CONFIRMED news regarding the professional line

[tx02ag]

Any speculation that Rolex is holding back supply to start direct sales? Or is this truly a production decrease and not a supply decrease?

[Dusko.Popov]

Originally Posted by GerardoG

...so let me understand: let me blow up a 25 YEAR old personal relationship with some of the largest accounts in the Us for Rolex, Cartier, Tudor, AP and other brands just to make you happy? Maybe my ‘low level’ contacts are the reason why I get invited to Rolex EXCLUSIVE events (sorry, did not see you at last years Rolex hospitality tents) and those low level individuals are also the reason why we have PHYSICALLY the Tudor releases a few weeks after Basel, year after year. Oh, also those low level contacts get us VIP presentations and insiders information which, by the way, I SHARE with over 100 TRF members during gatherings in Las Vegas, Houston, Chicago, Miami and other venues. 100 people who travel and meet me face to face. Those are on top of the probably 200 TRF members I have MET over the last 15+ years.

...so, let me jeopardize all of this to make YOU happy.


Sorry, it will not happen. My family and friends, REAL friends are ALWAYS first.

Most of us folks here appreciate the info. Don’t let the handful of skeptics convince you otherwise. Thank you for your willingness to share. I’m looking forward to more inside info as we get closer to Basel.

[Dusko.Popov]

For those who don’t think that anyone but Rolex knows what’s going on in advance, I guess you’ve never read Rolexpassionreport.com

Go back two years on that site and see the foreshadowing of the 116500 and the 126600. He was spot on with both months in advance (photoshops that were spot on) as he has inside contacts.

I’ve been refreshing his Basel page for months but no real prognostication yet.

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by GerardoG

...so let me understand: let me blow up a 25 YEAR old personal relationship with some of the largest accounts in the Us for Rolex, Cartier, Tudor, AP and other brands just to make you happy? Maybe my ‘low level’ contacts are the reason why I get invited to Rolex EXCLUSIVE events (sorry, did not see you at last years Rolex hospitality tents) and those low level individuals are also the reason why we have PHYSICALLY the Tudor releases a few weeks after Basel, year after year. Oh, also those low level contacts get us VIP presentations and insiders information which, by the way, I SHARE with over 100 TRF members during gatherings in Las Vegas, Houston, Chicago, Miami and other venues. 100 people who travel and meet me face to face. Those are on top of the probably 200 TRF members I have MET over the last 15+ years.

...so, let me jeopardize all of this to make YOU happy.


Sorry, it will not happen. My family and friends, REAL friends are ALWAYS first.

Never upset a Mexican, there will be nothing good coming out of this.

[ARTISAN]

Originally Posted by Dusko.Popov

Most of us folks here appreciate the info. Don’t let the handful of skeptics convince you otherwise. Thank you for your willingness to share. I’m looking forward to more inside info as we get closer to Basel.

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by Dusko.Popov

Most of us folks here appreciate the info. Don’t let the handful of skeptics convince you otherwise. Thank you for your willingness to share. I’m looking forward to more inside info as we get closer to Basel.

Friendships made here are stronger bonds than those from haters. Me, happy to share, just as I appreciate when other TRFers share with us.

[airchitect]

As someone who works for a large manufacturing company (though not held by a private foundation) this goes against every ounce of business sense unless they are aiming to cut production an rapidly increase prices to make their product “more exclusive”. Maybe quality has been suffering due to higher production numbers and they don’t want to threaten the products allure by automating any more of production then has already been? Maybe they’re simply trying to move even more upmarket from Tudor? I dunno but I’m not friggin paying 10/12/15k for a stainless sub...

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by Jocke

Never upset a Mexican, there will be nothing good coming out of this.

So far, there is coffee all over the place! Now, I have to clean up!

[jclaraperea]

Originally Posted by Jocke

Never upset a Mexican, there will be nothing good coming out of this.

thanks for the info Gerardo


Enviado desde mi iPhone utilizando Tapatalk Pro

[77T]

Originally Posted by GerardoG

So far, there is coffee all over the place! Now, I have to clean up!

Like the smart one you are, not a drop of Patron was lost...


Sent from my iPhoneX using Tapatalk

[galaxy101]

Even if they’re going to cut the production, why would they even bother to communicate this to anyone? There’re tons of other luxury manufacturers out there whom scale up and down production all the time. This is no news. When was the last time Louis Vuitton or Ferrari cut the production and that became news? Companies do this all the time and we need to respect that (this is their business and they get to decide what works best for them) and move on. Too bad if Rolex prefers ADs being empty handed all the time (sports models) but hey let them pay the price for their poor marketing decision and don’t fall for that trap


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[HONDABBQ]

Originally Posted by GerardoG

...so let me understand: let me blow up a 25 YEAR old personal relationship with some of the largest accounts in the Us for Rolex, Cartier, Tudor, AP and other brands just to make you happy? Maybe my ‘low level’ contacts are the reason why I get invited to Rolex EXCLUSIVE events (sorry, did not see you at last years Rolex hospitality tents) and those low level individuals are also the reason why we have PHYSICALLY the Tudor releases a few weeks after Basel, year after year. Oh, also those low level contacts get us VIP presentations and insiders information which, by the way, I SHARE with over 100 TRF members during gatherings in Las Vegas, Houston, Chicago, Miami and other venues. 100 people who travel and meet me face to face. Those are on top of the probably 200 TRF members I have MET over the last 15+ years.

...so, let me jeopardize all of this to make YOU happy.


Sorry, it will not happen. My family and friends, REAL friends are ALWAYS first.

I'd like to be your friend.

[BBL]

Hey Gerardo....
You know what?
We just need more "happy sox" to go around.
Thanks for all you do here on TRF.
DM

[tomchicago]

The more I noodle on this, I think the upshot may be a massive professional model redesign, following the assumption of control by ETA once their purchase of Rolex is complete.

[askdanny]

Originally Posted by GerardoG

...so let me understand: let me blow up a 25 YEAR old personal relationship with some of the largest accounts in the Us for Rolex, Cartier, Tudor, AP and other brands just to make you happy? Maybe my ‘low level’ contacts are the reason why I get invited to Rolex EXCLUSIVE events (sorry, did not see you at last years Rolex hospitality tents) and those low level individuals are also the reason why we have PHYSICALLY the Tudor releases a few weeks after Basel, year after year. Oh, also those low level contacts get us VIP presentations and insiders information which, by the way, I SHARE with over 100 TRF members during gatherings in Las Vegas, Houston, Chicago, Miami and other venues. 100 people who travel and meet me face to face. Those are on top of the probably 200 TRF members I have MET over the last 15+ years.



...so, let me jeopardize all of this to make YOU happy.





Sorry, it will not happen. My family and friends, REAL friends are ALWAYS first.

Chill, bro. Man, it feels like I hit a nerve. I never asked for a source name and never will. Like I wrote, I’m sure you’re an upstanding guy and you’re 100% convinced it’s correct. But I wanted to remind readers it is still based on what you heard and not what you saw.



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[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by 77T

Like the smart one you are, not a drop of Patron was lost...


Sent from my iPhoneX using Tapatalk

Spilled tequila? NEVER!!!!!

[codester]

Is Rolex being bought by ETA??

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by BBL

Hey Gerardo....
You know what?
We just need more "happy sox" to go around.
Thanks for all you do here on TRF.
DM

Happy Socks are always welcome! We do need happiness!!!

[77T]

Originally Posted by galaxy101

Even if they’re going to cut the production, why would they even bother to communicate this to anyone? There’re tons of other luxury manufacturers out there whom scale up and down production all the time. This is no news. When was the last time Louis Vuitton or Ferrari cut the production and that became news? Companies do this all the time and we need to respect that (this is their business and they get to decide what works best for them) and move on. Too bad if Rolex prefers ADs being empty handed all the time (sports models) but hey let them pay the price for their poor marketing decision and don’t fall for that trap


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Before I retired I often got production notices from like likes of Cisco, Nortel, Lucent, IBM and others. It was to help the sales channels set expectations for top clients in the Fortune 500.

I appreciated that despite the fact that the news might not have been what I wanted. It helped by team be clueful about setting expectations.

Maybe Rolex is trying to help the Distributors (like Rolex USA and the others for Europe, Asia and Latin America). Or maybe those Distributors were complaining that the ADs were driving them crazy.


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[Why1504]

GerardoG,

How is the business for all of your contacts? Are these guys happy overall? Are they complaining?

Just looking at the economy in general here in the US I would think demand would be up not down and the shortages would be demand driven. If the professional watches only make up 10% of their sales then it would only make sense to shift production to the products with higher demand.

[lecorsaire]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Perhaps foreshadowed by the SS Skydweller

Maybe a SS DD40 is not a stretch

This will really never happen. The Day Date has been around for 6 decades and will always be a PM watch. While it’s not the most expensive Rolex, it is the still flagship IMO kind of like the S Class isn’t the most expensive Benz but it is their flagship.

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by Why1504

GerardoG,

How is the business for all of your contacts? Are these guys happy overall? Are they complaining?

Just looking at the economy in general here in the US I would think demand would be up not down and the shortages would be demand driven. If the professional watches only make up 10% of their sales then it would only make sense to shift production to the products with higher demand.

SS sports models account for almost 40% of their sales. Money wise, they make more on precious metal, yet they sell more units in sports SS.

Either way, when Rolex says ‘jump’, you JUMP. You do not ask questions, just jump as high as you can.

Rolex is a unique company, and all their moves are very well planned; this is why we love it. Timeless classics with a unique position in Swiss watchmaking.

As they say, The ROLEX way

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by askdanny

This is what we know:

1) the OP hasn’t seen the letter.

2) He was talking to a guy who is important enough that OP is willing to stake his reputation on.

3) Though the OP says it is one of the largest accounts in the US, we don’t know the dude’s actual title, whether he is the president of the company, or an employee relaying information (who hasn’t seen the letter himself).

4) Because it is third hand, possibly fourth (VIP —> OP —> us) and it was through a discussion between OP and VIP, no written record, there might be some details lost. (Is it the professional line with those particular reference numbers, for example, meaning a new reference number will be released with a new movement?)

5) OP says he doesn’t share what “[he] heard” or what “someone said.” But he is doing exactly that in his post: “I spent all day planning ... as well as talking watches with one of the largest accounts for Rolex in the United States.”

6) We will have no way of measuring whether Rolex is decreasing production, as AD shelves are already bare. So no way of knowing if OP information was right.

I’m sure OP is upstanding guy who is 100% sure his information is correct. Google “banzai cliff,” when you get a chance. (Hundreds of japanese civilians in 1944 in Saipan throw themselves to their deaths because they were convinced they’d be tortured by American soldiers who were coming).

Two more months to Basel...



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This is what we know:

Gerardo has been here for a long time and is known by a lot of us personally, is a respected and welcome member of this forum.

This is what we know about you...













.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by lecorsaire

This will really never happen. The Day Date has been around for 6 decades and will always be a PM watch. While it’s not the most expensive Rolex, it is the still flagship IMO kind of like the S Class isn’t the most expensive Benz but it is their flagship.

I think the one thing we have learned is that you can never say never

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[Casey VP-26]

On the TV today 7T (yes 7T) created in the markets since the election. Maybe Trump has talked Rolex into moving to America?

[Why1504]

Originally Posted by GerardoG

SS sports models account for almost 40% of their sales. Money wise, they make more on precious metal, yet they sell more units in sports SS.

Either way, when Rolex says ‘jump’, you JUMP. You do not ask questions, just jump as high as you can.

Rolex is a unique company, and all their moves are very well planned; this is why we love it. Timeless classics with a unique position in Swiss watchmaking.

As they say, The ROLEX way

Thanks for the insight. I wonder, how is their overall business? Are they struggling or is the jewelry business really good?

[Toivonen]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Why would they? Less volume means less sales!!!

These kind of topic drives me nuts

[galaxy101]

Originally Posted by Toivonen

These kind of topic drives me nuts

Yup, it’s complicated


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[jph4387]

Originally Posted by galaxy101

Even if they’re going to cut the production, why would they even bother to communicate this to anyone? There’re tons of other luxury manufacturers out there whom scale up and down production all the time. This is no news. When was the last time Louis Vuitton or Ferrari cut the production and that became news? Companies do this all the time and we need to respect that (this is their business and they get to decide what works best for them) and move on. Too bad if Rolex prefers ADs being empty handed all the time (sports models) but hey let them pay the price for their poor marketing decision and don’t fall for that trap


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I understand where you're coming from. However, in all fairness, Ferrari has stated publicly on several occasions they are cutting production because they're not as exclusive as they used to be. Also, they're forcing buyers to purchase less desirable models and build loyalty. As buyers purchase lower models and do not flip, they become more entrusted with better vehicles. The more I think about it, this is sounding very familiar to this thread.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...ce-exclusivity

https://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2013/...vity-of-brand/

[Gaijin]

Originally Posted by GerardoG

So far, there is coffee all over the place! Now, I have to clean up!

Haha.. hang in there G. We love you!