timepieces

[NYCfixie]

This is FANTASTIC NYCFixie.
Thanks a whole bunch....

My pleasure.

I do not think this place has opened yet and will cater to very high net worth tourists but might be worth a look for fun.
Robb Report - America’s Biggest Rolex Showroom Is Set to Open in Boston

[MisterDangerPants]

It's cool they went back to 36mm for the Explorer but I personally do not like the new two-tone version.

Ditto on both. I wish the Explorer was available in a 36mm when I purchased my Oyster Perpetual a back in 2017. I certainly could have purchased a pre-owned 114270 but I wanted a brand new watch so the blue OP it was.

[GrantM]

I do not think this place has opened yet and will cater to very high net worth tourists but might be worth a look for fun.
Robb Report - America’s Biggest Rolex Showroom Is Set to Open in Boston

Interesting line in the Robb Report piece,
"It is rapidly moving away from its well-established network of small shop-in-shops
opting for new stores all its own, and Rolex seems confident its customers are still ready to buy."

Sounds like Trek.

-g

[GrantM]

Hot take, but I have never understood why people are so obsessed with this watch. Haven't seen it in the metal (which is no shocker given how allocated they seem to be), but based on all pics it looks...fine. In terms of Genta watches, I find the AP Royal Oak to be much more aesthetically pleasing personally.

As a product, I really like the 5711, but as a cultural phenomenon, it's pretty gross.
The issue is the price/availability raises the expectations of what a simple sports watch is supposed to mean.

These days, the income gap, and the seemingly endless amounts of cash chasing these things that used to be a niche.
For things that are not sold in big numbers, demand easily outstrips supply, and then it just drives more demand.
Ultimately, this kind of thing is at risk of ruining the market.

-g

[NYCfixie]

Interesting line in the Robb Report piece,
"It is rapidly moving away from its well-established network of small shop-in-shops
opting for new stores all its own, and Rolex seems confident its customers are still ready to buy."

Sounds like Trek.

-g

I think they are doing more stand alone shops backed by existing retailers such as the one on Madison Avenue that is owned by and next to Tourneau.
They even have a walkway between the two "stand alone" stores.


Rolex.jpg

[GrantM]

I think they are doing more stand alone shops backed by existing retailers such as the one on Madison Avenue that is owned by and next to Tourneau.
They even have a walkway between the two "stand alone" stores.

I'm sure the 'future of retail' is changing, and the pandemic has sped up some of these discussions about how customers
want to buy watches, and what is the best way for brands to manage the sale. Between the internet, global customers,
and brands wanting more control of their image, many difficult debates ahead. Good thing they are swiss, probably the
reason distribution hasn't transformed already.

-g

[GrantM]

Yowzers!

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/pa...ek-introducing

[funcrusher]

Yowzers!

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/pa...ek-introducing

If I'm honest I'd rather have that than a well optioned 911

[Matthew Strongin]

If I'm honest I'd rather have that than a well optioned 911

Same!

[Matthew Strongin]

I'm sure the 'future of retail' is changing, and the pandemic has sped up some of these discussions about how customers
want to buy watches, and what is the best way for brands to manage the sale. Between the internet, global customers,
and brands wanting more control of their image, many difficult debates ahead. Good thing they are swiss, probably the
reason distribution hasn't transformed already.

-g

The transition to more dedicated presence has been going on for a long time. They still work with independent retailers, but as much as possible want a full Rolex branded boutique. My wife's new store has two sides with two entrances, connected by a large opening near the front. The right side is basically a full Rolex boutique with Rolex design, fixtures and furniture. The other side is a collection of connected rooms with the front two dedicated to jewelry and Tudor and the back rooms as a mini Patek boutique. The days of a Rolex case in a store with 30 other brands have been gone for a while.

[GrantM]

The transition to more dedicated presence has been going on for a long time. They still work with independent retailers, but as much as possible want a full Rolex branded boutique. My wife's new store has two sides with two entrances, connected by a large opening near the front. The right side is basically a full Rolex boutique with Rolex design, fixtures and furniture. The other side is a collection of connected rooms with the front two dedicated to jewelry and Tudor and the back rooms as a mini Patek boutique. The days of a Rolex case in a store with 30 other brands have been gone for a while.

I wonder if there will come a time when the brand is going to steer customers through their home dealer, as opposed to people hopping all over the globe
looking for the random location that happens prioritize you on their waitlist. A YouTuber i follow flew from Dubai to Dallas to buy a Starbucks Sub at an AD.
He's bought 4 or 5 hard to get sports models in the last 2 years or so, every one from a different dealer.

WTF? that makes no sense. If the system weren't so incentivized the way it is, the dealer should have sent the watch to his regular AD in his own country.
I'm sure there are people on 50+ so called "wait lists" with every Rolex account they can call. At some point, there is a better way to match watches with people,
notwithstanding there is no simple way to unfuck the current system of allocation at any level.

-g

[froze]

Hot take, but I have never understood why people are so obsessed with this watch. Haven't seen it in the metal (which is no shocker given how allocated they seem to be), but based on all pics it looks...fine. In terms of Genta watches, I find the AP Royal Oak to be much more aesthetically pleasing personally.

I agree, it has the old cushion case shape from the 60's that I never liked when it was in style, that shape didn't stay in style long.

[Thad Pasquale]

A YouTuber i follow flew from Dubai to Dallas to buy a Starbucks Sub at an AD.


-g

I know who you are talking about, can't fault him but it does raise some interesting questions. I recognized Texas, just wasn't quite sure where exactly.

[Thad Pasquale]

Anyone going to be mashing F5 on Thursday trying to get one of these?

Ming.jpg

https://ming.watch/collections/17-09

[theflashunc]

Anyone going to be mashing F5 on Thursday trying to get one of these?

Ming.jpg

https://ming.watch/collections/17-09

I've thought about it. Given the price it's the "affordable" Ming these days. Even if it is a dressed up Selitta with a jumping hour hand.

But then again do I care enough to be up at 6 am frantically hitting F5?

[GrantM]

Anyone going to be mashing F5 on Thursday trying to get one of these?


https://ming.watch/collections/17-09

Interesting sales model, giving an order window that guarantees you get one (if not for almost a year, but still)

My biggest peeve with limited quantities is being in line, knowing you want it, and just can't get one,
meanwhile flippers are using their bots, and they show up on ebay a half hour later for 5x the price.

-g