Visit to Tourneau, Westchester Mall in White Plains, NY

[BillA]

Had to go into the store this am. My wife’s Cartier quartz watch needs a battery, they serviced me quickly and efficiently. Their watchmaker is not there full time anymore, but only comes in on some days. Used to be they could turn a battery exchange around the same day, now it will be ready on July 17th, I have no problem with that, it would take a lot longer if shipped to Cartier in Texas and a lot more money. Also, if you have bought watches at Tourneau, the battery service is no charge.

So what about their Rolex display? They had about a dozen Rolex watches on display including the window, of course all marked exhibition only. If they cannot sell anything from the display cases, I am still trying to understand why they do this, I would prefer to have the displays empty. I can see a strategy here, you walk in wanting to buy Rolex, you cannot buy Rolex, but the displays are full of Cartier, Breitling and some others, so they try to shift you to another brand. Well, it works, because I can say it works for me. Being unable to buy Rolex at MSRP at an AD, I bought Breitling and Cartier…

[garyk]

An SA friend of mine at a Miami Rolex boutique just said he looks forward to a day when customers can walk in to see something and walk out with a new watch. Its what we all hope for!!

[Topspin14m]

Originally Posted by BillA

Had to go into the store this am. My wife’s Cartier quartz watch needs a battery, they serviced me quickly and efficiently. Their watchmaker is not there full time anymore, but only comes in on some days. Used to be they could turn a battery exchange around the same day, now it will be ready on July 17th, I have no problem with that, it would take a lot longer if shipped to Cartier in Texas and a lot more money. Also, if you have bought watches at Tourneau, the battery service is no charge.

So what about their Rolex display? They had about a dozen Rolex watches on display including the window, of course all marked exhibition only. If they cannot sell anything from the display cases, I am still trying to understand why they do this, I would prefer to have the displays empty. I can see a strategy here, you walk in wanting to buy Rolex, you cannot buy Rolex, but the displays are full of Cartier, Breitling and some others, so they try to shift you to another brand. Well, it works, because I can say it works for me. Being unable to buy Rolex at MSRP at an AD, I bought Breitling and Cartier…

I believe those display models do not have working movements, so you would not want to buy one anyway…


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[Barada7]

I like the display models because it actually gives you the opportunity to see it on the wrist before committing the time, money and patience to the pursuit.

[Easy E]

Originally Posted by Topspin14m

I believe those display models do not have working movements, so you would not want to buy one anyway…


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The current display models in two ADs I’ve seen are real deal timepieces.

[Topspin14m]

Originally Posted by Easy E

The current display models in two ADs I’ve seen are real deal timepieces.

The ones I've seen are real beyond the fact that the movements are toast.

[Jack T]

Originally Posted by BillA

If they cannot sell anything from the display cases, I am still trying to understand why they do this, I would prefer to have the displays empty. I can see a strategy here, you walk in wanting to buy Rolex, you cannot buy Rolex, but the displays are full of Cartier, Breitling and some others, so they try to shift you to another brand. Well, it works, because I can say it works for me. Being unable to buy Rolex at MSRP at an AD, I bought Breitling and Cartier…

I don’t think having barren cases or just a few exhibition models is a tactic designed to steer customers to other brands. Why would Rolex want to facilitate that?

It may be a byproduct of limited availability, and it certainly gives us all a chance to discover Breitling, Omega or other top of the line watches, but no way is that strategy.

[Cigars&Watches]

Originally Posted by Barada7

I like the display models because it actually gives you the opportunity to see it on the wrist before committing the time, money and patience to the pursuit.

Although I can understand the frustration of seeing a piece and not being able to purchase it I would tend to agree with you.

I visited an AD recently and they had some great prices to look at, most pieces I haven’t seen in the wild. Saw a Pepsi with jubilee bracelet and absolutely loved it (hoping it’s my next pickup). Very impressed with the DD president and yellow gold Sky Dweller black face in person (stunning). I was very surprised that the blue face sky dweller was not that impressive (no need to obsess any longer).

[Cigars&Watches]

Originally Posted by Easy E

The current display models in two ADs I’ve seen are real deal timepieces.

Same from what I’ve been told. ADs don’t get the warranty card so they can’t sell (could be different from region to region though.)

[cjdunlavy]

Just FYI for the future, I paid Wilson & Sons in Scarsdale a visit last time my wife’s Cartier Ronde solo needed a battery and they turned it around in 3 days and that was over a very busy Mother’s Day weekend for them.

[sah]

I was in the Maui Tourneau a couple weeks ago. They had pretty much every new piece I could want to see. All real but display only. I handled and tried about 7 new models on. They also had new Tudors, Breitilings, Cartier. You could buy those.

The Rolex models you could purchase were used, from my memory, a 2008 41mm SS Datejust was $12k, Submariner two tone from about the same year $21k. Interesting all used Rolex watches were priced more than the new MSRP.

[Carguy87]

Originally Posted by Barada7

I like the display models because it actually gives you the opportunity to see it on the wrist before committing the time, money and patience to the pursuit.

I agree! I thought I wanted a YM40 blue dial until I tried on an exhibition model. So great in photos but for me personally so bland in the metal. Conversely, the Sky Dweller is a perfect fit and one I am willing to spend a significant amount of time waiting for after trying it on; something I wouldn’t have known without the exhibition models.

[Ghost410]

Jeremy at that Torneau is the best.

[BillA]

In a previous visit to Tourneau in Westchester, I dealt with a nice young lady who took info from me on a card of the watch(s) I wanted. I have done this card routine a few times, never been called. They probably wipe their butts with these cards due to the high demand and volume of people who enter the store. Probably no one gets called from these cards but the big spender gets called.

[Calatrava r]

At this point, ADs tell me they are unsure of what happens to the exhibition watches. They had pay for them, so whether they will be later supplied the cards/boxes to sell them to the public or have to return them for a credit is unknown.

[malba2366]

Originally Posted by BillA

So what about their Rolex display? They had about a dozen Rolex watches on display including the window, of course all marked exhibition only. If they cannot sell anything from the display cases, I am still trying to understand why they do this, I would prefer to have the displays empty. I can see a strategy here, you walk in wanting to buy Rolex, you cannot buy Rolex, but the displays are full of Cartier, Breitling and some others, so they try to shift you to another brand. Well, it works, because I can say it works for me. Being unable to buy Rolex at MSRP at an AD, I bought Breitling and Cartier…

Rolex knows that the hype is dying down and that demand is cooling off. The majority of Rolex business has never been collectors, flippers and "investors", rather it has been mainstream buyers who have one or two nice watches that they wear daily. To these buyers it is important to have something to look at and try on before making a purchase they will only make a couple times in their lives. In the past it probably would have been hard for Rolex to force a couple hundred thousand dollars of exhibition inventory onto dealers, but now their brand is red hot and they have shown a willingness to revoke AD status so the dealers have no choice but to comply.

[Roger Lococco]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

At this point, ADs tell me they are unsure of what happens to the exhibition watches. They had pay for them, so whether they will be later supplied the cards/boxes to sell them to the public or have to return them for a credit is unknown.

I think the absolute last thing I’d want is one of these exhibition watches.


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[whiskyrolex]

Originally Posted by Roger Lococco

I think the absolute last thing I’d want is one of these exhibition watches.


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I've thought about this myself and concluded at the end of the day if I was offered a GMT Pepsi but told it was previously an exhibition, I'd still probably buy it

[Watchflair]

Picked these two pieces up from them last week. Just have to keep at it.


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[2loaded]

Originally Posted by BillA

In a previous visit to Tourneau in Westchester, I dealt with a nice young lady who took info from me on a card of the watch(s) I wanted. I have done this card routine a few times, never been called. They probably wipe their butts with these cards due to the high demand and volume of people who enter the store. Probably no one gets called from these cards but the big spender gets called.

Now That's funny.

[shaunylw]

Originally Posted by Watchflair

Picked these two pieces up from them last week. Just have to keep at it.


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Deep sea is maybe the best dial I’ve seen in person. If your wrist can support it, it’s an unbelievable watch. Congrats!


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[Rolexforthewin]

Originally Posted by Topspin14m

I believe those display models do not have working movements, so you would not want to buy one anyway…


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They're 100% working models. My local SA was showing me how to set a SS SkyD the last time I was in there, and it was a working model. I tried several models on at the boutique in Boston and they were all working models.

[fskywalker]

We can hope !

[Watchflair]

Originally Posted by shaunylw

Deep sea is maybe the best dial I’ve seen in person. If your wrist can support it, it’s an unbelievable watch. Congrats!


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Thanks - it’s a fun piece. Love the gradient dial. It’s a behemoth though for sure.


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[kane818]

I think the display models are nice for a lot of people newer to Rolex... if you became interest in Rolex within the past 2 years, it's possible you've never seen the watch you want in person before. so it gives you a chance to "experience" it and see if it's really something you want!

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

At this point, ADs tell me they are unsure of what happens to the exhibition watches. They had pay for them, so whether they will be later supplied the cards/boxes to sell them to the public or have to return them for a credit is unknown.

Is that true of both working and non-working versions? Makes sense on the working ones, since all they'd need is a card and box, but the non-working ones would require Rolex to modify the movement again to make it work. What I've deduced thus far is that exhibition watches fall into three categories:

1. Non-working. Settable, but not windable, must be opened/modified to work.

2. Working, unsellable. Fully working watches, but supplied w/o box or paperwork, so cannot be sold until Rolex decides such.

3. Working, sellable, on display. Fully working, likely already allocated, being kept in display case so walk-ins have something to see while awaiting new homes.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by dannyp

Is that true of both working and non-working versions? Makes sense on the working ones, since all they'd need is a card and box, but the non-working ones would require Rolex to modify the movement again to make it work. What I've deduced thus far is that exhibition watches fall into three categories:

1. Non-working. Settable, but not windable, must be opened/modified to work.

2. Working, unsellable. Fully working watches, but supplied w/o box or paperwork, so cannot be sold until Rolex decides such.

3. Working, sellable, on display. Fully working, likely already allocated, being kept in display case so walk-ins have something to see while awaiting new homes.

The "exhibition" watches currently on display at ADS all have real movements and fully work. The "new release" watches that some ADs received on loan just for a few days to hold an event to show their customers the new release pieces did not have movements but were the exact weight of an actual watch due to an insert. It was neat, all these watches showed the exact same time.

[IR201]

Originally Posted by shaunylw

Deep sea is maybe the best dial I’ve seen in person. If your wrist can support it, it’s an unbelievable watch. Congrats!


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136660?


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[IR201]

Originally Posted by Watchflair

Picked these two pieces up from them last week. Just have to keep at it.


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136660?


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[dannyp]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

The "exhibition" watches currently on display at ADS all have real movements and fully work. The "new release" watches that some ADs received on loan just for a few days to hold an event to show their customers the new release pieces did not have movements but were the exact weight of an actual watch due to an insert. It was neat, all these watches showed the exact same time.

Some still have the non-functioning pieces that began popping up last year, but it seems to be a mix now. No way of knowing #2 from #3, though.