6 months, 20 days....got the text!

[BoilerRxZ06]

After 13 years away from buying any watches, I got the itch again. In February I took my 116710LN for its first service (purchased from AD in May 2008). It was a bit overdue, but I wasn't having any issues, so it delayed me from getting it serviced. Other than the cosmetic issues of being a bit scratched up, it has been a wonderful watch. So after a 4 week turnaround, it came back looking just like it did the day I purchased it. Yes, I had it polished, and I don't regret it at all. My AD did a wonderful job.

Something about having it on my wrist and looking brand new ignited a desire to look at current Rolex offerings. You can imagine my shock when I discovered the state of the hobby in 2021! After picking my jaw up off the floor at the empty display cases and learning about these insane secondary prices, etc, etc, I decided that I would play the waiting game and not pay over retail. Keep in mind, when I purchased my GMT in 2008, it came straight from the display case with an MSRP around $6800, and I got a 5% discount to purchase.

I’ve always been the type of person to buy what I like and not necessarily what is popular. My GMT was actually my 4th watch overall, and first Rolex, because I always looked at Rolex as snobby watch worn by people who wanted to show off their status in life. People who know nothing about watches know Rolex, and think that each piece is 50k+ and the owners are uber wealthy. I wasn’t comfortable with that sort of attention or label, so it took me a while to warm up to the brand. I never made it past the Panerai case on my first visit to my AD, and ended up buying a couple of them first. But after learning more about horology in general and what a great product Rolex makes, I decided I was good with owning one. And I’m so glad I did.
My first order of business at the AD was establishing a relationship with a new SA. The gentleman I had worked with in the past had retired, but luckily there were many familiar faces. So after a brief reintroduction, I was all set with a new guy. I had spent a couple weeks back on TRF and looking at secondary dealers to explore my options. I kept being drawn towards two models: Milgauss Z Blue and YM40 Rhodium. Ultimately, the YM (thanks to several pics posted by TRF members) won out and I knew I had to have it.

I asked my new SA what the odds were of getting one and approximately how long I’d have to wait. I thank he was just excited that I asked for something other than a Sub, GMT, or Daytona. He told me that he could get me one in 3-6 months, I’d just need to be patient. Obviously it helps that YMs are not very popular overall, but I wasn’t optimistic he’d be able to deliver.

Then came the dilemma of what to do while I waited. Having been bitten hard by the watch bug again, I felt I NEEDED something to satisfy my impulses. And I figured it certainly wouldn’t hurt the relationship with my new SA. Being an equal opportunity shopper, I started to look at other brands that caught my eye. Suffice to say, I lost my mind and ended up purchasing 7 watches between then and now, 4 from my AD. I also purchased a few pieces of jewelry for my wife. No clue if any of that helped one bit, but I didn’t buy a single item I didn’t want, so I’m good with it.

Between March 22nd, the day I put the “order” in, and October 12th, I obsessively checked my text messages for the glorious notification of the arrival of my YM. I visited the AD no less than once every couple of weeks to shoot the breeze and buy other items, always expressing how excited I was for the YM to arrive. As many of you have experienced, when you’re this excited about something, the wait seems much longer than it really is, irrationally so. When 9/22 came around and I still had not received the word, I was defeated and assumed I’d have to wait at least a year or better.

Then, two weeks ago, I get a text from my SA! I thought for sure it was my turn, but as I read, “Hey, I’ve got a Tudor Black Bay Chrono with your name on it if you want it,” I was even more defeated. Actually, I did want that watch, but being a bit petty, under the guise of self-control, I decided to pass and not buy another watch until I got the YM.
Finally, as I was sitting at my desk at work yesterday, another text came in from my SA. “Your Rolex came in, you can come get it any day this week! I’m off and leaving for vacation tomorrow or I’d meet you at the store to see the excitement on your face.” Needless to say, I responded instantly, then quickly got up and drove straight to the AD. During the drive, I had convinced myself that it was a mix-up and my SA text the wrong customer. Or worse, I’d get there and it would be the 37mm version. But as fate would have it, I arrived to the stunning YM40 Rhodium in all its glory, just waiting for me. Got it sized, paid for, and on my wrist in minutes and I have not stopped smiling since!

Adding pics so I don’t get banned. Lol And some side by side comparison photos with the GMT. I’m very pleased with the size and feel of the YM40. I was a bit nervous it would wear a little small, but I can’t say I feel a difference. It’s clearly thinner than the GMT, but it doesn’t feel small on my 6.75” flat wrist.