If Rolex announces that they will discontinue a model, how long does it take?

[Azadwatches]

I have a question for you all.

Lets say a friend of mine has been on the waiting list for a couple of years for a very after sought Rolex and the AD has promised that he will get it before May. What happens if Rolex announces next week during Basel world that this model will no longer be produced, how long does it take until that happens??

[daveswordfish]

No change for your friend. He was never getting it, he’s still never getting it. Not trying to be an ass here. It’s just that if he’s been on the list that long, he’s been leapfrogged by a LOT of people. Only gets harder if they announce the sunset of a model.


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[RJRJRJ]

There is no correct answer, but it seems that they still trickle in for a few months after, and then less and less show up for maybe up to a year, but at that point you barely see them showing up. That's why you see the "discontinued in 2020 with a 2021 warranty card. Super rare!!" sale posts.

Consider that the new models usually take a few months to start arriving, and it all kind of makes sense.

[ArtNouveau]

In most cases I would suspect that when a watch is announced as discontinued, production has already stopped. However it’s likely there will still be some in the supply pipeline at least for a few months. Of course every model sells quickly now so you won’t see them lingering in cases.
Occasionally though something weird happens. A year ago or so several people here were suddenly offered 11 series LN black bezel GMTs some 2-3 years since being discontinued. I believe they were all in the US so somehow/someway RolexUSA must have found a few still in the warehouse so to speak and sent them out.

[Chewbacca]

Today discontinued watches are announced but they’re unavailable anyway so technically, -2 years ahead of schedule of any announcement.

[Sandpit]

I don't believe the "announce" anything. The watches just disappear from the website. In the case of the previous 114060, I was on a waitlist for around 18 months prior to this being replaced by the 124060. When the new model came out I was told my name wouldn't shift to the new model and that I couldn't even add my name to the new list.

For the older models, they might still get the odd piece through for the next few months. I think generally the newer models are shipped by summer to the first customers (I can't be sure on that). The chances of getting a discontinued model if it's replaced are, I would say, very very slim unfortunately.

[greeneyedguy]

I have been told by people who work in the industry that their orders for their Tiffany blue OP's had to be changed from blue to black or silver. Not sure what this means but this was six months ago.

[Zar999]

Originally Posted by Azadwatches

I have a question for you all.

Lets say a friend of mine has been on the waiting list for a couple of years for a very after sought Rolex and the AD has promised that he will get it before May. What happens if Rolex announces next week during Basel world that this model will no longer be produced, how long does it take until that happens??

Got my 40mm sub date from the AD 5 months after it was discontinued so you can get lucky at least until 5 months after it being discontinued 🤷🏼*♂️

[Azadwatches]

That makes sense. Thank you. So seems like its up to each dealer and the current stock.

[Azadwatches]

I hope that not the case and don't think its 100% accurate.