Rolex GMT/Date Just - Advice

[greggy50]

Hi,

My dream watch has always been a Rolex GMT and as such I have just gone to the local dealer to get put on the waiting list. I have purchased a Tudor, Tag and Raymond Weil before but from other shops and as such may struggle to get one I assume with no history unless I am very lucky?

The shop in question had a Rolex Date Just 41mm with a White Gold Bezel and Silver Dial for £7.9k which I could take today and I assume would help my chances? The issue is whilst it was a beautiful watch it isn't what I would call a keeper and financially I couldn't justify both and I am worried I would lose a fortune when I came to sell it?

I am happy to wait 2-4 years if required to get one af list and have no issues with the dealer keeping boxes etc as I will never sell it but don't really want to buy another just to secure one unless I won't lose a fortune in the process.

[paulguitar]

Hard to believe this lunacy is still going on.

[greggy50]

paulguitar said:

Hard to believe this lunacy is still going on.

I would purchase used as its a keeper but I simply cant afford to drop £14k on something that's costs £7.8k normally as that is my top end I would want to spend 😔

I am 30 in 18 months and it was always my aim to have one for then but it seems doubtful..

I purchased my Tudor and Tag from Beaverbrooks so may have better luck in that store, however I am unsure if they even sell Rolex in the Chester branch...

[greggy50]

This was the date just in question 41mm

[paulguitar]

Are there any other brands you are a fan of? I just find it jaw-dropping to read through what you've written and imagine even considering jumping through those kinds of hoops for the privilege of being allowed to hand over multiple thousands for the product you want some time in the future.

I've stepped back from buying and selling Rolex, because it has got totally out of hand, in my opinion. If you're happy to wait and get at list, I think that's perfectly sensible, and with the way things are at the moment, you might find that list is a lot shorter than you'd expected.

[paulguitar]

greggy50 said:

This was the date just in question 41mm

Yes, I don't expect that would be a particularly good bet to retain your £ spend. I'd be looking at getting what you want to buy at list, even if it means waiting a while.

ETA Although I've not done this for a while, I am sure you will hear from others who are much more clued up with how the market is at present.

Edited by paulguitar on Monday 28th December 16:05

[Jawls]

greggy50 said:

paulguitar said:

Hard to believe this lunacy is still going on.

I would purchase used as its a keeper but I simply cant afford to drop £14k on something that's costs £7.8k normally as that is my top end I would want to spend ??

I am 30 in 18 months and it was always my aim to have one for then but it seems doubtful..

I purchased my Tudor and Tag from Beaverbrooks so may have better luck in that store, however I am unsure if they even sell Rolex in the Chester branch...

The way I see it is that you are wondering whether it is worth tying up £8k (with the possibility of crystallising a few k loss on resale of the Datejust?) in return for the *possibility* of being bumped up a list to save £7k?

I guess the question is, how would you feel if you bought the Datejust, and still didn’t get the Daytona for a few years? Personally, I’d be fuming. Though I’m not interested in watches at this price/exclusivity point for that reason.

If you wouldn’t be too annoyed (or rather, the annoyance caused by waiting and being a couple of k down is lower than the annoyance you’d get from paying 7k extra to get a used watch), then it’s rational to buy the Datejust, no? But only you can answer that question.

[greggy50]

paulguitar said:

greggy50 said:

This was the date just in question 41mm

Yes, I don't expect that would be a particularly good bet to retain your £ spend. I'd be looking at getting what you want to buy at list, even if it means waiting a while.

Ok thanks, I am happy to wait a while. I am signed up to Maplin & Webb in Chester who seemed friendly enough considering I just popped in quickly.

Any other details worth trying in Cheshire? As stated I have history with Beaverbooks but they don't have appear to stock Rolex in my branch only Tudor. I may pop in and ask anyway...

[greggy50]

paulguitar said:

Are there any other brands you are a fan of? I just find it jaw-dropping to read through what you've written and imagine even considering jumping through those kinds of hoops for the privilege of being allowed to hand over multiple thousands for the product you want some time in the future.

I've stepped back from buying and selling Rolex, because it has got totally out of hand, in my opinion. If you're happy to wait and get at list, I think that's perfectly sensible, and with the way things are at the moment, you might find that list is a lot shorter than you'd expected.

Hi, I like Tudor and have a GMT Pepsi already and also would like a Panerai and Omega in the future. The Rolex has been a personal goal without sounding silly that I set myself when younger but I will of course expand my collection in the future. I tend to buy a new watch every 2 years currently and I am working my way up in the prices paid.

Currently have:
Tag Heur F1 Chronograph
Tudor GMT Pepsi
Raymond Weil Freelancer
Samsung Smart Watch
Seiko 5 Green

[paulguitar]

greggy50 said:

Ok thanks, I am happy to wait a while. I am signed up to Maplin & Webb in Chester who seemed friendly enough considering I just popped in quickly.

Any other details worth trying in Cheshire? As stated I have history with Beaverbooks but they don't have appear to stock Rolex in my branch only Tudor. I may pop in and ask anyway...

As I said, I'm a bit of the loop on this having not been in the market for a while, but I would be inclined to express an interest with any dealers local to you, and perhaps check in with them in person from time to time. If you have the money available and are ready to go, you are likely in a much better position than others who, when confronted with an actual call from the shop, are not in a position to access the funds.

[harveys]

I’ve been buying Rolexes for 15 years from ADs only...and I would be horrified if they asked me to buy a watch (which I didn’t really want) just to get onto a list for another. You need to find an AD you can work with.

[greggy50]

harveys said:

I’ve been buying Rolexes for 15 years from ADs only...and I would be horrified if they asked me to buy a watch (which I didn’t really want) just to get onto a list for another. You need to find an AD you can work with.

Hi, to be clear they just offered it me as it was one they had in stock and it had the jubilee bracket so I could try the fit.

They were not going for the hard sell at all and it was more my thought it may help my chances...

I believe the store has a decent reputation and I am now on the waiting list at least I just appreciate prior customers will of course take preference and as such my chance of purchasing will be poor given the circumstances unless I am very lucky!

[anonymous-user]

I got a (black) Daytona S/S in (Jul/2018) as my first watch from Chester M&W, bought a DJ 41 Wimbledon new and sold it for about a £700 loss (Sep/2019), then bought a Batgirl GMT (Dec/19).

Waiting for an Explorer II, another (white) Daytona and a Skydweller at the moment.

If they say you’ll get one then you will, normal GMT shouldn’t be too long of a wait.

[greggy50]

Lord.Vader said:

I got a (black) Daytona S/S in (Jul/2018) as my first watch from Chester M&W, bought a DJ 41 Wimbledon new and sold it for about a £700 loss (Sep/2019), then bought a Batgirl GMT (Dec/19).

Waiting for an Explorer II, another (white) Daytona and a Skydweller at the moment.

If they say you’ll get one then you will, normal GMT shouldn’t be too long of a wait.

OK, fingers crossed then...

I went in on a bit of a whim so hopefully they don't think I am a waste of time I may pop in every 2/3 months so they start to recognise me!

[Dezbo]

I would say it will depend which GMT you’re after as to how long you will wait. If you’re after a Pepsi or Batgirl it will be a long wait unless you have a decent Rolex buying history with that dealer

[Tony1963]

My only tip would be to let the AD know that you'd be at least interested in any GMT that they have delivered. At least that way you can try them on and be sure that the one you buy is the one that you think suits you most. I went in to Miltons in Chester (drove all the way from Suffolk, stayed in the Grosvenor next door lol) to try on some older GMTs when they were selling for about £3.5k, and really didn't like the look of them on me. Ended up with a one year old SS Daytona for about £400 under list! Heady days

[paulguitar]

Tony1963 said:

I went in to Miltons in Chester (drove all the way from Suffolk, stayed in the Grosvenor next door lol)

Here's a tenuous link for you, I sold my 16200 Datejust to its new owner in the lobby of the Grosvenor in Chester in 2012, for £2000 cash.

[greggy50]

Dezbo said:

I would say it will depend which GMT you’re after as to how long you will wait. If you’re after a Pepsi or Batgirl it will be a long wait unless you have a decent Rolex buying history with that dealer

I wanted a Batgirl as I have a Tudor GMT which is too similar to a Pepsi for me. I believe the Pepsi are more sought after than the Batgirl.

I am happy to wait 2-3 years ifs not a major rush as long as I get one eventually as I refuse to pay £5k+ over list as they are better watches for that money