well i finally got my yacht master II 116680 from local AD

[DrTom]

The first time i saw this watch in 2008 i think, i was actually stunned how much it impacted me. It was to the point of where i didn't even want to try it on because i knew it would torment me until i got one.....to make a long story a bit shorter, i always knew it was a grail watch for me and i started looking in earnest a couple of months ago and I've been out of the forums for a while and experienced firsthand the scarcity of SS tool watches so much that i was looking on the grey market etc, but living in Canada and with customs etc i really just wanted to go through an AD.

I called all of them in the province i live in (British Columbia) and tried to get on a list etc....No one had a 116680 SS or any model other than the full gold.

Lo and behold, monday i get a call and am told one came in unexpectedly as they dont know when or what will come in, and said i could have it....i gave a ccard info and put 50% down and today i went down and picked it up.

I must say that the experience once i got there was not great. The manager at the AD was demonstrating the clasp and extension etc.... while we discussed rolex and the covid shut down and the lack of supply etc.. It was like he was kinda patronizing... he also remarked that it was miraculous that i got the watch so soon after inquiry to which i chalk up to statistical good luck....anyway, he whisks the watch away and has his lieutenant "prepare the watch".... turns out that meant that the lieutenant is in the back taking off the stickers......which was always, for me, a personal rite of passage undressing the new beauty (metaphorical). I asked why and he said rolex requires it....i then ask, is it on their website? Is there any documentation regarding this? He says it was an email to the ad's....Then i realized this guy figures I may turn around and sell it on the grey market which really i should be able to do what i want once i pay for it....It was like a forced breeding exclusion contract with a dog breeder after i just got my puppy.

I actually have never sold a watch, i just buy them and keep them.....but this experience really soured me this AD....Kinda like i got the bum's rush.....

Anyway, love the watch and im glad i rescued it from cruella de ville. I paid the rolex msrp for canadian dollars....made sure the tags, books, docs etc were in order but maybe the sticker thing and the attitude is common, I might be expecting too much.

[padi56]

Congratulations wear it in good health.

[S1mplee]

Perfect steak cooking watch! Enjoy it I love mine!

[brucethemanlee]

Removing stickers by AD is normal now

[JSolution]

Congrats looks good on you :)

[GuyRitchie]

Congratulations Tom

[arcampado]

Congrats Tom, it’s a beauty! Wear it in good health.

[rolexfanforlife]

Looks great!

[Little machines]

Very nice ! Congratulations!

[Submarinerman1971]

Congratulations. The last two I have received, both AD's said them same thing. I don't like that they now think they are doing you a favour selling you an expensive watch. I tried to order a white gold GMT and the one AD said that they won't even put me on a list as it's an allocated piece. They pulled my purchase history there prior and saw that I have brought multiple pieces. I've collected for a lot of years but now find the hobby frustrating. Fortunately my other AD has recognized that I have been a long term customer and said he would do his best to get me the watch, although it will take a while.
Enjoy your new watch.
Joe

[gearguywb]

Beautiful! Congratulations!

We looked at a 37MM YM yesterday for the spouse. Really nice pieces!

[Mystro]

That’s the top dog. Absolutely my favorite Rolex model now.
Looks outstanding!!

Here is a pic of the sticker removal of my YMII. I get why you want to do the sticker removal but it’s not a big deal since you saw the watch with the stickers on and know it is in pristine new shape.
I would bet your dealer missed a sticker somewhere.

[brandrea]

Congratulations on the YM2.

A lot has changed in recent years including those pesky stickers

[mg18]

Glad to hear you got your grail. As others have mentioned, they do take stickers off now, and have been for at least 2 years from my experience.

[vh2k]

Originally Posted by DrTom

.... turns out that meant that the lieutenant is in the back taking off the stickers......which was always, for me, a personal rite of passage undressing the new beauty (metaphorical). I asked why and he said rolex requires it....i then ask, is it on their website? Is there any documentation regarding this?

Jeez. Really awkward questions to pose to an SA — especially when the answers are just plain ol’ common sense. Did you really expect him to pull up Rolex.com on his iPad and show you the policy on sticker removal?

Sorry the experience was underwhelming... but congrats on the new piece.

[rmlovett1]

Congratulations!

[inadeje]

Congrats, I love mine too. Its an iconic watch that few on here admire, but they will once it hits cult status due to low sales volume and when discontinued

[eurican]

Congrats! Enjoy it!

[travisb]

Congrats and enjoy!

[fskywalker]

Congrats!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[MiDoon]

I guess I missed the patronizing part. Was it the sticker removal in the back? My AD did the same thing in the work area while I waited. I never felt that way.

[samson66]

Love that reference! Congratulations

Sent from my Galaxy S20 using Tapatalk

[rfs]

Congratulations!

[Vince KSA]

Huge congratulations, that particular model gets a lot of unwarranted negative comments, but like you I love it.

By the way it looks a perfect on your wrist.

Great choice Dr. Tom, wear it in good health.

[casadecamporolex]

Truly a beautiful reference. A little too large for my wrist.
Love the background of the photo. Used to have a friend in Campbell River I visited once.
Spectacular place.

[Laz81]

Looks great on your wrist. beauty. Congrats

[Danny83]

Congrats !!

[PNBLWZD]

Congrats on your YM2! This reference is underrated and belittled by many who don’t get it, but cherished and beloved by owners including me. Wear it in good health!

[Gand]

Congratulations!

[kieselguhr]

Congratulations