AD games

[teck21]

I did not really know about these games until I had bought a couple of watches from my AD.

With more research, especially from this forum, more chats with my SA, and making friends who with more horological experience then myself, I found out how competitive it truly is, how possibly opaque it is, and how hard it is to ‘win’ at it. At least in my part of the world.

And that really fired up my interest in the brand phenomenon known as Rolex. And I decided to throw myself headfirst into the game.

And so far it’s been interesting, rewarding and obviously not cheap (by my standards). Life if full of ladders to climb, this has become one of mine.

I am looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship with my AD. I know the AD game isn’t for everyone, but it definitely is for me.

Do I love watches for sure? I’m not sure but I’ve found myself now noticing what other people wear with interest (and I’m not just looking at the $ value, how they wear etc), joined some watch interest groups to learn more about watches in general and been surprised at the wide range of interests people have in all sorts of watches of all price ranges. Perhaps in time I will love watches the way they do.

But for now I love Tudor/Rolex, and wish to amass a nice collection in my life, which I may pass to my son should he ever show an interest in mechanical watches when he grows into adulthood.





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[42itus]

That’s a great collection!


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[teck21]

Originally Posted by 42itus

That’s a great collection!


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Thank you, when I was younger I laughed at people who did something as stupid as spend money on luxury watches.

Never did I think I would one day get so much pleasure from trying to build my own collection.


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[42itus]

Originally Posted by teck21

Thank you, when I was younger I laughed at people who did something as stupid as spend money on luxury watches.

Never did I think I would one day get so much pleasure from trying to build my own collection.


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I’m in the same boat. Looking forward to seeing how your collection changes over time!


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[Pw92676]

Fantastic collection. Hope your son develops an interest so he can inherit his dad’s awesome collection

[synrrgy]

That's a great collection you have!

[dpt.calvin]

Curious about which watches were purchased from the AD (assuming one AD here) and in what order?

[teck21]

Originally Posted by dpt.calvin

Curious about which watches were purchased from the AD (assuming one AD here) and in what order?

Yes, that is a bit of a misleading picture because there are a couple of other pieces I bought, not to add to my collection, but as part of ‘the game’.

Still didn’t cost nearly as much as what some posters like to say needs to be spent in order to get a Pepsi. That’s not to say I got it at MSRP.

How much I effectively paid for the Pepsi definitely removed any meaningful financial incentive for me to flip it.

Only the BB58 was not from my AD. I lucked out on that one at an airport AD, was my first. The Pepsi is the most recent one and the culmination of all that went before it.


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[brandrea]

Nice collection Teck

[dmash]

Did you get all this since your join date less than 2 years ago? Or did you know this AD prior?

[teck21]

Originally Posted by dmash

Did you get all this since your join date less than 2 years ago? Or did you know this AD prior?

My join date was literally around the time I got my BB58.

My first purchase from my AD was early 2019, so that would be the effective start date.


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[dmash]

Originally Posted by teck21

My join date was literally around the time I got my BB58.

My first purchase from my AD was early 2019, so that would be the effective start date.


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That’s pretty great if your AD is in Singapore!

[scheneider]

agree with OP, building up history/track record make more sense compared to going Grey.

[dpt.calvin]

A shame that my AD only sells Rolex lol. If they sold Tudor then I’d be more willing to establish a purchase history. But playing that game with Rolex is $$$.

[oldman2005]

Nice collection .... But one has to buy 5 watches to get BLRO Pepsi?

[dmash]

Originally Posted by oldman2005

Nice collection .... But one has to buy 5 watches to get BLRO Pepsi?

You can’t look at it like that, you have to also look at MSRP of each watch. AD’s cut is not the same on 1Tudor as opposed to 1 diamond dial Day Date. I think this is commonly overlooked by some forging relationships as they’re confused after buying multiple things why they’re not considered, yet they still haven’t even spent more than $20k MSRP.

[teck21]

Originally Posted by dmash

You can’t look at it like that, you have to also look at MSRP of each watch. AD’s cut is not the same on 1Tudor as opposed to 1 diamond dial Day Date. I think this is commonly overlooked by some forging relationships as they’re confused after buying multiple things why they’re not considered, yet they still haven’t even spent more than $20k MSRP.

Yes, that’s how I see it. And you’re right about the Tudor versus Rolex part, it’s about margins and helping the ADs clear stuff they can’t move that is appreciated.

I have bought some watches from them which I really enjoy having in my collection, and some watches that I’ve ‘had to’ in order to get what I truly desire.

In the end, the real price I paid for my grail piece was still lower than the grey price, so I have no complaints. But not so low as to fill my head with any thought of profiting from it, and the fact that it was somewhat of a challenge to obtain, makes me enjoy it even more.

Especially since I do plan on collecting many more over the rest of my lifetime from my AD if we can serve each other well.

And if someone is going to profit from the differential in MSRP and market price, I am happy for it to be my AD (and SA’s commission) rather than somebody who lucked out and is no different at all from a concert ticket scalper, profiteering without adding any value at all.

At any one time millions of people are stepping into ADs everywhere hoping to score a watch purely to flip.

I’m perfectly happy with my AD relationship and plan on visiting them again tomorrow to see what they want to ‘foist’ on me this time.

A relationship with an AD can be very symbiotic, but the vagaries of it are not to everyone’s tastes and objectives.

And many thanks all for your kind words on the collection.


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[drfrankenstein]

I don’t understand the point of this thread

Is it a game or a relationship or both?

On one hand you say you are building a collection on the other you said you are going to the AD and are curious what they they will try to sell you. I’m confused.

If there were no barriers, what is the next watch you would buy?

[teck21]

Originally Posted by drfrankenstein

I don’t understand the point of this thread

Is it a game or a relationship or both?

On one hand you say you are building a collection on the other you said you are going to the AD and are curious what they they will try to sell you. I’m confused.

If there were no barriers, what is the next watch you would buy?

The word games is just click bait, since so many posters like to describe AD relationships pejoratively.

Of course they would try to sell me something if I went in right? My SA has never contacted me for any purpose other than to try and sell me something. It’s their raison d’être.

I have no objection to going in to see if it interests me, or if they have some specific offer. I, or anyone else, can simply say no thanks.

Come to think of it, I never said it but here it is: my reason for posting is let people know a bit more about my own relationship building experience, because most other posts are very vague about it.

The lack of certainty deters many people from attempting to build an AD relationship after hearing so much here about ‘spending tens of hundreds of thousands’ with no guarantee.

Sure that may be true, or it may not be. And it certainly wasn’t in my case. But anyone looking to be in it for the long haul certainly should consider this route.

Anyone who wants only one specific watch, and wants it at MSRP, or without attached conditions or purchases, or within a specific time frame may wish to consider an alternative pathway.

Something with a meteorite dial for sure.


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[joli160]

Originally Posted by teck21

I have bought some watches from them which I really enjoy having in my collection, and some watches that I’ve ‘had to’ in order to get what I truly desire.


And if someone is going to profit from the differential in MSRP and market price, I am happy for it to be my AD (and SA’s commission) rather than somebody who lucked out and is no different at all from a concert ticket scalper, profiteering without adding any value at all.

Nice collection Teck, no offense but your AD seems the scalper imo and you fell for it with your eyes open. As long as it makes you happy all good.

I do it quicker and just go direct to the grey market without playing any game.

[ScrantonStrangler]

Originally Posted by teck21

Yes, that’s how I see it. And you’re right about the Tudor versus Rolex part, it’s about margins and helping the ADs clear stuff they can’t move that is appreciated.

I have bought some watches from them which I really enjoy having in my collection, and some watches that I’ve ‘had to’ in order to get what I truly desire.

Especially since I do plan on collecting many more over the rest of my lifetime from my AD if we can serve each other well.

And if someone is going to profit from the differential in MSRP and market price, I am happy for it to be my AD (and SA’s commission) rather than somebody who lucked out and is no different at all from a concert ticket scalper, profiteering without adding any value at all.

I’m perfectly happy with my AD relationship and plan on visiting them again tomorrow to see what they want to ‘foist’ on me this time.

“Helping” the AD move watches that nobody wants is a sad game, but it’s the game I suppose. I’m also curious about why you’d question your love of watches when you’ve got an $11,000 BLRO. Pretty good collection either way.

[joli160]

Talking about reviving an old thread from 2020

[Ichiran]

I also love to play the AD game! I love my AD!

[David001]

I can see why people get a buzz out of it and if that's your thing then your perspective is a good way of looking at it, it's a game and you can choose to play or not.

I suppose in some ways it's like some card games, you need capital to buy in and then it's up to you how far you go with it, but if people put their cash down then they can't cry when the game doesn't work out the way they wanted it to.

You'll keep your sanity if you don't put any money into a card game, or indeed a watch, that you aren't willing lose.

[campfire]

Very nice.

[DCheeta]

You wish to amass a nice collection in your life? Sir, I dare say, you already have!

I’m like you, I enjoy the madness. Keep it up, and most of all have fun!

[brucethemanlee]

Nice!

[Doctor Who]

Very nice collection.

[garyk]

Definitely a crazy mad hobby. Congratulations!

[juve]

nice collection.