Starting to lose my resolve

[mnaylor]

Hi All,

Sorry for the slight thread derail, I just wondered what people mean when they say you have to play the game to buy a Rolex from an authorised dealer? I have seen this on a few threads now and am curious.

I have never had a Rolex but am considering one day in the future to buy a new date just in the bi metal format. The American Physco watch basically. I can see this watch and the price on the Rolex website, does this not mean I can just simply buy it?

[gregs656]

mnaylor said:

Hi All,

Sorry for the slight thread derail, I just wondered what people mean when they say you have to play the game to buy a Rolex from an authorised dealer? I have seen this on a few threads now and am curious.

I have never had a Rolex but am considering one day in the future to buy a new date just in the bi metal format. The American Physco watch basically. I can see this watch and the price on the Rolex website, does this not mean I can just simply buy it?

I'd have thought a bi-metal date just would be quite readily available.

For a growing number of Rolex models the demand far out strips supply. This means years long waiting lists with dealers, and some people trying to improve their relationship with their local dealer by purchasing watches or jewelry they might not have done otherwise in order to bump them selves up the list. In the US it seems quite common for people to buy gifts during holiday periods for their contact at a dealer.

[don logan]

Ed T said:

Thank you for sharing your experience, good to read.

Just to add that I regret not having done the same thing before the 39mm was discontinued, really great that you did it P&Bs, and as P&Bs said, I think you’ll forget the premium pretty soon and it will also extinguish the irritation of the AD BS, it’ll be “over” and you’ll be looking at your watch on your wrist!

[anonymous-user]

mnaylor said:

Hi All,

Sorry for the slight thread derail, I just wondered what people mean when they say you have to play the game to buy a Rolex from an authorised dealer? I have seen this on a few threads now and am curious.

I have never had a Rolex but am considering one day in the future to buy a new date just in the bi metal format. The American Physco watch basically. I can see this watch and the price on the Rolex website, does this not mean I can just simply buy it?

The ‘American Psycho’ Rolex is 36mm Datejust, reference number 16013 and is easily available used, from around £4000.

If it was me, I would just by a nice used one, and save a few grand.

There is a really nice example from 1987 on ebay right now, from a jeweller, for £4200.

[don logan]

Lord Marylebone said:

The ‘American Psycho’ Rolex is 36mm Datejust, reference number 16013 and is easily available used, from around £4000.

If it was me, I would just by a nice used one, and save a few grand.

There is a really nice example from 1987 on ebay right now, from a jeweller, for £4200.

Don’t touch the watch.......

[Tom1312]

Lord Marylebone said:

The ‘American Psycho’ Rolex is 36mm Datejust, reference number 16013 and is easily available used, from around £4000.

If it was me, I would just by a nice used one, and save a few grand.

There is a really nice example from 1987 on ebay right now, from a jeweller, for £4200.

Ahem... Well it's certainly meant to be a Date Just but Rolex wouldn't provide one to the production as they didn't want the brand to be associated with a 'Psycho' so the watch in the film is actually a Seiko 5

• Film geek*

[anonymous-user]

Tom1312 said:

Lord Marylebone said:

The ‘American Psycho’ Rolex is 36mm Datejust, reference number 16013 and is easily available used, from around £4000.

If it was me, I would just by a nice used one, and save a few grand.

There is a really nice example from 1987 on ebay right now, from a jeweller, for £4200.

Ahem... Well it's certainly meant to be a Date Just but Rolex wouldn't provide one to the production as they didn't want the brand to be associated with a 'Psycho' so the watch in the film is actually a Seiko 5

• Film geek*

That is true. The prop they used for the film was a bi-metal Seiko 5 reference SNXJ90.

In the book, the Rolex Datejust 16013 is mentioned or described no less than 26 times, hence why it is considered to be the real/intended American Psycho watch.

don logan said:

Don’t touch the watch.......

More trivia: In the book, the line is “Don’t touch the Rolex” but as we all now know, this had to be changed to “Don’t touch the watch” due to an army of Rolex lawyers sharpening their pencils while the film was being made.

And of course:

“Sabrina, don’t just state at it, eat it”

[Tom1312]

You are of course completely correct, for some reason I'd totally forgotten about the book!

The joys of posting on the train after a night shift!

[mnaylor]

Is it really a seiko in the film? I had no idea! In regard to the rolex, the used market is a good shout but I would need to see it in person I think. I would also be worried about potential fakes. What are the best used watch dealers that are trustworthy?

[sean ie3]

My brother has a Rolex Explorer, I'd never got up close to a Rolex before, you can feel the quality.

[don logan]

Lord Marylebone said:

Tom1312 said:

Lord Marylebone said:

The ‘American Psycho’ Rolex is 36mm Datejust, reference number 16013 and is easily available used, from around £4000.

If it was me, I would just by a nice used one, and save a few grand.

There is a really nice example from 1987 on ebay right now, from a jeweller, for £4200.

Ahem... Well it's certainly meant to be a Date Just but Rolex wouldn't provide one to the production as they didn't want the brand to be associated with a 'Psycho' so the watch in the film is actually a Seiko 5

• Film geek*

That is true. The prop they used for the film was a bi-metal Seiko 5 reference SNXJ90.

In the book, the Rolex Datejust 16013 is mentioned or described no less than 26 times, hence why it is considered to be the real/intended American Psycho watch.

don logan said:

Don’t touch the watch.......

More trivia: In the book, the line is “Don’t touch the Rolex” but as we all now know, this had to be changed to “Don’t touch the watch” due to an army of Rolex lawyers sharpening their pencils while the film was being made.

And of course:

“Sabrina, don’t just state at it, eat it”

Excellent trivia!

There should be a poll - who do you feel more sorry for, Christy or Sabrina?

[Jamescrs]

mnaylor said:

Is it really a seiko in the film? I had no idea! In regard to the rolex, the used market is a good shout but I would need to see it in person I think. I would also be worried about potential fakes. What are the best used watch dealers that are trustworthy?

I've used Watchfinder & Co and found them to be very good, they have a decent website but they also have a number of physical shops so potentially you could have a watch sent to one of their stores if you are near one.

[anonymous-user]

mnaylor said:

Is it really a seiko in the film? I had no idea! In regard to the rolex, the used market is a good shout but I would need to see it in person I think. I would also be worried about potential fakes. What are the best used watch dealers that are trustworthy?

Yes it is indeed. The model below. There are various still photos circulating from the film where you can clearly see the elongated date window of the Seiko, and also the lack of cyclops on the glass.





With regards to your point about used dealers, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I have bought from Watchfinder on a couple of occasions, and they have been perfect, and I have even bought from jewellers on eBay, in fact the last watch I bought was a diamond Datejust for my wife and that was from eBay and I had no worries at all. I just checked their feedback/history as a watch dealer over numerous years before clicking the ‘buy it now’.

Stick to dealers/traders who have a repeatable history of operating for a few years.

Not sure where you are in the country, but most cities usually have a decent used watch dealer/jeweller who may have a good selection of used Rolex.

[PopsandBangs]

don logan said:

Ed T said:

Thank you for sharing your experience, good to read.

Just to add that I regret not having done the same thing before the 39mm was discontinued, really great that you did it P&Bs, and as P&Bs said, I think you’ll forget the premium pretty soon and it will also extinguish the irritation of the AD BS, it’ll be “over” and you’ll be looking at your watch on your wrist!

I was particularly jammy in my timing and also with finding an unworn one on that day.... but they’re out there still... just a little more now however if you find one, just get it. You won’t be disappointed

This is mine now, with 3 months of solid wear, and it looks like new.....I haven’t been particularly careful with it. So even a lightly used one at a bit less, that you can run a gentle polishing cloth over, is still going to feel the part. I reckon a lot of the 6 month to 18 month ones for sale have probably had about the same cumulative wear as mine, and will be about a grand less than an “unworn one.”

Good luck, and fk the ADs is all I’ll say

Edited by PopsandBangs on Thursday 10th June 20:02

[Wills2]

mnaylor said:

Is it really a seiko in the film? I had no idea! In regard to the rolex, the used market is a good shout but I would need to see it in person I think. I would also be worried about potential fakes. What are the best used watch dealers that are trustworthy?

Loads of trust worthy dealers (hundreds of them) Watchfinder for the range they carry, Hackett watches (well regarded on here) Blowers as well to name just 3.

Here you go fulfil your Amercian Psycho dream:

https://www.hackettwatches.com/watch/1976-datejust...

[jwo]

So where is the best place to put you name down - I don't mind waiting a couple of years for a Sub as for big birthday pressie to myself (what do you go to work for!!??)

I went into one jewellers and was told they only usually offer them to people on list who are 'high spenders'.. but go on list.

Another independent AD said we don't have a list but would you like to buy a Rolex we have in stock..

So a bit of a challenge - any advice help gratefully accepted.

[Jamescrs]

jwo said:

So where is the best place to put you name down - I don't mind waiting a couple of years for a Sub as for big birthday pressie to myself (what do you go to work for!!??)

I went into one jewellers and was told they only usually offer them to people on list who are 'high spenders'.. but go on list.

Another independent AD said we don't have a list but would you like to buy a Rolex we have in stock..

So a bit of a challenge - any advice help gratefully accepted.

If you are wanting to buy new from an AD you can keep calling round them and eventually you may get lucky with one of the smaller dealers who will take your request but honestly most of them will likely do the equivalent of writing your details and binning them as soon as you walk out of the door again as they have enough regular high spenders to sell to that someone walking in the door and wanting to make a one off purchase doesn't interest them.

Many people think the "waiting lists" are basically made up and don't really exist at all, many dealers will have a preferred client list but that is based on previous purchases not how long you have been waiting in a queue.

[Fat hippo]

Jamescrs said:

jwo said:

So where is the best place to put you name down - I don't mind waiting a couple of years for a Sub as for big birthday pressie to myself (what do you go to work for!!??)

I went into one jewellers and was told they only usually offer them to people on list who are 'high spenders'.. but go on list.

Another independent AD said we don't have a list but would you like to buy a Rolex we have in stock..

So a bit of a challenge - any advice help gratefully accepted.

If you are wanting to buy new from an AD you can keep calling round them and eventually you may get lucky with one of the smaller dealers who will take your request but honestly most of them will likely do the equivalent of writing your details and binning them as soon as you walk out of the door again as they have enough regular high spenders to sell to that someone walking in the door and wanting to make a one off purchase doesn't interest them.

Many people think the "waiting lists" are basically made up and don't really exist at all, many dealers will have a preferred client list but that is based on previous purchases not how long you have been waiting in a queue.

I first put my name down on the waiting list for a Daytona in 2005. I’m still waiting by the phone hoping it will ring


ETA i’m not actually that sad to wait by the phone. I know I will never get the call and tbh couldn’t give a monkeys now either

Edited by Fat hippo on Monday 14th June 15:59

[jwo]

Jamescrs said:

If you are wanting to buy new from an AD you can keep calling round them and eventually you may get lucky with one of the smaller dealers who will take your request but honestly most of them will likely do the equivalent of writing your details and binning them as soon as you walk out of the door again as they have enough regular high spenders to sell to that someone walking in the door and wanting to make a one off purchase doesn't interest them.

Many people think the "waiting lists" are basically made up and don't really exist at all, many dealers will have a preferred client list but that is based on previous purchases not how long you have been waiting in a queue.

Yep sadly the case I think. Hopefully trips to Switzerland will resume soon, so my try a few local jewellers and see what that yields!

[Dezbo]

jwo said:

So where is the best place to put you name down - I don't mind waiting a couple of years for a Sub as for big birthday pressie to myself (what do you go to work for!!??)

I went into one jewellers and was told they only usually offer them to people on list who are 'high spenders'.. but go on list.

Another independent AD said we don't have a list but would you like to buy a Rolex we have in stock..

So a bit of a challenge - any advice help gratefully accepted.

Here is my limited experience:
-large AD group with non-Rolex purchase history: been offered one “warm” model twice: declined first time due to house purchase and bought the second time
-same large AD: no sniff of a hot model, admittedly haven’t followed-up after my purchase of the warm model
-one independent AD group with non-Rolex purchase history: not a sniff of a warm or hot model
-another independent AD group with no purchase history: not a sniff of a warm model

Which leads me to the conclusions:
-warm models more likely than hot models (no surprise!)
-some purchase history can help, even non-Rolex
-speaking to the AD and convincing them you’re not a flipper helps

Probably no amazing insight here, just my personal experience