Never thought I'd share such an incoming

[ltmgeller]

Congrats!!!

[Beo3]

Great read and one BEAUTIFUL watch!!!

Huge congrats!!!!!!

[Ensign]

Congratulations! I’m happy you got your watch.

It’s just a shame, you had to “audition” for the watch.

[Calatrava r]

So, what were the terms and conditions you needed to sign off on? Did they hold back the card?

[Dr H A]

Fantastic watch ! Looks stunning

[Flipmarine2k]

One of the best posts ive ever read on this forum. Congratulations and what a story. Gives us all hope.

[Harry-57]

Wow! Nice way to get it and it only goes to show that sometimes it can happen. This time it happened to you. Congratulations.

[Flipmarine2k]

Originally Posted by onetwo127

What's the chances of that happening at an AD in the US. Great post and congrats!

slim to none lol

[White Collar Boy]

Thanks for sharing your experience, and congratulations!

[RolexSimon]

Fantastic story and goes to prove that being honest, a decent person & treating people with respect pays dividends in this hobby. Wear it well - it's an amazing watch.

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by capital

Warning: very long post that I'm sharing to hopefully convey the experience I lived.

Long time no see on the forum. I've been busy with many projects and kind of stepped out of the watch game for a couple of years. I got a call for a SD43 a few months ago (which I happily fetched), and it put me a bit back on track watches-wise.

This week, I was having a business meeting close to an AD I have visited 3 times since 2019 and with whom I have no purchase history. After my meeting, I thought "let's go in for 5 minutes and see if they still have my name somewhere on a list for a batman".

After meeting the SA, whom I didn't know, he informed me the SA I had met before had left, and my interest that was registered 4 years ago was lost among 3000 other names in the list. He clearly stated that since I have no history, I would not be able to get it.

I was disappointed, but told him I understood.

I was planning on leaving at that moment, when the following took place (this is a much shorter version than the reality, our conversation lasted for 30 minutes):
SA: is there any other watch you'd be interested in?
Me: I do not dare to let you know because I know these are impossible to get
SA: ahah, we never know
Me: My grail watches are the platinum daytona baguette and the GMT meteorite
SA: very hard to get indeed, they're rare. Why do you like the GMT?
Me: I love the GMT complication, I often travel, and it's my favorite Rolex model. I'm wearing my GMT LN right now for a reason
SA: True, you were also on the list for the GMT Batman for 4 years
Me: right
SA: what about the meteorite?
Me: I have seen it only once in my life. It's an amazing watch. The meteorite dial is mesmerizing.
SA: I might have a meteorite DD if you'd like to see it's dial.
Me: with pleasure!

SA comes back with a watch on his tray, dial facing towards him such that I can't see the dial
SA: Do you know the price of the GMT meteorite?
Me: 70k€ I believe? (I warned you I had been out of the watch game for a long time...)
SA: Not quite, 42k€.
Me: ok.
SA: you need to know that we ask our customers to pay within 7 days when we call them to offer them a watch. Is it something that could work for you?
Me: yes, I believe so.

SA picks up the watch and shows it to me. It's a meteorite GMT.

Me: oh wow, I didn't expect that.
SA: it's a very special watch. Do you want to take it in your hand?
Me: I'd be very upset if it was allocated to me and a stranger would pick it up. I'll pass on the offer.
SA: in fact, it's not allocated.
Me: then I'm very happy to look at it.

2 minutes of absolute silence as I look at the astonishing dial while holding it in my hand.

Me: I love so much the fact that this watch contains a piece of extraterrestrial material.
SA: why is that?
Me: I've been passionate about the universe since I was a kid. I'm an aerospace engineer. Space is my passion.
SA: very interesting
Me: so, is this a demo model ?
SA: we can say that.
Me: I haven't seen it in the displays
SA: it was not on the display.
Me: I don't get it?
SA: we only show it on rare occasions
Me: thanks for showing me, this is amazing.
SA: would you like to try it on?
Me: hell yeah!

Another 2 minutes of silence as I admire the beast around my wrist.
SA leaves for a phone call. He then comes back

Me: may I take a photo of the watch?
SA: sure.
Me: thanks!
SA: so, let's say you'd get a call this year for example, would you be able to confirm and pay it within a week?
Me: yes, I still believe so
SA: you have to be aware that we actively fight against the grey market. Before purchasing such a watch, our customers need to sign terms and conditions prohibiting them to sell it for speculative reasons.
Me: makes sense.
SA: would you be fine with that?
Me: yes
SA: Ok, I'm going to see if I can note your interest down and will be back shortly

SA leaves with the watch. I'm waiting for him for 5 minutes. He then comes back with his tray. The watch is gone, but there's something hidden behind a cloth.

SA: I've called the manager. I've told him about you, about your passion for space, your passion for GMTs, and the fact that you've been on a waitlist for 4 years and that you came back a few times to say hello.
Me: ok

SA stares at me intensely. He then removes the cloth from his tray. The GMT meteorite is shining in front of me.
SA: we received the watch 1 week ago. You're the first person to see it. If you want it, it's yours.

I remember staring at him in disbelief. I have no idea how long it lasted, but I was shocked.
Me: let's go.

This is the story of me becoming the proud owner of my grail watch by complete luck.
The photo below is the one I took when I had it on my wrist ignoring it would be mine 10 minutes later.

Congrats!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[DTNSS]

Very cool story and congrats. I really do believe there isn’t a really list they follow. Sure, they write down interest in pieces for new/existing clients, a list exists, but I don’t think there’s any systematic procedure for follow up internally. It’s all either random timing and luck stopping by or you get the call only if they randomly remembered you at the moment and time. But there is no real going down the list . I recently stopped by an AD I hadn’t seen since 2019 now that I’m living closer to them. He just told me, “squeaky wheel gets the oil”. He looked up my cell in his texts and noticed I asked for a Platinum Daytona back then. I guess I have to visit more often now


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[amh]

One of the top watches in the entire catalog. Well done.

[Old Geezer]

Congrats ! Wear it in good health

[jb335]

I know the feeling of an unexpected GMT meteorite incoming and it is an amazing feeling. Enjoy it and huge congratulations!


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[HogwldFLTR]

Wow, congratulations!!!

[smile1016]

Wow!!! What an amazing story!! Gives me hope!!

Wear it in fantastic health!!

[Easy E]

Fantastic!!! Congratulations

[Uppersouth]

I was getting excited just reading. Those, "are you prepared to buy" questions are often foretelling. Congratulations on the best GMT!

[watchfreak207]

Wow! Huge congrats!!!

[Robb]

Congrats!!

[LSU-MOOSE]

Awesome and congratulations.

[skipstar]

Wow!!!!!

My grail and I hope someday it happens. Great story and congratulations

[arcampado]

Amazing story and HUGE congrats

[puma1552]

Excellent story, congrats!!!

[Hankman]

The story and experience is 1/2 the fun! Congratulations.

[StackLexus17]

LOVE this story.

Amazing and memorable way to purchase a timepiece.

Enjoy!

[noshame]

One of the best reads in a very long time. Congrats, OP! You've now inspired me to walk into an AD and ask about my grail watch.

[windingmybusiness]

It was meant to be. Congratulations on your spectacular GMT!

[Dr H A]

Fantastic!
One of my top favorite