Just got an e-mail from my OB inviting the watch purchase for a full deposit of $15,263.25 including 8.25% TX sales tax. My initial reaction is NO, but will sleep on it for a few days ...
Another interesting datapoint from a boutique in TX:
I was the 2nd person to put down a full deposit. Rep calls me today to ask to talk about my buying history from boutiques. Says (essentially, but my words) that they’re going to make both a quantitative judgment on who gets the units based on the order of providing a deposit, but also a qualitative judgment based on purchase history, etc. Rep asked that, to help my case, I send proof of receipts of other purchases, etc. He says this is in part to try and avoid sales to grey market.
My response, essentially:
(1) this watch is meant to appeal in part to vintage watch people, who don’t as regularly purchase modern watches from boutiques
(2) grey market buyers have plenty of history buying modern from boutiques
(3) Owning SS Rolex sports watches, I understand the game being communicated here, but am less certain Omega gets to play that same game just yet, and that nothing about their apparent plan will slow grey market buyers - and in fact requiring extensive prior boutique purchase history may favor grey market buyers.
Otherwise of interest: rep says they don’t know timing yet, but conservative guess may be May before first unit arrives in boutique.
to be clear, the rep was being great about it all and just communicating his directives - even said to help him out by sending photos of my vintage omegas
all in all, luckily the deposit is cancellable at any time... may be sooner than later
