Rolex: what are my odds?

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V

vhuynh2

O.G.
Jul 10, 2009
325
955
#1
Hi all,

I walked into a Rolex AD on vacation. I had zero sales history and no relationship with the AD but the lady helping me was so nice. She took my information and emailed me the next day saying she had placed an order in my name for the model I wanted - a 31 mm DJ, steel and gold with diamond markers. She said she wasn’t allowed to take a deposit or a prepayment because there is just no way for her to know when (if ever) that they would receive one. Of course, it was store policy for her to not provide any sort of estimate. But she did say that she was hopeful that they would receive one.

How difficult is it to get a two-tone date just (I understand the all stainless steel might be more difficult) as of October 2021? There is a local chain jeweler that actually requires a pre-payment so that one feels like more of a “sure thing” but with the same indefinite wait, and I would rather support a small business.

so if anyone has gotten a date just lately - how long was your wait?
 
#2
Wow you’re very lucky to have made a connection with that SA. I visited an AD back in July, gave my number and email. No follow up call or email at all ever. Sure stock is little to none, but they didn’t even bother to acknowledge me as potential customer. I was looking for Explorer 2. So if say, you have a better chance at getting one when it comes available.
 
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#7
Any luck yet?

My husband and I visited our AD Rolex today. I do want to preface that we have a prior purchase history with our SA. He was primarily looking for a particular watch for himself, which has a potential a 2-3 year waitlist for. After we finished getting his specs for the waitlists, he decided we should also just order one for me, as the SA say the DJ is the only style they can still custom order at the moment. So, we paid a deposit on a 31 DJ, steel and yellow gold with MOP face, diamond bezel and jubilee bracelet. The SA said it should be made within 3-9 months… So, I hope it will really come!
 
#8
Designer_Dreams said:
Any luck yet?

My husband and I visited our AD Rolex today. I do want to preface that we have a prior purchase history with our SA. He was primarily looking for a particular watch for himself, which has a potential a 2-3 year waitlist for. After we finished getting his specs for the waitlists, he decided we should also just order one for me, as the SA say the DJ is the only style they can still custom order at the moment. So, we paid a deposit on a 31 DJ, steel and yellow gold with MOP face, diamond bezel and jubilee bracelet. The SA said it should be made within 3-9 months… So, I hope it will really come!
Click to expand...
No luck yet! It will be 2 months next week. Wow - up to 9 months - I’m glad that at this point I’ve sorta just forgotten about it but will be so excited if it actually arrives.
 
#9
vhuynh2 said:
Hi all,

I walked into a Rolex AD on vacation. I had zero sales history and no relationship with the AD but the lady helping me was so nice. She took my information and emailed me the next day saying she had placed an order in my name for the model I wanted - a 31 mm DJ, steel and gold with diamond markers. She said she wasn’t allowed to take a deposit or a prepayment because there is just no way for her to know when (if ever) that they would receive one. Of course, it was store policy for her to not provide any sort of estimate. But she did say that she was hopeful that they would receive one.

How difficult is it to get a two-tone date just (I understand the all stainless steel might be more difficult) as of October 2021? There is a local chain jeweler that actually requires a pre-payment so that one feels like more of a “sure thing” but with the same indefinite wait, and I would rather support a small business.

so if anyone has gotten a date just lately - how long was your wait?
Click to expand...

I don’t know if this helps—my AD order for a SS/Yellow gold, 29 DJ w/diamond markers, silver face, Jubilee bracelet, was estimated at 3-6 months. It took 3 weeks. No purchase history.
 
#11
Very very possible. Give a phone call, text, or email once every two weeks. Make sure it’s short and sweet. Just a check in.
Last August I stopped by a local AD and asked about a steel Submariner for my husband’s upcoming birthday. I had no prior history. The SA felt I was genuine, said he would try his very best, but no promises. We chatted, I talked about the type of man my husband is- his goals, what he has accomplished, how this year brought us various challenges, and this watch would be so meaningful and one that would be passed on to our son… I also said I was stuck on gifts, we normally travel for birthdays (experience gifts - but couldn’t that year) he’s the man that really has it all (but a Rolex) and the only backup gift I had for him was an electric water flosser (SA had a good laugh at that).
I got the call exactly 4 weeks later on the morning of my husband’s birthday.
We have stopped by to visit this SA on holidays with treats since then and everyone at the AD now recognize us as the couple with the lucky birthday Submariner.

I share my story because there really are good SAs out there that do want to give newbies what they really want without having to first buy a ton of what they don’t first. This is true for handbags too. You just need to click with an SA and be your true self. You do this by “building a relationship”. I know that sounds weird to some, but these boutiques aren’t like going shopping at a fast fashion store and unfortunately the gray market is very real so they want to be sure you’re not a flipper.
Finally, don’t disappear! (Hence my above advice of once every 2 week check in until you get your desired item.) Or they will forget about you (not on purpose).

Good luck!
 
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#12
tutu2008 said:
Very very possible. Give a phone call, text, or email once every two weeks. Make sure it’s short and sweet. Just a check in.
Last August I stopped by a local AD and asked about a steel Submariner for my husband’s upcoming birthday. I had no prior history. The SA felt I was genuine, said he would try his very best, but no promises. We chatted, I talked about the type of man my husband is- his goals, what he has accomplished, how this year brought us various challenges, and this watch would be so meaningful and one that would be passed on to our son… I also said I was stuck on gifts, we normally travel for birthdays (experience gifts - but couldn’t that year) he’s the man that really has it all (but a Rolex) and the only backup gift I had for him was an electric water flosser (SA had a good laugh at that).
I got the call exactly 4 weeks later on the morning of my husband’s birthday.
We have stopped by to visit this SA on holidays with treats since then and everyone at the AD now recognize us as the couple with the lucky birthday Submariner.

I share my story because there really are good SAs out there that do want to give newbies what they really want without having to first buy a ton of what they don’t first. This is true for handbags too. You just need to click with an SA and be your true self. You do this by “building a relationship”. I know that sounds weird to some, but these boutiques aren’t like going shopping at a fast fashion store and unfortunately the gray market is very real so they want to be sure you’re not a flipper.
Finally, don’t disappear! (Hence my above advice of once every 2 week check in until you get your desired item.) Or they will forget about you (not on purpose).

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice! You were incredibly lucky!

I wasn’t sure if I should check in, as I didn’t want to be annoying. However, the SA did email me a couple weeks ago to say that while they had not yet received the watch, she’ll let me know when they do. Of course I told her I was still waiting patiently for it. I might check in again after the holidays.
 
#15
I got the email!! But the watch has stick markers instead of diamonds. What are the pros and cons of each?? I thought I preferred the stick markers but for some reason decided on diamonds when I tried it on and I can’t remember why??
 
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