Do ADs sell exhibition watch at some point?

[MeanPharmD]

I am just curious how they rotate exhibition watches. Do they display them for certain amount of time and allocate to some people?

For my local AD, there used to be only VTNR or BLNR but couple weeks ago I noticed those were gone and BLRO was available as exhibition watch. It was nice for me to try my grail watch but that make me wonder how Rolex rotates their exhibition watches... I am sure no one has solid answers for this but I am curious what everyone thinks.

My wild guess would be exhibition for at least fixed amount of time and then sell them away!

[Giovannibravo]

Somehow, I believe it does. My AD told me they sent it to Rolex. Sometimes, it comes back with the card. However, they mislead you if you ask if something was an exhibition piece. I was looking for a DJ a few months ago. They had the exact configuration as an exhibition. I did want that watch; however, I didn’t want the exhibition. Some are handled a little too much for my liking. Anyways, once the exhibition piece is gone, they call and tell me they have another one. They claimed it wasn’t an exhibition. However, these dealers are so sketchy I don’t quite believe them.

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by MeanPharmD

I am just curious how they rotate exhibition watches. Do they display them for certain amount of time and allocate to some people?

For my local AD, there used to be only VTNR or BLNR but couple weeks ago I noticed those were gone and BLRO was available as exhibition watch. It was nice for me to try my grail watch but that make me wonder how Rolex rotates their exhibition watches... I am sure no one has solid answers for this but I am curious what everyone thinks.

My wild guess would be exhibition for at least fixed amount of time and then sell them away!

This has been discussed before, quite recently. Do a search.

Kat


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[JSCP]

They do when they want after few weeks or months. See it happen. If the exhibition has plastic protection wrappers, you know will be sold. I have seen this.

They sell them , several at boutique where I live sell, been offered a couple that said Exhibition only…..

it’s all about who and when they want to sell.

I’m a lucky yVIP buyer and I see it happen.

[cdmorenot]

Yes. I own two “exhibition pieces” I know this because I notated the serial numbers several weeks after getting “the call” - New display piece comes in, old one goes out.

[Wilco68]

My understanding is that a month’s stock comes in & becomes exhibition only. The next month the AD’s hit their customer lists to sell those pieces, & the new month’s stock comes in to become the replacement exhibition only items for that month. And that loop roughly continues.

Might be wrong, but that was the impression I got.

[londondude]

Originally Posted by Wilco68

My understanding is that a month’s stock comes in & becomes exhibition only. The next month the AD’s hit their customer lists to sell those pieces, & the new month’s stock comes in to become the replacement exhibition only items for that month. And that loop roughly continues.

Might be wrong, but that was the impression I got.

This is exactly what my AD told me

[Giovannibravo]

Originally Posted by londondude

This is exactly what my AD told me

Interesting.


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[rufio0811]

Originally Posted by Giovannibravo

I did want that watch; however, I didn’t want the exhibition. Some are handled a little too much for my liking. Anyways, once the exhibition piece is gone, they call and tell me they have another one. They claimed it wasn’t an exhibition. However, these dealers are so sketchy I don’t quite believe them.

Funny you mention about being handled too much, when I got my 116710BLNR I brought it to a local AD to get the bracelet sized and the SA was handling my watch bare handed.

I thought to myself why are they handling the exhibition pieces with gloves that get tried on by EVERYONE but they're handling my personally owned one barehanded?

I know the gloves is a dog & pony show but still

[GoingPlaces]

Originally Posted by Wilco68

My understanding is that a month’s stock comes in & becomes exhibition only. The next month the AD’s hit their customer lists to sell those pieces, & the new month’s stock comes in to become the replacement exhibition only items for that month. And that loop roughly continues.

Might be wrong, but that was the impression I got.

This is pretty much what I was told as well. Did not get into the frequency part though.

[dnd2984]

Yes they do, AD themselves have told me.

[Catatafish]

Recently my AD told me a similar format as mentioned above. That Rolex requires them to display incoming pieces for 1 month, then may sell them.

[Robf52]

Yes; standard practice.

[sawhornsoff]

Yes.

When they get allotment of watches, they can sell some but are required to keep some as exhibition pieces for few months.

[ExplorerI]

Yes I was offered one to buy

[AK797]

Puts a dampener on your new buy when you know dozens of people a day have been wearing your watch for at least a month, esp the hotter pieces.

[ap1]

Originally Posted by AK797

Puts a dampener on your new buy when you know dozens of people a day have been wearing your watch for at least a month, esp the hotter pieces.

Yup, awful.

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by AK797

Puts a dampener on your new buy when you know dozens of people a day have been wearing your watch for at least a month, esp the hotter pieces.

In automotive terms they would be “Dealer Demos”. So those that must have a “New” watch only from a AD might be getting a significantly more handled watch than say from a trusted seller that has a unsized “new” or “NOS” model. It’s certainly something to be concerned about if you’re holding out for years for a particular hot professional ss model Rolex.

[ArtNouveau]

I am pretty sure the policies on exhibition watches vary by country so I can only speak from my US filter. My local AD never had any of the non-functional watches, when they first started displaying some with the Exhibition Only sign they gave me the “it can’t be sold until another one arrives” explanation.
When I tried on an OP41 Celebration dial at the Hudson Yards WOS it was still fully stickered with tags hanging. The SA was a bit vague but implied that it was already promised to a client after its time in the case was up. For something hard to get that I truly wanted, I’d have no problem buying one like that.

[Seddyspaghetti]

Yes. Ive bought one before.

[Pacamack]

AD sold me a BLNR that was an exhibition piece, didn’t give the fact that others might have tried it on a second thought.

[Calatrava r]

I think ADs can sell whatever they want so long as they keep the minimum number of watches for display.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

This has been discussed before, quite recently. Do a search.

Kat

This.

Several contributors have bought exhibition watches.

[dnd2984]

Originally Posted by AK797

Puts a dampener on your new buy when you know dozens of people a day have been wearing your watch for at least a month, esp the hotter pieces.

How is this different than buying any other watch from the cases.

[Twisted Vicar]

Originally Posted by Wilco68

My understanding is that a month’s stock comes in & becomes exhibition only. The next month the AD’s hit their customer lists to sell those pieces, & the new month’s stock comes in to become the replacement exhibition only items for that month. And that loop roughly continues.

Might be wrong, but that was the impression I got.

Exactly what mine told me also. Plus they must keep a minimum of 10 on display at all times.

[physicist]

Yes, they are all sold at some point.

[77T]

My nearby AD was recently given different directions about their exhibition inventory. I came by and the case was virtually empty, and there were a few diamond Lady DJs.

The manager said they had been advised to return them for a refreshed inventory. This made no sense to me but discretion was the better part of valor on my part.

I thought, "why call BS?" so I simply said nothing. To me it's a sign that their status may be in jeopardy.


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[karleone]

Yes they are all sold or even already sold

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by Twisted Vicar

Exactly what mine told me also. Plus they must keep a minimum of 10 on display at all times.

The number they must keep on display is different, depending on the tier assigned to the AD, by Rolex. At my AD that number was 16, but is now 20, as the store has risen to the next level, based on some criteria that Rolex uses to assess an AD’s performance. Since they must now keep 20 watches on display, they will get more stock than before.

Kat


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[Giovannibravo]

Originally Posted by Mystro

In automotive terms they would be “Dealer Demos”. So those that must have a “New” watch only from a AD might be getting a significantly more handled watch than say from a trusted seller that has a unsized “new” or “NOS” model. It’s certainly something to be concerned about if you’re holding out for years for a particular hot professional ss model Rolex.

So we should get a discount!!!