How I got two Rolex SS Daytonas. (Long Read)

[judson]

I thought it would be an interesting post for others to see how games are played by ADs by explaining how I got my two Daytonas with my small spend history.

I got the white Daytona first, here is how. The first AD I had purchase history with as I lived in that town for 15 years. I would call my regular SA to talk watches a couple of weeks after Basel each year and we would discuss which ones we liked. They only carried Rolex, Tag Heuer, Casio and their house brand. If I purchased a new watch, regardless where, I would take it in, show him and we would BS about it and watches in general.

The day before my 46th birthday I called and specifically asked to speak with the manager. I told her I would like to be put on the list for the black Daytona for my 50th. That gave them a few years for me to work my way up the list and it was a milestone birthday. We had a nice conversation about it and I never mentioned it again.

About a year later we moved to another state but I kept in contact. When the BLNR was released on jubilee, I expressed my interest on our regular chat after Basel with my SA. I can’t tell you how long it took to get the BLNR, but when my name came up, I purchased it. What was interesting was that when the manager called me, she mentioned that I had turned down the BLNR on oyster, which I had, and they knew I wanted a Rolex on jubilee.

I subsequently sold a couple of watches in preparation for purchasing a Hulk, one of them being my mint polar Explorer 2 16570. I had purchased the watch NOS and paid about $1,500 extra for the satisfaction of taking off the stickers myself. I was having sellers remorse and asked the dealer to wait and let me think about it. Subsequently I called my SA and we chatted about me not having a white Rolex in my collection any longer and I was waffling on whether or not to part with my Explorer 2. My SA told me to let it go because he had something coming that I would like better. I did not know what, but I followed his advice and a week later I had the white Daytona on my wrist. I had waited about 18 months.

Queue my new AD and how I got my black Daytona. When I moved to the new city one of the first trips I made was to the local AD to introduce myself. They are a much larger dealer, I was told they used to keep over 400 watches in inventory. This was split between Rolex, Tudor, Breitling, Tag Heuer and Ball. I had yet to purchase the BLNR or the white Daytona and expressed my interest in a BLNR or a BLRO but was told that I had to establish a relationship with them before I would be put on a list.

I visited the new AD semi-regularly but had yet to purchase anything. When my second SA got the blue SS Skydweller I asked if I could try it on because I had never seen one in real life. He could tell I was genuinely happy for him and excited to see it in the metal.

When the black BB58 was released I expressed interest in seeing it, although I was not sure I would purchase. I was called and went in to view it. While there I also saw that they had a NOS Rolex Cellini Prince in the closeout section. It was marked down from $15k to $11k. I tried it on and quite liked it, but was not sure. I told the SA that my dream watch was the black Daytona and I would purchase something I liked in order to get on the list, I just had to figure out what I liked. The SA remarked, would you rather have the Prince or a Datejust. We discussed the price and I negotiated them down to $10K with taxes, but told them I would have to think about it.

On my drive home I decided I would rather have the Prince but it had been sitting for years. That was when I decided to bundle. I called the salesperson and told him I would take the Prince and the BB58 if I could have the next black Daytona. He spoke with the owner, and said they would do that. I took it on faith and now have both the black and white Daytona.

My total spend with my first AD was $25K and my total spend with my second AD was $13K before purchasing my Daytonas. What was really key was that both ADs know that I love watches. I follow the releases and am knowledgeable about many different brands and the industry in general.

I hope this helps others in their pursuit of any hard to get Rolex. Good luck, you don't have to be a whale to get the sought after pieces. Just be yourself and authentic.

[vh2k]

Thanks for sharing. Enjoy.

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by judson

I thought it would be an interesting post for others to see how games are played by ADs by explaining how I got my two Daytonas with my small spend history.



I got the white Daytona first, here is how. The first AD I had purchase history with as I lived in that town for 15 years. I would call my regular SA to talk watches a couple of weeks after Basel each year and we would discuss which ones we liked. They only carried Rolex, Tag Heuer, Casio and their house brand. If I purchased a new watch, regardless where, I would take it in, show him and we would BS about it and watches in general.



The day before my 46th birthday I called and specifically asked to speak with the manager. I told her I would like to be put on the list for the black Daytona for my 50th. That gave them a few years for me to work my way up the list and it was a milestone birthday. We had a nice conversation about it and I never mentioned it again.



About a year later we moved to another state but I kept in contact. When the BLNR was released on jubilee, I expressed my interest on our regular chat after Basel with my SA. I can’t tell you how long it took to get the BLNR, but when my name came up, I purchased it. What was interesting was that when the manager called me, she mentioned that I had turned down the BLNR on oyster, which I had, and they knew I wanted a Rolex on jubilee.



I subsequently sold a couple of watches in preparation for purchasing a Hulk, one of them being my mint polar Explorer 2 16570. I had purchased the watch NOS and paid about $1,500 extra for the satisfaction of taking off the stickers myself. I was having sellers remorse and asked the dealer to wait and let me think about it. Subsequently I called my SA and we chatted about me not having a white Rolex in my collection any longer and I was waffling on whether or not to part with my Explorer 2. My SA told me to let it go because he had something coming that I would like better. I did not know what, but I followed his advice and a week later I had the white Daytona on my wrist. I had waited about 18 months.



Queue my new AD and how I got my black Daytona. When I moved to the new city one of the first trips I made was to the local AD to introduce myself. They are a much larger dealer, I was told they used to keep over 400 watches in inventory. This was split between Rolex, Tudor, Breitling, Tag Heuer and Ball. I had yet to purchase the BLNR or the white Daytona and expressed my interest in a BLNR or a BLRO but was told that I had to establish a relationship with them before I would be put on a list.



I visited the new AD semi-regularly but had yet to purchase anything. When my second SA got the blue SS Skydweller I asked if I could try it on because I had never seen one in real life. He could tell I was genuinely happy for him and excited to see it in the metal.



When the black BB58 was released I expressed interest in seeing it, although I was not sure I would purchase. I was called and went in to view it. While there I also saw that they had a NOS Rolex Cellini Prince in the closeout section. It was marked down from $15k to $11k. I tried it on and quite liked it, but was not sure. I told the SA that my dream watch was the black Daytona and I would purchase something I liked in order to get on the list, I just had to figure out what I liked. The SA remarked, would you rather have the Prince or a Datejust. We discussed the price and I negotiated them down to $10K with taxes, but told them I would have to think about it.



On my drive home I decided I would rather have the Prince but it had been sitting for years. That was when I decided to bundle. I called the salesperson and told him I would take the Prince and the BB58 if I could have the next black Daytona. He spoke with the owner, and said they would do that. I took it on faith and now have both the black and white Daytona.



My total spend with my first AD was $25K and my total spend with my second AD was $13K before purchasing my Daytonas. What was really key was that both ADs know that I love watches. I follow the releases and am knowledgeable about many different brands and the industry in general.



I hope this helps others in their pursuit of any hard to get Rolex. Good luck, you don't have to be a whale to get the sought after pieces. Just be yourself and authentic.

Good for you!!


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[stylinleems]

Congrats and great story!

I agree, you don't have to spend a lot at an AD to receive the pieces. Yes, you have to be genuine and check in regularly but it all comes down to building the relationship with the SA/AD.

I can speak from experience as I had only purchased a BLNR in 2016 from one of my ADs before obtaining my White Daytona in 2019.

[DC116710LN]

Well done. Congrats!

[judson]

Originally Posted by fskywalker

Good for you!!

Originally Posted by stylinleems

Congrats and great story!

Originally Posted by DC116710LN

Well done. Congrats!

Thanks guys.

[turkeysub93]

You must be a very likable guy!

[sharkman2.0]

the only ones spending big money in the grey market for SS Daytonas are:
1- People with a lot of money that don't care
2- People with not enough money buying the hype and going overboard

[Hollie_Rollie]

Congrats!


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[Vipes]

Thanks for sharing. Great job getting Daytonas

[Tensai]

I just can’t read super long posts
But from the picture, congrats on your Daytonas.

[Computantis]

That's how you do it! I always went in and talked about watches to the local AD when I was in highschool/college and when I finally got my 116610LN this year some of the long-time SA's there were absolutely overjoyed for me.

Could it have been a fake reaction? Possibly, but it sure as hell felt real and nice. Having a genuine connection with these AD's is the best way to get what you want.

Well done!

[fishingbear]

Great post! A lot of truths to this that form the relationships that put desirable references in the hands of those who appreciate them.

[ap1]

Nice job. Increasingly rare at those spend levels I’d think

[judson]

Originally Posted by turkeysub93

You must be a very likable guy!

I certainly hope so. I also think that most people know I love watches in general.

Originally Posted by Hollie_Rollie

Congrats!

Thank you.

Originally Posted by Vipes

Thanks for sharing. Great job getting Daytonas

I hope my story helps others like me.

Originally Posted by Computantis

Well done!

I am sure they were genuinely excited for you.

Originally Posted by fishingbear

Great post! A lot of truths to this that form the relationships that put desirable references in the hands of those who appreciate them.

Knowing your collection, I appreciate your comment.

Originally Posted by ap1

Nice job. Increasingly rare at those spend levels I’d think

While I believe that you are correct, I hope that some ADs still root for the little guy like me.

[Seddyspaghetti]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing. You give me hope! :P

[Newbietothegame]

Very cool!

[etm124]

Great story! Thanks for sharing!

[zhqiang]

whether you love watches or not has something to do with their business?

[101031-28]

Well done, congrats!

[John S]

Bundle sale, plus regular contact.

[SS Oyster]

That’s terrific for you and others who have been so fortunate. As for my quest, I have been flat out told “never going to happen” by both of my ADs - one on the east coast where I bought a WG OF Daytona116519 and the other on the west coast where I have bought DSSD JC, SS GMT BLRO and last month the New Kermit.

No way, no how, never gonna happen.

I keep up hope, but been 1st on the 116500 waitlist since the west coast boutique opened (I was their first customer) in 2018.


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[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by zhqiang

whether you love watches or not has something to do with their business?

Apparently.

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by SS Oyster

... but been 1st on the 116500 waitlist since the west coast boutique opened (I was their first customer) in 2018.

Thus proving that there is no "waitlist" (at this AD).

[judson]

Originally Posted by Seddyspaghetti

Awesome. Thanks for sharing. You give me hope! :P

I hope it works out for you.

Originally Posted by zhqiang

whether you love watches or not has something to do with their business?

In this climate I do believe it makes a difference.

Originally Posted by John S

Bundle sale, plus regular contact.

That would be the TL;DR version yes. I also believe it misses some of the nuance of the story. I had read about another member bundling and gave it my best shot.

Originally Posted by SS Oyster

No way, no how, never gonna happen.

I admit I live in a much smaller city than it sounds like you do. I am sure that has quite a bit to do with it. Rolex dropped my first AD so they must have been a smaller AD.

[214270Explorer]

Thanks for sharing your story. Shows more in depth how some AD's work and deal with customers.

[ervelo]

This would never happen in the city that I live in, but congratulations on making it work!!

[Rolex.c6]

Great duo. The black dial is fire! Too bad they are so hard to find for most of us.

[judson]

Originally Posted by 214270Explorer

Thanks for sharing your story. Shows more in depth how some AD's work and deal with customers.

I agree with this and was my reason for posting. I felt like my first AD was the more fair AD and truly stuck to the list while the second AD was more about making sure I had a purchase history before I got an allocated piece.

Originally Posted by ervelo

This would never happen in the city that I live in, but congratulations on making it work!!

It's a shame that is true and thank you.

Originally Posted by Rolex.c6

The black dial is fire!

I agree that it is the sleeper of the two and was the one that I was drawn to when they were first released.

[arcampado]

Congrats on the Daytonas! Now let’s see a pic of the Cellini Prince. Here’s mine!