My experiences at the Rolex AD and with the Rolex Waitlist

Every interaction I have had with Rolex over almost two years. Was it worth it?

[@adamwest5625]

Good to see you got the call for the OP 👍 I’ve built a relationship with my AD over the last few years - purchased a Tudor Black Bay Bronze in 2017. Put my name down on the list for the Hulk and to my surprise, got the call a month later. Unfortunately missed out as I was out of the country at the time 😕 it sucked when I picked up my voicemail. Been waiting since and checked in with my AD occasionally. Fast forward to July 2020. Got tired of waiting but wanted a Speedmaster so popped into my AD and bought the Omega. I jokingly asked if I could get the Sub soon as I’ve been waiting since 2017. AD said they will call if something comes up… …then in June 2021, called my AD and asked to speak to a different rep and mentioned my spend history and I was keen on a Sub non date if they couldn’t get the new Green Sub. Mentioned I was ready to buy. Popped into the AD and met the rep in person and had a really good meeting and rep was confident he could get me a watch by Oct… …then got the call mid October that a Submariner 124060 was ready for me to collect. This time I was in the country so there was no chance that I was gonna miss out!

[@WatchUnwind]

Thanks Adam !! I’m glad to hear you finally got your call to. You were waiting even longer than me but your story sounds very similar. It seems like your persistence paid off. If you were not so persistent in checking in I don’t think they would have called you after that first incident where you were out of country. Definitely worth the wait in the end but just like me I bet you were thinking it was never going to come until it did

[@privateaccount6827]

I can't help thinking if you took one of the Datejust models they offered the first time you were in there, your OP would have appeared more quickly. Maybe not. But when my AD offers me ANYTHING steel sports, I buy it. I live in LA so they have a lot of potential customers. And I look at it as an alternative way to save money. Any steel sports model you're up at least 30%. That being said: I love your choice of green. That watch is FIRE! I have my name in for the yellow. Perfect summer in Southern California watch :)) Congratulations!

[@WatchUnwind]

I think your right. In hindsight might have been a good idea. Thanks 🙏 I love the green but that yellow is an awesome watch, especially for California as the beach is nice and sunny year round. Mid Winter in Alaska when the sun doesn’t rise and snow sweeps the land it might look more out of place haha. Thanks for watching

[@watchpapi]

Congratulations on the new watch mate! 💪🏽 🍻

[@WatchUnwind]

Thanks man I appreciate it!

[@ACDandMe]

For me getting a new no-date submariner was critical and time sensitive, since I wanted the watch to match with my son’s birth year. When I realized that getting one from AD will take more than a year, I decided to get one from grey market. Glad I did. Now is not only submariner and my son’s year matches, but also the month as well. Because I wear Explorer 1, it’s good to know that my son will get Submariner, when he is ready. Both iconic and very similar watches. Both were introduced in 1953 (my mom’s birth year), and warranty cards of both watches dates 2021 (my son’s birth year)

[@WatchUnwind]

That’s an amazing story and probably the best argument for buying a watch on the grey market. First of all congrats on your son !! And second congrats on the watches. I just recently found out I’ll be having a daughter around the time I got this watch. The enjoyment you will both get throughout both of your life times easily are worth the monetary difference. It’s quite possible that that submarine may go to your grandson and great grandson one day!

[@eyeheartsushi2212]

“You’re not gonna beat the waitlist unless you get *ON* the waitlist.” Wise words, man. Happy that you got your OP. That green looks more versatile than what I expected. I have a Tudor. Tried to get it at an AD but they didn’t have it. I then missed a voicemail that they had it at another branch but by that time I had ordered it on eBay with a good discount. Kind of wish I had purchased it at the AD to establish the “relationship”, but there will be time for that in the future. I’m thinking DateJust and maybe a YM further down the line. Time will tell.

[@WatchUnwind]

Thanks for stopping by the channel and checking out the video. And thank you 🙏. Tudor is also an awesome brand. Would have been nice to build a relationship but a discount is always nice. I hate paying full price and have bought a few watches off of jomashop. Datejust and YM are a few awesome watches. I personally love the YM.

[@eyeheartsushi2212]

@@WatchUnwind No problem and I just subbed.

[@WatchUnwind]

@@eyeheartsushi2212 💪

[@metro2171]

Congrats on your new OP great color love it . Thanks for sharing . In my opinion the green is richer and more versatile than the red.

[@WatchUnwind]

Thanks for watching and thank you 🙏 I’m happy I ended up with the green for sure if I ended up with the red I wouldn’t have know what I would be missing

[@Rexd0624]

Congrats on the new timepiece thank you for your experience. Wish AD’s on the east coast were this cooperative/friendly lol

[@WatchUnwind]

Thank you 🙏 I did feel like I was getting dicked around for along time until pretty miraculous last minute I got this call. If you asked me to fill this one day before I would have bet my life savings that I will never get the call lol. I’m originally from the east coast, Massachusetts; but have no experience buying watches there.

[@mattduynstee5765]

Things must have changed or I was extra lucky as I’ve just walked into my local AD and on first hit put a deposit down on a new date submariner and a 28mm OP for my wife. Both now allocated to me and I pick up this year.

[@WatchUnwind]

I think you got lucky. I was just in the AD a few days ago and they didn’t have any watches for sale or any watches you were able to put a deposit on. Please comment back when you get your watches I’m curious how long you have to wait with the deposit

[@AdamLunn08]

Really great video. It's so refreshing to hear an honest account of how this process can go, instead of the 'how I beat the waitlist' crap you usually see. I'm just about to start this process with an AD where I live. Its quite a daunting looking store. Really fancy with a guy in a tail suit stood outside all day. Dreading the small talk and stuff because I'm not great at it. I'm just going to go in and be honest. I'm after a standard datejust with blue dial but like you I'd consider others. Fingers crossed!

[@WatchUnwind]

Thanks for checking out the channel Adam I appreciate the support and the comment. Good luck. Don’t be nervous just go in and be a honest/genuine person who loves watches. You have to try to get on the wait list to have any chance of over coming it. Good luck and please keep me updated with how it goes. I’m hoping they just happen to have one in stock for you! Can always get lucky at the right place right time

[@jeffb321]

Can we get an update please?

[@bigbrotherwatchesdannyboy306]

1:30 Awesome! 💪😜 Congrats! Wear this baby in good health bro! Cheers!

[@WatchUnwind]

Thanks! The timing was wild 🙏 Next ask me how my lottery ticket drawing have been going

[@jackcohenour1245]

Thanks for your transparency into the process

[@WatchUnwind]

Of course and thank you for checking out the channel I appreciate it. Glad I could help

[@SoCalWatchReviews]

Congrats on the new watch man!

[@WatchUnwind]

Thanks brother I appreciate it! I didn’t think it was ever going to happen

[@duncanidaho2130]

Congrats on your new watch. You deserve it.

[@WatchUnwind]

Thank you I appreciate the kind words! Been waiting a long time for this one

[@robertbachmann8141]

congratulations. you lucky. I'm still waiting for a simple Datejust 41 since more than a year.

[@WatchUnwind]

Thank you 🙏 hopefully you get your call soon. Is it your first purchase from the AD as well ?

[@robertbachmann8141]

@@WatchUnwind yes it is. And it's unlikely to happen unless prices for Datejusts come down.. Here in Asia they sell 90%+ to the secondary market/flippers. So unless there is some benefit in it for the AD, you won't get one.

[@WatchUnwind]

@@robertbachmann8141 yeah pretty much the same here. I was definitely lucky to get the call for all I know they were going to give it to someone else but they didn’t pick up the phone. The whole situation is crazy but try to stay patient that’s the best advice I can give. For sure anywhere in Asia probably has a lot more people trying to get one then my city in Alaska so I’m sure that doesn’t help.

[@barkmark]

thanks for sharing~

[@WatchUnwind]

@@barkmark thanks for watching. Since this I have also been able to pick up an explorer II and a Starbucks submariner

[@michaels2916]

Congrats on the watch. I got the call for my OP41 Black in September and am loving it. For me, it is the classic Rolex. I too built a relationship with an AD in a smaller town in my area and visited them every month so they would see my face. They told me that my stopping by monthly as well as being friendly, really helped get the watch faster. When I stop in now (have asked for a Sub) they all know who I am and hoping to get the watch during this year.

[@WatchUnwind]

Awesome Michael!! Congrats on an awesome watch 🙏 black is a great color as well very classic, versatile, and will never go out of style. Definitely sounds like we had similar approaches of being friendly and persistent. I hope you get your sub soon, keep me up dated.

[@ricflair1768]

I’m stuck in the same quandary. I want a Sub/Date but feel like pulling the trigger on an Omega Seamaster because I may never get that call. My fear is I drop $5k on a Seamaster and two weeks later I’ll get that Sub/Date call.

[@WatchUnwind]

It’s a tricky situation to be in. I feel like the way life goes if you don’t spend the money you might never get the call but the second you spend the money you will get the call, because that’s what happens to me and life seems to have a sense of humor. Omega is a great brand so there is no bad choice. Maybe buy the omega but try to get a good deal on it without paying full price. Call a reputable second hand dealer like “watchbox” and find out how much they pay you for a used very good condition sea master of the dial model you want. If you get the call for the sub you can put it on a credit card and you will have 30 days to sell the sea master and pay your card. If you were to break even that’s awesome because you wore your omega for free in the mean time, if you lost only a little bit of money still pretty cool you essentially rented the omega and got to enjoy it, if you would lose too much money then it wouldn’t be worth it and that’s why I would find out exactly how much to expect before hand.

[@ricflair1768]

@@WatchUnwind thanks for the response. Seems like you take an immediate 25% hit the moment you walk out the door with the Seamaster. There is just so many of them in the market. I like the white dial/rubber strap 300m. I think I’m going to try and settle down and see what happens over the next 3 months. I keep hoping that inventory will arrive. I have my name in at three different ADs for a Sub/Date & Explore II but no purchase history since I just moved here. My chances are REALLY low but anything I buy would just be me trying to fill the gap on a Sub/Explorer and trying to build a purchase history. Damn this hobby!!!

[@shadowsocks7472]

What is the name of the AD you go to? I didnt realize there was one here in the Anchorage area.

[@WatchUnwind]

Ben Bridge down by moose’s tooth. Don’t go in and ask for anything until I get my next watch 😂 I am trying to get a gmt master or a sub

[@lonewolfemcquade8133]

At least it was a decent experience not like the nightmare stories I hear about alot

[@WatchUnwind]

Definitely could have been alot worse but I had my doubts to the very end

[@CharlieHustle1687]

Awesome, man, big congrats. Good on you

[@WatchUnwind]

Thank you i appreciate it !! Thanks for stopping by the channel

[@CharlieHustle1687]

@@WatchUnwind I had my AD replace the cyclops crystal to a non-cyclops. Game changer

[@WatchUnwind]

@@CharlieHustle1687 haven’t seen that done before. Send me a picture on Instagram if you can I’d like to take a look. my Instagram is “watchandunwind”.

[@CharlieHustle1687]

@@WatchUnwind all my pics are w/o the cyclops. $189 from my AD because they had one in stock. Comes with etched crowns on both sides

[@Crazy_Joe_Davola]

Very cool watch.

[@WatchUnwind]

Thank you!’

[@thamarajudomwongyont9025]

I bought a Datejust for my wife two years ago from the AD and I just put my name on the list for Sub. Do think I have a chance?

[@WatchUnwind]

I just got another Rolex a few days ago an explorer II so I definitely think you have a chance. Unfortunately I think you have to do something to stick in their mind. It’s not so much a real list as when they get a watch in you have to be first in their mind. Stop in time from time to geek out about the sub your waiting for and maybe bring in some doughnuts or something that 6$ box of doughnuts might go along way

[@AlisaChagnon123]

Sweet Rolex, congrats!! Happy for you. Love the green. I agree it complements more colors than the red. So, basically does a person have to buy in person? To clarify, do you suggest finding an in-person contact as opposed to trying online? And what if you live near other states, is it okay to be on 2 or 3 different wait lists?

[@WatchUnwind]

The only way to buy a Rolex watch is in person

[@AlisaChagnon123]

@@WatchUnwind i added on to my question same time as ur reply... Do u think it's okay to be on the wait list at a few different stores? Not sure how much loyalty factors in, for maintaining a good relationship with an AD.

[@WatchUnwind]

@@AlisaChagnon123 you could put your name down at multiple ADs if they are in your area I see no problem with that as some of them might never call you and you don’t have to take what they offer you but you could burn bridges if you don’t. Some people might then be enticed to buy the same watch multiple places keep one, flip the rest, and fund one for their self with their profits which is where things get bad for everyone

[@AlisaChagnon123]

@@WatchUnwind okay, cool, thanks!

[@marimoedmond]

Wow, you really gotta work to get your rolex. Congrats!

[@WatchUnwind]

Yeah its absolutely crazy but at the end of the day was worth it

[@marimoedmond]

@@WatchUnwind Haha, yeahh. Very satisfying!

[@jbadwal6684]

Hi ! What size is your wrist? I am stuck between 36mm and 41mm .

[@WatchUnwind]

I forget my actually wrist size I want to say it’s right around 7 inches but I have very large arms I’m like 5’11 217lbs and workout a lot. I do have smaller watches and they wear just fine. My smallest watch is a 29mm vintage watch I found at a estate sale. Did you have the chance to try them both on?

[@jbadwal6684]

@@WatchUnwind thank you for your reply… yes I have tried both sizes.. and I think I will go with 41mm just be on the safe side for long run.

[@WatchUnwind]

@@jbadwal6684 that is the size I personally went for so I think that’s a good bet.

[@nicoleclooney1675]

Happy you got your watch

[@WatchUnwind]

Me too!

[@Jake-bt3fc]

Trying to buy a Rolex sounds like trying to date a girl that's not very interested in you, lol.

[@WatchUnwind]

You know what that’s a really good analogy and that’s exactly what it’s like but I actually just got another a few days ago so it’s definitely possible

[@geno816]

Lol. Yeah in smaller communities, they are much better. That's why I'm happy not to be on the east coast. Or west

[@WatchUnwind]

Definitely, that’s what i figured and it worked out but if I made this video one week earlier I would have told you I was never going to get the call lol. Where are you located?

[@alexanderstevens145]

Unbelievable how difficult the process is

[@WatchUnwind]

It really is but I was able to ultimately get my watch so hopefully you can as well. It is a lot of money to tie up in the meantime for something that may not happen. What watch are you hoping to get your hands on?

[@alexanderstevens145]

@@WatchUnwind the new air king and or the op in silver

[@WatchUnwind]

@@alexanderstevens145 two great choice. Hope you get one. OP in silver is timeless and the air king amazing as well