Rolex called yesterday, and when they call, you answer - I finally have a Daytona. Someday I hope to "move up" to a stainless but for now, this thing rocks my world. With that said, I wear the Seamaster 3x as much - it feels like the not showy, super versatile choice on the rubber strap. The Nomos was my first good watch and I still love for its lightweight and simplicity.

https://i.ibb.co/YjfSWr5/IMG-8925-2.jpg

-Mark

Congrats on the Daytona!

The two Nomos in my collection still get a lot of wrist time with the TAG Heuer Carrera in rotation.

Any plans to get a darker dial in your collection?

I am hoping for a mint green DJ41 or a two tone Sub next - we'll see, but the next one won't be white. But I do love white dials, just creates such nice contrast.

-Mark

Congrats! Which AD and how long did you wait?

No AD is even willing to entertain an OP or DJ for me here in Toronto. Just get laughed out the door!

Edit: I ended up picking up an Omega DeVille for my fiancee but through the grey market. Local ADs were tough on price and the savings made it worth while. Lesson learned - buy now or deal with the prices later. I was hoping to build a relationship with the local ADs for even a hint of consideration for a Rolex but no luck.

I have been dealing with the Rolex Boutique on Alberni and have bought 3 watches total, 2 not pictured here as one is for my wife and one I am basically just sitting in a box and don't wear. Those three are my rotation. If I get my DJ41, I will probably sell the Nomos.

In terms of wait time, I was introduced to them by a very good client of theirs so I think it gave me a considerable head start on the "list" so I am not sure my experience would be that representative of what others might see. I have gotten my 3 watches in about 3 months.

With that said, both he and I have been getting calls faster than expected and I think the inventory situation is improving/demand is reducing.

I bought my Omega as a new grey market watch for a significant discount over MSRP+tax.

-Mark

beautiful Daytona Mark!! but im still a big sucker for that Seamaster. I love Omega in general significantly more than Rolex'

p.s. watch marking has changed quite a bit since bitcoin and other crypto have taken a dump. lots of inventory is flooding the used market and new market demand is dropping.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...olex-and-patek

I generally find the same as you - there are more Omegas that I am excited by than Rolexes. There is not a single OP and only a handful of DJ configurations that I am interested in, you can keep the Explorers, and I honestly think I like my Seamaster more than most Subs.

The Daytona is the watch it starts and ends at for me in the Rolex world. I love its story, I love how it looks, and I love how it feels on my wrist - it is significantly more comfortable and less obtrusive than my Skydweller.

-Mark

Wait times are so variable. My AD rep started referring to the 'list' as a wish list more than a queue. A lot also has to do with what model you're looking for.
Watching them weeding out and dealing with the tire kickers, flippers and the general public who don't know that there's a wait time can be interesting.
Last month my wife and I watched someone ignore the salespeople on the floor, try to get through the locked door to the Rolex area and then trapped themselves in the metal detector tube. Our rep grumbled and let them in. After finding out that they would need to wait, they proceeded to argue about buying the exhibition models on display, and left saying they were taking their money to the Rolex Boutique on Alberni.

plz dont tell me they were chinese :QQ:

lol

White.

I'm so happy that the watch market is dropping, hopefully it makes obtaining a Submariner/GMT a little more obtainable

Not to belabor the point/be boastful, but I can't stop looking at this watch. It's blingy for sure, but it feels so damn comfortable and the way it catches light is incredible. I really can see the hype for why the slightly less blingy, slightly more durable stainless/ceramic models could be the "one watch" solution.

https://i.imgur.com/6BVMzKr.jpg

-Mark

SICK

you just need miami weather and a yacht

I dunno why but I feel like that'd look good on oysterflex

I got my blue OP from La Difference finally. I asked for an Explorer or an OP and the OP was the one that came first.

The Daytona looks amazing on an Oysterflex - I'd absolutely like to have that, they only make it on white gold and above though.

-Mark

This is the best part. I called them last week to make an appointment and they said nothing is avaialble.

Raffi - Didn't even want to entertain
Knar - Nope
Damiani - No luck
RdV - Steered towards other brands and didn't even want to entertain a Rolex viewing
Lugaro in Vancouver/West Van - Same as RdV
Cote d'Ivore (Montreal) - Wanted me to buy other brands first

I feel like La Difference would give you the highest chance IF you live close by. I know they randomly set out models pretty often as first come, first serve sales. Unfortunately, they're usually two tone / diamond Datejusts but you might get lucky.

I would try to get an exhibition try on appointment (pray you get the one non-Chinese sales guy) and then text the salesperson you get regularly for stock updates. My wife was actually the one that bought me the OP36 and she told me she texted him literally every day for 3 months (lmao).

Holy shit that is aggressive hahaha. I like Rolex, but I don't think I want one that badly, especially a plain jane DJ

I may move on to Omega or Glashutte Original.

great wife:fuckyea:

I received a wooden watch as a gift and I need to have a couple links removed from it for it to fit properly. It looks like the pins just get gently tapped out but there's no directional marking. Is that something that's safe to DIY or is that a bad idea?

Probably safe. Only worry would be the holes in the link getting worn and the pin getting loose. Best to use a pin press I think rather than tapping it out to minimise wear/damage.

It's interesting to see everyone's AD experience, as it's so different. Ours I don't think was typical at all.

Wife wanted a specific OP config, emailed Lugaro to inquire, knowing it'd be a wait. I had warned her. Two days later they texted her, that the exact config had come in the day before.
When we picked it up even the rep was surprised we didn't have a client record with them at all.
We were looking for an Explorer and a Sub as well, again knowing there's a wait.
No clue how we got offered the explorer the next month, and the Sub the month after.

Went from Joe off the street to having OP/ex/sub in 3 months.