AP BT allocation of hot model

[jbk45]

Originally Posted by 7sins

Everytime I see a watch on C24 and the dealer is in NYC, I almost always get this exact response. So many of these dealers list watches they don't have but will go and find the watch for you, then "magically" the one they find is at a higher price. Very frustrating.

I wasted an afternoon meeting dealers on 47Th street who claimed to have the watches in stock only for me to go in person to view them and be told they were with another dealer, but that they could get it for me at a price 25% higher than advertised. Complete BS smoke and mirrors.

[m3jasper]

Originally Posted by jbk45

I wasted an afternoon meeting dealers on 47Th street who claimed to have the watches in stock only for me to go in person to view them and be told they were with another dealer, but that they could get it for me at a price 25% higher than advertised. Complete BS smoke and mirrors.

Correct, there are very few dealers that actually have inventory on 47th. The majority of them just post fake ads. When someone actually inquires, they reach out to the other dealers and try to "borrow" the piece to then show it to you.

I've even had a chat with Chrono24 about it, when I was trying to buy a piece online a year ago and had to call them for customer support. They are aware of the situation, but they just don't care, imo. They only care about the potential for a sale as their commission is directly tied to it. It's their only revenue stream, so they couldn't care less that there's a ton of fake ads up. They make their money regardless of the fact that the buyer is informed or not.

From my experience, I only had luck with Avi & Co, Exclusive Timepieces, and Wrist Aficionado (but he's on W62nd). However, keep in mind that they also don't update their inventory regularly, so it's best to contact them prior to making the trip to insure they still have the piece in hand.

TBH, I just don't enjoy going there. The majority of the dealers are so slimy and you get the feeling they're just trying to pull a fast one on you. I feel like I have to take a shower right after leaving the street.

[m3jasper]

Originally Posted by GS93108

I bet there aren't. I bet that for every one real watch there are several ghosts of the same watch all being touted by the different traders who are all hoping to catch the customer and then source the watch.

Here's an example.

There are 11 Ceramic Openworked PC's on chrono24 right now. AP only launched that model a year ago and they had plans to supply maybe 50 worldwide in the last 12 months, so that didn't happen.

Of those 11 that are listed I'd be shocked if there are 2 real ones, more likely just 1 and I bet that it/they aren't 'new/unworn' either. This model is the absolute hot model and ONLY AP super vips have them, and those guys are KNOWN to AP right down to their first born's blood type. These guys haven't moved them on yet, maybe next year, but not yet.

So, I call BS on chrono24 listings, not the site's fault at all, but BS nevertheless.

p.s.

I bought a ROO Summer Edition from grey because AP had sold out, I used chrono24 and call after call resulted in 'sorry, sold it, but I can get you one'.

Great example with the 26585CE, as that one hits home for me because Maciej and I chased one for 11 months. Yes, I know we're weird.

We went to LeBrassus back in November of 2019 to visit a friend who recently returned to Switzerland. The 26585CE had just been unveiled to the public, so I was hoping to catch it IRL. Unfortunately, they explained to me that it was literally their hottest piece and our friend's phone was getting blown up non-stop by VIP's asking for it. They didn't even have a marketing piece to show me. He also politely explained to me that there was no way I would be getting one right away as they were planning to only build 50 units in the first year and they obviously had to go to VVIP's. He told me he would consider me for year 2 and 3 when they would ramp up production.

I scoured Chrono24 and IG for 11 months. Out of all the ones listed on Chrono24, only ONE was real and in hand. I made the trip to Avi & Co about a month ago to see it live for the first time. It was indeed 100% brand new and unworn, they were asking $300,000. So from November of 2019 to October 2020 all the listings on Chrono24 were fake.

I also came across a piece or two on IG, but only one dealer based in Asia was able to produce video/pictures of a brand new piece that was being sold under the table. They wont even provide you with a serial number to check and make sure it's not stolen. They just expect you to wire $2XX,000 half way across the world based on good faith.

Last week, I visited a local watch dealer with a friend because he wanted to see an ultra thin tourbillon in person and when they saw the 26585CE on my wrist, the offers came rolling in. They used Chrono24 as a reference and the prices ranged from 290k to 345k. When I asked how they could use that as a reference if none of those ads are for watches that are actually in stock, they didn't have much to say...

A lot of the hype around the value of these pieces is inflated because of places like Chrono24. Don't believe everything you see on there. It's all speculation, imo, when it comes to the hard to find stuff. They just throw numbers out there and see who is stupid enough to bite.

Just my two cents.

[conkers]

Originally Posted by maruchan22

Like i dun mind buying non hot model to get a hot model, it makes sense. Just tell me what I need to buy to get that jumbo or whatever.

What is it you are trying to source? A 15202ST? What buying history do you have? Who are you dealing with in HK?

[macrowatch]

@m3jaspers, wow, crazy stories, thanks for sharing!

[Johndong888]

Originally Posted by GS93108

My only litmus test of the grey market is chrono24, I don't look anywhere else. I'm highly doubtful that even half of those items exist and I'm even more doubtful that those 'unworn' items are all unworn.

As to AD's supplying the greys, then that's their prerogative, subject to the terms of their agency agreements, but that is also the reasoning behind manufacturers bringing control back in house.

I very much doubt that they'll be ANY back door, unauthorised grey market supply from AP AD's in the next few years as there are unlikely to be any independents left, AP will have a joint venture or wholly owned stake in them all, and with that comes transparency of stock allocation.

Corporate owned boutiques for sure. Can’t say the same for joint ventures.


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