Rolex Sub - Hulk - 116610LV - Availability

[OssettMark]

Thought I'd stick this one out there.

Has anyone had any luck in getting hold of one of these recently, or seen one sitting in a shop window?

I've been in touch with over 60 AD's from the USA, Dubai, UK and across Europe to try and obtain one.

Every single one, except a dealer in Spain has told me their lists are now closed as they exceed either 2 or 3 years.

I've found plenty on the "Grey" market at between £9k and £12k for 2016 to 2018 years. But given the RRP of a fraction under £7k I'm unconvinced by spending this excessive premium.

This is a 50th Birthday present to myself, not buying for investment purposes. It's a watch for life and one to pass on to my son.

[dimots]

I don't really understand it, they must be making loads of them but I don't see them anywhere.

I bought one for my 40th (3 years ago) because green is my favourite colour. I wear it every day, because I love it, but I don't see it as a £10k watch.

I know there's no real alternative if you're set on green, but I would certainly consider something else at that price.

[OssettMark]

dimots said:

I don't see it as a £10k watch.

I know there's no real alternative if you're set on green, but I would certainly consider something else at that price.

That's the dilemma really, I don't particularly see it as a £10k watch either. I can pick an unworn Noir model up for about £7.5, a grand over list give or take and only difference is colour!

I love the green though and my brother has the black, so not wanting to copy him!

I did enquire after the "Batman" GMT, but exactly the same story.

My wife thinks I should go for another Omega, maybe their Planet Ocean GMT with Black/White Bezel at £4.5k instead... She almost has a point!

[Snubs]

If you were born in the sixties and are looking for a green watch, how about the Glashutte Original Sixties Panorama Date:

https://www.glashuette-original.com/collection/vin...

Very different to the hulk, but you get an in house movement (i believe), display back, choice of with or without date and, in my personal opinion, a watch far more interesting than a sub.

There's an article about them here:

https://www.watchcollectinglifestyle.com/home/base...

Clearly with such a distinctive look it's note going to be to everyone's taste. Failing that, a look through some other brands and you'll find other green options, such as:

http://www.schaumburgwatch.com/classoco-g40-schaum...

Or for a green faced diver similar to the sub:

https://www.oris.ch/en/watch/oris-divers-sixty-fiv...

[dimots]

Personally I don't think any of those green watches are a substitute for the Hulk. I don't think there's anything else like it.

For £10k though I'd probably buy a Daytona.

[amare32]

It's pretty next to impossible to obtain one, saying that I'm popping into my AD this weekend after a recent chat to see if they can source me one quicker as I've had my name on their list since July '17. Shortly after putting my name down, I got a call 3 weeks later after a customer dropped out but I was out of the country at the time so couldn't respond to the call.

[raceboy]

I think the secret is to make friends with your most local AD, I don't think it's realistic to buy loads of stuff you don't really want but just pop in on a regular basis so they know you're local. Explain what you want and why, maybe add a bit of extra 'X-Factor' sod story into the mix, and I like to think you could be getting a call sooner than you think.
I believe half of the waiting list problem is that a lot of people have their name on a multitude of lists, and might not even be able to proceed with a purchase when they do get a call, if you want to save the £3k over list it just requires playing the long game.

[OssettMark]

amare32 said:

It's pretty next to impossible to obtain one, saying that I'm popping into my AD this weekend after a recent chat to see if they can source me one quicker as I've had my name on their list since July '17. Shortly after putting my name down, I got a call 3 weeks later after a customer dropped out but I was out of the country at the time so couldn't respond to the call.

I've been into my local one a couple of times for a chat and exchanged several emails. The difficulty is they won't even put me on a list as not even taking expressions of interest.

I did however see that Goldsmiths were taking Expressions of Interest, but said their wait list was closed as it had hit 3 years... Not sure of the difference between expression list and wait list.

[raceboy]

I'd take them as being pretty much the same thing, have you offered a deposit? This might move you up/get you on the list as it implies a bit more commitment, I remember paying something like £100 deposit to get on the Daytona waiting list at a Goldsmiths many many years ago, it was still a few years wait though 15 years ago, funnily enough when I picked it up they offered me a place on the as yet unavailable LV list which I declined.

[CAPP0]

I asked Mr Hackett, on behalf of a colleague, whether he could source one of these earlier this year and he wasn't able to come up with anything at any price!

[OssettMark]

raceboy said:

I'd take them as being pretty much the same thing, have you offered a deposit? This might move you up/get you on the list as it implies a bit more commitment,

Yeah, quite happily offered discount to show that I'm a serious buyer.

The only place that would accept it was a dealer in Madrid, who said it might be 5 years and he would like 50%....

[andyman_2006]

I agree with the OP - not to pay over the list price, with watchfinder now asking £9750 for a 7 year old one and this 1 year old one pushing towards £11K its getting silly now. For me the appeal of a new one is the full 5 year warranty, and not in house grey sellers 1 year warranty.

https://www.watchfinder.co.uk/Rolex/Submariner/116...

If you want one bad enough you'll pay thats the impression the grey dealers are giving, I've been waiting for 3 years nearly, you can get a Goodwood GRRC membership faster! and that used to be 5 years waiting IIRC! plus it isn't anywhere near £7K..

Not sure when it will end though, i think what will no doubt happen is they will at some point discontinue the Batman and Hulk, which wont help matters value wise but at this rate we wont be much worse off with supply as we cant get one from an AD anyway!!

AD's can allocate the little stock they get to whomever they like - usually keeping sweet their long standing, loyal customers who have bought DJ's and other models in bigger supply and less in demand (sort of makes sense - bt not if you want one like you OP for an occasion)

So i'm of the expectation that if i were to get a call for a offer of one, then great, if not then i'll not worry about it anymore, there are lots of nice watches out there some would argue better than a Rolex in lots of ways.

I wish you the best of luck, but i think you should look and take your money elsewhere, or be prepared to be dissapointed with crazy wait time or fork out £000's over list for a used one. Its a shame but thats how it is.

Andy

[OssettMark]

andyman_2006 said:

I agree with the OP - not to pay over the list price, with watchfinder now asking £9750 for a 7 year old one and this 1 year old one pushing towards £11K its getting silly now. For me the appeal of a new one is the full 5 year warranty, and not in house grey sellers 1 year warranty.

https://www.watchfinder.co.uk/Rolex/Submariner/116...

If you want one bad enough you'll pay thats the impression the grey dealers are giving, I've been waiting for 3 years nearly, you can get a Goodwood GRRC membership faster! and that used to be 5 years waiting IIRC! plus it isn't anywhere near £7K..

Not sure when it will end though, i think what will no doubt happen is they will at some point discontinue the Batman and Hulk, which wont help matters value wise but at this rate we wont be much worse off with supply as we cant get one from an AD anyway!!

AD's can allocate the little stock they get to whomever they like - usually keeping sweet their long standing, loyal customers who have bought DJ's and other models in bigger supply and less in demand (sort of makes sense - bt not if you want one like you OP for an occasion)

So i'm of the expectation that if i were to get a call for a offer of one, then great, if not then i'll not worry about it anymore, there are lots of nice watches out there some would argue better than a Rolex in lots of ways.

I wish you the best of luck, but i think you should look and take your money elsewhere, or be prepared to be dissapointed with crazy wait time or fork out £000's over list for a used one. Its a shame but thats how it is.

Andy

Andy, can't agree more with what you've said.... There is one available at £9595(ish) that is 18 months old, that is the best value one I've seen from the Grey Market dealers.

After that you're into the £10k+ arena and for something that has an RRP of £6950 that's one hell of a mark up for something that isn't a limited edition.

Maybe I should just plump for a GMT Master II in black at £1k over list or even an Air-King at £5k.

[amare32]

OssettMark said:

amare32 said:

It's pretty next to impossible to obtain one, saying that I'm popping into my AD this weekend after a recent chat to see if they can source me one quicker as I've had my name on their list since July '17. Shortly after putting my name down, I got a call 3 weeks later after a customer dropped out but I was out of the country at the time so couldn't respond to the call.

I've been into my local one a couple of times for a chat and exchanged several emails. The difficulty is they won't even put me on a list as not even taking expressions of interest.

I did however see that Goldsmiths were taking Expressions of Interest, but said their wait list was closed as it had hit 3 years... Not sure of the difference between expression list and wait list.

That's what my AD is doing now, taking Expressions of Interest and they can put your name forward at the manager's discretion to obtain the SS pieces when they arrive.

I was able to put my name down on the Hulk in July '17 and SS Daytona White Face in Aug '17 - I have a purchasing history with the AD so hopefully they give me the call for both pieces eventually. Was a bit annoyed the Hulk call came when I was in Hong Kong!

Another AD also called me last December offering a Non date Sub so it's not impossible to obtain SS Rolex.

There's been some suggestion Rolex ADs in Hong Kong and Singapore is open to a bit of under the table dealings. I refuse to pay over list price but if I was offered a new SS Daytona for £2,000 to grease their palms then it's awfully tempting. That's what the greys are getting their stock I would imagine

[Mark83]

No point phoning around. Visit your local AD, hopefully it's not a chain, tell you want it for a special occasion and prove you're not a flipper and might get lucky.

My local AD priorised me (first time customer to them) after a chat and told them the date of my wedding. I went back wearing it to buy Mrs B's wedding present and they remembered me and liked that I was wearing it. Maybe that'll hold me in good stead should I wish to buy another Rolex.

[Ikemi]

Not really what you're after, but these come highly recommended in the watch communities ...

- Miyota 9015 automatic movement
- Sapphire crystal glass with AR coating
- Ceramic bezel insert
- 40mm of brushed 316L stainless steel
- 200M WR
- Available with or without date

c.£242 inc. VAT

I'd still recommend getting something special for your Birthday, but this might 'scratch that particular itch' whilst the genuine article is either impossible to find, or ridiculously overpriced.

[smithyithy]

dimots said:

I don't really understand it, they must be making loads of them but I don't see them anywhere.

I bought one for my 40th (3 years ago) because green is my favourite colour. I wear it every day, because I love it, but I don't see it as a £10k watch.

I know there's no real alternative if you're set on green, but I would certainly consider something else at that price.

Tudor Black Bay Harrods is where my money would go. Genuinely, I know it's purely subjective but the Tudor looks better in my eyes, and I'd be happy to keep the £2-4k difference in my wallet for blow, hookers, the usual extras..

[dimots]

smithyithy said:

Tudor Black Bay Harrods is where my money would go. Genuinely, I know it's purely subjective but the Tudor looks better in my eyes, and I'd be happy to keep the £2-4k difference in my wallet for blow, hookers, the usual extras..

I'd never seen that before but I like it!

[OssettMark]

smithyithy said:

Tudor Black Bay Harrods is where my money would go.

I've seen a couple of these on the grey market, unworn... For sale around the £4.5k mark, which is 90% above list give or take!

Seems to be another watch that has a long wait, much like the Tudor Pepsi which again is going for £4.5k+

[smithyithy]

OssettMark said:

I've seen a couple of these on the grey market, unworn... For sale around the £4.5k mark, which is 90% above list give or take!

Seems to be another watch that has a long wait, much like the Tudor Pepsi which again is going for £4.5k+

They do seem to be falling in line with Rolex's 'restricted supply' and increasing demand, unfortunately..

That being said, although a higher % markup, I think when you compare the 2 watches and even the 2 brands, the Tudor to me represents better value for money, so I guess it depends on how much someone is willing to pay for a watch.. which of course is a personal decision..

But I think even with close to 5 figures burning hold in my pocket, I'd struggle to justify spending all of it on a Rolex marked up at ~40%, rather than half of it on a Tudor marked up at ~70%