Sub Date or No Date Wait Time?

[NYC2023]

Hello All,

I am going to an AD tomorrow to register my interest on a black sub. I like both date and no date. Any idea what estimated wait time would be with no purchase history (NYC area)? Is one easier to get than the other?

Thanks,

NYC2023

[Starhutch]

You are going to get quite a few different responses here but as I understand it from my AD the no date is much harder to get. No clue given your market wait time but you could easily be looking at 12+ months. Good luck on your search.

[Dougiebaby]

Originally Posted by NYC2023

Hello All,

I am going to an AD tomorrow to register my interest on a black sub. I like both date and no date. Any idea what estimated wait time would be with no purchase history (NYC area)? Is one easier to get than the other?

Thanks,

NYC2023

With no purchase history, I would expect you would have a 12 - 18 month wait.


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[Calatrava r]

I would think the Sub Date is easier to get. More demand for it but a lot more delivered also. Expect 9 to 15 months wait unless market demand slackens. Try to buy something else at the AD you can really use. I bought a William Henry golf ball marker for use on golf greens. Very inexpensive. No excuse not to have some small purchase history where you want a Rolex sports allocation.

[NYC2023]

Originally Posted by Dougiebaby

With no purchase history, I would expect you would have a 12 - 18 month wait.


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Ouch! Going to be a while I guess. Is it worth putting in the same request at multiple ADs?

[inadeje]

The price offset of going grey for a fully sticker BNIB example isn’t too onerous at the moment.

Possibly worth considering?

[NYC2023]

Originally Posted by inadeje

The price offset of going grey for a fully sticker BNIB example isn’t too onerous at the moment.

Possibly worth considering?

Still seems like at least a few grand for a date. I keep on going back to the idea that I could get a new sub date and a Tudor Black Bay Pro for the price of a grey market BNIB.

I know that's the wrong way to think about it, but still...

[Hulkhunter]

There is a reason there is a premium on the watch. If you could just easily walk in and buy one with no history there wouldn’t be.

I got a 124060 Sub from an AD, with no history, but it took 18 months and I had a recommendation from a good client of theirs.

It can be done but don’t have high hopes and consider taking a different model to get the ball rolling.

[NYC2023]

Originally Posted by Hulkhunter

There is a reason there is a premium on the watch. If you could just easily walk in and buy one with no history there wouldn’t be.

I got a 124060 Sub from an AD, with no history, but it took 18 months and I had a recommendation from a good client of theirs.

It can be done but don’t have high hopes and consider taking a different model to get the ball rolling.

Thanks Hulkhunter. Great collection by the way!

What would be a better model to request to work my way towards a sub?

[Hulkhunter]

Originally Posted by NYC2023

Thanks Hulkhunter. Great collection by the way!

What would be a better model to request to work my way towards a sub?

Thanks! Took some time to get there but the calls are coming for the watches I want.

You should definitely still ask for what you want as you never know! Sometimes you can strike it lucky.

Don’t just buy anything. Is there any others that you like? SD43 maybe? Or explorer 2 black dial? Yachtmaster 40?

[Travis29]

It’s a long wait, especially in big cities. Got to multiple and stop by in frequently sp they remember you.

[NYC2023]

Originally Posted by Hulkhunter

Thanks! Took some time to get there but the calls are coming for the watches I want.

You should definitely still ask for what you want as you never know! Sometimes you can strike it lucky.

Don’t just buy anything. Is there any others that you like? SD43 maybe? Or explorer 2 black dial? Yachtmaster 40?

Explorer 2 black dial I like. Didn't realize that was easier to get. SD43 and Yachtmaster 40 I would say more on the fence about. SD43 love the idea of it and history, but I've tried on and felt too thick, and YM has just never really spoken to me the way the sub has.

If you don't mind me asking, do you source your pieces from a single AD that you've established a great relationship with, or multiple ADs?

Still trying to figure out how this all works, so I appreciate it!

[NYC2023]

Originally Posted by Travis29

It’s a long wait, especially in big cities. Got to multiple and stop by in frequently sp they remember you.

Thanks Travis. Can I go to multiple ADs of the same parent brand? In NYC there are several Bucherers and multiple WOS as well. Or should I only go to one of each brand?

NYC2023

[JRell]

I just decided to pull the trigger again on the 124060. Don’t want to wait until after the Daytona. Will let you know, this is day one!

[huncho]

tbh i find most of the ADs in nyc to be snobbish and a waste of time, there's just too much money here and because of that there's no real answer to your question. which one are you going to? i find wempe to be the best but there's no chance for regular people to score there given the clients they have. besides that i think tournaeu at bryant park is good but at the end of the day it's a tournaeu. the rest i wouldn't even bother walking into or registering interest at

12-18 months sounds reasonable if you get lucky and actually get put on a wait list or hit it off with the SA, which is a task on it's own because getting these people to talk to you is a chore in these stores

i can't imagine the difference between msrp+tax and grey is more than 2k today. i would strongly consider that route personally

[NYC2023]

Originally Posted by huncho

tbh i find most of the ADs in nyc to be snobbish and a waste of time, there's just too much money here and because of that there's no real answer to your question. which one are you going to? i find wempe to be the best but there's no chance for regular people to score there given the clients they have. besides that i think tournaeu at bryant park is good but at the end of the day it's a tournaeu. the rest i wouldn't even bother walking into or registering interest at

12-18 months sounds reasonable if you get lucky and actually get put on a wait list or hit it off with the SA, which is a task on it's own because getting these people to talk to you is a chore in these stores

i can't imagine the difference between msrp+tax and grey is more than 2k today. i would strongly consider that route personally

My plan is to hit up four or five ADs tomorrow, all in NYC/Manhattan. Most likely Wempe, Tourneau Bryant Park, WOS Hudson Yards, and Tourneau Boutique Meatpacking.

I’ll write a “review” post on the forum at the end of the day to share my experiences at the various locations in case other members find it interesting.

I honestly love watches and have a few other models on my “wish list” that I’d like to see as well. So this strikes me as an enjoyable morning even if I don’t manage to get a firm commitment/timeline on a watch (which I almost certainly won’t).

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by Dougiebaby

With no purchase history, I would expect you would have a 12 - 18 month wait.


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This was my experience for a sub L V


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[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by NYC2023

My plan is to hit up four or five ADs tomorrow, all in NYC/Manhattan. Most likely Wempe, Tourneau Bryant Park, WOS Hudson Yards, and Tourneau Boutique Meatpacking).

I stopped by each and every single one of these ADs periodically, you certainly are not going to get any hard commitments. Wempe declines to take my information. Same with Tourneau even though I’ve purchased several watches from them, including two in the past two years from other states. Lol. Let us know how it goes!


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[NYC2023]

Originally Posted by GGGMT

I stopped by each and every single one of these ADs periodically, you certainly are not going to get any hard commitments. Wempe declines to take my information. Same with Tourneau even though I’ve purchased several watches from them, including two in the past two years from other states. Lol. Let us know how it goes!


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I have low expectations but am looking forward to it! If you don’t mind me asking, where did you end up having success with your LV?

[huncho]

Originally Posted by NYC2023

My plan is to hit up four or five ADs tomorrow, all in NYC/Manhattan. Most likely Wempe, Tourneau Bryant Park, WOS Hudson Yards, and Tourneau Boutique Meatpacking.

I’ll write a “review” post on the forum at the end of the day to share my experiences at the various locations in case other members find it interesting.

I honestly love watches and have a few other models on my “wish list” that I’d like to see as well. So this strikes me as an enjoyable morning even if I don’t manage to get a firm commitment/timeline on a watch (which I almost certainly won’t).

bryant park might be your best bet. WOS hudson yards was the worst in my experience from the few times i've been there. the SAs there are completely disinterested and look like they're at a funeral lol. good luck

[NYC2023]

Originally Posted by huncho

bryant park might be your best bet. WOS hudson yards was the worst in my experience from the few times i've been there. the SAs there are completely disinterested and look like they're at a funeral lol. good luck

Thanks! Will keep everyone posted. Look for a new thread tomorrow night or perhaps Sunday morning!

[1259]

If they like you probably 4-6 months. If they don’t then probably 1.5 years to never.

[Kenny G]

No one (or AD) will ever be able to answer this question directly. Express your interest at multiple ADs and good luck!

[JMGoodnight369]

I can’t say for NYC but I got a 124060 as a first purchase at an AD after a 4 month wait. I was told then (October of 2021) not nearly as many requests for the non-date model so I got one pretty quick. I feel like popularity has gone up for them over the last year or so. From there I was able to get the LV within about 6 months after asking. So I got two subs within a year. I go to NYC a good bit and I’ve hit all the big shops up there and 99% of them have no interest in even talking about selling a sports model to someone without purchase history. I wasn’t actually trying to buy one, I was just curious and wanted to see for myself. There is one guy at WOS Soho that is great and I’ve met with him a couple times now just to chat. His name is Anthony. If you swing by there he’s the guy you wanna work with. Best of luck on your journey and hopefully you get one sooner than later!

[RogerOP]

With no history, go on a list and have an end date of day 12 months. In the meantime save enough for a grey.

At the end of the 12 months you’ll either have the RRP or grey on your wrist.

And I know which one it’ll be.

[MSL]

Don't waste time and go grey.

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by NYC2023

Hello All,

I am going to an AD tomorrow to register my interest on a black sub. I like both date and no date. Any idea what estimated wait time would be with no purchase history (NYC area)? Is one easier to get than the other?

Thanks,

NYC2023

I fear this may be fruitless for you.
Perhaps grey market is your best option, especially whilst prices are down a bit.

[NYC2023]

Originally Posted by Nairn1980

I fear this may be fruitless for you.
Perhaps grey market is your best option, especially whilst prices are down a bit.

I expect so as well based on the responses. At least it may make for an interesting forum post! Like I said in original post, I love watches and think going to a few dealers would be fun even if completely fruitless. At least I’ll get to try on some nice watches, including some non-Rolex watches that may actually be available.

[Hulkhunter]

Originally Posted by NYC2023

Explorer 2 black dial I like. Didn't realize that was easier to get. SD43 and Yachtmaster 40 I would say more on the fence about. SD43 love the idea of it and history, but I've tried on and felt too thick, and YM has just never really spoken to me the way the sub has.

If you don't mind me asking, do you source your pieces from a single AD that you've established a great relationship with, or multiple ADs?

Still trying to figure out how this all works, so I appreciate it!

I think the explorer 2 would be easier to get as not as many people ask for them. As a general rule, the higher the premium over retail the more difficult to acquire from an AD. It’s a supply and demand issue so the grey pricing structure reflects that. The Sub is the watch most people as for and a lot of ADs will have a rule
Where it can’t be your first Rolex.

I have a relationship with a few different ADs. Just a numbers game really. Different ADs have came through for certain pieces others have taken longer. There are no rules really. Got Pepsi in 6 months from one ad, it took me 3 years to get an LV sub from another where I had more
Rolex buying history.

[Gab27]

If you're not buying anything else, more likely than not you are looking at a relatively long wait, although individual experiences vary.

FWIW, I bought my Submariner from a secondary dealer and am happy with the end result. The customer service I received from the secondary dealer was better than what was provided by most ADs I interacted with.