When you say not as good quality as Patek or AP you mean finishing, accuracy, reliability, waterproofness…? I mean most Patek don’t even have hack seconds. APs get bumped lightly and go straight to service. Maybe the only thing they have over Rolex is finishing. But I’ll take toughness, waterproof and accuracy over decoration.

I've been waiting for 5 months for a Milgauss. My AD told me he DOES expect delivery for me. Now, when he showed me his Pepsi on jubilee, I feel in love. I asked him about getting one of those, he told me it wasn't gonna happen. He would tell me if I ever went from the registry to the actual list, he'd let me know...but it likely won't happen.

Yes! I made a video about this as well last week. I do think Rolex is testing the waters for a more boutique-like distribution model rather than all the ADs we currently have

It actually makes sense. AD’s are selling to flippers who in turn sell to gray market. With boutiques you have complete control to who you sell, and less probability to sell to the gray market. There isn’t really a supply issue with Rolex. The problem is that most gray dealers have them and try selling them for a premium.

I’m so glad I’m not worried about getting a call from my AD! On another note, yes the AD’s are being given the “option” to build a shop in shop or they will remove the account. I will vouch for the 3861 bracelet on the 1861 Speedy. I just got mine today and it definitely makes it more wearable than the old bracelet. Really comfortable and vents well which is important now that we are hitting triple digits in Phoenix.

Cheers for the info mate. Good vid.

Great video as always!

Nice vid! Hope you are keeping well buddy

Great video as always Chris.

Rolex makes 800,000 watches per year. They will never be truly as exclusive as Patek or Audemars. I suspect that in 2021 Rolex is suffering from a supply chain problem - having forecast a year ago that COVID was going to crater demand when it fact increased it. There is no question they are reducing the number of ADs. Maybe this will help increase the number of watches in display cases? I don't know. Regrettably, I do think the Rolex purchasing experience has become unpleasant and sketchy - which in the long run will diminish the brand. In the short run there may be enough cryptocurrency lottery winners to keep hoarding the watches. I agree that this will drive people slowly to Omega and other equivalent quality *available* brands.

The one issue with Rolex going exclusive is that the company has shown it is likes high production of watches as compared to the other exclusive brands. This production keeps a lot of people employed in Switzerland and this is a huge plus to this company. The average buyer just hope the hype calms down in two years and hopefully will drop the grey market prices to 2019 prices. A huge hope 🤞

Hey mate!! I know the feeling my friend!!! I love all watches - but a Rolex at retail is the the ultimate!! I just can’t even consider grey market prices... so I too would move on!!! Maybe if budget stretches VC overseas l, JLC reverso, still on a list for a snoopy (you are as well aren’t you), Tudor panda and lots of g shocks ha ha!! I have 6 CasiOaks in different colours!!!!! Keep up the good work with fam work and watches mate!!!

I have 3 Rolex ADs locally to me. Two of those three are located in jewelry stores within a mall and one of those two are losing the Rolex brand. I’m guessing it won’t be long before the other AD in the mall will lose the brand as well. The third AD is actually relocating to a bigger store with a Rolex repair center inside the store. I guess Rolex wants bigger stores with my amenities to continue carrying their brand.

Rolex is becoming a giant joke. Screw the AD games, Maybe it's because I'm an engineer but I don't see how Rolex is all that great. Give me a GS Spring Drive two tone sport GMT any day.

hope you can share a wristpic for when your wifey gets an explorer like yours

It would be great if they move to boutique only! I hate fucking around with the AD and I hate their game „buy diamond garbage, then we can arrange sth“ in order to buy a Rolex. I want to buy Rolex only, so I hope there will be a Rolex only store one day!

Same thing happened to mine now Fayetteville NC doesn’t even have one you have to go to Raleigh or Charlotte

Nice watchbox! Where did you get it from?

I was told gold Daytona is harder than steel by my ad.

Mate a question... if I may?? I have been offered a 2020 speedy, from an AD - they have just received. It was promised to an AD that went out of business and took a while to come through. I would love to check when it was made, they say between september and december 2020 - which would be really cool having one of the last of the older model - especially made in the tough year of 2020. Is there a way to use the watch reference or number to check????????? cheers as ever chris mate!!!!

Golf in the Tudor, must feel like your swinging 2 clubs playing with that on your wrist!

What! A major city like Chicago only has two ADs?? I live in Singapore 6m population has about 30 i can think of. Perhaps more actually

Received a no date Sub in three weeks from Razny in the suburbs; If you can make it out there, they're great to work with!

Did sell your blue Omega SMP? I don’t see it in the box.

I wonder how you would gain the favor of the boutique dealers. At least at an AD you can establish a buying history and hopefully get moved up on "the list"

Rolex isn’t going Boutique only, as they just invested heavily into my AD, made them a service center, have asked them to expand, etc. Chicago’s a different story, for some reason they only want one location in the city, and I confirmed that with Rolex.

I really don’t think gold pieces are as difficult to get as steel ones. I am a vip at my ad and managed to get my 116518ln with a week however am still waiting for a couple of steel pieces.

My AD lost it's relationship with Rolex. I live in upstate NY. My closest AD is now is in Syracuse approx.. 70 miles away. . Wonderful people! I have spoken to the owner of my local AD and she told me that Rolex has closed approx.. 70 AD's this year across the country and they did the same last year, At this point I believe there is only one AD between Albany and Buffalo left. Yes, Rolex is demanding that AD's must now have a "repair" center with a certified Rolex watchmaker associated with it. This is a heave investment for an AD to make. I am not making a political point here but as far as business is concerned I believe Rolex believes there is a major underserved market in the world and that is China. I think that as time goes on Rolex will try to serve the Chinese demand.

An AD told me that they still haven’t been allocated a 2020 Kermit

What Dial does she want? My wife wants the fronds.

There maybe ADs near you, but there is no stock of any kind. Rolex is playing games. They are probably shutting dow because of no watches are available.

Rolex isn’t going boutique only. They don’t even run the boutique on Michigan ave. I’m pretty sure they were closing a bunch of the lower quality stores as they try to move up market. James and sons was extremely tacky and easily the worst of the Rolex ads in Chicago. If I had a luxury brand I wouldn’t want to be in there either. Razny told me about Rolex plans to close a lot of ad doors months ago-I’m pretty sure this is just a low-quality ad story, not an all-ads story. Edit: I’m still happy the OP was able to get some watches through them. Always great to get what you can while you can.

Boutique only 2023 confirmed

Think Rolex only boutiques will be the future . It’s just so much easier for them to deal with the large multinational companies like watches of Switzerland who run the boutiques . A shame for the small ADs who provide a good service

Buy Tudor. That’s the next Rolex for sure. Get em while you can

Sure the boutiques don’t have any stock either so it doesn’t really matter.

I have been saying this for a long time,ROLEX IS GREATLY OVER RATED. There are so many other manufactures that make far better watches, in design, quality & value for a whole lot less money. When are you people going to wake up.

Rolex is a disgusting company and they need ADs to work with their unscrupulous strategy. Don’t you know that panda Daytona is not that hard to get as long as you buy 5-8 tudors (depending on how nice the sales person at AD wanna be that day) at the same time ? This is the biggest bubble in watch market. When this burst, it will be big this time .