My Last Year Trying

[Atlas]

Hello Dear Rolex Community,

Welp, here I am 12 years after first joining this group and it looks like I'm about to end my love affair with this brand.

I was in college when I first joined the group. I slowly learned everything there is to know about the brand while counting down the days to when I'd finally be able to put the money together and buy one after graduation.

I literally spent hours looking at all your wrist check photos and carefully staged beauty shots of all your timepieces. I would wait to see what photos Jocke would come back with every year from Baselworld. I've even been here to watch members grow older, wiser and some even move on from this life (RIP JJ). It's truly been a joy and a pleasure being a member of this forum.

Shortly after college, the difficulty in making such a pivotal purchase grew from a financial challenge into a mental one. In just a matter of a few years the process of purchasing a Sub went from finding one at an AD with relative ease to a gambit of pinning customer against customer and the most tragic part is that the game is completely manufactured. I've heard so many stories of people buying several pieces from their AD only to still be on a perpetual waitlist - it breaks my heart and brain. We all know the only bottlenecking of the supply is coming from the dealers and in doing so they've created a grey market that, out of principal, I don't want to take part of.

I know some of you will see this as me whining and it very well could be just that. A Rolex isn't something I NEED to have, but it felt like a rite (thanks Old Expat Beast) of passage for me. Unfortunately, I doesn't seem like I have that right to pass even though I have the money to pay (MSRP not grey)

In essence, this is it for me - my last year of trying. I remember commenting on a ceramic kermit mockup posted in this forum almost 10 years ago thinking, "that's the perfect watch - that's my first Rolex", and now here we are!! 12 years in the making and its here - the Cermit.

I will do everything in my power to get one AT RETAIL!! I will call every dealer on the planet (yes, even all the way in Dubai) and if I find one, I will use all of my travel points to fly to wherever I have to and make it mine, but in the case I don't - it's been a true pleasure reading your posts and looking at your wrists, that sounded weird, but you get it.

In essence, if the hour hand never touches the coronet then I'm simply not a member - just a spectator.

A :)

[dpvillanueva]

Damn man... You can do it! I started with a Tudor to inspire me to achieve greater. Start small, build up, trade/swap. You'll get there! Chin up!

[Old Expat Beast]

"... it felt like a right of passage for me. Unfortunately, I doesn't seem like I have that right to pass even though I have the money to pay..."

It's actually "rite of passage" (as in "ritual"), so your "rights" remain intact

Good luck!

[kauffee]

Buying my first Rolex at the AD was a special moment. Luckily for me it was before the scarcity and you could walk in and buy a Sub any day of the week. If the new Kermit is your perfect watch then don’t give up. But I’d pick a few local ADs and visit them in person and tell your story. Calling around the world probably won’t do any good. If you have a significant other and can buy a piece of jewelry or something that won’t hurt. It stinks that it’s like this now, but when you get your watch it will be worth it.

[kieselguhr]

Good luck brother

[Lamontsanders]

Have you actually gone to an AD with cash in hand and offered up a 100% deposit? I'm not saying you'll get the watch that day but it will probably materialize a little quicker if they know you are willing to put your money down.

[NYG1121]

I hear ya bud. I think this year, the sentiment on this forum is of just pure disappointment. Not because of the releases, just because of the reality. It feels more palpable this year than previous years.

[Ranger67]

I understand how you feel, my journey was only for 3 years though, but just by communicating with various AD's sending 3 monthly refresher emails i got a call, please don't give up, it can just happen out of the blue.

[fsprow]

MSRP is just a number and no one has a right to purchase at that price. At this point market price exceeds MSRP for most Rolex models; in the not so distant past it was lower. If you are tied to MSRP, lots of other great watches available at that price or lower -- now more than ever before.

By the way, I go to Dubai frequently. You won't find a SS Rolex there at MSRP but resellers there have many, many for sale - just like 47th Street in NYC. Save the airfare!

[TswaneNguni]

I have actually asked dealers ..." What about the first time buyer wanting that first Rolex .Wanting a Sub and saving for it ? "

They say they try but its difficult for them to decide who is who .
Who is the real customer and who is just the flipper .
They really want to sell to the real customer ,because it may become a regular customer .

Obviously they have to keep well known customers happy .Its business.

I REALLY feel sorry for the first time buyer in this current climate.

[TswaneNguni]

Originally Posted by NYG1121

I hear ya bud. I think this year, the sentiment on this forum is of just pure disappointment. Not because of the releases, just because of the reality. It feels more palpable this year than previous years.

I own a few ,but didn't even bother to inquire about the 126610LV.
Pointless .
It feels so cheap to ask an AD on 1 September and you are one of at least 500 doing so ...

Did ask for a OP41 turquoise dial .I find that one quite fresh and charming .

[904VT]

Nothing wrong with Tudor, Oyster Perpetuals etc as a nice alternative. I do get going for the watch you really want, but at a certain point it's not worth the chase. I think you would be extremely happy with another model be that OP, Sub, Sub Date LN, Exp 1 if you are open minded to give them a chance. Would be my recommendation rather than setting yourself up for disappointment. Good luck

[mykii]

Honestly you’re denying yourself something you really want and have some personal connection to. If there was ever a person who should go gray it sounds like it should be you.

Don’t listen to the detractors, and get over the unicorn MSRP, get your grail on the gray market if you can’t get one in a year (I doubt you will, by the way, since you’re not a VIP) and just get the darn watch on your wrist for the rest of your life!

[GB-man]

Might as well just pack it in.

[Number3]

Originally Posted by GB-man

Might as well just pack it in.

Let me guess - you’re a motivational speaker?

[Rado63]

I used to buy watches from craigslist or Ebay, but never wanted a Rolex. I never bought anything at retail. Then I wanted a Ceramic Daytona when it was released. Went to every local AD and of course got nothing. If you can't get one through the retail AD, then buying a watch through the secondary market isn't a sin. You can spend hundreds of thousands $ at the AD and not get what you want. So buy your Cermit from whatever source you can get it and enjoy it, you can sell it and get most or even more of your money back someday. As for me I have had four Daytonas and sold all of them after enjoying them for a time. It's a hobby that just happens to be an expensive hobby, that's all this is. Enjoy your life while you can.

[fsprow]

Originally Posted by Number3

Let me guess - you’re a motivational speaker?

And in demand during the pandemic !!

[1665fan]

Originally Posted by Number3

Let me guess - you’re a motivational speaker?

He’s a truthful speaker lol

[TriaXenginE]

You’ll get the watch. Like you said, if you’re willing to call every single AD, someone will sell to you. I wish you luck and look forward to you posting that incoming.

[scarlet knight]

Originally Posted by Lamontsanders

Have you actually gone to an AD with cash in hand and offered up a 100% deposit? I'm not saying you'll get the watch that day but it will probably materialize a little quicker if they know you are willing to put your money down.

You are out $10K, no watch.

[Rashid.bk]

Don’t mean to be inconsiderate but can someone give me the gist of what the op is sayin.
Thx.

[173rdabn]

I love my 216570 Explorer II and have no plans to abase myself at some dogshit AD or pay twice list price in order to buy a new watch.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by Atlas

I will do everything in my power to get one AT RETAIL!! I will call every dealer on the planet (yes, even all the way in Dubai) and if I find one, I will use all of my travel points to fly to wherever I have to and make it mine

Would be far less costly both in terms of money and time to just call a trusted seller and buy

[Woody]

Life is too short to worry about such matters, so suggest you put yourself out of your misery and pick one up from a grey dealer. You will just be paying tomorrow's MSRP today. If you keep it for the next 20 years then the additional cost will be minimal.

[TswaneNguni]

Originally Posted by Number3

Let me guess - you’re a motivational speaker?

[David007Kim]

GO “GREY DEALER”!!!,...Rolex has changed as far as acquiring a SS SPORT MODEL!,...due to New Wealth, You Tube, Instagram and “The Hype”,...the game is getting one in your wrist!!! The WatchWorld has changed since the “Ceramic Series” have been released. AD’s and Grey Dealers are just the beginning, you now are dealing with Chrono 24 and even EBay along with Private Collectors. It’s “INSANE”, but true. ONLY people who truly desire these “Models” are either wearing them or people who can AFFORD the “Premium Prices” and lastly the “HIGH ROLLERS” that have spent more than $100k at an AD! 12 years of being a spectator on the forum is a little long,...but what you want and get one in your wrist!!!,...after another 12 years of waiting, the money that you’ve spent NOW will more than likely either be worth the investment and MORE IMPORTANTLY bring enjoyment to you while looking at your wrist! GO GREY,...there’s no time for games played too long, life is short!!!

[Seddyspaghetti]

Yeah, AD will most probably never sell a Cermit to you if you do not have purchase history. Instead of spending the money to build up your purchase history on watches you may not even want, just go grey.

[GradyPhilpott]

My advice generally to those who are young is to never give up on your dreams.

If this isn't the right time, even though you might have the money, that doesn't mean that the time won't be right at a later time.

I'm not just speaking of watches here. I'm talking about life.

Many times my dreams have been shattered and I thought my chances for achieving them were over and done, only to have new opportunities open.

An example would be my education. I won't go into details, but somehow the VA managed to screw up my eligibility for educational benefits and told me that I was ineligible when I sought to reinstate them after moving to another state.

I thought it was over for me.

Some years later opportunities arose for me to return to college on a state grant. I took the public transit to campus every day and every day I passed some graffiti on a wall, written in royal blue that said, "In the dust of shattered dreams shines true self."

On that first day to school, I took those words as my motto and I have measured my life by those words every since.

Later, my plans of going to graduate school were seemingly shattered by a terrible accident that landed me in the hospital and laid me up for months and I though again that it was over.

Then another opportunity opened that gave me the chance to go to grad school on another, better grant than I had before.

Now, I'm not saying that a Rolex will make you a happier man and that a Seiko wouldn't serve you just as well, but what I am telling you is that life doesn't just fall into place for everyone.

Sometimes there are unexpected detours that seem to lead us so far off course that we think that it would be just as well to give up and take the route of least resistance.

But my life speaks to another way that says that if you don't give up and that if you remain focused, even minimally, on your ultimate goals, the opportunities can arise and it is only a persistent mindset that will enable you to be alert enough to recognize those opportunities when they present themselves.

[baymax]

Your story reminds me of “Rudy” , but instead of getting into Norte Dame it’s getting a Ceramic Kermit.

[*M5]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

My advice generally to those who are young is to never give up on your dreams.

If this isn't the right time, even though you might have the money, that doesn't mean that the time won't be right at a later time.

I'm not just speaking of watches here. I'm talking about life.

Many time my dreams have been shattered and I thought my chances for achieving them were over and done, only to have new opportunities open.

An example would be my education. I won't go into details, but somehow the VA managed to screw up my eligibility for educational benefits and told me that I was ineligible when I sought to reinstate them after moving to another state.

I thought it was over for me.

Some years later opportunities arose for me to return to college on a state grant. I took the public transit to campus every day and every day I passed some graffiti on a wall, written in royal blue that said, "In the dust of shattered dreams shines true self."

On that first day to school, I took those words as my motto and I have measured my life by those words every since.

Later, my plan of going to graduate school were seemingly shattered by a terrible accident that landed me in the hospital and laid me up for months and I though again that it was over.

Then another opportunity opened that gave me the opportunity to go to grad school on another, better grant than I had before.

Now, I'm not saying that a Rolex will make you a happier man and that a Seiko wouldn't serve you just as well, but what I am telling you is that life doesn't just fall into place for everyone.

Sometimes there are unexpected detours that seem to lead us so far off course that we think that it would be just as well to give up and take the route of least resistance.

But my life speaks to another way that says that if you don't give up and that if you remain focused, even minimally, on your ultimate goals, the opportunities can arise and it is only a persistent mindset that will enable you to be alert enough to recognize those opportunities when they present themselves.

Well said, well lived. It is a blessing to receive such sage advice, for the OP and for the rest of us. Thank you!