Hong Kong Watch-Hopping

[mk2jag]

looks like what Rolex heaven would look like.

[InitialAndPitch]

Finished meetings early today and went out in Central, Causeway Bay etc with a test strategy. Went in with Pepsi visible and asked to see some PM models. It was so hot and the constant no no no no no lead me give up.

There were some ladies watches at HK$968,000 ($US123,000) in the window at boutique near mid level escalator. Not much else.

Tudor availability seemed pretty good.

[Cl_77]

It's insane in hk

[ninjin]

Originally Posted by nuts070

Does ADs in Hong Kong bundle? I'm in the market for a DJ for my wife for her birthday, might as well take the opportunity.

Yes, but I don't think you'll get much of a carrot for bundling a single datejust.

I had a friend who wanted a GMT CHNR. They said they could if he would buy 2 Tudors (not hard to get models).

[ninjin]

Originally Posted by InitialAndPitch

Finished meetings early today and went out in Central, Causeway Bay etc with a test strategy. Went in with Pepsi visible and asked to see some PM models. It was so hot and the constant no no no no no lead me give up.

There were some ladies watches at HK$968,000 ($US123,000) in the window at boutique near mid level escalator. Not much else.

Tudor availability seemed pretty good.

If you went in to a HK AD wearing a Pepsi, to the salesman, in their eyes you will be either of 3 types of customer:

Someone who has contacts (know the boss/famous etc etc) who has managed to get a Pepsi at retail or below with minimal wait.

Someone who is a big regular spender, but as they don't recognise you, you cant be one of them.

Someone who paid premium to buy grey.

Whichever way, there is no point in fishing for your business. As ulitmately, you are not a customer they can close on.

[fullofboats]

I live in HK and frequently visit the ADs whenever I pass by. No one will add you to their waitlist without a prior relationship for SS sub, daytona, GMT, SD as their lists are already years long. Even the ADs I have bought from before tell me it will be years before I have at a chance at these models.
ADs I have no relationship with tell me they'll add me to their waitlist for sub non-date, explorer 2, or deep-sea (black only) but only after striking up a conversation and telling them I'm not a tourist. They tell me anywhere from 6-9months for a sub non-date, 1-2 months for an explorer 2.
It is also possible to find the occasional less popular SS sport in the case as well. I've seen one explorer 2, one deep-sea black, plenty of milgauss and explorer 1. Just a matter of being lucky. SS sport models on the off chance they make it into the case will be snatched up in "15 minutes" according to one AD I asked. The foot-traffic outside the ADs in HK are insane so I'm not surprised

[jerryfed]

I would not buy a Rolex in a place like that never! It all looks nasty, besides it also looks like they were all fake watches!

[fullofboats]

If you're a tourist in HK I'd say there is zero chance of walking out with a SS sub, daytona, GMT, SD regardless of what you're wearing. The hot models all have waitlists "years" long so no AD will bother adding you to them. Even if you're a local and tell them you're willing to wait they tell you it's "impossible". I've tried asking at literally every AD in HK over the past few months. The best I've gotten is 6-9months for a sub non-date, 1-2 months for an explorer 2, and a few months for a deepsea black.
Having said that, I have seen an explorer 2 polar and deepsea black in the case before...but I'd say the chance is literally 1% for a walk-in.

[lemaitre]

Is it just me, or seeing all of those watches together like that makes them seem cheap, mundane, ordinary? Takes some of the glam away imho

[Maxy]

Thanks OP - -great pics and eye opener for many!

[RolexInMelbourne]

Originally Posted by Pete17

X2

Rolex need to stop ignoring the traditional markets.


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Rolex was in 1980-90s hong kong gangster movies... in fact just look at any movie back then in HK, you will see rolex almost in every one of them.

if you have been to HK back then, you see them everywhere. HK has been Rolex's land of fortune since day 1!!!

[pholzer]

WOW.... what a fantastic collections. now i see where all the Rolex are.

[nuts070]

Originally Posted by ninjin

Yes, but I don't think you'll get much of a carrot for bundling a single datejust.

I had a friend who wanted a GMT CHNR. They said they could if he would buy 2 Tudors (not hard to get models).

I'm hoping for a miracle at Chow Tai Fook in Mongkok where I've bought my DJ and several jewelry for my mom and wife.

[SeaAndSky]

Originally Posted by Wrist King

BLNR at $16k USD everywhere. No thanks.

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Indeed. Way too much. If I wanted one I could go to my AD, let them know I want one, and wait for it to arrive at msrp.

[SeaAndSky]

Originally Posted by lemaitre

Is it just me, or seeing all of those watches together like that makes them seem cheap, mundane, ordinary? Takes some of the glam away imho

Well, I've never found them to be glamorous to begin with. They are beautiful and well crafted with the perfect mix for me of finishing, reliability, accuracy, and toughness. But I'm laughing at the people paying so much for these watches. It's clearly foolhardy to me to do so. They're just not worth the prices asked at the grays.

[ninjin]

Originally Posted by nuts070

I'm hoping for a miracle at Chow Tai Fook in Mongkok where I've bought my DJ and several jewelry for my mom and wife.

I think a 'miracle' is the correct term!

[tuffness9999]

Originally Posted by SeaAndSky

Indeed. Way too much. If I wanted one I could go to my AD, let them know I want one, and wait for it to arrive at msrp.

Yeah, arrive in about 5 years, amirite?

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[WatchLurv]

Originally Posted by tuffness9999

Yeah, arrive in about 5 years, amirite?

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...Or never.

[danwang0520]

loads of watches, i'm overwhelmed~~~

[acfcheung]

HK is probably THE WORST place in the world to buy Rolex. Almost all ADs let popular models out the backdoor to greys or blatantly sell to you with a market premium.

Wait lists don't really exist here.

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