Buying watches I don't want to get on "the list"

[therealroy]

Hi guys, it's my first post here. I bought my first Rolex today off of the grey market, it's a 124060 Submariner brand new, and it cost me around $12,500.

I would really like to get a Daytona panda, but here in Dubai, it's impossible to order one unless you have a portfolio with the Rolex dealer and then hope that there is a slot available when it's time for new orders to come in, the catch is, in order to have a shot at getting one(not a guarantee it could be any other in demand reference), you need to have purchased watches totaling or equal to $27,000, and the only ones you can order at the dealer are the two tone 126333, 126331, 126303, and 126301.

My thought process is I should buy a couple from the above references to establish a profile with the dealer in the hopes that one day I can get the watch I want, my questions are:

1. Can you guys recommend which references I should get or popular combinations that will help me sell these watches easier in the future as I do not intend to keep them or wear them.

2. Is there a better way to go about this? I don't want to get a Daytona panda on the grey market and have to pay 2-3x MSRP.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts, thanks!

[amphr1]

I don't know your local situation, but $27k seems low for the bar to pass for a Daytona. I've passed that and my SA wouldn't even bother putting it on my wish list. And I have a good relationship with him. In all likelihood you would have bought $27k of watch you don't want, have the hassle of having to sell it, and be marked as a flipper, and never see the Daytona from AD. So for me, I went grey market and be done with it.

[Seddyspaghetti]

The AD games you need to play to get a panda daytona is a long and challenging one and I wouldn’t advise it unless you have the time and money to spend. Id say just pay the 32ish k for one and be done with it. Orrr just forget about it lol

[therealroy]

Originally Posted by amphora001

I don't know your local situation, but $27k seems low for the bar to pass for a Daytona. I've passed that and my SA wouldn't even bother putting it on my wish list. And I have a good relationship with him. In all likelihood you would have bought $27k of watch you don't want, have the hassle of having to sell it, and be marked as a flipper, and never see the Daytona from AD. So for me, I went grey market and be done with it.

This will sound ignorant but how would they know that I sold them though? The AD here don't open a file for you with any watches you purchased outside the store.

Originally Posted by Seddyspaghetti

The AD games you need to play to get a panda daytona is a long and challenging one and I wouldn’t advise it unless you have the time and money to spend. Id say just pay the 32ish k for one and be done with it. Orrr just forget about it lol

You're right it is definitely a hassle, but long term, if I intend to buy a Rolex every year for the next 10 years wouldn't it be financially wiser than getting only 3-4 for the same amount off of the grey market?

[sj24k]

Personally, I don’t play those games. I just won’t buy something I don’t really want for a shot at someday maybe buying something I do want.

I register my interest in the watch I want, then I decide how long I’m willing to wait. If that time comes and goes and I still want the watch, I decide if I want to pay secondary market pricing.

That strategy works better for me. But to each their own.


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[Roger Lococco]

I only buy watches that I want … and only from ADs.


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[calebb90]

Good luck


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[gwozhog]

Daytona is an overhyped watch that realistically looks better on chicks wrist. If it was easily obtainable I would bet over half of you would not want it. No way in Hell I would pay the price it commands. I would grease your service AD with 2k cash after hours and I bet he comes through for you with one. Money talks

[dlrolex]

I wouldn't buy anything I didn't want

[Onequik135i]

Same here, I would pass on anything I didn’t want from an AD.

[Ichiran]

Don't buy those 2 tone DJ if you don't want them. Does your AD carry other brands? Any pieces you might be interested in these other brands?

[burnthesehills]

I would pass and not play these pricey and ridiculous games. You will end up spending a small fortune and driving yourself crazy to "maybe" get a Daytona. But most likely you won't end up with one anyway regardless of what the AD's are telling you. And thy will be laughing all the way to the bank.

[kieselguhr]

Buying something you don’t want is never sensible no matter the reason.

I’m sure there’s someone who believes otherwise.

[huncho]

it will cost you less if you go grey

[Seddyspaghetti]

You're right it is definitely a hassle, but long term, if I intend to buy a Rolex every year for the next 10 years wouldn't it be financially wiser than getting only 3-4 for the same amount off of the grey market?

Financially wiser? Likely. Pragmatically wiser? Probably not. Are you fine waiting 10 years for a daytona? First of all, nothing is guaranteed if you go the AD route. Especially if you only intend on buying Rolex’s. Usually ADs would prioritize a Daytona allocation to a client that doesn’t only buy men’s Rolex. (Unless you go the boutique route, in which the spend for consideration for a daytona is likely >$100k.)

[GST15]

Forget the Daytona and buy a Speedmaster Professional. If the Daytona comes along some day, you will have two great watches.

Buying a bunch of watches that you don't really want to get on some AD BS list is absurd IMHO.

Good luck

[ajw45]

Isn't the Dubai market owned by just one company? Seddiqi?

[Pinpoint]

There are plenty of examples of people saying they needed to spend $100k to get a Daytona.

[2loaded]

Shop a different AD.

[salnuaimi]

Originally Posted by therealroy

Hi guys, it's my first post here. I bought my first Rolex today off of the grey market, it's a 124060 Submariner brand new, and it cost me around $12,500.

I would really like to get a Daytona panda, but here in Dubai, it's impossible to order one unless you have a portfolio with the Rolex dealer and then hope that there is a slot available when it's time for new orders to come in, the catch is, in order to have a shot at getting one(not a guarantee it could be any other in demand reference), you need to have purchased watches totaling or equal to $27,000, and the only ones you can order at the dealer are the two tone 126333, 126331, 126303, and 126301.

My thought process is I should buy a couple from the above references to establish a profile with the dealer in the hopes that one day I can get the watch I want, my questions are:

1. Can you guys recommend which references I should get or popular combinations that will help me sell these watches easier in the future as I do not intend to keep them or wear them.

2. Is there a better way to go about this? I don't want to get a Daytona panda on the grey market and have to pay 2-3x MSRP.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts, thanks!

im from dubai and I have spent with the same AD Almost 300,000 USD and still cant add my name to a daytona list .

dont waste your time .. im getting it from grey

[SixBells]

You could on-sell the watches you "need" to buy to get a Daytona and recoup some of the cash. You may still be ahead versus grey market buying.

[salnuaimi]

Originally Posted by huncho

it will cost you less if you go grey

This

[salnuaimi]

Originally Posted by SixBells

You could on-sell the watches you "need" to buy to get a Daytona and recoup some of the cash. You may still be ahead versus grey market buying.

he is risking being blocked at any given time and then starting over

[Moondoggy]

Just put your hands in your pocket when it comes to luxury watches atm.

Time to gain some territory.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by therealroy

Hi guys, it's my first post here. I bought my first Rolex today off of the grey market, it's a 124060 Submariner brand new, and it cost me around $12,500.

I would really like to get a Daytona panda, but here in Dubai, it's impossible to order one unless you have a portfolio with the Rolex dealer and then hope that there is a slot available when it's time for new orders to come in, the catch is, in order to have a shot at getting one(not a guarantee it could be any other in demand reference), you need to have purchased watches totaling or equal to $27,000, and the only ones you can order at the dealer are the two tone 126333, 126331, 126303, and 126301.

My thought process is I should buy a couple from the above references to establish a profile with the dealer in the hopes that one day I can get the watch I want, my questions are:

1. Can you guys recommend which references I should get or popular combinations that will help me sell these watches easier in the future as I do not intend to keep them or wear them.

2. Is there a better way to go about this? I don't want to get a Daytona panda on the grey market and have to pay 2-3x MSRP.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts, thanks!

All this AD stuff is now bordering on the ridicules, anyone buying anything they dont really want must either have more money than sense,or be sixpence short of a shilling.Even watches like the hyped Daytona its just a mass produced watch thats tells the time on the wrist like any other watch

[Harry-57]

I've bought two Rolex watches outside the AD network because I had exhausted all possible AD routes and I had the funds available to pay the premium.

I bought these watches because I wanted them. I wouldn't buy something I didn't want in the hope of maybe being allowed to buy something I did want, at an unspecified time in the future.

You can have your Daytona next week or you can have a pile of unwanted stuff from people who know you are willing to buy anything they want to push onto you. Not a tough choice for me.

[Rolexatlast]

This all makes me so sad.

Next time someone complains about second-hand Rolex values dropping, I will just point them to this thread and say ‘this is why we need to get back to normal’

[TBT]

I'm not in Dubai, but I'm not far from you and I think us guys in the Middle-East have a different experience than what's typical in the forum here.

I think stopping in and saying hello is just as effective as your plan. Stop in as your approaching a special anniversary or event. They may want to help you buy something you like.

Except models in high demand like the Daytona. I think my AD is selling those to friends and grey market dealers.

[BLNR Nairobi]

If you’re in Dubai it does seem that’s a low threshold ($27K) in a market that has a lot of money sloshing about. The AD may be pulling your leg.

Try this instead - depending on your profession, you may have a friend or acquaintance who already has a good relationship with one of the big AD chains (eg Siddiqi or however you spell it). See if that friend/acquaintance may try to buy a watch on your behalf.

Any reference is available in Dubai at the AD - just not for everybody. If you have a pal with an existing relationship he/she can make things move much faster for you.

Definitely faster than building a relationship that will cost you $27K, since that amount is so low (especially for Dubai) that whoever told you that may simply be trying to get a quick sale from you on something small. Dubai, like London, Paris and NYC, is a market where $27K may not be taken that seriously.

[travisb]

Welcome. Personally, I’d never even consider buying a watch I didn’t want in order to establish a “relationship”.