Remember the good old days.

[Rags]

When you would walk into a AD and see this.

[ROBERT1183]

Never got to experience. Unfortunately, I have become able to afford one the last few years and only get to deal with empty cases and mythical wish lists.

[Oxfordian]

Can’t say that I can remember displays this full but I do remember my AD having a good selection of SS DJ’s, YM’s and OP’s in stock when I got my DJ back in 2019, there was also a good selection of TT models as I tried on a TT Sky Dweller and Daytona, both were in the window display along with some Day-Dates which were and still are way above my budget.

[Annan]

I remember those days. I also remember the sales staff being eager to serve you.

[dnpina]

Yes.

[Rolexatlast]

Fascinating that they all have Oyster bracelets. Were Jubilee out of fashion then?

[2001jesper]

For some reason and based on todays standards, then it almost "cheapens" the brand with so many the pieces in the case - The FOMO is at least gone

[Vivalas]

7 1/2 years ago. I bought the BLNR with a discount

[enjoythemusic]

Remember when $5000 bought you a Daytona? Yeah, who are we to blame for unstable prices, which always go up.

[Meyrin]

That's just how my AD´s display window looked like when I bought my Sub new in 1996. I think every single model in the Rolex catalogue was on display...even some Daytonas! I just walked in, tried on various models and walked out with my Sub after they sized the bracelet for me. And I do not agree that a full display window "cheapens" the brand. Why? Does a Mercedes-Benz or BMW showroom full of all the current models "cheapen" the brand? No, it does not. And yes, the sales staff were extremely polite and eager to sell back then!

[RealMadrid1988]

Originally Posted by Meyrin

That's just how my AD´s display window looked like when I bought my Sub new in 1996. I think every single model in the Rolex catalogue was on display...even some Daytonas! I just walked in, tried on various models and walked out with my Sub after they sized the bracelet for me. And I do not agree that a full display window "cheapens" the brand. Why? Does a Mercedes-Benz or BMW showroom full of all the current models "cheapen" the brand? No, it does not. And yes, the sales staff were extremely polite and eager to sell back then!

Virtually any brand new Mercedes-Benz or BMW bought from a full showroom loses at least 10% of its value the second you drive it off the lot.

A brand new Rolex purchased at an AD generally does not.

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by Meyrin

That's just how my AD´s display window looked like when I bought my Sub new in 1996. I think every single model in the Rolex catalogue was on display...even some Daytonas! I just walked in, tried on various models and walked out with my Sub after they sized the bracelet for me. And I do not agree that a full display window "cheapens" the brand. Why? Does a Mercedes-Benz or BMW showroom full of all the current models "cheapen" the brand? No, it does not. And yes, the sales staff were extremely polite and eager to sell back then!

X2. Rolex was just as exclusive when I got to try on most models and then "think about it" before returning in a week to make a purchase. Being "more exclusive" is a sickness everyone focusses on now as opposed to the actual watch. Your not going to gain fame and exclusivity through your wrist watch.

[expy2]

Those were the days.

[jatco]

[iPPi]

The good old days…

I also remember being given the choice of the black or white 116520 (both sealed).

A couple weeks ago I dropped by an AD and they had 5 or 6 watches on display - ladies models and one Cellini only.

[Rolexatlast]

Originally Posted by Meyrin

That's just how my AD´s display window looked like when I bought my Sub new in 1996. I think every single model in the Rolex catalogue was on display...even some Daytonas! I just walked in, tried on various models and walked out with my Sub after they sized the bracelet for me. And I do not agree that a full display window "cheapens" the brand. Why? Does a Mercedes-Benz or BMW showroom full of all the current models "cheapen" the brand? No, it does not. And yes, the sales staff were extremely polite and eager to sell back then!

Because most BMWs and Mercedes are now mass market models. Try getting a Porsche GT3RS.

[Driver8]

Originally Posted by Rolexatlast

Because most BMWs and Mercedes are now mass market models. Try getting a Porsche GT3RS.

And Rolexes aren’t mass market models?

There’s more Rolexes produced every year than any other Swiss watch brand. It’s just that demand exceeds supply. There’s nothing rare about Rolex in terms of absolute numbers.

[TheVTCGuy]

Was it ever like that? It’s been so long I can’t visualize a full case of SS models.

[Driver8]

Originally Posted by Annan

I remember those days. I also remember the sales staff being eager to serve you.

Me too!

Until I bought my first BLNR, I only ever had to wait for one Rolex - a 16610LV. I think I waited 3 months which was unheard of back in the early 2000’s.

[airchitect]

I remember those days and the 15% discounts that could easily be had. 20-25% on anything two-tone or pm….ugh


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[Rolexatlast]

Originally Posted by Driver8

And Rolexes aren’t mass market models?

There’s more Rolexes produced every year than any other Swiss watch brand. It’s just that demand exceeds supply. There’s nothing rare about Rolex in terms of absolute numbers.

It is not about absolute numbers. It’s about the manufacturer trying to sell as many as possible, saturating the market, making sure they don’t miss out on any sales by ensuring supply exceeds demand. Which leads to discounting and high depreciation. Until the recent semiconductor shortage, 25% discounts were common

Whereas the GT3RS has restricted supply, is difficult to buy - available usually only to existing Porsche buyers, but is worth more in the grey market

[scooba]

Originally Posted by Vivalas

7 1/2 years ago. I bought the BLNR with a discount

Hi Stephen ,

They are just out the back now 😂😂

I actually think these days will return once the Governments QE ends and inflationary pressure forces interest rates to move up .

You have everything anyone could ever want anyway , I have no real complaints, I will get what I want either through my AD or through a trusted seller on here .

[enjoythemusic]

Yup, and even remember when I turned down the then hot new first non-Zenith mvt Daytona. AD offered it to me without me even asking. I turned it down as was doing the Patek thing. Glad to be. Rolex guy now

[samuel019]

Sadly I do remember these days.

If I only knew what I know now I'd buy out the entire case and throw them in a safe lol

But then again if I had a time machine I'd go back way further then these times

[samuel019]

Heck I forgot to mention when I bought my 116523 I think MSRP was in the 16's maybe

Got it from an A D on order for 12100 with no tax shipped to me from another state. Great times indeed but trade values also were vastly different

[ks58]

Lots of flippers and grey dealers and speculators have joined the watch community. Any press is good press.

[the dark knight]

I've only been in the hobby 20 yearsish, so I can't comment on the period before roughly 2000. But looking at the period 2000-2021, am I crazy in saying supply was most plentiful around 2012-2016?

For example, I remember the Submariner being fairly tough to get in the 2000s. Nothing like today of course and you could order one. But it wasn't a guarantee (or even expected) that you'd find one just by walking into an AD. In fact when I purchased my 16610 in 2008, I found one in store after visiting 3 separate ADs.

But I remember during the 2012-2016 period finding the Sub on display at basically any AD I walked into, and of course a lot of other popular models. Basically anything outside a Daytona, and I was offered a Daytona just by walking into an AD in 2014 as well.

In the last 20 years that 4-5 year period truly felt like the "golden era" for ease of finding any sports Rolex model.

Assuming this is true, not sure why. Maybe the economy overall was still feeling the after effects of the 2008 crash, but I think Rolex was in the midst of consolidating their AD network so maybe more supply was hitting fewer stores?

[77T]

Originally Posted by Rolexatlast

Until the recent semiconductor shortage, 25% discounts were common

I forget - which Rolex uses semiconductors?


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[Roddypeepa]

Even in 2014 prices were very high compared with equivalent omega today. Not saying it’s right or wrong, just an observation.


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[stylinleems]

10.2017 when I picked up my LV. The SA was pushing me to get another watch at a discount (even SS) ... sigh... I should have.

Those were the days.