The Crossroads of a Brand

[904VT]

I say if Rolex is serious about helping fix the lack of Professional models available at ADs, why not just develop a warranty card policy where they hold for 1 yr or so. I'm sure most would be ok with that for the opportunity to own a watch they want to have long term

[lenfried29]

Originally Posted by Sublovin

What makes you think they would have to enlarge the workforce? You are making an assumption that they are operating at maximum capacity. I don’t think so....it’s manufactured scarcity, and it’s working.

It seems like you know exactly what Rolex strategy is. In fact you're assuming as anybody else on this forum.

[lenfried29]

Originally Posted by Texasjim

In my opinion, I don’t think it’s a popularity thing. If production stayed the same, then AD’s would get the normal inventory as they have historically seen, but sell out sooner. This is not the case. My AD hasn’t been getting near the inventory in sports watches that they are used to seeing. I would interested in seeing if more Rolex Authorized Dealers have been established compared to AD’s who dropped the brand. If we see there is no marked gain in dealers, then I believe the drought is due to Rolex is holding back.

The demand of Rolex watches are skyrocketing around the world, not only locally by you. Published statistics shows that demand increased around the world especially in Chiana and S.Korea by over 30%. It's supply and demand.

[hitman23]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

sounds like when i used to collect baseball cards. There were always a few that were harder to get than others. I ended up with a mountain of cards to get the one i was after, and I'm sure the store i bought them from loved it. This is just more expensive, but i think people are actually buying more stuff.

yes, but what happened to the baseball card hobby

my mattingly rookie cards are worth 2 bucks now

[Pol1]

This is an article which appeared in the "nrc.nl" (daily newspaper in the Netherlands) of April 2015.

https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2015/04/18...84777-a1010383

I believe that what we experience now adays in connection with the scarcity of some Rolex models, must be the result of such like situations.
As a Belgium, more specifically Flemisch citizen, I did my best to translate this article in my best English.

"
Jeweler Schaap and Citroen suspected of fraud

Jewelers sell exclusive watches with high discounts to dealers with criminal contacts. Through this sale via the back door, watches end up in large numbers in the underworld . According to research by the NRC (daily newspapaer in the Netherlands).
Police confirm the procedure and sees jewelers and watch dealers turn up more often in criminal investigations : "We see that jewelers and traders are drawn into the background and somehow or other will facilitate criminals much more than just criminal laundering," according to Wilbert Paulissen, head of the National Investigation. Jewelers have made themselves dependent in recent years from the merchants. They are annually obliged by well-known and popular brands like Rolex, Cartier and Audemars Piguet to buy more and other watches than they can actually sell. If they do not agree with the requirements, they can forget their dealership and lose a lot of customers.”
"Nearly half of all watches in this market is coming from Rolex," says director Mark van Nieuwkerk of the jewelry store "Schaap and Citroen". Jewelers therefore often work with regular traders who are willing to buy less popular or older models against discounts up to 30 percent. In return the traders want the scarce and highly sought models on which customers of the shop sometimes have to wait for years.
"Schaap and Citroen" in his own words works with five or six of those type of traders.
Yesterday, this newspaper announced that the jewelry store, a manager of the company and one of their major fixed operators are suspected by the public procecutor of tax evasion with exclusive watches.
"Schaap and Citroen" also wouldn’t have report large cash payments on time, which is legally obliged.
Another watch trader also came into conflict with the law.
Against the “Gooi” (Netherlands) businessman Mustafa Y., there has been a demand of seven years in a criminal case about large shipments of cocaine in Belgium. In the Netherlands, he is suspected of money laundering. Mustafa Y. is friends with the head of cash management of the "Gassan Jewelry" store.
Owner Benno Leeser of “Gassan Watches and Juwelry” says Y. annually buys for 750,000 euros of Rolex watches with him. Sources report that Y. can buy those Rolexes watches at a discont of 25 percent. He not only buys its watches at “Gassan”, but also at “Pijnenburg Jewelers” in Eindhoven. The company does not want to respond.
"

[AK797]

Must be hell if you are a new buyer, but if you aren't anymore, like me, then your watch portfolio is outperforming your other portfolios. I like seeing the latest prices of my RLX stock as it flashes around my office walls.

[904VT]

Thought I’d bump this bc interesting how it aged. I’m still of the same opinion myself but a lot has changed over the last 4 years

[omar-rye]

The struggle is real

[train-time]

Originally Posted by 904VT

So, I found myself walking into a somewhat local AD this weekend in the US. I have to say it was quite disappointing to only see DJ41s in the case. Not even PM Professional series models. No Exp2s, not so much an Exp1 nor AirKing. OP well only grape dial, no white or black. Not one Sub to be seen regardless of metal.

I always thought half the fun of collecting Rolex was that it wasn't Patek Philipe. When I walk into an AD and see nothing interesting and the employees have no educated guess as to when you may be able to attain a Professional series watch, I begin to ask myself why do I still collect Rolex?

I have some reasons to continue collecting (brand history, simple robustness), but I have to say they are getting fewer and farer between.

As a WIS I wonder is Rolex heading down the wrong path....I have to say yes, but what do you all think?

Amazing, a bump from the beginning (2018)! And so, it continues with many not believing it was real and might be lasting.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Originally Posted by glamorama

Yeah it’s horrible when the economy is running this fast, may there be a global recession soon...

This might be my favorite post ever.

[904VT]

Originally Posted by train-time

Amazing, a bump from the beginning (2018)! And so, it continues with many not believing it was real and might be lasting.

And now Rolex is using the European energy crisis as a reason to cut production, compounding the shortage driven demand. I guess that's one way to cut sales outside of the US (strong currency) for the short-term.

[rushca01]

Originally Posted by 904VT

And now Rolex is using the European energy crisis as a reason to cut production, compounding the shortage driven demand. I guess that's one way to cut sales outside of the US (strong currency) for the short-term.

Wasn’t that proven to be untrue and a debunked letter?

Grey prices are coming down to a point where I’m almost ready to buy a GMT grey….almost..

[asiparks]

Originally Posted by rushca01

Wasn’t that proven to be untrue and a debunked letter?

Grey prices are coming down to a point where I’m almost ready to buy a GMT grey….almost..

Yes, proven totally untrue. Rolex is not cutting anything due to any energy crisis anywhere.