Rolex Sightings and Experience at the 5th Avenue Boutique

[Ravager135]

Sorry for the lack of pictures in this thread. This is purely a quasi-informational/anecdotal piece for anyone interested in my opinion on a few things I saw this week during my time in NYC. The back story: I am a physician leaving the Navy in search of a residency on the civilian side. I have taken a few weeks of leave to learn more about programs and interview prior to the match.

Riding on the LIRR into Manhattan I sat next to a guy wearing a TT blue dial Submariner. We got to talking as he was reading a book I was interested in and naturally we started discussing watches. I was wearing my polar Explorer II 42mm at the time and he was impressed with it's size and the upgrades Rolex has made to their line. This alone made for an exciting day until I met up with the resident who was sporting a white dial Milgauss. She stated that it was a gift and that she picked it out over the very same Explorer that I wear. I was none the less very impressed. I mentioned that Jennifer Aniston wears a Milgauss in some of the photos I have seen of her and she lit up. I just thought it was great to see a Milgauss on a girl and get the opportunity to talk watches twice in one day.

After our day in clinic ended I had a lot of time to kill so I walked down 5th Ave. I made the prerequisite stops at the Rolex Building, Wempe, and Tourneau. The rest is purely my opinion.

Tourneau was a beautiful store. Three levels but everything I wanted to see was on the first floor. The staff I spoke with were very helpful. They brought out anything that I even offhandedly mentioned; let me wear their watches around the store as we moved from the Breitling to the Panerai display. I was given catalogs from multiple brands and very kindly handed me off to the staff in the their Rolex section. I had not seen a Milgauss GV in person and after trying it on I was actually swayed towards this model over the GMT which did not impress me as much in person.

Wempe had almost as many Rolexes in the window as they did in the store. I was not impressed with their display or their staff. Many brands were awkwardly displayed in these columns around the store. In short I walked out of there fast.

The Rolex Boutique in the Rolex Building was smaller than I expected but impressive. With the watches arranged on the wall it's easy to get many models in view and compare. They had one of everything you could possibly imagine as expected. Staff did approach me and ask me questions but I had seen and tried on everything I wanted for the day and did not wish to waste their time. They were not overtly busy but I do always feel a tad awkward having people bring things out if I know I am certainly not buying for the day. I am not a fan of Tourneau however I must admit their staff made me feel as though it was their pleasure to help me browse whereas the Rolex Boutique made me feel as if I had to buy. Again this is only my perception and experienced very subtly.

I will be in the city again on Friday for dinner with an ex. I have a lot of time to kill, please give any other boutique recommendations or PM me if you want to help me get a buzz before I head into this trainwreck date.

[Joey_V]

Best of luck on the match - I recall that very well.

Thanks for the anecdotes... pics if you can. Make sure to post of other places you visit.

:)

[jmusser3r]

I visited the Tourneau store when I was in NYC this summer and just tried on one Panerai...i don't know what it was but the staff there didn't make me feel very comfortable. I don't know if you are into Audemars Piguet or not but the AP boutique is just down the street from Tourneau and a definite must see if you like AP. I stopped in and worked with Manuela and she could not have been more inviting and helpful. Those were the only two places I stopped as I was short on time, but I look forward to hearing more from you on your next trip in

Here's a thread from a couple months back about some of the boutiques in the NYC area

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=201282

[Roma315]

Was on 5th ave last weekend, lots of stores and choices

[Solo118]

Originally Posted by Ravager135

Sorry for the lack of pictures in this thread. This is purely a quasi-informational/anecdotal piece for anyone interested in my opinion on a few things I saw this week during my time in NYC. The back story: I am a physician leaving the Navy in search of a residency on the civilian side. I have taken a few weeks of leave to learn more about programs and interview prior to the match.

Riding on the LIRR into Manhattan I sat next to a guy wearing a TT blue dial Submariner. We got to talking as he was reading a book I was interested in and naturally we started discussing watches. I was wearing my polar Explorer II 42mm at the time and he was impressed with it's size and the upgrades Rolex has made to their line. This alone made for an exciting day until I met up with the resident who was sporting a white dial Milgauss. She stated that it was a gift and that she picked it out over the very same Explorer that I wear. I was none the less very impressed. I mentioned that Jennifer Aniston wears a Milgauss in some of the photos I have seen of her and she lit up. I just thought it was great to see a Milgauss on a girl and get the opportunity to talk watches twice in one day.

After our day in clinic ended I had a lot of time to kill so I walked down 5th Ave. I made the prerequisite stops at the Rolex Building, Wempe, and Tourneau. The rest is purely my opinion.

Tourneau was a beautiful store. Three levels but everything I wanted to see was on the first floor. The staff I spoke with were very helpful. They brought out anything that I even offhandedly mentioned; let me wear their watches around the store as we moved from the Breitling to the Panerai display. I was given catalogs from multiple brands and very kindly handed me off to the staff in the their Rolex section. I had not seen a Milgauss GV in person and after trying it on I was actually swayed towards this model over the GMT which did not impress me as much in person.

Wempe had almost as many Rolexes in the window as they did in the store. I was not impressed with their display or their staff. Many brands were awkwardly displayed in these columns around the store. In short I walked out of there fast.

The Rolex Boutique in the Rolex Building was smaller than I expected but impressive. With the watches arranged on the wall it's easy to get many models in view and compare. They had one of everything you could possibly imagine as expected. Staff did approach me and ask me questions but I had seen and tried on everything I wanted for the day and did not wish to waste their time. They were not overtly busy but I do always feel a tad awkward having people bring things out if I know I am certainly not buying for the day. I am not a fan of Tourneau however I must admit their staff made me feel as though it was their pleasure to help me browse whereas the Rolex Boutique made me feel as if I had to buy. Again this is only my perception and experienced very subtly.

I will be in the city again on Friday for dinner with an ex. I have a lot of time to kill, please give any other boutique recommendations or PM me if you want to help me get a buzz before I head into this trainwreck date.

I was also in the Rolex boutique at around 12:30 today... what a cool "showroom"

At first I had no idea where all of the Sport models were until the sales rep said turn around and I see everything on the wall. Very cool place to be!

[Ravager135]

Yeah they kind of have them all in that one spot. I made the same mistake and I was wondering why all I was seeing were DDs and DJs.

[kilyung]

Good luck with the match, hope you get your first pick when you open your envelope! I 2x visiting the AP boutique but make sure to check out the amazing IWC boutique before leaving NYC.

[changzilla]

I'll be in NYC beginning of December so I'll have to check out these boutiques. Forget the ex, ask out the resident with the Milgauss!

[KBM]

Originally Posted by changzilla

Forget the ex, ask out the resident with the Milgauss!

X 2!!

[Howie]

The following boutiques are all within a 1 mile radius of 57th and Madison: Rolex, AP, Patek (inside Tiffanys), Breguet, Blancpain, Omega, IWC, Breitling, and Panerai. Have fun!

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by Howie

The following boutiques are all within a 1 mile radius of 57th and Madison: Rolex, AP, Patek (inside Tiffanys), Breguet, Blancpain, Omega, IWC, Breitling, and Panerai. Have fun!

As an ex NYer, I understand what you mean, but this doesn't really help. With Manhattan as small as it is, everything is just about a mile radius away. You could walk all day in that jungle and not ever notice one of the small boutiques. Tourneau Corner and the Rolex building are hard to miss.

I agree that Tourneau has made leaps in the customer service department, if I'm not mistaken though I believe the Rolex building is technically just an annex of theirs dedicated strictly for Rolex. IIrc they only have preowned in TC and none in the Rolex building. When I visited the Rolex boutique, a few of the salesmen were extremely helpful and open, we even chatted about my Omega, however in an odd way I did feel as if the whole interaction was based on the perception that I will be buying. Maybe not right then but at some point, sort of like if you touch these it's because there's a commitment presently, and if not perhaps you will be coming back.
I stuck to one cool guy and he even offered me some discounts on some DJ lls I was interested in. However, when you consider the tax rate and "NY" retail price it probably just levels out at normal.
Rolex was very nice, two very cute door ladies swooshed the doors open for me, they sort of wanted to make sure I walked in through two open doors, cool, I'm special. I believe it was their reopening(recently remodeled or something), they had champagne/water available and Rolex materials and books on display for the event. I don't drink, my salesman went and dug me up a nice cold pepsi, sweet.

Tourneau let me feel like the total curious window shopper without any "guilt", very nice, loved it.

I tell you what impressed me though, while at Tourneau I asked about getting my PO's timing adjusted since it was loosing some time- short story, they wanted to service the whole watch and charge me close to $600 and two months wait. Can't you just adjust the timing I asked, nope turn in for full service. Mind you I bought this watch at TC Atl.
They didn't have any Omegas, asked why, they have there own boutique now they informed me. Walked down the street to the Omega boutique I didn't even know existed(hadn't been to NY in years) Equally if not a better layout than the Rolex building. A white gloved doorman opens door for me(not as cute as the Rolex girls), walked to the back escalator to second floor and asked the service dept about adjusting my time.
They came back in five-ten minutes after they put it on some type of meter and asked if I wanted to wait 30-40 minutes I said sure, how much, she was appalled...that I asked. I was informed this is an Omega boutique you own an Omega watch, there is no fee. As if they pressed some silent alarm a salesman came out to chat with me and take me too a lounge for complimentary tea/coffee/refreshments.
I ended up talking with this salesman for about an hour and a half about watches, the military(he was a Marine, I was in the Army) and the "new" Omega movements 85/9300s. He gave me a tour of the store and for curiosity's sake brought out a tray with a completely stripped 8500 movement, really neat. As it turned out this gentleman was in fact the general manager. He took a few minutes to go to a purchasing lounge they have and present a couple a bottle of wine(don't know the type, don't drink either so didn't care) that had just bought a beautiful hers model PO. I found that pretty cool. I noticed the couple when I came in and if they purchased what I saw them looking at, it wasn't average, probably a consideration, don't know.

Anyway, I was really blown away by their set up and the fact that the general manager himself chatted with me so long and freely particularly after I told him that as much as I liked the new POs I was dead set on Rolex for now and that my next watch was 16600. Partly because it was a warmish day in May dressed like a hiker with one of my triple tactical backpacks for cruising around in urban areas. I honestly expected the usual indifference as I was slightly perspired and haggard looking. I give credit to all the three boutiques for their wonderful treatment.
Rolex Bldng - A
TC - A-
Omega - A+

It may seem like I'm promoting Omega but I'm not. Skeptically walking into this new boutique system of theirs for the first time I was just really impressed with their service and never has a GM spoke to me at a boutique before and for that long, maybe it was the veteran thing, could be the veteran thing.
I have always wanted a Rolex and finally I'm able to buy one to which I emphasized during our discussion in Omega, as I don't have the funds to buy my 16600 and then turn around and buy a PO which I reaaally like now, but that sd has been calling since 1995.
Sorry for the long post, I can go on and on sometimes......

[gwalker]

I enjoy the AP, IWC, and PP inside Tiffany's more than the NYC Rolex stores. All of the Rolex seem more off putting than the other places but it could just be my perception.

[Ravager135]

Sometimes it is very little things that come across big when you do them. Going back to my story it was the extra attention I got at Tourneau that has since turned me on to Panerai as a brand and now the Milgauss GV as a potential next Rolex. I will admit I passed over the Omega boutique but perhaps I will stop by today.

[tkerrmd]

Get the right match, and the watches will come!! Good luck!! See alot of guys like you down here in Tampa at MacDill and CenCom

[tigerpac]

I believe Wempe runs the Rolex store in NYC. Which is a very good thing.