Rolex Market Hype / Watch availability

[Drew.rob]

Anybody else seen a lot of videos and articles on Rolex “being available again”? It seems this has sprouted all over YouTube and Reddit threads.

Curious from the true purchases and not those being paid for YouTube views. Cheers, and post your new watch if you’ve acquired! Happy New Year.


126040 & 136660

[Fleetlord]

Mostly clickbait.

A few success stories here and there about easy availability on select references, but it's not 2015 again by any stretch

[Nairn1980]

Yep, if you want a TT explorer, all gold or oyster flex sky-dweller etc.
still usual suspects

Tbh I’m surprised by this point we aren’t seeing steel explorers, explorer 2, air king etc in windows, as the flippers have surely disappeared on these ones.

[Space1970]

I concur with Nairn1980

In the UK I see many PM DD's and SD's at AD's that are available to purchase

And that they are getting a lot of 'thanks but no thanks' when making the call to say your requested PM watch is finally here

But little in the way of steel other than the odd DJ now and then (which sell quickly) and that they are not receiving any more SS sports models than they were this time last year

[Notepad12]

Late December

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[Marcjvr]

Yes. It’s happening

[Notepad12]

Originally Posted by Space1970

I concur with Nairn1980

In the UK I see many PM DD's and SD's at AD's that are available to purchase

And that they are getting a lot of 'thanks but no thanks' when making the call to say your requested PM watch is finally here

But little in the way of steel other than the odd DJ now and then (which sell quickly) and that they are not receiving any more SS sports models than they were this time last year

"What the business appears not to have seen coming was a drop in average transaction values caused, in part, by Rolex dialling down allocations of its more expensive models in precious metals and focusing more on steel watches."

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[1William]

I have seen the videos and most are clickbait. Less desirable models in SS, TT, PM but at least it is a start. I do not think it will be anytime soon that more desirable models will be available for immediate purchase.

[brandrea]

We can always hope.

[Tim Plains]

I'm not listing over a SS GMT II but I would take one if one was offered to me (except the jubilee BLNR), so this is me hoping for the day modest purchase histories are all it takes.

[Space1970]

Originally Posted by Notepad12

"What the business appears not to have seen coming was a drop in average transaction values caused, in part, by Rolex dialling down allocations of its more expensive models in precious metals and focusing more on steel watches."

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I was confused by this when I read the WoS statement as it doesn't seem to gel with my IRL experiences or what I'm told by AD's

On a side note I just witnessed my first CPO transaction take place after hearing a potential customer learn how little chance of them getting a 'display only' steel watch in the window any time soon

I was waiting for a service watch to be retrieved from the safe and by the time I was done this person at the next desk had made the decision to buy a 2015 GMT for almost II £15k!

The sales pitch on why to go CPO rather than grey market was pretty hard to listen to but they made the sale

[watchwatcher]

I've found what some guy is saying on YouTube (who gets paid for clicks) has very little relevance to my experience.

[BroncoOne]

Originally Posted by 1William

I have seen the videos and most are clickbait. Less desirable models in SS, TT, PM but at least it is a start. I do not think it will be anytime soon that more desirable models will be available for immediate purchase.

I agree. The market shifts in small moves, but the in demand pieces will always be less in number than the people who want to buy them. Rolex has been masterful in creating brand value and pull on the consumer.

You would need to see grey sellers not seeking a premium, or completely withdrawing from selling Rolex models profitably before you see any real change in availability of the commonly in demand pieces.

[Mystro]

The drama of purchasing the Rolex is the main story for YouTube channels to increase their visibility. Their headline title will say anything to get you to click. It has gotten really pathetic lately what they try to feed to keep their beast alive.

Very few legitimate watch experts with decades of experience want to take the time and do a YouTube channel to be lost with all the other slop on the subject.

[Calatrava r]

There is zero availability for walk-in purchase. The stores have no watches for sale anywhere I go. An occasional iced out PM piece will hit the case. Whether this is the true market or deliberate holdback by ADs is anybody's guess. The new Rolex sales concept seems to be only marketing watches upon special request and wait to select customers. It wasn't all that long ago there were two or three Rolex ADs in every shopping mall in America with all cases full. Now ADs are being slashed left and right, but the remaining ADs have no for sale products to display. It is what it is.

[alphadweller]

I'm gonna pay a little visit to my four or five local ADs. If I don't see sports steel for sale in the window, I'm gonna have a fit .

[Nads786]

My anecdotal experience - there seems to be a slight shift in how ADs are treating customers. A year ago when I inquired about a Sub it was 1-1.5 year wait at minimum. This time when I inquired about the BLNR there wasn't any sort of time window placed on it or a "it will never happen" attitude.

This could be because I'm walking in wearing a Sub, I don't really know but I found it interesting. As I travel for work in February I plan on stopping in to more ADs to see if there is a shift in behavior. San Diego, Las Vegas, and Charlotte here I come!

[RyanJ]

It is in the interests of ADs to continue the perceived exclusivity issues with watches for the foreseeable future. Even when demand drops, ADs will continue to perpetuate false demand and hold on to supply. I fully expect most ADs to keep controlling purchases until they absolutely can't.

I think certain areas and certain ADs have started selling some models more easily. Just like how the hype began to grow, it will shrink over time.

I don't think we will ever get back to a time when most Rolex watches were easily obtained and at a discount. ADs will not allow that unless they are really hurting for money.

[Silvio Mosiello]

There were just like 5 videos posted on yt the same day about this coincidentally


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[Robf52]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

Mostly clickbait.

A few success stories here and there about easy availability on select references, but it's not 2015 again by any stretch

Agree.

[Nads786]

Originally Posted by RyanJ

It is in the interests of ADs to continue the perceived exclusivity issues with watches for the foreseeable future. Even when demand drops, ADs will continue to perpetuate false demand and hold on to supply. I fully expect most ADs to keep controlling purchases until they absolutely can't.

I think certain areas and certain ADs have started selling some models more easily. Just like how the hype began to grow, it will shrink over time.

I don't think we will ever get back to a time when most Rolex watches were easily obtained and at a discount. ADs will not allow that unless they are really hurting for money.

I agree, but there is an equilibrium just like at a gas station where if you sell it for 5 cents less, people will come to your store over anothers.

For example, store one pushes exclusivity, store two says you can buy right now and I'll give you great customer service, that experience might snag you a jewelry customer for life.

Look at my experience, if I got a sub locally as a walk-in the next time my Wife wanted jewelry I would go to that AD if it was local. The human tendency for reciprocity is too strong.

[Notepad12]

I'd imagine you could get this Sub rather quickly



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[hellofromthebay]

I've seen multiple 36mm SS Explorers in the case in Vegas.

[amh]

Originally Posted by alphadweller

I'm gonna pay a little visit to my four or five local ADs. If I don't see sports steel for sale in the window, I'm gonna have a fit .

Just have the fit now and save the time & gas

[rmagoo57]

My SA has a YM40 slate dial for immediate sale.

[enjoythemusic]

Yes it seems availability is getting better... and YouTuber clickbait keeps on keeping on.

IMPORTANT NEWS!!!!
Soon YouRube'ers will be saying they know what is going to be released during.... and then after the show, YouRubers will say what a MASSIVE mistake Rolex did with the new....

You heard it here on TRF first, don't forget that fact :)

[ManUtd]

Just an anecdotal experience. I’ve been searching for an SD43 for some time now. Went to a boutique last weekend where a good friend of mine has good connections. As expected they didn’t have it but offered me a black DSSD. Didn’t go for it but I heard that shortly after we left someone else bought it. Last night I went to another boutique and as a walk in I got the SD43. This is in the SF Bay Area and YMMV.

[Yomada]

I visited an AD yesterday in NYC, with no spending history. I was offered a SD and few two tones.

[BraveBold]

Supply is still tight. That said, it is relaxing/opening and will continue to. I fully expect my BLNR in the coming 30-60 days. I would not have made that prediction 6 months ago.

Of course had I made such a prediction 6 months ago I’d be very wrong.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by germanyf

I visited an AD yesterday in NYC, with no spending history. I was offered a SD and few two tones.

Were these in the case or did they have to bring them out to you?