Strange happenings in Hong Kong - grey market dealers

[Benzsiam]

There are many watches that are selling at a very good price but no papers (watch only).

How do we know that those watches aren't the stolen watches?

[psm11]

Brand new full set titanium 43mm ROO on MODA right now for $37k. What's that -- like $10k under retail when you factor in tax?

[anx21]

Originally Posted by psm11

Brand new full set titanium 43mm ROO on MODA right now for $37k. What's that -- like $10k under retail when you factor in tax?

Was just trying to compare to MSRP, but have the prices been taken off the AP website lol? Or just me?

[psm11]

Originally Posted by anx21

Was just trying to compare to MSRP, but have the prices been taken off the AP website lol? Or just me?

I think they are still up there but I have the same issue. I have to google the model and click the link to the AP site to see price. It looks like the MSRP on it is $41,100 USD. I might be misremembering but I thought this and the stainless ROO got bumped to like $45k.

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by anx21

Was just trying to compare to MSRP, but have the prices been taken off the AP website lol? Or just me?

Just you Just set currency/language at the bottom of the page.

[anx21]

Originally Posted by VogelPhoenix

Just you Just set currency/language at the bottom of the page.

odd, maybe they reset the cookies, thanks!

[AEV]

Originally Posted by psm11

I think they are still up there but I have the same issue. I have to google the model and click the link to the AP site to see price. It looks like the MSRP on it is $41,100 USD. I might be misremembering but I thought this and the stainless ROO got bumped to like $45k.

Indeed, it is 41.1K excl. taxes

[mykii]

Originally Posted by Benzsiam

There are many watches that are selling at a very good price but no papers (watch only).

How do we know that those watches aren't the stolen watches?

The truth is you never do know, even if it has the papers. I won't buy used after having almost been scammed once.

[psm11]

Originally Posted by mykii

The truth is you never do know, even if it has the papers. I won't buy used after having almost been scammed once.

May I ask what happened?

[dmash]

TS (initials) on MODA, is constantly posting SO many brand new AP references. There has to be a dealer feeding him.

[psm11]

Originally Posted by dmash

TS (initials) on MODA, is constantly posting SO many brand new AP references. There has to be a dealer feeding him.

Yeah noticed that too. He sometimes posts multiple listing a day. Bummer to see that.

[dmash]

Originally Posted by psm11

Yeah noticed that too. He sometimes posts multiple listing a day. Bummer to see that.

It’s only BNIB recent models too. It’s theoretically impossible he can get those at that rapid of a rate without a direct AD connection facilitating it.

Just saying….

[thekman]

A private online horology group I am part of has a guy who side hustles as a "dealer". He is always selling new APs from the boutique and asking to not have the new buyer re-register the watch. I can't imagine whoever is selling to him is still unaware that he is selling all of these pieces. My friendly neighborhood grey dealers has a consistent supply of new APs on a weekly basis, including a 16202ST right now. Kind of sickening.

[psm11]

Originally Posted by thekman

A private online horology group I am part of has a guy who side hustles as a "dealer". He is always selling new APs from the boutique and asking to not have the new buyer re-register the watch. I can't imagine whoever is selling to him is still unaware that he is selling all of these pieces. My friendly neighborhood grey dealers has a consistent supply of new APs on a weekly basis, including a 16202ST right now. Kind of sickening.

Yeah this is why I just shake my head when an SA says all the hoops we have to jump through are to make sure we aren't flippers.

[jnewman311]

Now that crypto is down a lot things should Continue to get interesting

[thekman]

Originally Posted by psm11

Yeah this is why I just shake my head when an SA says all the hoops we have to jump through are to make sure we aren't flippers.

Yup. I continue to hear the same from them ever time I visit. Warning me against ever flipping a piece, which I do not intend to anyway. But these feel like empty words when I see all these highly limited jumbos, ceramics, openworked and QPs being flipped on the market by "VIPs" on the daily.

[thekman]

For those still doubting that the market is down there is a blue AP diver 15720ST listed at 28k on MODA. Full set and looks pretty clean. Interesting times...

[sigma089]

Originally Posted by thekman

A private online horology group I am part of has a guy who side hustles as a "dealer". He is always selling new APs from the boutique and asking to not have the new buyer re-register the watch. I can't imagine whoever is selling to him is still unaware that he is selling all of these pieces. My friendly neighborhood grey dealers has a consistent supply of new APs on a weekly basis, including a 16202ST right now. Kind of sickening.

Honestly if I were to buy a watch at inflated grey prices, I'd register it straight away. Couldn't care less if the guy who bought it in the first place gets blacklisted, actually I would welcome that.

[Vivalas]

Originally Posted by sigma089

Honestly if I were to buy a watch at inflated grey prices, I'd register it straight away. Couldn't care less if the guy who bought it in the first place gets blacklisted, actually I would welcome that.

I don’t know the answer to this but I’m guessing you’d want the watch registered in your name for warranty purposes maybe? So does doing that alert the AP boutique/House that there’s been a change of ownership?

[thekman]

That “dealer” asks that you send him the watch if there is any warranty issues and he would deal with them. And yes re-registering the wife alerts AP and supposedly the SA gets alerted that you flipped the watch.


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[macrowatch]

Originally Posted by thekman

That “dealer” asks that you send him the watch if there is any warranty issues and he would deal with them. And yes re-registering the wife alerts AP and supposedly the SA gets alerted that you flipped the watch.


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I’ve never thought about it this way before, but YES, technically the wife does get reregistered upon re-marrying with a new certificate! Harsh world.

Both thekman’s autocorrect and original intent are correct though. I think you even get removed from the VIP events list if you aren’t VVIP enough.

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by thekman

And yes re-registering the wife alerts AP and supposedly the SA gets alerted that you flipped the watch.

Yeah, re-registering the wife is costly on many levels, try to avoid.

[thekman]

Originally Posted by VogelPhoenix

Yeah, re-registering the wife is costly on many levels, try to avoid.

lol I don't know where my mind was when I was writing this. Obviously meant the watch

[thekman]

Originally Posted by macrowatch

I’ve never thought about it this way before, but YES, technically the wife does get reregistered upon re-marrying with a new certificate! Harsh world.

Both thekman’s autocorrect and original intent are correct though. I think you even get removed from the VIP events list if you aren’t VVIP enough.

[AshAP]

Originally Posted by Vivalas

I don’t know the answer to this but I’m guessing you’d want the watch registered in your name for warranty purposes maybe? So does doing that alert the AP boutique/House that there’s been a change of ownership?

Every watch bought through AP, (AD & boutique), is immediately shown on your profile when it’s registered in your name. Your profile is on the ‘login’ part of the AP website.


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[youthagainsttt]

Originally Posted by psm11

May I ask what happened?

Just on this topic, being in Hong Kong I've been exposed to many replica watches and actually buying/studying them, then you can really understand what are the telltale signs of a rep.

And honestly speaking, due to AP changing the waffle dials it can be quite difficult to tell esp with the very best reps. Offshores esp the divers I would say they are very close to genuine which is part of the reason I would never buy one, even from the boutique

[thekman]

Originally Posted by youthagainsttt

Just on this topic, being in Hong Kong I've been exposed to many replica watches and actually buying/studying them, then you can really understand what are the telltale signs of a rep.

And honestly speaking, due to AP changing the waffle dials it can be quite difficult to tell esp with the very best reps. Offshores esp the divers I would say they are very close to genuine which is part of the reason I would never buy one, even from the boutique

There are also many very good replicas of the sub you are wearing in your display pic. Probably much more than any AP. Didn't stop you from buying one, no? Curious why that would stop you from buying an AP.

[HMHM]

I think the moral of the story is to not buy anything from the grey market at the moment. There are simply too many fakes/AAA replicas in the market such that it is really risky to buy one from non-ADs. Even reputable greys will have to open the case back to evaluate the movement as it’s the last thing that fakes can replicate but that in turn will void the warranty. Combined with the high prices that is being charged for these pieces on the secondary market, the risk is simply not worth taking.

[dmash]

and that's a wrap on discussing on fakes before our 23page run ceases to exist.


that NIB 26240ST has been sitting on eBay at $59k with no takers.

[dmash]

Originally Posted by thekman

For those still doubting that the market is down there is a blue AP diver 15720ST listed at 28k on MODA. Full set and looks pretty clean. Interesting times...

yeah I saw that one. It's actually a great piece in person.