Should I buy grey or wait for AD.

[Peej]

Obviously prices have been on a downtrend lately, but watches at retail are still in high demand.

Have recently been offered a few pieces (dj two tone, sd43 two tone) as a walk in with no previous history. I’ve been lobbying for a few pieces from multiple ADs for nearly two years with no luck. Those being the 36mm explorer I and the destro gmt because I’m a lefty. Seen a few good deals that are close to retail for the explorer and have been tempted. Is it worth it to wait, and establish a relationship with an AD? Or should I just go grey?

I know this is the question of our time, but as someone with only one vintage piece, and no previous purchase history I would like some friendly debate on the importance of going through the proper channels. Watches are a passion of mine, and I work hard to be able to afford them. I’m not yet a whale with unlimited spend power and a jewelry budget. So I might not be able to offer certain ADs what they are seeking. But either way will forever be on a quest for what I seek.

Feel free to chime in if you’re in the same boat, or have some advice that’s not the obvious. The market is changing, and I’d love some outside perspective. Cheers.

[Jack T]

No offense, OP, but this horse has been beaten so bad, the Humane Society may step in and close this thread.

[Peej]

Originally Posted by Jack T

No offense, OP, but this horse has been beaten so bad, the Humane Society may step in and close this thread.

Send me to the glue factory already.

[Grim Reaper]

The hard to get will mostly be hard to get. You may stumble onto a two tone but may be forced to spend to receive.

[GGGMT]

Just go grey and out this thread out of it misery


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[burnthesehills]

The market seems to be softening. I would make certain your local AD’s know exactly which 2 models you are seeking and see if your continued patience pays off. Worst case you buy grey down the road likely for closer to MSRP. I just do not see grey prices going back up considering multiple factors.

[joli160]

You can always wait indefinite or have it tomorrow. Your call

[Emery]

SS GMT and Daytona will remain hard.
You can bet your bottom dollar ADs will rather hang on to this inventory than admit times are bad.

SS Exp is possible with some wait.
It was never a hype model, and the move down to 36mm has cemented its status among the hypebeasts as a “girls watch”, in favour of the historians and enthusiasts.

[shaunylw]

Buy it grey, continue trying to get one from your AD (don’t wear it in there), and dump the one you bought grey if the AD comes through. A 36mm explorer should not take that long to get. If you’re waiting more than 6+ months, you’re probably not getting it from that AD. Find an AD that’s willing to give you a timeline that’s reasonable. if you want to continue buying pieces down the line.

I have two ADs now, both are awesome. Both come through, and when i need to buy jewelry, i buy it through the one that sells jewelry. I would never wait on a watch from an AD that i can get from a grey dealer for similar pricing. My relationship with the ADs is quite simple, i want what they sell and i can’t get it for the same price elsewhere. If that changes, they won’t see me again if i have to wait.








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[Vigilante24]

Explorer 36mm should be obtainable as a first watch from an AD I suspect. The VTNR GMT is different story. New release with no spend history is going to be an uphill battle. Good luck!

[CedCraig]

I‘ll never pay over retail, but lots of people do.

Be aware that despite what the grey dealer says, you may not actually be covered by any warranty. There was a recent thread about that issue. The person bought from a supposedly reputable grey dealer with years left on the warranty but when he needed service under warranty the RSC denied the claim since the watch had been opened and polished, which pretty much every grey dealer does.

So if you don‘t need a warranty and are fine paying over retail, go for it.

I think the destro is trading around double to triple retail. That watch is surely worth $25,000, $35,000+ right?

[MSL]

I am exactly in the same position as you including wanting the same model.To echo,what has been said,I don't think AD will deliver so go grey and obtain the Explorer close to MSRP.

[amh]

Grey but remain on all the imaginary 'lists.'

[beshannon]

You either want to buy a watch or you do not.

Welcome to the forum

[dnd2984]

Grey.

[brandrea]

What’s the delta on the reference you want to buy?

Then determine whether it’s worth it to you to buy now or wait indefinitely.

[T4ME]

If it's your first Rolex...AD all the way.

[Lobster]

Wait.....Check in often. Find someone that you click with. Stop in AD's when you travel too

[Cigars&Watches]

It's a tough call OP and only you can answer that. It depends on your AD, depends on your future buying potential. Depends on how quickly you want your pieces...Depends on how many pieces you want to get. There are so many factors to consider. If you only want the Exp I and lefty and want them now then grey is the way to go.

I say that because i dont think the Exp I (although doable from an Ad) will qualify you for the lefty in most cases IMO.

If you get a good vibe from an SA/AD then I would get the EXP I and see how things go from there BUT thats what I would do...

[TimeAZ]

I always laugh when I see people say "I will never pay over retail." I guess that means you'll never buy the watch 😆

[deadsea]

Go Grey. Forget the silly AD games. Wear and enjoy it tomorrow.

[JRell]

I can’t justify paying over retail, at the end of the day it is just a watch. Also I wouldn’t trust it is authentic. AD for me or I would get another hobby or go to a different brand.

[Pop Art Suzy]

I would go grey personally. My first Rolex was also a vintage 1966 model, and I got it on eBay, but then I wanted another one, preferably a DJ so I also got that one on eBay. I love it and been satisfied ever since.

[PBJ1925]

Wait and go AD. GMT naturally will be tougher, but can't see why an Explorer I isn't obtainable with a reasonable wait.

I'm in a semi-similar boat in that I'm waiting to purchase an Explorer II for my father which is near retail in the grey/secondary market. Part of me is screaming just buy it, but the extra peace of mind that I'm (he's) the first person to own it with the local delivery experience is worth it.

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by Peej

Obviously prices have been on a downtrend lately, but watches at retail are still in high demand.

Have recently been offered a few pieces (dj two tone, sd43 two tone) as a walk in with no previous history. I’ve been lobbying for a few pieces from multiple ADs for nearly two years with no luck. Those being the 36mm explorer I and the destro gmt because I’m a lefty. Seen a few good deals that are close to retail for the explorer and have been tempted. Is it worth it to wait, and establish a relationship with an AD? Or should I just go grey?

I know this is the question of our time, but as someone with only one vintage piece, and no previous purchase history I would like some friendly debate on the importance of going through the proper channels. Watches are a passion of mine, and I work hard to be able to afford them. I’m not yet a whale with unlimited spend power and a jewelry budget. So I might not be able to offer certain ADs what they are seeking. But either way will forever be on a quest for what I seek.

Feel free to chime in if you’re in the same boat, or have some advice that’s not the obvious. The market is changing, and I’d love some outside perspective. Cheers.

Don’t buy over retail, wait for your AD

Originally Posted by TimeAZ

I always laugh when I see people say "I will never pay over retail." I guess that means you'll never buy the watch

Patience is a virtue!

Originally Posted by JRell

I can’t justify paying over retail, at the end of the day it is just a watch.

Exactly my thought!

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[SLWoodster]

YMMV per rep, dealer location.

If you don’t have any relationship anywhere and are having a hard time finding pieces to buy to establish a relationship, would like your watch in a reasonable amount of time, then go gray. Skip the explorer if what you actually wanted was the GMT. Because it does not mean that you will certainly get a GMT next.

I have been told after shopping for years at a certain AD that my sports Rolexes don’t count toward getting other hot pieces. Then I have also been told at another AD that they don’t really care as long as I have been a longtime, regular customer.

But if you can’t even get your foot in the door, just go grey otherwise you’ll go grey waiting. Always keep trying.

[holdingon]

Go grey if the premium is less than 50%.

[Bazil]

Grey is coming down, I remember 126720 VTNR was about £50,000 first one on chrono 24 , I’ve seen them now around £21,000 … and I think will still come down, but it’s your. Only you chose … life’s way too short for regrets either way ..

[JJGreen]

If you can afford it and you really want it, go grey.

It doesn’t sound like you’d get a lefty GMT otherwise.

I don’t think being offered a two tone DJ is a good sign of things to come but maybe I’m wrong.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by Peej

... going through the proper channels.

The proper channel is the one you favour to get you the watch you want, at the price you are willing to pay, in a time scale that suits you.

It's as simple as that, although you are free to make it as complicated as you want.