Rolex in Europe 2023

[medtner]

In 22, I visited Spain, Italy, Denmark, France, The Netherlands, and Portugal.
CDG and AMS airports, Nothing for sale, AMS said they get some from time to time.
Was offered only one model at Lisbon: two tones explorer. Was not interested in it.
Does 23 look better in Europe?
Will be traveling again, wish me luck.

[APWorldTour]

Cdg will not sell to a walk in even if they have something available.

[VictorGMT]

I am going to Belize in a few days. Will not bother the ADs in Miami, Belize City, or San Pedro Island if they exist.

Will take two watches and trust the hotel safe and insurance with one.


I've just assured I have zero IQ.

I'll survive, I predict.

[maodonald]

The closest one that I have since is a lady Datejust mint green 31 in smooth bezel and jubilee bracelet in Portofino, Italy last year. Pretty sad.


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[gnardex]

Hi OP,
concerning Italy, don't expect anything more than 2022.
In Italy the situation is the same,
and I expect the same is all around Europe.
In UK perhaps even worse.

But miracles sometimes happen,
so: try, but do not count too much, be prepared...

Have a nice trip!

[thesharkfactor]

Walk into a grey you’ll get one.

[joli160]

Not a chance, they don’t even put you on a list, regardless local or not

[Obi Wan]

In 2022, I have tried it in Madrid, Beirut, Paris, London, Cairo, Strasbourg, Geneva, Munich, Florence, Bologna… and it has been a waste of time. Many people say: enter and try, (and it should be the right way) you have nothing to lose, but you feel ridiculous with the attitude and the feedback of some AD’s. I can waste my time a little bit, but I strongly refuse to seem stupid.
I am the customer, the one who is going to spend my money, I am not going to beg for a “simple” watch. I have learned that I will only enter to my local AD asking for a Rolex. I am well received there since the beginning because I am local, they know I am not a flipper,and they have sold me a Rolex before and some other tiny things. They just use due respect, I do not need more but I do not want less.

[amh]

I was offered a TT Diamond DJ in AMS when I passed through in fall of 2022. Asked for a GMT, no. Then said "Well I'm also looking for a DJ36 for my wife..." and the guy said "Wait here..." and disappeared into the vault. (Didn't buy, don't see the point in building a faux relationship with an airport AD who I'll never see again.)

FWIW was also offered a TT DJ when visiting San Diego. Asked for GMT, no. "Need something for my wife...", *poof* they have a watch! I was interested in the TT rose gold w/ stick dial, this was a TT yellow gold w/ Romans so didn't buy.

So at least for me I've had some luck finding datejusts.

[WilsdorfNDavis]

Originally Posted by amh

FWIW was also offered a TT DJ when visiting San Diego. Asked for GMT, no. "Need something for my wife...", *poof* they have a watch! I was interested in the TT rose gold w/ stick dial, this was a TT yellow gold w/ Romans so didn't buy.

So at least for me I've had some luck finding datejusts.

Which SD AD?


The boutique at FV?
Or one of the AD's in La Jolla?

[amh]

Originally Posted by WilsdorfNDavis

Which SD AD?


The boutique at FV?
Or one of the AD's in La Jolla?

UTC Mall

[WilsdorfNDavis]

Originally Posted by amh

UTC Mall

Gotcha.

I need to swing by and say hi one of these days and let them know I'm looking to get a Polar Exp II as my next purchase. I don't play the AD games (buying stuff I don't want) but do stop by on occasion to see what exhibition models they have on display. (There are several watches I've never tried on due to lack of inventory).

[PenDelicate]

Originally Posted by medtner

Does 23 look better in Europe?
Will be traveling again, wish me luck.

Walked into an AD in Stockholm in Jan 22, asked for a TT Daytona, knowing it's pretty unloved so hoping I could get one in a couple of months. Took a full year. Picked it up last week, AD says she's no longer taking orders for anything whatsoever. So for that AD at least, 23 looks worse (for us) than 22.

[medtner]

Thank you all for input. Really miss pre- covid state when you could find a watch in European cities or airports. Came across grape 39 OP several times and didn't get. Still regret.

[fskywalker]

Visited a couple of AD’s in Munich and London last November and nothing was available; at Heathrow my gate did not had a Rolex store so no luck there neither. As others said you can get lucky but very unlikely.

[APWorldTour]

Nothing in Ljubljana and in Zagreb apparently you have to live and pay taxes in Croatia.

[brandrea]

Good luck OP, appears to be slim pickings everywhere

[Darcey]

Cashed up people are flying again and airport shops are often not heavily stocked in the windows (nowhere is really). You could get lucky but spend most of your travel time being refused in Rolex dealers. Not much fun.

[Toproll85]

First, many ADs are instructed to ask for an address to be on any list !
In other words, to sell to locals.
So, if he does his job well, he will direct you to the one closest to your home...

Secondly, know that internally Bucherer has a computer file, with the names/addresses, and the smart guys who go shopping to register, request the same watch or several everywhere, are quickly spotted.
Normally you can only register with one retailer.

Of course you can be lucky, or create a good relationship with a salesperson, but buying in another country with the current situation is a false hope.
But as we say, hope gives life...

[Benzsiam]

The watch market is not as good as before now, so if those ADs have something left on their showcase more than a week, I think they will sell to anybody that have money to buy.

[mountainjogger]

On the plus side, grey prices are getting much more reasonable.

[Agamemnon]

In my opinion, if we wait a little longer, we will also easily find the list price Rolex SS at AD.

[Vince M.]

Originally Posted by APWorldTour

Nothing in Ljubljana and in Zagreb apparently you have to live and pay taxes in Croatia.

Ill be in Croatia in April. Think its ok to wear a white gold GMT ? I was there a few times before but never brought a Rolex and never felt unsafe for that matter.

[APWorldTour]

Originally Posted by Vince M.

Ill be in Croatia in April. Think its ok to wear a white gold GMT ? I was there a few times before but never brought a Rolex and never felt unsafe for that matter.

Will you be on the coast? I’m in Zagreb now and Croatia is relatively safe so I would be comfortable wearing WG as it’s fairly under the radar. I guess it’s your call whether bringing it will add unnecessary stress to your trip but IMO should be fine.

[Vince M.]

Originally Posted by APWorldTour

Will you be on the coast? I’m in Zagreb now and Croatia is relatively safe so I would be comfortable wearing WG as it’s fairly under the radar. I guess it’s your call whether bringing it will add unnecessary stress to your trip but IMO should be fine.

I will be from Zagreb to Split. My family comes from Slatine. We try and go back every couple years.

[garyk]

Originally Posted by APWorldTour

Cdg will not sell to a walk in even if they have something available.

Isn’t everyone a walk in at an airport like CDG?

[SLWoodster]

Nah. Unless you mean like physically walking in the store... Then technically everyone is a walk-in customer.


I used to fly a lot for work. About 2 trips a month. So I'd pass through my home airport about 4x a month. I started seeing other people who would commute by flights even more regularly. I remember some consultants would take round trip every week to go home or vacation for the wknd. So that would be 2x at the same airport every week.

Originally Posted by garyk

Isn’t everyone a walk in at an airport like CDG?

[psv]

Don't expect any changes

[garyk]

Originally Posted by SLWoodster

Nah. Unless you mean like physically walking in the store... Then technically everyone is a walk-in customer.


I used to fly a lot for work. About 2 trips a month. So I'd pass through my home airport about 4x a month. I started seeing other people who would commute by flights even more regularly. I remember some consultants would take round trip every week to go home or vacation for the wknd. So that would be 2x at the same airport every week.

It occurred to me after I wrote that almost exactly what you said. I can’t remember exactly but my wife and I were offered some Rolexes at CDG as we were leaving for home in 2018. The cases had watches at that point but nothing that appealed to us that day.

[worldofoyster]

should be better