quantity of WG cases, bezels, dials they have to make in order to be cost effective. Perhaps the demand of the new blue dial white gold pepsi at $36750 did not warrant another run of 500 or 1000 cases, dials, etc.

Rolex isn't stupid. They literally print money. I imagine it made good sense for them at the time.

I completely agree. Rolex knows exactly what they are doing. I think they released the blue dial because they had to differentiate it from then newly released SS. They took an already slow seller and found a way to clear inventory and give some current owners an option to swap until they blew through the blue dials. Once they blew through them, they stopped making it. and I agree that demand of the blue dial didn't probably didn't warrant a run of 500 or 1000 new whatever parts they needed which is why I don't believe they will reissue it. They could have easily filled 50-100 orders as they have every part available to them in the parts bin but they didn't.

The only point I am trying to make is they won't bring it back. If their intent was to keep it in the rotation with an updated movement they would not have told AD's worldwide to tell customers that its been discontinued and they can't order one because they clearly could have kept producing it this whole time. They already have all the parts being produced in other references.