Where do I go from here? Blue Dial Royal Oak Chronograph

[hussain]

Hello fellow watch enthusiasts!

I find myself in a bit of a predicament and thought this would be the perfect place to seek some advice and insights. My ultimate goal has always been to add a blue dial Royal Oak chronograph to my collection. However, after acquiring four incredible pieces, including two Royal Oaks (one of them being a gold piece) and two Offshores, I recently received disheartening news. The only AP boutique in my country is closing down.

Now, I'm left wondering about the possibilities of acquiring the steel blue dial Royal Oak chronograph at retail. Has anyone gone through a similar experience? I'm particularly interested to know if visiting a boutique in another country would acknowledge my history as a collector and potentially offer any assistance. Or, am I facing a lost cause?

I greatly appreciate any insights or advice.

[Armis]

Since your four pieces were purchased at the boutique, then they must be registered and listed under your name in your online AP profile. Have you logged into your record on the AP site?
Any boutique can see those pieces if they check your name/record and therefore confirm you as a client. Then just explain to them the circumstances.
I expect other forum members have switched boutiques and can tell you if you can pick up where you left off. I hope the boutique does do that.
Good luck!

[AEV]

Is it AP owned boutique, or a reseller / AD ?
I am surprised AP owned boutique will exit a market without further continuity of the business? Except for Russia/Ukraine but that is a whole different story.

[hussain]

Originally Posted by Armis

Since your four pieces were purchased at the boutique, then they must be registered and listed under your name in your online AP profile. Have you logged into your record on the AP site?
Any boutique can see those pieces if they check your name/record and therefore confirm you as a client. Then just explain to them the circumstances.
I expect other forum members have switched boutiques and can tell you if you can pick up where you left off. I hope the boutique does do that.
Good luck!

Yes I register my own watches at the AP site, I remember walking into an AP house and the attitude changed once they checked my profile. That being said I asked that specific AP house and they said royal oaks are reserved for their locals. Ill try with a few others, and hopefully i get lucky.

Originally Posted by AEV

Is it AP owned boutique, or a reseller / AD ?
I am surprised AP owned boutique will exit a market without further continuity of the business? Except for Russia/Ukraine but that is a whole different story.

They call it a "boutique" but its actually through a local AD. I cannot say what the reasons for exiting are, many rumors are there including the boutique not adhering to AP standards, they want to focus on neighboring countries as there market is stronger, or possibility of selling the brand to a conglomerate, etc..

[AEV]

They call it a "boutique" but its actually through a local AD. I cannot say what the reasons for exiting are, many rumors are there including the boutique not adhering to AP standards, they want to focus on neighboring countries as there market is stronger, or possibility of selling the brand to a conglomerate, etc..[/QUOTE]

In this case it is best to find the nearest AP House / AP Boutique and get in touch with them. You should be able to continue the relationship with them / directly with AP.

[In-N-Out]

You can just be part of the nomad program.

[l_chissle]

Which country is this? Sometimes the surrounding countries will absorb take clients from countries that don't have their own AP house/boutique.

[l_chissle]

Originally Posted by In-N-Out

You can just be part of the nomad program.

Is this US only or global?

[hussain]

Originally Posted by In-N-Out

You can just be part of the nomad program.

Is this a real thing?

Originally Posted by l_chissle

Which country is this? Sometimes the surrounding countries will absorb take clients from countries that don't have their own AP house/boutique.

Its Bahrain, and its not official yet, but the boutique haven't received a watch in 5 months, and the rumors are strong (99.9%) that they dropped the relationship with the local AD and the boutique should close in a few months.

In our region we still have Saudi and UAE, and I'm planning to make a visit in Jan/Feb to declare interest.

Hopefully they wont make me wait 4 years for one like the existing boutique(and theyre losing their AD and still didn't receive one).

[VogelPhoenix]

No idea if this is related to OPs predicament, but the retail chain in that region has long been particularly leaky when it comes to desirable pieces ending up on the grey market.

I don’t know if the Nomad program is global, but in the US it’s very much real.


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[sj24k]

I’d just buy one on the secondary market and be done. If you can afford four APs at msrp, you can afford one more at market price.

I know many will take issue with my recommendation, but just comes down to how badly you want it, how long you’re willing to wait, and what hoops you want to jump through.


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[l_chissle]

Originally Posted by hussain

Is this a real thing?



Its Bahrain, and its not official yet, but the boutique haven't received a watch in 5 months, and the rumors are strong (99.9%) that they dropped the relationship with the local AD and the boutique should close in a few months.

In our region we still have Saudi and UAE, and I'm planning to make a visit in Jan/Feb to declare interest.

Hopefully they wont make me wait 4 years for one like the existing boutique(and theyre losing their AD and still didn't receive one).

I'd imagine one of those takes over the Bahrain business. UAE sounds like a really rough market to get allocations from what I've heard and read. Not sure about Saudi. Tough competition unfortunately in that region!

[hussain]

Originally Posted by sj24k

I’d just buy one on the secondary market and be done. If you can afford four APs at msrp, you can afford one more at market price.

I know many will take issue with my recommendation, but just comes down to how badly you want it, how long you’re willing to wait, and what hoops you want to jump through.


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The market price is way too high for a blue piece, the lowest I could find one was $63k. However your recommendation is something I'm strongly considering. Just waiting to find a good condition blue 26331st for under $40k USD and I'll snipe one.

Keep in mind that I requested one back when they retail for around $30k

[Willyjo]

They aren’t trading crazy anymore. My local grey dealer has a 50 anniversary 26240 Blue for US$60k and it’s been sitting there for 2 months!

I think grey market is worth considering in this case…

Check out '2022 Unpolished "50"th Anniversary Audemars Piguet 26240ST RO CHRONO 41mm BLUE Dial', available at S$80,880 on #Carousell https://carousell.app.link/cPIUSWoB0Eb


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[Vince_76]

Originally Posted by hussain

The market price is way too high for a blue piece, the lowest I could find one was $63k. However your recommendation is something I'm strongly considering. Just waiting to find a good condition blue 26331st for under $40k USD and I'll snipe one.

Keep in mind that I requested one back when they retail for around $30k

Pretty sure they can be had for <$40k now. Reach out to some greys/trusted sellers, and look on moda

[hussain]

Originally Posted by VogelPhoenix

No idea if this is related to OPs predicament, but the retail chain in that region has long been particularly leaky when it comes to desirable pieces ending up on the grey market.

I don’t know if the Nomad program is global, but in the US it’s very much real.


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This is very true, and I know of a few examples where the buyers flip. I think this could be one of the reasons of AP's withdrawal.

Originally Posted by Willyjo

They aren’t trading crazy anymore. My local grey dealer has a 50 anniversary 26240 Blue for US$60k and it’s been sitting there for 2 months!

I think grey market is worth considering in this case…

Check out '2022 Unpolished "50"th Anniversary Audemars Piguet 26240ST RO CHRONO 41mm BLUE Dial', available at S$80,880 on #Carousell https://carousell.app.link/cPIUSWoB0Eb


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Thank you, still high for me at roughly $60k USD. Can't see myself spending this much as I just got a new car.

Originally Posted by Vince_76

Pretty sure they can be had for <$40k now. Reach out to some greys/trusted sellers, and look on moda

Reached out to a few local and regional ones. Still trading at around $47k but I see them going down.

[Willyjo]

Originally Posted by hussain

This is very true, and I know of a few examples where the buyers flip. I think this could be one of the reasons of AP's withdrawal.




Thank you, still high for me at roughly $60k USD. Can't see myself spending this much as I just got a new car.




Reached out to a few local and regional ones. Still trading at around $47k but I see them going down.

Here is a 26331 2018 at pretty reasonable price, ~$US36k

Check out 'AP Royaloak 26331', available at S$47,900 on #Carousell https://carousell.app.link/ck37qfoW1Eb


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