Great video. An experience at the AD is not always the best thing (Rolex take note). I have to agree that Omega makes an effort as do JLC. Buying from a grey dealer has never been anything other than transactional, but the availability and price was why I dealt with them. I always buy myself a glass of champagne at the Ritz on the way home and congratulate myself on the lack of wait list or the great price I just paid 😁🥂
Walked into a Rolex AD a couple months ago wanting to buy a simple 2 tone Datejust. The sales lady looked like she was annoyed at me for even being in the store. Said she will add my name to “the list”. I wasn’t in there to try anything on bc I already know exactly what I want but she never even offered and couldn’t be bothered to provide a positive customer experience. Conversely, I’ve Purchased 2 Omegas on Chrono24 from a particular dealer in Japan. Amazing customer service and fast shipping. Both watches were brand new with box, papers, stickers and I got them for almost half off retail.
I read similar things in the web. Yes, there is still prejudice in some of those high end boutiques, though the people who now buy high end watches are not exclusively white. But things are changing gradually. Looks like Omega prepares his employees very well. I don't care for the champagne and the chocolate, but the service at Omega is amazing.
UptickwatchReviews - Wowza! What an amazing response to my comment. You do bring up several valid points. You do point out so eloquently how the luxury timepiece Watch buying experience has become not so luxurious these days. I too have become dismayed with the Boutique and AD games, I refuse to play their games. Ultimately, I suppose real luxury in this hobby is about doing business with people you trust and foster long term relationships with, wherever you may find them. Nice review, keep up the amazing content. Best regards, Mr. Valjoux
I've had some memorable, fun experiences with some UK ADs and brands (credit where its due): Dinners with Rolex (Laings), Champagne and gifts with Patek (Laings), cocktails and watchmaking with VC (Berry's) and personalised gifts, cards, informal catch-ups, exhibitions and presentations with Blancpain (Bond St). I've never had anything (bar spam and a glass of fizz) from (name and shame): JLC (I own 3), Panerai, Omega (own 7), Grand Seiko (owned 5), Tudor, Goldsmiths, Goldsmiths, Goldsmiths... Some brands and (family owned) AD's do care, do work for your custom and invest in the relationship. I've found the secondary market very businesslike: purely transactional. I appreciate Hong Kong is quite different!
I've bought several pieces from ADs. I've never bothered with the champagne and cocktails but I have gladly taken books and discounts on straps and clasps. For the amount of money I've saved buying from resellers, I don't feel like the extra premium cost at the AD is worth it.
Man, that intro was SPOT ON! I've loved buying watches at my AD (Rolex, Tudor, Cartier so far), but also appreciate buying from fellow collectors. I guess it's the "in person" experience that I appreciate the most. The wait times for AD pieces have been minimal, except my FXD, that took nearly 11 months, but worth the wait as prices second hand were ridiculous at the time. What I'm not sure about is click-buying online for a watch. Not much joy in that, but who knows, I want an IW3713 and there isn't anything around here, so I may not have a choice.
"Does the boutique experience matter?" - Yes, for the first 1 or 2 watches you buy. If they sales persons give you a nice feeling, you might buy more - even online. If the sales staff make the experience awful, I think people often just lose interest before the hobby even sets in
My experience buying Rolex at an ORJ (Official Rolex Jeweler) was nothing like what you hear about. The store was immaculate and beautiful (even the rest rooms were opulent), the staff and owner clearly practiced and professional, and I was treated graciously and with respect. I am no one special; but the experience was pure "white glove service." Don't believe everything you hear.
The AD experience can definitely vary, a lot of depends on the type of day the sales representative mar be having, and pf course market conditions. By the way, lovely travel case here, mind sharing what brand it is? Thank you.
great video. as below, you are a celebrity to us UT 🤓 really i have felt very well looked after by ADs, finding that if you can get to speak to sales teams properly and ensure that they know you are a genuine enthusiast they usually respond well. fwiw I have tended to try to work with staff that are also watch collectors, rather than purely salespeople.
The boutique experience still matters, unfortunately. You want to touch the watch, see it directly in your hands. The online experience can't replace that. Two examples: the Panerais look astonishing in the internet and in the videos by paid influencers, but at Burdeens they look gigantic, heavy and overpriced. On the other hand, the 48mm Longines Dolcevita looks like a pale version of the Cartier Americaine if you see it online, but at the store, once it is on your hands, it looks gorgeous and underrated. The problem is that boutiques always have a limited number of models, and more than often they don't have the watch you are looking for.
Omega has to give you champagne, Godiva and boutique cakes to convince people to pay full retail for their pieces which lose 40% out the door, worse than cars. Yea, you got a waitlist piece, the 321, but you probably lost over 10K USD buying their other pieces. And the 321s are basically trading at retail now. I think you are providing an inaccurate depiction of the Rolex experience. With my AD in HK, I can always get champagne or single malt whiskey and other treats even when I just stop by and say hello. And service is impeccable.
I agree. The whole ‘Rolex ADs treating people rudely’ is overblown. I’m sure there have been a few instances. But most people are lying, upset they can’t get a steel sports at MSRP in a few months. (note: I’m on ‘the list’ too - but mature enough to admit I procrastinated and didn’t start buying them 15 yrs ago when I first thought about it). I’ve gone to many ADs, spent 30-45 minutes talking watches, expressed my interest in a few models, gave them my info - they were nice and still email/text me to tell me they haven’t forgotten who I am.
@@WestCoastAce27 yeah when people could not get the watch they want. Suddenly the ad is rude and bad service. I mean its one thing to express your good experience with a brand but bringing the R brand into the picture to bash just smells of unfinished business with the R brand and hoping the R brand listened and will apologies and call them up for allocation. Just move on already.
I agree. The experience at the Omega boutique actually feels like a premium experience. The experience at most Rolex boutiques (and I've been to over a dozen all over the world) is almost always awful and unpleasant.
A contact of mine just pitched me the stock Oriental Watch 398 HK. Would you ever invest in a Rolex dealer like this given what happened to Bucherer (vertical consolidation). And I suppose there's the risk of them losing their Rolex dealership, as happened with competitor King Fook.
Oriental? I hadn't been to their flagship Central store in a year. We just went inside and were shocked to see just tiny Rolex display with a couple of sad watches. Old models from a few brands. Desperate attempt to get into the Indie brands. Senior staff all replaced by kids with no sales experience and zero knowledge of products. This place looks like it's about to close. They've just closed their Causeway Bay location. So frankly, by the looks of it, Oriental isn't the stock I'd bet my savings on right now.
Salut As tu des informations sur des boutiques de confiances car je souhaiterais acheter une rolex neuve ou d'occasion lors de mon séjour à Hong Kong la première semaine de mars . Merci
But then again, praises are only given to Omega because you had gotten the allocation. There are still alot people out there still waiting and probably swearing about omega cause they had not gotten their allocation of the 321 or a snoopy. Because there was some allocation game going around too for these hype pieces. Every brand will do it if they have a hype. They are a business in the end.
I am not sure about this comment, what he says in the videos is that people at Omega boutique are much nicer wether you buy something or not, while in Rolex they have no consideration if you are not a worthy client, and they rarely have anything to sell to you. In Omega even if there's specific models for which you have to wait, there's a lot of them that you can buy right away
Hi Marcus, I was saying the same about the Omega experience before getting the 321. This allocation was a great cherry on top but I've had nothing but good times at the boutique for the past years. 👍
I love these travel cases, they're the new ones from Mister Chrono, their brand is called KronoKeeper. Three colours. I bought two and the third is likely to follow. The cushions are just the right size for me, so like just under 17cm
Good topic. But mixed emotions. I do believe many who watch you - esp the person who left that comment - are wealthy, used to getting what they want and superior service so even if they aren’t insulted at the Rolex AD, still upset they can’t get a steel sports watch for years. So I have no sympathy for them. But your situation is completely different: you live in a small city-state and can walk a few kms and visit many dealers in person. Most of us live in places where one drives everywhere and it would take a whole day to visit 5 or 6 shops. You also admit you barely paid over MSRP for the Wimbledon (congrats) - again the markups on most steel Rolexes is 40-50% or more.
For Rolex since 2018 for the best prices you need to buy from the AD. Thankfully prices are coming down closer to retail or at least more reasonable realistic prices for the few Rolex watches that you just can't get at the AD's. In regards to the other 2 brands. I don't care for the AP Royal Oak (unless it's vintage). They are way too delicate and can easily get damaged. Limited polishing (no more than 2/3 in the watches lifetime) if you want it looking new or wearable. Then just to regulate a Royal Oak. It costs $1200, $1500 plus to get a full service. With Patek, it's come to public opinion that the Nautilus and Aquanaut are watches for douchebags and Bro's with black hoodies, white sneakers, and leather backpacks. if I get into Patek it's more for dress classic timepieces.
Mostly agree. He got a great deal on his Wimbledon; most steel sports Rolexes the majority want are for sale at 40-50% (or more) on Chrono24 for months. And he can walk and visit a dozen stores in a few hrs. So those stores are motivated to offer deals because they know he has options. If we could all get our Rolex from greys at low premiums over MSRP we’d never visit another AD - the champagne can’t be that good.
Great video. An experience at the AD is not always the best thing (Rolex take note). I have to agree that Omega makes an effort as do JLC. Buying from a grey dealer has never been anything other than transactional, but the availability and price was why I dealt with them. I always buy myself a glass of champagne at the Ritz on the way home and congratulate myself on the lack of wait list or the great price I just paid 😁🥂
LOL
Walked into a Rolex AD a couple months ago wanting to buy a simple 2 tone Datejust. The sales lady looked like she was annoyed at me for even being in the store. Said she will add my name to “the list”. I wasn’t in there to try anything on bc I already know exactly what I want but she never even offered and couldn’t be bothered to provide a positive customer experience.
Conversely, I’ve Purchased 2 Omegas on Chrono24 from a particular dealer in Japan. Amazing customer service and fast shipping. Both watches were brand new with box, papers, stickers and I got them for almost half off retail.
I read similar things in the web. Yes, there is still prejudice in some of those high end boutiques, though the people who now buy high end watches are not exclusively white. But things are changing gradually. Looks like Omega prepares his employees very well. I don't care for the champagne and the chocolate, but the service at Omega is amazing.
UptickwatchReviews - Wowza! What an amazing response to my comment. You do bring up several valid points. You do point out so eloquently how the luxury timepiece Watch buying experience has become not so luxurious these days. I too have become dismayed with the Boutique and AD games, I refuse to play their games. Ultimately, I suppose real luxury in this hobby is about doing business with people you trust and foster long term relationships with, wherever you may find them. Nice review, keep up the amazing content. Best regards, Mr. Valjoux
Getting a great watch at a great price (or even fair price) is a wonderful thing regardless of the buying experience 😎!
Exactly. If Mr. Uptick had had to pay a 50% premium for the Wimbledon he wouldn’t be saying how nice the experience was.
I've had some memorable, fun experiences with some UK ADs and brands (credit where its due): Dinners with Rolex (Laings), Champagne and gifts with Patek (Laings), cocktails and watchmaking with VC (Berry's) and personalised gifts, cards, informal catch-ups, exhibitions and presentations with Blancpain (Bond St). I've never had anything (bar spam and a glass of fizz) from (name and shame): JLC (I own 3), Panerai, Omega (own 7), Grand Seiko (owned 5), Tudor, Goldsmiths, Goldsmiths, Goldsmiths... Some brands and (family owned) AD's do care, do work for your custom and invest in the relationship. I've found the secondary market very businesslike: purely transactional. I appreciate Hong Kong is quite different!
I've bought several pieces from ADs. I've never bothered with the champagne and cocktails but I have gladly taken books and discounts on straps and clasps. For the amount of money I've saved buying from resellers, I don't feel like the extra premium cost at the AD is worth it.
After the first seconds I almost thought this would be a Pagani Design roundup 😅. Love Jody's channel btw.
Man, that intro was SPOT ON! I've loved buying watches at my AD (Rolex, Tudor, Cartier so far), but also appreciate buying from fellow collectors. I guess it's the "in person" experience that I appreciate the most. The wait times for AD pieces have been minimal, except my FXD, that took nearly 11 months, but worth the wait as prices second hand were ridiculous at the time. What I'm not sure about is click-buying online for a watch. Not much joy in that, but who knows, I want an IW3713 and there isn't anything around here, so I may not have a choice.
Good point, the online buying is very millennial instant gratification and usual delayed regret.
"Does the boutique experience matter?" - Yes, for the first 1 or 2 watches you buy. If they sales persons give you a nice feeling, you might buy more - even online. If the sales staff make the experience awful, I think people often just lose interest before the hobby even sets in
My experience buying Rolex at an ORJ (Official Rolex Jeweler) was nothing like what you hear about. The store was immaculate and beautiful (even the rest rooms were opulent), the staff and owner clearly practiced and professional, and I was treated graciously and with respect. I am no one special; but the experience was pure "white glove service." Don't believe everything you hear.
where's that watch box from?
The AD experience can definitely vary, a lot of depends on the type of day the sales representative mar be having, and pf course market conditions. By the way, lovely travel case here, mind sharing what brand it is? Thank you.
Don’t blame the ADs, it’s the customers that cause this whole issue. If enough people walk away, who are they going to sell these Rolex watches to?
Thanks for sharing. It's interesting to hear your fresh take on this. Also non AD has quite the association with fake watches and theft risks.
I enjoy the AD experience but it's not essential.
great video.
as below, you are a celebrity to us UT 🤓
really i have felt very well looked after by ADs, finding that if you can get to speak to sales teams properly and ensure that they know you are a genuine enthusiast they usually respond well. fwiw I have tended to try to work with staff that are also watch collectors, rather than purely salespeople.
The boutique experience still matters, unfortunately. You want to touch the watch, see it directly in your hands. The online experience can't replace that. Two examples: the Panerais look astonishing in the internet and in the videos by paid influencers, but at Burdeens they look gigantic, heavy and overpriced. On the other hand, the 48mm Longines Dolcevita looks like a pale version of the Cartier Americaine if you see it online, but at the store, once it is on your hands, it looks gorgeous and underrated. The problem is that boutiques always have a limited number of models, and more than often they don't have the watch you are looking for.
I bought my Omega in a boutique and got a 30% discount. On the internet the used ones were more expensive than mine which was new.
You’re wrong in one thing. Yes , you are a celebrity. 😁 Nice conversation, as always!
You are a celebrity to us uptick!
I love this zipcase where can I get one?
Omega has to give you champagne, Godiva and boutique cakes to convince people to pay full retail for their pieces which lose 40% out the door, worse than cars. Yea, you got a waitlist piece, the 321, but you probably lost over 10K USD buying their other pieces. And the 321s are basically trading at retail now. I think you are providing an inaccurate depiction of the Rolex experience. With my AD in HK, I can always get champagne or single malt whiskey and other treats even when I just stop by and say hello. And service is impeccable.
May I ask what is your AD in Hong Kong?
I agree. The whole ‘Rolex ADs treating people rudely’ is overblown. I’m sure there have been a few instances. But most people are lying, upset they can’t get a steel sports at MSRP in a few months. (note: I’m on ‘the list’ too - but mature enough to admit I procrastinated and didn’t start buying them 15 yrs ago when I first thought about it). I’ve gone to many ADs, spent 30-45 minutes talking watches, expressed my interest in a few models, gave them my info - they were nice and still email/text me to tell me they haven’t forgotten who I am.
@@WestCoastAce27 yeah when people could not get the watch they want. Suddenly the ad is rude and bad service. I mean its one thing to express your good experience with a brand but bringing the R brand into the picture to bash just smells of unfinished business with the R brand and hoping the R brand listened and will apologies and call them up for allocation. Just move on already.
I care about the watches I buy, not about a theatre trick an AD-salesman pulls up while they laugh at you behind your back.
I guess I am not sure I could trust non-ADs in Hong Kong with an expensive Rolex purchase. 😮
I agree. The experience at the Omega boutique actually feels like a premium experience. The experience at most Rolex boutiques (and I've been to over a dozen all over the world) is almost always awful and unpleasant.
Fuck that 321 is a nice watch.
Always had great experiences at my Omega AD. Not so with Rolex. I own 4 Omega watches. No Rolex.
From my experience the independents have the best AD experience.
Hello, may I know the brand of the case please? Thank you!
Yes, these are the latest cases by Mister Chrono and I couldn't say enough good things about them. Their brand is called KronoKeeper
A contact of mine just pitched me the stock Oriental Watch 398 HK. Would you ever invest in a Rolex dealer like this given what happened to Bucherer (vertical consolidation). And I suppose there's the risk of them losing their Rolex dealership, as happened with competitor King Fook.
Oriental? I hadn't been to their flagship Central store in a year. We just went inside and were shocked to see just tiny Rolex display with a couple of sad watches. Old models from a few brands. Desperate attempt to get into the Indie brands. Senior staff all replaced by kids with no sales experience and zero knowledge of products. This place looks like it's about to close. They've just closed their Causeway Bay location. So frankly, by the looks of it, Oriental isn't the stock I'd bet my savings on right now.
@@UptickWatchReviews Super-interesting, thanks Uptick
Salut
As tu des informations sur des boutiques de confiances car je souhaiterais acheter une rolex neuve ou d'occasion lors de mon séjour à Hong Kong la première semaine de mars .
Merci
Is the strap on the cartier from delugs?
No,this one is custom-made at Camille Fournet
But then again, praises are only given to Omega because you had gotten the allocation. There are still alot people out there still waiting and probably swearing about omega cause they had not gotten their allocation of the 321 or a snoopy. Because there was some allocation game going around too for these hype pieces. Every brand will do it if they have a hype. They are a business in the end.
I am not sure about this comment, what he says in the videos is that people at Omega boutique are much nicer wether you buy something or not, while in Rolex they have no consideration if you are not a worthy client, and they rarely have anything to sell to you. In Omega even if there's specific models for which you have to wait, there's a lot of them that you can buy right away
Hi Marcus, I was saying the same about the Omega experience before getting the 321. This allocation was a great cherry on top but I've had nothing but good times at the boutique for the past years. 👍
Well said. That‘s a nice watch case, what‘s the brand? You missed the obvious linguistic turn of a phrase: Chow Tai Fook didn‘t give a fook about you.
I love these travel cases, they're the new ones from Mister Chrono, their brand is called KronoKeeper. Three colours. I bought two and the third is likely to follow. The cushions are just the right size for me, so like just under 17cm
@@UptickWatchReviews And not a bad price, especially without VAT. I just started watching Expats, fun to see a quality show set in HK.
Good topic. But mixed emotions. I do believe many who watch you - esp the person who left that comment - are wealthy, used to getting what they want and superior service so even if they aren’t insulted at the Rolex AD, still upset they can’t get a steel sports watch for years. So I have no sympathy for them.
But your situation is completely different: you live in a small city-state and can walk a few kms and visit many dealers in person. Most of us live in places where one drives everywhere and it would take a whole day to visit 5 or 6 shops. You also admit you barely paid over MSRP for the Wimbledon (congrats) - again the markups on most steel Rolexes is 40-50% or more.
For Rolex since 2018 for the best prices you need to buy from the AD. Thankfully prices are coming down closer to retail or at least more reasonable realistic prices for the few Rolex watches that you just can't get at the AD's. In regards to the other 2 brands. I don't care for the AP Royal Oak (unless it's vintage). They are way too delicate and can easily get damaged. Limited polishing (no more than 2/3 in the watches lifetime) if you want it looking new or wearable. Then just to regulate a Royal Oak. It costs $1200, $1500 plus to get a full service. With Patek, it's come to public opinion that the Nautilus and Aquanaut are watches for douchebags and Bro's with black hoodies, white sneakers, and leather backpacks. if I get into Patek it's more for dress classic timepieces.
Mostly agree. He got a great deal on his Wimbledon; most steel sports Rolexes the majority want are for sale at 40-50% (or more) on Chrono24 for months. And he can walk and visit a dozen stores in a few hrs. So those stores are motivated to offer deals because they know he has options. If we could all get our Rolex from greys at low premiums over MSRP we’d never visit another AD - the champagne can’t be that good.
That Moonswatch is far from luxury anyway so buy that where you want. Or ideally, don’t bother.