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I don't understand the recent Rolex SS craze/shortage. What am I missing?

ckhaing
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In the $5000+ watch segment, rolex is probably the best marketing entity and the worst watch maker except for the oyster case.
 
S
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DSotW DSotW
Those who have not bought in to / are not infected with "must-have-rolex-itis" can enjoy other watches.....
Agree and this is made worst by you tubers
 
philips
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A Rolex is a hard asset, like gold, silver or real estate. It holds its value against inflation and can be liquidated at any time. The entire world is chasing assets right now, with trillions in money printing, inflation and an uncertain economic climate. There is currently a very high demand for assets globally that hold value, so Rolex watches are in high demand. A Rolex watch is also easy to take with you. Rolex could double production and they would still be sold out.
 
S
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😗😗
philips philips
A Rolex is a hard asset, like gold, silver or real estate. It holds its value against inflation and can be liquidated at any time. The entire world is chasing assets right now, with trillions in money printing, inflation and an uncertain economic climate. There is currently a very high demand for assets globally that hold value, so Rolex watches are in high demand. A Rolex watch is also easy to take with you. Rolex could double production and they would still be sold out.
I would really like to see Rolex doubling production 😗 and see what happen. I think they recently tried it with Tudor BB, there was a waiting list and selling more than list. Now no one wants it, if you try to sell a new one unworn you take a 40% hit. So I would be interested in your theory that Rolex can make its watches available and sold out. I would not disagree with you that certain and only certain Rolex sport model hold there value. We should not generalise with all Rolex. E.g AD are struggling to sell Cellini. How long manipulation of market can continue? We have to wait and see!
 
64Wing
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S Shay
😗😗
I would really like to see Rolex doubling production 😗 and see what happen. I think they recently tried it with Tudor BB, there was a waiting list and selling more than list. Now no one wants it, if you try to sell a new one unworn you take a 40% hit. So I would be interested in your theory that Rolex can make its watches available and sold out. I would not disagree with you that certain and only certain Rolex sport model hold there value. We should not generalise with all Rolex. E.g AD are struggling to sell Cellini. How long manipulation of market can continue? We have to wait and see!
Point me to that 40%-off BB... I'd love one at that discount
 
S
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64Wing 64Wing
Point me to that 40%-off BB... I'd love one at that discount
Let me correct myself and be more realistic. I think the BB 58 would be discounted 20-30%. The proof is I just sold a new unworn one blue dial on bracelet and took 30% hit. I approached about 10 dealers in UK, half of them said they had too much Tudor BB and cannot sell them. The other half consistently priced the watch at 30% discount. If you look at Chrono 24 it’s full of them, some private sellers are discounting the watch at 15% new and unworn but it is not selling. The watch is easily available at AD, if you try I am sure you can even get some discount at an AD ( of course not 40% 😀). The same watch last year was a waiting list watch. If you look at the secondary market many dealers are selling them more than list and I guess the reason is that they bought at the wrong price and got burnt. This watch is in the AD window now. If now you apply that to Rolex, I am saying the same thing will happen but quite likely many of the watch will tumble in price. My experience with selling my Tudor is the grey market margin is 20-30%. So even now you will be trading many Rolex at a loss except maybe GMT or Daytona.
 
S
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Anyone has watched the Paul Thorpe video
Rolex AD tells All.
To be honest I found the whole thing confusing, the first part explains how strict Rolex is and the AD sales team need to be careful. Then the second part explain how the AD the person works for us is blatantly involved in corruption and it would be beggars belief that Rolex check and balance has not found this one out.::facepalm1::
 
S
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I spoke to an Omega boutique last week and the Snoopy came up in the conversation. She said in December 2020 they were asked to stopped taking names for the watch from Omega. Anyone who paid a deposit and is on the waiting list will have their watch in 2021. Assuming this is True, it shows the integrity and honesty of Omega.
 
S
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Ariel Adams “Rolex could fix all of the frustration from a buyer point of view, Adams said, if Rolex created an official waitlist, or a guaranteed way for people to buy watches they want at retail prices. This would solve the problem, even if prospective buyers had to wait.” Omega seems to be able to do it. But very unlikely Rolex will do it.
 
64Wing
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S Shay
Ariel Adams “Rolex could fix all of the frustration from a buyer point of view, Adams said, if Rolex created an official waitlist, or a guaranteed way for people to buy watches they want at retail prices. This would solve the problem, even if prospective buyers had to wait.” Omega seems to be able to do it. But very unlikely Rolex will do it.
I'd actually be a potential player in the Rolex world if they'd just assure a spot on the list. Moreover, if they did a redesign while you waited, it would just be good, honest business to offer you the newest model if you want it and you pay the difference in MSRP, if any.

This is why I'll never get hired at Rolex lol
 
E
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I collect all sorts of things from watches to high end action figures, everything’s on short demand, there’s no conspiracy with Rolex for example it’s just what’s really happening out here post covid on shortages with almost everything, a famous example is the PS5, limited supplies for sure but doubling on the third market big time, a lego set comes out, it sells out within hours and gets on the backorder for 60 days, basically creating a 300% price increase on said item on the third market.

I’m having a hard time chasing Ninja Turtles retro figures because of it, they only released one item per store and marginally it’s been sold out for a month already with stores only getting delays for these past weeks including hot wheels!

This market is just creating insane scalpers however you see it, if you miss something when it comes out it will high a high resale value no matter what, that’s the problem with rolex.
 
S
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E eldiano84
I collect all sorts of things from watches to high end action figures, everything’s on short demand, there’s no conspiracy with Rolex for example it’s just what’s really happening out here post covid on shortages with almost everything, a famous example is the PS5, limited supplies for sure but doubling on the third market big time, a lego set comes out, it sells out within hours and gets on the backorder for 60 days, basically creating a 300% price increase on said item on the third market.

I’m having a hard time chasing Ninja Turtles retro figures because of it, they only released one item per store and marginally it’s been sold out for a month already with stores only getting delays for these past weeks including hot wheels!

This market is just creating insane scalpers however you see it, if you miss something when it comes out it will high a high resale value no matter what, that’s the problem with rolex.
I agree with you that post COVID the supply chain issues plus pent up demand have created a sellers market. However the Rolex problem was Pre-COVID also. A quick check in Chrono 24 shows there are approx 90 Rolex submariner 2021 for sales in the UK. Not sure how many Rolex store we have in UK, but I assume less that a hundred and we are still in September. This is a large amount of stock to be on the grey market in 8 months. The market is creating unscrupulous AD and Dealers, but I have the feeling also Rolex is turning a blind eye on it. It’s clear Rolex will not increase production, but they could create a more honest and equal system of allocation which would not see 90 new watches on the secondary market in 8 months. But maybe they don’t want to do it 😕
 
nzshadow
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E eldiano84
I collect all sorts of things from watches to high end action figures, everything’s on short demand, there’s no conspiracy with Rolex for example it’s just what’s really happening out here post covid on shortages with almost everything, a famous example is the PS5, limited supplies for sure but doubling on the third market big time, a lego set comes out, it sells out within hours and gets on the backorder for 60 days, basically creating a 300% price increase on said item on the third market.

I’m having a hard time chasing Ninja Turtles retro figures because of it, they only released one item per store and marginally it’s been sold out for a month already with stores only getting delays for these past weeks including hot wheels!

This market is just creating insane scalpers however you see it, if you miss something when it comes out it will high a high resale value no matter what, that’s the problem with rolex.

My sons 14th birthday was approaching, all he wanted (of course was a PS5). I put my name on a waiting list at Australia's main electronics retailer & 2 days before his birthday I got the call. When I picked it up I was offered the sales price + $500 by another customer. Shit is bleak out there.
 
Donn Chambers
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nzshadow nzshadow
My sons 14th birthday was approaching, all he wanted (of course was a PS5). I put my name on a waiting list at Australia's main electronics retailer & 2 days before his birthday I got the call. When I picked it up I was offered the sales price + $500 by another customer. Shit is bleak out there.

Don’t get me started on the PS5 — been trying to get one for over a year now. What’s really annoying is that apparently Sony is sending emails to customers who have already purchased a PS5 directly from them … with a link to buy ANOTHER PS5. And guess who is doing this and then flipping them for a profit?
 
Premaster
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Rolex ist no watch brand. It's a currency. If you want one at an exchange rate of 1:1, wait. If you want one now, pay a higher exchange rate. That is how it works. Very easily explained. I am here to talk about watches. Not currencies.
 
G
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flw flw
Interesting piece on the scarcity issue in the NYT yesterday: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/08/fashion/watches-rolex-audemars-piguet-patek-philippe-mille.html

“The art is to find the customers who will love the watches, not turn them into financial assets,”

Sure, that's why so many of these watches make their way on to the gray market.. look at this guys shop on ebay for example. https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/ajchrono?_trksid=p2047675.l2563 .Ridiculous!
 
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Nobel Prize
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I was in toronto a couple of weeks ago and in Yorkville there are two gray market dealers that have PLENTY of stock. Daytonas at 50g US, skydweallers in steel white and blue face, subs etc etc.

The prices are STUPID even for gray market but the watches are all there.


For those interested check the watch store in around 24 Bellair street. right next to the cashmere shop.
Edited:
 
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