How many of you went grey to purchase a Rolex since hype started?

[danwang0520]

Since the hype started around 2017, I was having difficulty in buying a GMT here in Asia. You have to play the AD game either by buying alot of watches or at least you have to bundle least popular watches with your purchase; otherwise, you would have to line up in a terribly who knows how long “waiting list”. Frankly, I did not want to do that so I went with my second option, Panerai. I ended up going back and forth the brand by selling and buying 3 times(PAM531/PAM944/PAM533). I have learnt my lesson: never buy your second choice as you will not be satisfied. So, this year for the first time, I decided to go grey to buy a GMT(126710BLNR) at premium market price because I know I will never sell this watch.

How many of you went grey to purchase a Rolex since hype started?


Current collection: 1) Rolex Submariner(116610LV), 2) Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional(311.30.42.30.01.006), 3) Rolex GMT-Master II(126710BLNR), 4) Breitling B01 Navitimer 43(AB0138211B1A1)

[gmtmister]

Never went grey. Patience and persistence allowed me to get the watches I wanted at retail, Hype or not. If I happened to deal with an unresponsive / less than ideal AD I simply looked elsewhere.
That said, I have never been in a rush to get a watch, so I always had to wait…sometimes a few months, other times a year or two.

What matters to me is getting the pieces I wanted!

[Moondoggy]

Never

[Son Goku]

Never have and never will. I love watches, but it’s a completely superfluous item and I don’t want to support a market that’s revolving around hype and unsustainable prices. I can wait years if necessary.

[joa]

Originally Posted by Son Goku

Never have and never will. I love watches, but it’s a completely superfluous item and I don’t want to support a market that’s revolving around hype and unsustainable prices. I can wait years if necessary.

being on waiting lists for years (and buying when receiving the call) also contributes to this market, as you help limiting supply side. In fact, if you only buy and never sell, you might be contributing more to this current market than a watch flipper.

[gmtmister]

Originally Posted by joa

being on waiting lists for years (and buying when receiving the call) also contributes to this market, as you help limiting supply side. In fact, if you only buy and never sell, you might be contributing more to this current market than a watch flipper.

This is complete bollocks, but tell yourself that, if it makes you feel better.

[joa]

Originally Posted by Ale

This is complete bollocks, but tell yourself that, if it makes you feel better.

well if you'd deny it you wouldn't argue against me, you'd have to argue against basic and well understood principles of economics...

[joa]

went grey for more than half of my collection.

combining longterm AD relationships with the occasional second-hand deal is a fine way to go

[Miker86]

Don’t listen to the ‘holier than thou’ comments from the AD only crew. If you want a BLRO or Daytona etc with no purchase history then you go grey or go without. If you can reasonably afford it then fair enough. BTW I’ve bought grey and from an AD.

[gmtmister]

Originally Posted by Miker86

Don’t listen to the ‘holier than thou’ comments from the AD only crew. If you want a BLRO or Daytona etc with no purchase history then you go grey or go without. If you can reasonably afford it then fair enough. BTW I’ve bought grey and from an AD.

Lol holier than thou?

What’s wrong with being patient and not wanting to spend almost double on a watch?

All I am saying is that the only reason people buy grey is because they have the money to afford that sort of premium, don’t have the patience to look for the right relationship or to wait for the watch (or all three). All good of course, since everyone can do whatever they want, but there’s nothing “holier” in waiting and buying at MSRP. I had no relationship whatsoever and kept on looking to find the watches I want from AD until I found them.

[mountainjogger]

Originally Posted by Ale

The only reason people buy grey is because they have the money to afford that sort of premium, don’t have the patience to look for the right relationship or to wait for the watch (or all three).

In some geographic areas, no matter how hard you "look", there is no "right relationship" for buying any Rolex at MSRP without spending a ton of money on over priced jewelry or watches you do not want, no matter how long you "wait for the watch."

[samuel019]

Originally Posted by Harry-57

Two out of ten of the Rolex watches I've bought have come from grey sellers over MSRP. No regrets whatsoever. If I could have got them from an AD I would have.

Exactly. Same principals here. The ones I know that even if I waited 100 years I'd not get it.

Originally Posted by mountainjogger

In some geographic areas, no matter how hard you "look", there is no "right relationship" for buying any Rolex at MSRP without spending a ton of money on over priced jewelry or watches you do not want, no matter how long you "wait for the watch."

Yep. Especially if in some of those area's there might be 3-5 in the entire state much less 3-5 in one city. Trust me with some models you just aint getting it. Unless you are very very very well liked or spend serious dough. If you're spending serious dough then whats the difference?

I've had to go Grey quite often but via trades etc I'm now down to only 1 that was a Grey/over MSRP purchase. And I'll not be adding a second. Not that theres anything wrong with it but more so I have enough. More than enough. Still 1-2 more I'd like to get but they will have to be with a call. 1 million percent. Unless Rolex introduces something other than cosmetic tweaks that blows my mind. Not counting on it

[shedlock2000]

Originally Posted by mountainjogger

In some geographic areas, no matter how hard you "look", there is no "right relationship" for buying any Rolex at MSRP without spending a ton of money on over priced jewelry or watches you do not want, no matter how long you "wait for the watch."

In some geographic areas even spending on all the junk the AD wants you to buy won’t secure you a place in the line. I feel ya.

OP: I’ve recently had a rough couple of experiences with my closest AD and, despite trying probably 30 other ADs in various countries and provinces, it looks a lot like I’ll be forced into the grey marked if I want to pick up a watch.

While it’s fair to say that collectors, who can wait until the AD calls, have the time to sit out the list some of us just need to replace a broken watch with one off the shelf — which, these days, can only be done from a grey-market shelf.


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[Miker86]

Originally Posted by Ale

Lol holier than thou?

What’s wrong with being patient and not wanting to spend almost double on a watch?

All I am saying is that the only reason people buy grey is because they have the money to afford that sort of premium, don’t have the patience to look for the right relationship or to wait for the watch (or all three). All good of course, since everyone can do whatever they want, but there’s nothing “holier” in waiting and buying at MSRP. I had no relationship whatsoever and kept on looking to find the watches I want from AD until I found them.

Nothing wrong with waiting if there’s any chance of getting the watch in the end. Unfortunately for certain models that won’t be possible - so if you really want that watch and can afford it then going grey maybe your only option.

[Calatrava r]

I have never bought current models on the used, second hand or pre-owned market. To me, Rolex watches are not worth the used retail prices some models fetch. If you are making no headway with an AD as someone else said above, find a new AD. If they like you, they will sell you a watch straight away, i.e., a few months wait. ADs get deliveries each month. Some more than others. ADs are in the business of selling watches. It is as simple as that. I have no issue with used current watches and would jump all over them in the right condition if they sold around MSRP or less.

[ganagati]

Originally Posted by Miker86

Don’t listen to the ‘holier than thou’ comments from the AD only crew. If you want a BLRO or Daytona etc with no purchase history then you go grey or go without. If you can reasonably afford it then fair enough. BTW I’ve bought grey and from an AD.

or you wait. 2.5 years here, but i landed a BLRO

[Miker86]

Originally Posted by ganagati

or you wait. 2.5 years here, but i landed a BLRO

That’s good going, but unfortunately impossible for most newbies depending on location. ADs won’t even bother putting you on a list these days, real or imaginary.

[kieselguhr]

Never purchased from a grey dealer.

For Rolex, I couldn’t afford to buy preowned from a used seller even if I wanted to. Especially during the hype but even now.

For Tudor, I purchased a mint North Flag because I could no longer find them at ADs and a Tudor Big Block which has long been discontinued, both from preowned sellers here on the forum.

I don’t think the answer will help you at all. Sounds like you have some kind of internal conflict or buyers remorse. I don’t think finding kinship over the circumstances of buying your watch will bring you solace. You have the watch you wanted after all and you even say that you have resolved never to sell it anyway.

[Beginner]

I bought my TT Skydweller black dial brand new from a grey dealer in early 2020.

And I actually paid below RRP for the watch.

After that, I did managed to get a SS Skydweller white dial in jubilee, DJ41 blue dial in jubilee, DD36 YG in dark grey dial with diamond markers and the GMT Master II Pepsi in jubilee from an AD in 2022.

[S.Explorer]

Used discontinued GMT, but only at slightly more than RRP. Was into Rolex pre-hype with a used discontinued Explorer.

[thesharkfactor]

I got a BLRP at 2x rrp.

[faimag]

Never for new pieces. Very often for discontinued, vintage, etc.

[2loaded]

Originally Posted by faimag

Never for new pieces. Very often for discontinued, vintage, etc.

Same here.

[mountainjogger]

Some people are able to buy at their AD without purchasing highly marked up luxury jewelry. And that is great.

But for those who leverage buying 3 - 4x marked up jewelry to get MSPR on a Rolex, how is that any better than paying a couple of grand more for a watch on the grey market?

To me it is not. Of course, I am generalizing. And if you want the jewelry, that is a win - win. But try selling the jewelry on the secondary market. It will be a shock.

To me, there is no difference between buying stuff you do not want at high markup and spending more by going grey. Just my opinion.

[ts3]

Originally Posted by faimag

never for new pieces. Very often for discontinued, vintage, etc.

+1

[SLWoodster]

I've never gone modern for a grey. That's not true, i snagged a white ceramic daytona for a friend at $32k back in April. But, I think it depends on how people value their time and willing to put up with lies. Me, I enjoy being lied to by the AD. Straight to my face.

[Harry-57]

Two out of ten of the Rolex watches I've bought have come from grey sellers over MSRP. No regrets whatsoever. If I could have got them from an AD I would have.

[Mystro]

I have purchased from our trusted sellers long before and after the hype. Much perfer the experience as their professionalism is more in line to my expectations.

[HiBoost]

Originally Posted by Mystro

I have purchased from our trusted sellers long before and after the hype. Much perfer the experience as their professionalism is more in line to my expectations.

Dang, when was that screenshot saved?


I think the "value prop" on gray versus AD has to be evaluated for each circumstance. I recently got a 36 and 39 explorer 1 pair for less than two new 36s would have cost at msrp. And I prefer the 39 size over the 36, so going with the trusted seller was a no brainer in my book. But for other models it's not something I'm comfortable with given how variable to speculative prices are. A white Daytona has been between 25k and 50k in the last couple years while the msrp has been between 13k and 14k. That's just way too volatile for my blood.

I also feel like waiting on an AD provides a natural "brake" to the otherwise runaway train scenario which my watch obsession could allow for :)

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by HiBoost

Dang, when was that screenshot saved?


I think the "value prop" on gray versus AD has to be evaluated for each circumstance. I recently got a 36 and 39 explorer 1 pair for less than two new 36s would have cost at msrp. And I prefer the 39 size over the 36, so going with the trusted seller was a no brainer in my book. But for other models it's not something I'm comfortable with given how variable to speculative prices are. A white Daytona has been between 25k and 50k in the last couple years while the msrp has been between 13k and 14k. That's just way too volatile for my blood.

I also feel like waiting on an AD provides a natural "brake" to the otherwise runaway train scenario which my watch obsession could allow for :)

Summer of 2017 when absolutely no one wanted a green Sub. The TRF topic at the time was if you prefer the BLNR or the Hulk? Overwhelming the BLNR was the favorite at the time. The just released SS ceramic Daytona was nuclear and unobtanium when the green Sub sat in display cases (for years) at a discount at the AD and even the BLNR was readily available in display cases. Those days are long gone as the brand and Rolex culture has totally changed forever.