Hi From Houston

[brkn]

Hi there,
I'm from the middle east but I live in Houston.

I'm a newbie who's very interested in swiss-made watches. Currently eyeing a submariner date to start my journey, but making sure I inform myself about different brands and models. I have some questions if you'll indulge.

I kinda dig the whole AD-relationship-waitlist game, but I have a hard time understanding the grey market pricing game. I've been checking out the used steel sports models' grey market prices and boy oh boy, something crazy happened after around 2018. Especially 5711 Nautilus, Royal Oak 15xxx, and Rolex Daytona models have gone from expensive-but-doable to being only a dream for some.

1) What happened there? What caused the prices to skyrocket? Don't say the pandemic, I see that the pandemic has done its own kick-up, but I see serious upward movements way before the pandemic too. (2018-19)

2) Will this frenzy go on? Can the prices ever come back down? I'm not trying to low-ball or anything. I'm not looking to sell for profit either. Also I'd prefer the AD-exclusive new buying experience over second-hand buying any day. But I also know that if, say, get super lucky go and grab an AP 15500 this year, and a few years later the grey prices come back to around what I paid for in retail, then I would feel bad knowing that it wasn't a financially smart move. I'm trying to understand if this can ever happen, why or why not?

3) Has there been a time when the grey market prices were actually lower than the AD retail prices for Rolex, AP, Patek, Vacheron, etc.? At that time, how could AD's make any sales?

4) Do you think the brands are willfully operating in the grey market game?

[brkn]

no one's gonna answer huh :(

[Urosfan]

Welcome


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[dxl9742]

Welcome

[Rebel]

I'll just welcome you. Welcome.

[Allanmodel]

Welcome!

[brandrea]

Welcome aboard

[dxl9742]

Welcome

[Audemars Piguet]

Welcome