Bonaire, St. Maarten and Aruba AD’s

[fskywalker]

Am taking a family cruise starting this Friday through the Caribbean and the islands above have Rolex AD’s based on Rolex website:







Any experience in those AD’s ? Planning to contact them in advance to ask if have pieces to sell; wondering if given the fact are small islands with an economy pretty much based on tourism they might, like on some airports, offer pieces on a first come first serve basis?

[Cambo]

Don’t count on anything on Bonaire.

[Trailboss516]

Good luck! No experience with any of them but good idea to reach out and tell them you're looking forward to stopping by and saying hello. I'd keep expectations low but...you never know!

[Pablito]

Hello, I'm very used to St Maarteen as I'm travelling there 5 or 6 times a year. Don't expect anything from Philipsburgh AD, their shelves are still empty. Sometimes if they want to, they can show you one or two unsold references from their safe, and start to negotiate if you can buy 1 ugly Tudor, or some diamonds to make the deal happen.

By the way I'll be in Sxm this Sunday for a 4 days holidays stay, maybe a miracle can happen!

Good luck

[rlx123]

I was at St Marteen in June of this year and they wanted to sell me tt Daytona white dial bundle with a non rolex watch value at 6-7k. I declined.

They didn’t have anything in case.

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[Jack T]

Based on the replies so far, it looks like you can expect the same BS you would get by strolling in to any three random AD’s anywhere in North America. Why bother? Enjoy your time with your family.

[fskywalker]

Thanks for replies ! If happen to walk by their store will come in and look around, not loosing my breath for it !


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[Cambo]

I remember walking into Littman’s on Bonaire in 2009 and walking out with a new Datejust….lots of models available back then….times sure have changed.
Have a great cruise!

[KCJARVIS]

I was in St Martin last week on a cruise. I stopped by Goldfingers to say hello to Lucky the AD. I was surprised to see he had a bunch of exhibition pieces including a James Cam and a Root beer. He had nothing for sale.

[Pablito]

Originally Posted by KCJARVIS

I was in St Martin last week on a cruise. I stopped by Goldfingers to say hello to Lucky the AD. I was surprised to see he had a bunch of exhibition pieces including a James Cam and a Root beer. He had nothing for sale.

You might stopped at the French side Goldfinger?

[Yadi_Collector]

Enjoy your family trip...keep your expectations very low and maybe you will be surprised.

[Ron P]

I was in April with Littman: Zero stock of Rolex, shop looked “empty” not much other watches of interest.

[whitelightning]

Was in Gandelman a year ago October and they had 2 Day Dates, a yellow gold and a rose gold. Also, a couple next to me was purchasing a Datejust. Don't know what they had in the safe. Can't speak on the other two dealers. Good luck.

[KCJARVIS]

Originally Posted by Pablito

You might stopped at the French side Goldfinger?

I was in Philipsburg

[123Blueface]

Originally Posted by KCJARVIS

I was in Philipsburg

I think the name you used threw him off.

Sint Maarten - Dutch side
Saint Martin - French side
Saint Maarten - Entire island

Confusing as heck.

[Wine4Golf]

Originally Posted by KCJARVIS

I was in St Martin last week on a cruise. I stopped by Goldfingers to say hello to Lucky the AD. I was surprised to see he had a bunch of exhibition pieces including a James Cam and a Root beer. He had nothing for sale.

Funny I was on a cruise in St Maarten last week also. None of the ADs we encountered on our voyage had anything other than a 31mm DJ. However while on that cruise I got multiple "calls" from my ADs back home & had a very good welcome home.

[WilsdorfNDavis]

Originally Posted by KCJARVIS

I was in St Martin last week on a cruise. I stopped by Goldfingers to say hello to Lucky the AD. I was surprised to see he had a bunch of exhibition pieces including a James Cam and a Root beer. He had nothing for sale.

Originally Posted by Wine4Golf

Funny I was on a cruise in St Maarten last week also. None of the ADs we encountered on our voyage had anything other than a 31mm DJ. However while on that cruise I got multiple "calls" from my ADs back home & had a very good welcome home.

Same here. What ships were you guys on?

I was on the Celebrity Equinox Dec 1-12th, went into the Rolex ADs in Sint Maarten, St. Lucia and Barbados and nothing but Lady DJ's were available.
The helpful SA at Harry Edwards in St. Lucia says the "trick" is to come first thing (right off the ship) in the morning and hope they received a shipment that day because they tend to sell "first come, first served". I was there in the late afternoon right before they were closing. :-(

[Redfoot]

I was just picking up my wife's Xmas gift at AD (DJ 41!) in metro Detroit, and a gentleman also waiting was getting his brand new Yachmaster 42 YG/Oyster adjusted that he scored as a walk in at Cancun AD. He didn't even know they were hard to get. We talked a little, and he said he almost passed on the watch because he didn't want to have to figure out the VAT. I told him he scored major!

[rogerrabbit168]

Originally Posted by whitelightning

Was in Gandelman a year ago October and they had 2 Day Dates, a yellow gold and a rose gold. Also, a couple next to me was purchasing a Datejust. Don't know what they had in the safe. Can't speak on the other two dealers. Good luck.

I was just there last month on my cruise also, only one datejust with diamonds!

[GregNYC]

I’ve been to the several Aruba Gandelman’s many times before COVID and they always had pieces. Haven’t been since.


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[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by fskywalker

Am taking a family cruise starting this Friday through the Caribbean and the islands above have Rolex AD’s based on Rolex website:







Any experience in those AD’s ? Planning to contact them in advance to ask if have pieces to sell; wondering if given the fact are small islands with an economy pretty much based on tourism they might, like on some airports, offer pieces on a first come first serve basis?

St Maarten Rolex AD (Goldfinger) update:




Went to Rolex dealer, they had various exhibition only models. Inquired about the Sub’s and GMT’s and the lady got the manager. The manager got out a calculator and offered me the GMT at retail bundled with a $25k gold watch……
Politely said no thanks and left! lol

So: as expected, strike one!

Also saw this advertisement at another store which carried used Rolexes:






The small letters on the bottom of the ad read “To all purchasers of Crown of Light Couture Customers”, didn’t even asked

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by fskywalker

Am taking a family cruise starting this Friday through the Caribbean and the islands above have Rolex AD’s based on Rolex website:







Any experience in those AD’s ? Planning to contact them in advance to ask if have pieces to sell; wondering if given the fact are small islands with an economy pretty much based on tourism they might, like on some airports, offer pieces on a first come first serve basis?

Aruba AD (Gandelman) Update:

Very nice store, empty displays (not even exhibition pieces) but they had a couple of watches for sale. They had available a 36 MM OP blue / Tiffany, which was purchased by a lady was looking at it when got in the store. Lucky her!







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[KCJARVIS]

Originally Posted by WilsdorfNDavis

Same here. What ships were you guys on?

I was on the Celebrity Equinox Dec 1-12th, went into the Rolex ADs in Sint Maarten, St. Lucia and Barbados and nothing but Lady DJ's were available.
The helpful SA at Harry Edwards in St. Lucia says the "trick" is to come first thing (right off the ship) in the morning and hope they received a shipment that day because they tend to sell "first come, first served". I was there in the late afternoon right before they were closing. :-(

Celebrity Beyond

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by fskywalker

Am taking a family cruise starting this Friday through the Caribbean and the islands above have Rolex AD’s based on Rolex website:







Any experience in those AD’s ? Planning to contact them in advance to ask if have pieces to sell; wondering if given the fact are small islands with an economy pretty much based on tourism they might, like on some airports, offer pieces on a first come first serve basis?

Bonaire AD (Littman) Update:

Nice store very close to the docking area. Empty displaces except from a Cermit and a Tiffany OP 36 mm, which was told were sold already, waiting to be pickup.




So as expected, strike three !


Was surprised to actually see in person twice the OP Tiffany 36 MM, guess it’s not as rare as they say it is; my wife loved the color!

So the quest for the GMT (at retail) continues!

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