Is this proof that Rolexes are selling slowly in the UK?

[amaninspired]

Greetings all – I haven't been around much for a while, just been too busy, I'm afraid. However, I saw this yesterday in the window of an A.D. in Edinburgh.

It's the first time I have ever seen a steel Daytona on display in the window of an A.D. I knew that the market for them had slowed in North America, but I wasn't clear that the same was quite so true in the UK (at least in the cities) until now…

For anyone who's interested, the A.D. in question is Laings in Edinburgh. I'm fairly convinced that they had just taken a delivery – the window was overflowing with stock. Even so, I would normally have expected them to still have a waiting list for a steel Daytona and not to put it on display. Just led me to think that the market for watches in general has slowed and that there are more nervous about the economy than we are being led to believe… I also saw a gorgeous looking used steel 16710 GMT Master II with a red and black bezel on sale nearby at what seemed like a very reasonable price.

[travisb]

It's likely not because Rolex are selling slowly, but that the desire (hype) for the SS Daytona isn't what it used to be.

[zama]

Sometimes it is just timing, I walked into a Sydney AD and they had a PP Aquanaut, any other store tells me they don't even know when they will get the next one. I would say you are right they probably just had a shipment, not exactly the most engaging display (very random lay out), I see they have prices on them in the window as they do in Sydney now.

Wondering what the conversion will be in Scottish Pesetas when the Scots quit the UK.....

[amaninspired]

To be fair, that was just a small section of the whole window display. As for the currency question, that has been badly handled by both sides of the debate… As has the whole independence referendum campaign! I'm at the point of believing that neither side actually wants to win!!

[zama]

Not sure which way to jump, cant see going it alone in a small country is ideal, sometimes overlords bring some positives....... Oil does not last forever......

[amaninspired]

Originally Posted by zama

Not sure which way to jump, cant see going it alone in a small country is ideal, sometimes overlords bring some positives....... Oil does not last forever......

I've always thought that was a fairly weak argument. Neither Sweden, Denmark nor Luxembourg, for example, have Oil. They're all very prosperous smaller nations. In fact, Luxembourg is the most prosperous country in the EU.

Unfortunately, the opportunity to create an unfeasibly wealthy Norwegian model has gone as, you're right, oil does have a limited supply. Having said that, it could quite easily supplement the GDP and tax base of a new nation in the medium term and provide it with a platform upon which to build a prosperous future that was not based on oil.

As for Rolex sales in Scotland in the event of independence, I suspect they would go down in the short term and then revert to current levels, or perhaps slightly higher in the long term. (See, this post wasn't entirely off topic!)

[padi56]

IMHO one of the main reasons you were unlikely to see a SS Daytona in many ADs was perhaps down to greed on the store or buyers.Many just buying then reselling hoping to make a fast buck, and the guys who really wanted a Daytona could not get one.And again IMHO many Daytona watches always seem to find there way into the grey market where there was always a supply but at a price.But now the Daytona bubble has started to burst and no longer selling at premium prices unless to those daft enough to pay them.

[amaninspired]

Originally Posted by padi56

IMHO one of the main reasons you were unlikely to see a SS Daytona in many ADs was perhaps down to greed on the store or buyers.Many just buying then reselling hoping to make a fast buck, and the guys who really wanted a Daytona could not get one.And again IMHO many Daytona watches always seem to find there way into the grey market where there was always a supply but at a price.But now the Daytona bubble has started to burst and no longer selling at premium prices unless to those daft enough to pay them.

There's probably a degree of that, but I genuinely think that prestige watches are selling slower in the west these days. It's more of a priority to have the latest and greatest iPhone and prices went up exponentially for a few years. Having said that, I doubt that the watch houses are too bothered as long as China and the east continues to pick up...

[padi56]

Originally Posted by amaninspired

There's probably a degree of that, but I genuinely think that prestige watches are selling slower in the west these days. It's more of a priority to have the latest and greatest iPhone and prices went up exponentially for a few years. Having said that, I doubt that the watch houses are too bothered as long as China and the east continues to pick up...

Asia has been one of Rolex biggest outlets for many many years but even places like China today are in trouble with huge borrowing debts.

[HYPOLUXXA]

Originally Posted by padi56

IMHO one of the main reasons you were unlikely to see a SS Daytona in many ADs was perhaps down to greed on the store or buyers.Many just buying then reselling hoping to make a fast buck, and the guys who really wanted a Daytona could not get one.And again IMHO many Daytona watches always seem to find there way into the grey market where there was always a supply but at a price.But now the Daytona bubble has started to burst and no longer selling at premium prices unless to those daft enough to pay them.

Exactly what I went through, well said. I wanted a Daytona for 20 years, always got treated horribly by all the ADs in Los Angeles for even asking about one. When it was time to buy one in 2012, I went to ebay and paid 13K for one. I didn't care.... I didn't know about the trusted sellers here.

[jjnd08]

Agree that it was probably just good timing. I went to an AD a couple months back and they had a BLNR on display. He said they literally just got it and all the others go within the day of coming in.

[Robbyman]

Let us get this Scotland thing right.

A. It is a Union of two countries so both sides should vote, Scotland and England.
B. The majority of the English want the Scots to go and would vote that way.
C. The Scots rule the English and not the other way round.
D. Scots vote for the SNP to rule them domestically.
E. Their vote to Westminster is usually for Labour, and their scottish MPs make the difference usually meaning a Labour Government.
F. The English usually vote more Conservative MPs than any other party.
G. It is called the "West Lothian Question" if you wish to look it up


So conclusion, Scotland please go and let us be ruled by who we want and we can be England again, yes the proud nation you have piggy backed on for too long.

Rant over.

[amaninspired]

Originally Posted by Robbyman

Let us get this Scotland thing right.



A. It is a Union of two countries so both sides should vote, Scotland and England.

B. The majority of the English want the Scots to go and would vote that way.

C. The Scots rule the English and not the other way round.

D. Scots vote for the SNP to rule them domestically.

E. Their vote to Westminster is usually for Labour, and their scottish MPs make the difference usually meaning a Labour Government.

F. The English usually vote more Conservative MPs than any other party.

G. It is called the "West Lothian Question" if you wish to look it up





So conclusion, Scotland please go and let us be ruled by who we want and we can be England again, yes the proud nation you have piggy backed on for too long.



Rant over.

I don't think Scottish independence would help Rolex sales in England.

[Jason71]

I thought we were supposed to discuss watches and leave this political stuff out of it

[HL65]

Originally Posted by Robbyman

Let us get this Scotland thing right.

A. It is a Union of two countries so both sides should vote, Scotland and England.
B. The majority of the English want the Scots to go and would vote that way.
C. The Scots rule the English and not the other way round.
D. Scots vote for the SNP to rule them domestically.
E. Their vote to Westminster is usually for Labour, and their scottish MPs make the difference usually meaning a Labour Government.
F. The English usually vote more Conservative MPs than any other party.
G. It is called the "West Lothian Question" if you wish to look it up


So conclusion, Scotland please go and let us be ruled by who we want and we can be England again, yes the proud nation you have piggy backed on for too long.

Rant over.

Are you begging to be banned? Infraction coming your way.

[Gaijin]

IBTL. What a train wreck this thread just became. We are talking about the availability of SS Daytonas and then...

[padi56]

Right guys I will say this once and once only lets keep the subject on topic and not about the politics of the united kingdom.If anyone wants to argue with my warning, be my guest as you will lose the argument every time. And I will state it will be the last time you ever argue with me or not head my warning as it will be your last post on TRF.

[amaninspired]

Originally Posted by padi56

Right guys I will say this once and once only lets keep the subject on topic and not about the politics of the united kingdom.If anyone wants to argue with my warning, be my guest as you will lose the argument every time. And I will state it will be the last time you ever argue with me or not head my warning as it will be your last post on TRF.

Agreed. It would be interesting to hear the impressions of an A.D. about the Daytona situation and sales in the UK in general.

[Furbo]

I don't see how one can determine Rolex's success in UK by one Daytona in display window.

[beshannon]

It is proof that you saw a stainless steel Daytona in a window.

Nothing more.

[amaninspired]

Originally Posted by beshannon

It is proof that you saw a stainless steel Daytona in a window.



Nothing more.

Very true. However, as I have not seen such a sight before, I thought it might be worthy of comment as it certainly wouldn't have happened a few years ago.

Until I bought my own steel Daytona, I don't think I had seen more than one or two out in the wild. Of course, I then flew through Heathrow for the first time in many years, where they were 10 a penny!

[amaninspired]

So, I am just back from my lunchtime stroll. I was about to post a photo of the same window display today, but I don't seem to have my Tapatalk ID details available, so it won't let me upload photos – I was using another device earlier.

Anyway, I will post a photo later (probably), the bottomline is that the steel Daytona is no longer there! So, perhaps my observations are of a little less significance than I had thought.

The other watches are still on display. I must say, I do like the silver dial Day-Date on the leather strap. It's gorgeous!

I also went and looked properly at the secondhand 16710 GMT Master II I mentioned earlier. It looks nice in a window because, unfortunately, it has been given a very overenthusiastic polish job. The poor watch has been butchered – I could actually see my face in the case back!

I can't understand why someone in the trade who's selling such a watch would not at least give it to someone who knows what they're doing to refinish the case before selling it; assuming they even bother with refinishing the watch.

[Mystro]

The SS Daytona is now getting back to reality. The bubble burst.

[Slider817]

I was in Tourneau yesterday in NYC, I asked them if they had any White face steel Daytonas, they asked me if I had ever purchased a watch in their store before, they looked me up in the computer, then brought it out for me to look at. I didn't buy it, but just goes to show that they are much more available than they used to be. I think most stores are still saving them for their regular customers though.

[harvey]

The one in the window got sold within the hour. Just spoke to the salesperson...he said they went thru their list with no one ready to buy so it went in the window.

[amaninspired]

Originally Posted by harvey

The one in the window got sold within the hour. Just spoke to the salesperson...he said they went thru their list with no one ready to buy so it went in the window.

The one at Laings?

[harvey]

Yes, I just called a few mins ago...

[amaninspired]

Originally Posted by harvey

Yes, I just called a few mins ago...

Wow! I didn't think it would last long, but that was very quick. Maybe there is still a buoyant market after all…

Having said that, it's surprising that no-one on their list took it.

[harvey]

...the chap said those on the list said they weren't ready to buy just yet...wrong time of the year etc.

he also said it's never happened before that he's had to put one in the window before...

i called not to buy the watch as I'm not ready either but to enquire what was availability like for the future. He said they have plenty of people on the list already...

[amaninspired]

Originally Posted by harvey

...the chap said those on the list said they weren't ready to buy just yet...wrong time of the year etc.

he also said it's never happened before that he's had to put one in the window before...

i called not to buy the watch as I'm not ready either but to enquire what was availability like for the future. He said they have plenty of people on the list already...

Good luck - hope the time is right for you soon!