Buying a Submariner in London

[pztm]

Hi All

Ive got a birthday coming up soon and was hoping to reward myself with my first Rolex - a new Submariner :) though I am not sure if I will go with the green or the black bezel version.

I've been into a few jewellers here in London but no one seems to have them in stock. One jeweler said that they only get a very small number each year. Another even said that there is a waiting list for the anniversary model and that the list was currently closed :(

Are they really that rare/hard to find?? I have seen a few on the web but I am not sure if its such a good idea to buy one off a website.

Can anyone advise a newbie to this forum where I could get a Submariner date here in London?

[argee1977]

I got mine last month, not in London but Torquay. I would have thought there would be a fair few within London, with the flagship store, old bond street and several other outlets around, might be worth a ring around or maybe a quick post over on tz-uk.com

[argee1977]

Ah, forgot to add, there is one for sale over on tz-uk.com at present, 3 weeks old anniversary model with a spare black insert so you can have it set up as either green or black, PM me if you want further information (it's not mine though :D), price is stated to be £3100.

[PeterT]

I saw one in Wempe on Bond St 2 weeks ago.
That is the area of London to go and look at including the Burlington Arcade.

PeterT

[pztm]

thanks for that argee!!
Have found the post on that forum and will look into it.

[argee1977]

The seller lives in or around London so a meet up would be easy as well, works out pretty good, you save over 500 quid on a nearly new Sub LV, i wouldn't want to be paying the £3600 they want for them nowadays, i got mine on the last day before the price increases thankfully!

[pztm]

Tried to join that other forum but looks like it is closed to new members.

Sorry if this is a dumb question but given my relative inexperience, I am a little worried that I could be sold a stolen/fake watch. Is there any way of making sure that it is the real deal?

[argee1977]

Originally Posted by pztm

Tried to join that other forum but looks like it is closed to new members.

Sorry if this is a dumb question but given my relative inexperience, I am a little worried that I could be sold a stolen/fake watch. Is there any way of making sure that it is the real deal?

I believe i've bought off this guy before, my previous submariner which i flipped to get the LV, i'll drop him a PM on the other forum to check and then point him in this direction, if he's the guy i know, if not then i can't offer any real assurances and would advise going the AD route for buying.

[pztm]

Also can anyone out there recommend a reputable online place to buy watches in the UK?

[pztm]

thanks argie, much obliged if you can put him in touch if he is the guy you have bought off before.

[Pulpdiction]

If you're willing to have a drive up to the midlands you can have a brand new one tomorrow, my AD has an LV in the window and a couple of black bezel subs, they also have a used GMT iic in the window for £3,100 and theere are at least 2 other dealers in the Warwickshire area that have subs in the window. There is no shortage I assure you but if you insist on going to bond street you'll never find one as there are about 8 dealers in london serving 8 million people.

[Chris B]

Wempe in Bond St (020 7493 2299) had the choice you're looking for a couple of weeks ago, as did Mappin & Webb (020 7287 0033) , Piccadilly end of Regent St

Good luck

[082013]

Thanks for the recommendation argee1977 and pztm, you have a PM :)

[argee1977]

Originally Posted by Pulpdiction

If you're willing to have a drive up to the midlands you can have a brand new one tomorrow, my AD has an LV in the window and a couple of black bezel subs, they also have a used GMT iic in the window for £3,100 and theere are at least 2 other dealers in the Warwickshire area that have subs in the window. There is no shortage I assure you but if you insist on going to bond street you'll never find one as there are about 8 dealers in london serving 8 million people.

Yeah, i've found that with my local AD, quite an affluent area and they're the only Rolex dealer in town, so anytime they get a SS sports model in it's gone within a day or two. It might be worth having a long weekend up in the Midlands and getting one from there, since you're in London there won't be any warranty issues as you're close to the service centre anyway so no need to ever go back once you've bought it.

[Chris B]

Originally Posted by Pulpdiction

if you insist on going to bond street you'll never find one as there are about 8 dealers in london serving 8 million people.

4 AD's in Bond St alone, and certainly more than 4 serving the rest of London

http://www.rolex.com/en/inside-rolex...x-dealer/index

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by Chris B

4 AD's in Bond St alone, and certainly more than 4 serving the rest of London

http://www.rolex.com/en/inside-rolex...x-dealer/index

I've never seen so many AD's in one city.
dP

[chazha]

I have just visited the new shopping mall Westfield London today and saw SS Submariner Date and a ND in the display window. I believe it is Ernest and Jones located on the ground floor.

[petespendthrift]

They seem to be readily available in virtually every AD outside of London that I have looked in the window of.

It's not a case of ether you can find one, more whether or not you are prepared to pay the absurd prices they are now asking!

[esm]

Originally Posted by Chris B

4 AD's in Bond St alone, and certainly more than 4 serving the rest of London

http://www.rolex.com/en/inside-rolex...x-dealer/index

and there are at least 4 ADs on Oxford st & one on regent st

[TempoKing]

If I was in London and in need of a brand new Sub 16610 I would go to Grays Antique Market - Davies and Oxford Steet (Bond Street Underground) and talk to Trevor or his son Chris at second time around.

Now, If you were in South Florida...I have no idea who I would recommend...

[spogehead]

Ernest Jones Bromley had a black sub date in stock yesterday

[082013]

Originally Posted by TempoKing

talk to Trevor or his son Chris at second time around.[/B]

Had a horrible experience with Second Time Around, and to be honest, their prices aren't great either...Their site is currently showing:

2007 Sub Date - £2950
2004 Sub Date - £2800
1999 Sub Date - £2600

Not somewhere I would recommend. If you wanted to go brand new from an AD, you'd be better off spending £50 on Signet shares and saving £370 on a BNIB LV from Ernest Jones.

[Quicksilver]

I bought my Sub Date in Watches of Switzerland in Bond Street about 6 weeks ago. There had been a delivery and a few shops had them in stock. The problem with London is that anything half desirable is quickly snapped up - there is too much passing trade. Use your phone, make enquiries and be prepared to travel and you will find a Sub with an AD probably not that far away from your home.

Good luck. That watch is worth hunting for.

[082013]

I can't believe anyone is paying list, when they can be had all day long from reputable suppliers, UK watches, for 10% below list. People must have money to burn

[esm]

Originally Posted by 082013

I can't believe anyone is paying list, when they can be had all day long from reputable suppliers, UK watches, for 10% below list. People must have money to burn

including the desirable sports models?

[Quicksilver]

Originally Posted by 082013

I can't believe anyone is paying list, when they can be had all day long from reputable suppliers, UK watches, for 10% below list. People must have money to burn

Some people (myself included) only feel comfortable buying from an AD. But if you are not bothered by that then undoubtedly you can make big savings purchasing through grey dealers. Its a question of where your comfort zone lies. I personally would go AD every time even though it means paying more.

[davidwatts]

I've seen a few sub dates in AD windows now - they don't seem to be shifting as quickly as when i bought one about 12 months ago.

I bought from an AD as I enjoy the whole experience of buying the watch as well as wearing it - they have gone up a lot (I bought new for £2840 a year ago) but you do get a classic, iconic watch for your money though.

Good luck, Ian.

[Baptistman]

My AD in Watches of Switzerland is selling his own personal Sub. Mint condition, Z serial boxed docs etc etc don't think it's been worn he's asking £2500.

PM me if you want more details, I'll put you in touch

[082013]

Originally Posted by esm

including the desirable sports models?

Sub Date, GMTII-C, SD's, the usual suspects, obviously not a SS Daytona

[082013]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

Some people (myself included) only feel comfortable buying from an AD. But if you are not bothered by that then undoubtedly you can make big savings purchasing through grey dealers. Its a question of where your comfort zone lies. I personally would go AD every time even though it means paying more.

I'm not sure of the benefit in the UK, US is different as there are warranty issues, but UK, no benefit at all in going to an AD.