The only thing that appears to have changed is the year.

 

Get the Panerai 👍🏻

Don’t play Rolex AD games….

 

Get the Panerai 👍🏻

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Don’t play Rolex AD games….

I’ve never been a quitter 😂 so I’m going to continue to play the game… But I agree there’s lots of watches to buy while we are waiting.

I think it’s easier once you’ve gotten three or four from the A.D. that way it’s just not some mythical unicorn sighting.

 

I have found if the put you “on a list” it’s unlikely you’ll get a watch. But if they give a specific time frame, they usually meet or beat it. YMMV, but that’s been my experience.

 

"yes we'll put you on the list. you should hear from us in about 5 years"

 

It's still pretty random from my experience. I enquired about the mint fluted dial DJ and stressed it was out of curiosity ie if one comes in I want to take a look at it. A non fluted dial came in and I was told I could purchase it. Didnt like the shade of green but said I would really like a blue fluted dial, fluted bezel on oyster and was told that combo is fairly unusual and the fluted dials are just not getting through to ADs. A couple of weeks later he called and said "youll never guess whats just come in". They have no reason to lie to me but they werent expecting that combo until summer this year. Whilst it was being boxed up there were a couple of other customers picking up non Rolex watches and they were enquiring about various Rolex and were basically told its a no. They were polite about it but it was a case of "we wouldnt want to waste your time as the delivery time on that watch could be years". I was pleased and shocked at the same time when I got the call as I was expecting several months and possibly over a year for the DJ.

I agree with the comment above about "the list" being a bit patchy. My ad showed me a pile of enquiries that were not getting watches. Im assuming thats the "register of interest" records. They just take names to stop customers getting angry with them. If they like you, you get a watch. I wouldnt regard myself as a big spender. A friend of mine owns Pateks etc and they wont sell him a Rolex. It's a weird world where Rolex are concerned.

Best of luck getting your watch.

 

Got “the call” from the AD yesterday after about 6 months of waiting. Was offered an Explorer 1. After sleeping on it, I passed. I suspect things will become more available this year, but that’s not based on anything except my own experience.

 

So you're a tire kicker?

 

I didn't think waiting lists were a thing anymore at most ADs. Good luck buddy.

 

If you pass on a Rolex, that's pretty much the door shut with that particularly AD. They make a note on your record to say you passed. That's basically of for you. But you might. Not care lol

 

2023 will be more of 2022, meaning more people getting the call. Tons of threads on TRF with people getting the call or even walking in and buying various models. Secondary market prices will continue to slowly decline. The interesting variable is that Chinese tourists will be out in force in 2023, so the luxury shops many parts of the world will be flooded with pent up demand.

 

I got my sub 12/2 after about a 2 year wait. Trying to decide what to put my name down for next as I really don’t need anything else for the next year or so.

 

I have been requesting an Explorer 124270 for almost two years now from three authorized retailers who have been very discouraging of expecting any success. Six months ago I approached another retailer almost four hours away who said sure, we get those from time to time, I will give you a call. Today this retailer's sales associate called to offer a demonstrator model that they were now permitted to sell. I immediately agreed and arranged an appointment the next day they would be open for business, the associate would set this piece aside. Two hours later the associate called back to apologize that the Explorer was reserved for a client of the store's owner and would not be available. I was not surprised.

The other retailers have given me no hope, one is clearly reserving all Rolex models they receive for only their favored prior customers. One of the others claims to rarely receive any watches because the cities they serve are too small of a market to receive much allocation from Rolex, yet they maintain expensive empty sales spaces and advertise the brand frequently in their jewelry business. I'm patient, polite, and persistent, but even my patience has its limits.

 

I was told to expect a 2-3 month wait with one AD (an existing customer with an “in” asked them to set me up with a watch).

My AD didn’t give me a timeframe and it took them a year to get back to me about a Pelagos, so I’m not holding my breath for them to come through.

I want a Submariner date. I’m not interested in accepting an “offer” for anything else, so we’ll see where that goes.

 

Visited a few ADs a week ago. Was put on the list for a DJ 36 smooth bezel (blue dial), they told me they would put the order through and it would take up to 6 months. I'll report back in June...

 

One month later... Nothing to report. Did email the AD immediately after the visit but no response. Patience was never my strong point. Surely a smooth bezel DJ 36 won't actually take 6 months!

 

I was put on a list in November of 2022 and given a time frame of about 7-10 months roughly from my AD for an Explorer II in Polar. About 35 days later I got the call. When I went to pick up the watch I noticed there was a list of names on a piece of paper and I was at the top of the list. Below my name was about 6-7 other names. After reading the comments I guess I was very lucky to get the watch in such a short time. Hopefully it gets better for everyone who wants a nice timepiece.

 

You are indeed lucky. I've been on the list since May of '21 for a polar explorer II. I'm still on the list, but I went and just picked up a used 216570 polar explorer in the mean time. I'll compare the two IF/when I get a call and keep the one I like better.

<* shark >>><

 

Still waiting for a OP36 from ... 2020. Pretty sure the sale guy I had done business moved store at least twice, if he's still with the same company. Another guy I ended up being assigned to, may or may not even be at the same store.

 

Update: went to the store again yesterday. The new sales associate I was assigned to greeted me by saying he remembers I'm still waiting for a OP36, and that although he cannot make firm commitments, he's hopeful that some supply would be freed up this summer. Will see how that pans out.

I also requested the lefty GMT II in the past, and apparently that is not as in demand as the Pepsi or Batman, so hopefully I'll be getting the call in a few months.

 

I've been on "the list" at my local AD for a Z-Blue Milgauss for about 9 months, but was never given a specific time frame. I'm just hoping they don't get discontinued while I'm waiting. About a month after registering my interest in the Milgauss, I asked about a turquoise dial OP for my wife for an upcoming milestone birthday. I told them I didn't need it for about a year and a half, and got "the call" for it just a few weeks later! (Yes I bought it. Don't tell her, lol!) I'm hoping my AD comes through for me, because the big chain ADs won't even talk to me and going gray is not an option.

 

Just curious, why is going gray "not an option"? I mean, we're talking about a Milguass here, not a Daytona...what if it ends up taking them 2-3 years to get you that Milgauss? Wouldn't you be better off just paying the premium (i'm seeing some z-blue's out there in the $12.5k range) and getting what you want?

 

I was on my nearest ADs list for an Explorer ll for just over two years. They did not give me a time frame at all. I had no prior buying history with them. Oct of 22 it arrived.
I think it’s a crap shoot. Lol.

 

Been on the “list” for over a year. No calls or even a status report. I am not expecting much from them this year. Come to realize that if I want it I will have to go grey. It’s good that the market prices are dropping a bit. I will give it some time as I am not in a rush.

Not banking on the AD at all at this point.

 

Been on the “list” for over a year. No calls or even a status report. I am not expecting much from them this year. Come to realize that if I want it I will have to go grey. It’s good that the market prices are dropping a bit. I will give it some time as I am not in a rush.

Not banking on the AD at all at this point.

Same. I’ve bought 4 watches from the new (big chain) Rolex AD since 2021, including a full YG Bluesy sub and 2 Cartiers. Wanted a SS Daytona and a RG DD40. Been on lists for 1.5 years, no calls or status updates. Last time I went in there they seemed to not have notes on it, or care. Bought grey. Brand new, only 1 month of warranty ticked away, bought for list. And he was very happy to have my business.

I miss the old Mom and Pop Rolex dealers. Even if they couldn’t get you anything, they still knew who you were and were great with customers.

 

Dr. buddy of mine has spent over $250,000 buying Rolex he flipped (often at a loss) in the hopes the AD will call him and say the sport model he wants came in.
More patient than me. I'd bite the bullet and buy preowned NIB for a couple grand more.
Fortunately, I bought most of mine over twenty years ago before they cost a kidney.

 

...what the hell. $250k flipping watches when he could have just bought the one he wanted on the grey market? does this doctor friend not value his time? this is insane behaviour 😂 At that point the AD has literally no incentive to sell him the watch he actually wants, they've already got a quarter of a million dollars from him 😂

 

I got "on the list" for a Green/Blue OP41, with My local AD in May 2022. Initially was told maybe September. I only had one watch purchase at the time. I made a second purchase in October, and they told me then... still no ETA, that they dont get many OPs. I was a bit surprised they did message me early January 2023 just to say that I was still on the thier short list and that it would hopefully not be too long now.

 

Sales associate told me that there "has to be some time" between purchases, hoping that means my next piece will be "available" sometime this year since the last one was acquired latter part of 2022, we'll see

 

still waiting on the Pepsi. Coming up to two years.

 

Stopped by AD over the weekend.not sure if he was bluffing or not but said Jan shipments are coming in next week. I'm on the motif dial DJ41 waitlist (or black Exp2). Other than that, same old story....sub and polar exp2 waitlist is almost closed since they can't fulfil orders. Still a shyteshow out there at ADs.

 

July 22 I put my name down for a jubilee DJ 41 in mint non fluted with a smooth bezel. was told wouldnt be a problem by May 21 (wedding date), but the previous person to get one had waited 3/4 months, so maybe within that time frame.
Havent heard anything since, also had me down for a Pelagos, said no longer than 4 to 6 weeks... this was October, still nothing.

 

2 year wait for candy op, but in ad's defense they have 'called' me and offered other 3 rolex watches which i turned down

 

Stopped in to check out a Pelagos and tried on an Explorer II and a Sea Dweller. Fell in love with the Explorer II and was put on the "list". Was told that the black one was an easier one to land and that I could expect to wait about 6 months. It was the first time that I have ever been taken seriously when checking out Rolex or at least given any sense that there was even a possibility of landing one.

 

I worked with a major AD in a major metropolitan area. Been waiting for a Polar Explorer 2. I call every month or so and he always says he hasn't got one all year.

So I'm on vacation in a much smaller resort town and stopped by the AD there. She said she gets them all the time and has had several in the past 4 months.

She also said Rolex produces hundreds of thousands of watches per year so there's always a lot coming through the store. It's gone within an hour of arrival, but there's regular inventory.

I told her to call me if one comes in. We'll see how it goes. I don't have a purchase history so who knows? Can't get worse.

I do think my regular AD might be feeding me some BS.

 

I worked with a major AD in a major metropolitan area. Been waiting for a Polar Explorer 2. I call every month or so and he always says he hasn't got one all year.

So I'm on vacation in a much smaller resort town and stopped by the AD there. She said she gets them all the time and has had several in the past 4 months.

She also said Rolex produces hundreds of thousands of watches per year so there's always a lot coming through the store. It's gone within an hour of arrival, but there's regular inventory.

I told her to call me if one comes in. We'll see how it goes. I don't have a purchase history so who knows? Can't get worse.

I do think my regular AD might be feeding me some BS.

We are in the same boat. I don't mind the wait; what I DO mind are the price increases. Oh, in the mean time, a local gray market guy said he could get me a polar 226570 for .....$13.8k (only a 42% mark up)! LOL....NOT!

<* shark >>><