[Driver8]

Welcome aboard.

Many variables in terms of the amount of time it will take to get a watch you want from an AD. If you have a long standing relationship with an AD, then that will definitely be in your favour. That said, most AD's have their own rules/processes when it comes to allocating Rolexes: some operate on a "buying history"/existing relationship basis, while others are bit more "first come first served" in terms of their wait list. The best way to gauge how long your wait will likely be is to simply ask your AD.

Likewise there are numerous reasons why some will choose grey/pre-owned over an AD. Some value "time on the wrist" over "time on the wait list". The grey/pre-owned route gives you an immediacy of ownership that ADs, 99 times out of 100, cannot give these days. Secondly, some people have no prior relationship with their local AD and they don't want to play games by being "encouraged" to buy other pieces they don't want just to get a chance at the watch they DO want. In some instances people will have spent far more buying stuff they don't want, than the extra they would've spent if they'd just gone grey/pre-owned immediately. Lastly some people are only interested in discontinued models, so pre-owned is the only way to go.