UK SD43...FINALLY the wait is over!

[Zakalwe]

As per tradition, a couple of (rough) pics are at the bottom but…

…there is some background to this, in the form of an incoming thread I posted two days ago.

To cut what was a long story short, I was lucky enough to pick up an LVc from my AD on Thursday. What I didn’t include in that post (which was long enough as it was) is that after the purchase, I asked him what my chances were of getting on the “list” for an SD43, bearing in mind that I hadn’t even been allowed onto the LVc list a year previously. To my surprise he paused, grinned slightly and said “could be very good”. He then elaborated that, along with the delivery of my LVc, they had just received an SD43. Furthermore they had already had 4 people on the list turn the watch down and the fifth, who was interested, was already 2 hours late for his appointment. He told me that they get a batch of ten names in at a time via head-office for wait-list pieces and they go through those names until they get a taker. He said to me if he goes through his list with no biters, he’d give me a call. I thanked him for his kind offer and agreed that I’d bite his hand off if I got the call. However internally I was thinking there’s no way it’s going to happen that 10 people being offered a fantastic watch - reselling for 3k over retail for those that might be looking for a quick buck - would all turn it down. I figured I’d be happy waiting another year or even longer for my chance.

What do you know? I got the call yesterday, less than 24hrs after picking up the Sub and picked up the watch this morning.

So, off on another tangent for a bit, but related to the above: there has been the occasional thread that has popped up on here about having a “relationship” with your AD and whether or not cultivating one can help getting certain watches. I’ve taken the view that the relationship is subordinate to the wallet. By miles. Don’t get me wrong, I know there are many folk on here who have genuine and longstanding connections with their AD’s and some who would even call them friends. However I always figured you can have any relationship you like, the prime driver for sales of waiting list watches is cash and how much of it you’ve spent/might spend in future. Whilst in the main I still think that’s true, my perspective has shifted slightly.

A year-and-a-half ago, I had four Rolexes on my hit list: OP39 (red grape, though eventually I’d get the Rhodium instead), BLNR, LVc and SD43. The only standing I had with any AD was with an Omega boutique and I’d never bought a Rolex. I joined the forum and only then realised that I might really struggle getting even one (OP aside, natch) let alone all of them. Whilst I’m in the fortunate position to be able to buy some decent watches, I don’t have cash seeping out of my pores and was not in a position (even if I’d wanted to) to spend lots of money on stuff I didn’t want or need to try to “build the relationship”. Ultimately though, the only money I’ve spent at the AD has been on the watches on my list, an OP for the wife and nothing else - 3 waiting list watches and 2 off the peg in a year-and-a-half, with the Professional watches all coming in the space of a year.

I’m not saying this to wind-up anyone who’s waiting patiently. I’m not trying to imply there’s a specific way of getting things done or that I’ve been anything other than fortunate. I know that it’s highly unlikely I’d have even got the first “hard-to-get” watch (BLNR) had I not happened to buy the wife’s watch first, thus getting onto my AD’s radar. I’m also definitely not even saying I have some sort of mythical special relationship with my AD. In fact I know I don’t, I have all the charisma of a dose of botulism and the schmoozing ability of a lobotomised Labrador. There is no way that my AD sees me as any more appealing (financially or personally) than a hundred other customers. Indeed financially I’m a Minnow in an ocean the size of the Pacific as far as spenders at that store are concerned. But, as I posted the other day, my AD had seemed genuinely horrified at the prospect of his Rolex watches being resold for profit and the Mothership subsequently finding out, thereby jeopardising the franchise. What I have been able to do through my fumbled, mumbled dealings with them is convincingly show that I’m a WIS who’s purely in it for watches. I think my AD is as confident as he can be about anyone that I’m buying my watches for me, not for profit and that he won’t be seeing my watches on Watchfinder any time soon. I really am pretty sure, at least with this particular AD at this particular time, that that counts for quite a lot. So I guess I’d say that whilst Rolexes cost money, showing enthusiasm for the hobby costs nothing. It might not help get a watch in the slightest. But then again...?

It also seems to me that the policy of withholding warranty cards and de-stickering watches can only be a good thing if you’re a true WIS purely in it for the watch, not the value or the hype. I strongly suspect the SD would’ve had a taker before me if it could be more easily resold for profit.

Anyway, make of that what you will. I really am done with buying Rolexes, and indeed watches for a while now. I’ve got the ones I wanted. I even managed to prise myself away from the AD without getting onto any more sodding lists. The wife came with me this time just to make sure. Thanks for reading if you managed to get to this point.

[nic_0152]

Congrats! It’s really a beautiful one!


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[Sarosh]

Congrats! On great incoming! Enjoy the watch

[JayHantz]

Dang, an LV and not even a week later a SD43...I would definitely be done with watches for a bit as well! They are both great incomings and you are a very lucky man. I would play the lottery like your brother did...who knows with your recent luck!

[al1786]

Congratulations! MkI as well.


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[Zakalwe]

Originally Posted by al1786

Congratulations! MkI as well.


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Thanks for the heads up, I was vaguely aware of the dial variation and actually completely forgot to check (not that I was going to turn it down!)

Crown between “Swiss” and “Made” is the only difference between the I and II right?

[emtee]

Congratulations and glad to hear you didn’t have to jump through silly hoops to get the watches you want

[Odie-r]

Beautiful pair and congrats!

[RichM]

Worked out well for you. Thanks for sharing the story and congratulations on the SD43.

[JohanJvR]

Very nice pair, congrats.

[Urosfan]

Congrats

[tyncam]

Congratulations

[returntorolex]

Congrats and enjoy!

[yannis]

Congrats!

[brandrea]

Congratulations on two fantastic pieces

IMO, it has less to do with the AD relationships and more to do with the fictitious waitlists, but what do I know

[Chloe&Harley]

Congrats great accomplishment..enjoy these stories

[tufty]

stunning, love it, well done.

[hodie9]

That’s a fantastic couple of pieces. Congrats.

[rolexguynfl]

Congrats. Nice duo there. Enjoy!
Regards

[Zakalwe]

Couple more pics.

For reference for anybody contemplating this watch but worried it might be too big: I’ve got a small wrist, but I think it looks well in proportion (being tall probably helps). Wrist-shots taken from close up aren’t necessarily representative of how a watch actually looks on the wearer.

[BT1985]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

Couple more pics.

For reference for anybody contemplating this watch but worried it might be too big: I’ve got a small wrist, but I think it looks well in proportion (being tall probably helps). Wrist-shots taken from close up aren’t necessarily representative of how a watch actually looks on the wearer.

Congrats! The second pic is proof it fits you fine. Enjoy!


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[Jakey]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

Thanks for the heads up, I was vaguely aware of the dial variation and actually completely forgot to check (not that I was going to turn it down!)

Crown between “Swiss” and “Made” is the only difference between the I and II right?

The font of '1' 1220 is slightly different between both dials.

[Tmac478]

Big congrats and welcome to the club!! I'm usually not a fan of large watches on small wrists, but that watch looks great on you! Your wrist does not look small at all...

[Flybak]

Congrats, great watch!

[Zakalwe]

Originally Posted by Jakey

The font of '1' 1220 is slightly different between both dials.

Thanks for the info. If I hadn’t got the call so quickly I’d have done my research beforehand.

I’m pleased I can look forward to Flat-4 esque value appreciation in 10 years time because I have the “true” 50th anniversary dial.

[watchmework]

Congrats on the stunner and welcome to the club!

[carlhaluss]

Congratulations. Looks like a great fit on your wrist. Kudos to that AD, sounds like he is very honest and up front about how the/his waitlist works.

Cheers,
Carl

[strafer_kid]

Brilliant watch - well done!

[bonovox]

Congrats. Looking sharp.

[uniqueMR]

Congrats