Posted: 10/13/2025 11:15:25 AM EDT
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I placed an order for a Rolex Explorer II because I don't mind waiting and will get it at MSRP rather than several thousand dollars more for a five or more year old Certified Pre-Own. The agent told me it could be 6 - 12 months trying to scare me away from ordering than switched to it could take as long as two years. What would be a reasonable estimate for the timeline to delivery? |
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| Have you bought anything from that dealer before? |
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GMT II or Daytona would probably take years unless you've bought a bunch of watches or high-profit jewelry from them. I wouldn't think an Explorer II would take more than a few months. You have to play the game with some ADs. Keep in touch, go in and browse, say hi, etc. Sucks, but they control the game. |
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Since you've never purchased from them, the 2 year mark isn't too far off. With the new tariffs people are going even more crazy for them. Last year an Explorer II would probably be 12 months or less. Not the case anymore If you're willing to pony up for a precious metal Rolex's, you can find them pretty easily at AD's. But for GMTs (don't even think about a Pepsi or Batgirl); Daytonas; and many others- 3+ years. I did the math and ended up buying my last two Rolex's off the grey market. To me, it was worth the extra cash. Most AD's won't even really get anything specific for you until you've purchased at least a couple of the Rolexes they want to sell you. So I figured it was cheaper and faster just to pay more for the ones I wanted vs buying ones I didn't want only to wait a year or so to get the one I did want at MSRP. |
| You don't "place an order" at a Rolex AD. You put your name down as being "interested in a particular piece". The difference is that it's an open-ended deal where they are not obliged to sell you anything. Most times, you can help your situation by going in every month or two and talking to the sales associate that took your information. |
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I'm not in any rush so I'll wait. I'm not even sure I really want one. I stopped at a smaller family owned AD to get some spring bars and I put in a request for one there. I think it was the owners nephew that helped us. He ended up talking to my son more than me. His aunt went to the same school, then they got into naming all the aircraft in the Breitling catalog. There's another AD in the mall and I bought my Tudor there because they happened to be open on Sundays, but I like not dealing with mall traffic and food court fights. |
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Originally Posted By ss2nv: You don't "place an order" at a Rolex AD. You put your name down as being "interested in a particular piece". The difference is that it's an open-ended deal where they are not obliged to sell you anything. Most times, you can help your situation by going in every month or two and talking to the sales associate that took your information. This. I've been on the waitlist for a Panda for over 3 years now. They'll reach out every now and then and call me to see if I'm interested in something odd that came in that they can't sell instantly like a yellow gold Yacht-Master. When I bought my first Rolex back in late 2010'ish (may have been 2011), I walked into an AD and tried on about 5 different ones. The sales lady was really pushing this green face with green dial Sub that they couldn't sell. Offered to knock some money off the price even. Said no, and ended up with a Deep Sea Sea Dweller. I kick myself for not buying that Hulk (or about 3 of them) now... |
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Originally Posted By bnoji: I'm not in any rush so I'll wait. I'm not even sure I really want one. I stopped at a smaller family owned AD to get some spring bars and I put in a request for one there. I think it was the owners nephew that helped us. He ended up talking to my son more than me. His aunt went to the same school, then they got into naming all the aircraft in the Breitling catalog. There's another AD in the mall and I bought my Tudor there because they happened to be open on Sundays, but I like not dealing with mall traffic and food court fights. Where in pa? Which store? |
| I'm on wait lists at a couple of different ADs, both for a green OP. I'm not a jewelry customer although I have purchased a different brand of watch at both of them. One of them texts me once in a while and offers me a two tone watch or two. The other has never reached out at all. I'm sure I will never be offered a green OP unless I purchase something I really don't want first. |
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I put my name down with an AD for an Exp II and got a call for a different watch 866 days later. Into my 3rd year, still no call for the Exp II. Fortunately I bought the Exp II from David SW about 6 months after registering my interest with the above AD. If you're young and patient, wait it out. If you're older and impatient, just buy the watch from a trusted reseller. |
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Originally Posted By IntruderBware: I put my name down with an AD for an Exp II and got a call for a different watch 866 days later. Into my 3rd year, still no call for the Exp II. Fortunately I bought the Exp II from David SW about 6 months after registering my interest with the above AD. If you're young and patient, wait it out. If you're older and impatient, just buy the watch from a trusted reseller. My wife was looking at wedding bands at a jeweler that was also a Rolex dealer. I put my name on the list for an explorer 1. This was like 6-6.5 years ago. Never heard from them. |
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Omega & Patek have both had there second price increases this year. Most likely AP, & Rolex ect... will follow suite. The Swiss brands all kind of walk, lock & step with each other on these kinds of things MSRP on Explorer is $10,050 Current grey market pricing For NEW about, about $11,500 for black $12,500 for white Most grey market dealers can get you around pay sales tax. If you figure you have to wait 18 months for AD call And Rolex has 1 or 2 price increases and paying sales tax..... If you are thinking black dial. I would go grey market !!! White not sure...... Just put pen to paper on Grey Market vs AD Maybe lightly used The watch market is not running as hot as if once was. |
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Originally Posted By bnoji: I bought a Tudor from Radcliffe (now 1916) at the Christiana Mall in Delaware ETA: The other store is in Greenville. Got an ExII BD from them in 2023 (when there was much higher demand than now in general) in less than 6mo, was told WD would be a little longer but still sub 1year. Can recommend them for Rolex. Delaware no sales Tax is nice too on 10k. |
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Attached File Ordered 10/23. received 4/24 |
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| I was offered a Datejust after just a couple of weeks and this was in 2022 at the height of the craze. I just went in a couple of times and had some good conversations with the owner. Just have to establish a relationship. With that said I really wanted an OP as my first choice and didn’t get that offer as they were the thing at the time. |
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I went in and bought a Pelagos 39 and put my name down for a green bezel sub. Saleswoman said it would be 6-12 months. I’ll probably get a black bay GMT in the meantime because I want one, but I’m also somewhat hoping that with 2 Tudor purchases they’ll see me as a serious buyer. Saleswoman put her number in my phone and told me to follow up on the Rolex any time, for what it’s worth. |
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I was interested in a Rolex for a long time and in the last few years I’ve finally got the scratch to get one, but these lists, the way salespeople treat customers, the gray market, and all the bs games has completely turned me off to the brand. People who feel the need to buy jewelry and other watches they don’t really want “hoping” to get a one-up on the Rolex list while sitting around waiting for the call are probably the same guys who think the stripper loves them 😆😆😆 |
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There's a Facebook group called "Buy My Watch" full of grey market examples right at, or slightly above, MSRP. There's also older vintages, such as 2023 for example, for under MSRP. Unlike the othet models that trade higher with much longer waits, there's really no need to wait on AD for an Explorer II, especailly as noted the grey market can often save you tax so it's a wash. |
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| I put my name down for a Seadweller. After 6 mo, got tired of waiting so bought it at a small markup (it ended up being less factoring in sales tax) and was NIB with all papers. The AD called me maybe a year later saying they had one available. I'm assuming that passing on it basically crosses me off the list. Tbh don't care, this "buy your way in" scheme is a total scam. |
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Originally Posted By JustinU235: @thejokker https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/70549/329-3653663.png Vouch! for Cliff Mass he is a soild dude, to do business with. But I would do a video call with him First. To make sure it is him & his account has not been hacked. |
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Originally Posted By G_S: Vouch! for Cliff Mass he is a soild dude, to do business with. But I would do a video call with him First. To make sure it is him & his account has not been hacked. |
If buying isn't owning, piracy isn't stealing.
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Originally Posted By JustinU235: Agreed that's good insurance and that group is heavily vetted. Not as well vetted as the People that run the groups want you to think A lot if covered up to help sell there premium members & services ect.... Be careful in them man. |
| I refuse to play the Rolex game. It has actually soured me on the brand. Well that and the hype around them and the non existent "list". The vast majority of people buy Rolex now not because they are watch nerds, but because of the bling and they think it brings them status. |
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Posted this a week or so ago on another thread in the forum: Seeing this thread makes me go...."hmmm...is it worth it to build a relationship with the local AD??" Reason I bring this up, the local AD - where I just had my Grandfather's Date serviced...they just had their founder's "retirement sale" - wife and I go in there and I buy a BEAUTIFUL ring for her...ask where the timepieces are?? "Oh, we are no longer a Rolex AD as of September 30." (This was two weeks after I picked up my watch, they did ask if I would like to be put on a list for anything at that time, I didn't bite)...so, I bet there's some PO'ed folks out there!! This is a LONG-time high end jeweler where I live and now, POOF, no more Rolex! Or *any* timepieces, for that matter. Imagine being on their supposed "list" for a few years...uh huh... Then to add to it...it also got me thinking - there was another local jeweler who was a Rolex AD, they went OUT of business under a year ago or so...so - let's just say you had "built that relationship" with either of those two Rolex ADs....well, too bad... Brings me to my point: I *really* like the Bluesy...not ready to pull the trigger yet, but will, I'll give the Dallas ADs a shot - I do have purchase history at one of them (wife bought my anniversay Tag there)...if they don't have it...I'll hit the gray market, I refuse to play games. |
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Originally Posted By G_S: @Captain_Buddha The Bluesy are trading BELOW MSRP for very lightly used And with saving Sales a tax For this I would recommend going Grey Market should be able to save 1k - 2k @G_S I appreciate the info - and yes - that's a nice thing (the tax savings!!). Do you have a few recommendations on best sources / sites? |
| If you have Rolex money, just pay for it on the grey market and get it today. The AD games are beyond stupid even from a monetary standpoint. You'll end up spending twice the grey market difference on trinkets you don't even want. I bought my SD43 from Takuya for more or less what I would have paid from an AD + tax, without all the games and small talk with people who act snobby in the dealership but drive home in a Toyota. |
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Originally Posted By Coppernet29: I was interested in a Rolex for a long time and in the last few years I’ve finally got the scratch to get one, but these lists, the way salespeople treat customers, the gray market, and all the bs games has completely turned me off to the brand. People who feel the need to buy jewelry and other watches they don’t really want “hoping” to get a one-up on the Rolex list while sitting around waiting for the call are probably the same guys who think the stripper loves them 😆😆😆 |
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