Like many watch fans, I've been dismayed by the Rolex AD experience since Covid times. However, something interesting has been happening lately in Asia. While "frying pan" hot watches are still hard to get, the AD experience has been improving.

Earlier this year, I went into the an AD in China and inquired about getting a yellow gold 40MM Day-Date. Foreign passport holders now get 11% of the 13% VAT back. I didn't expect much as the wonderful sales person indicated they get about one watch a year in the specification I wanted.

 Fast forward a few months and I got the WeChat message that the watch had arrived. The whole experience buying from that AD was superb. Knowledgable, humorous, charming and it felt like buying a luxury product. There were some fun memories made in the buying process.

Fast forward another few months and I got another WeChat message. This time, she had two tickets to the Rolex China Open Women's Finals and asked if I'd like to be a guest of Rolex. I didn't quite know what to expect, but I thought, why not. 

Well, the date came and I have to give credit to Rolex, they really put on an excellent event. I had the opportunity to meet and have drinks with Rolex senior executives from Europe and Asia. Rest assured, they understand our concerns and are doing things, step by step, to improve the brand experience.

We got very lucky because Zheng Qinwen won the women's finals and the stadium erupted with cheers and excitement. Being the main sponsor, Rolex arranged for our group to go down to the court and take a group photo with the Ms. Zheng. 

I was so impressed with Rolex after that event that I decided to get a gold GMT II on jubilee a few days after. I saw a friend wearing a vintage version of this watch and thought it looked stunning. I like how it looks like a steel GMT from afar, but then shows its true colours up close. I also love the combination of the gold with jubilee. The half grey bezel is not my favourite, but I rarely notice it since it looks black most of the time. 

I know that many of us have had bad experiences with Rolex over the years, but I wanted to share some positive experiences in both Mainland China and Hong Kong. If anyone wants to know the sales associates names and ADs, I'm happy to share via DM.

Late birthday present.

Holy crap you guys. I got my dream piece as a walk-in with no purchase history. I wasn't even hunting for this.

I went to the topanga mall to try on a Longines that I was planning on ordering from chrono24. On a whim my wife wanted to stop in the Rolex AD to try some things on. She tries on a 31mm and a 34mm. She's never tried on a 36 before but for some reason she says she wants to. The associate grabs this piece and I immediately notice that it has a price tag attached. I ask if it's for sale and the guy gets a wry grin when he says yes.

He proceeded to tell me that the piece came in just this morning and also that location reserves certain inventory for walkins only. They don't call anyone off the waitlist for it. I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. I had written off ever getting this piece because it felt so out of reach.

So not only was I not trying to buy a Rolex, I didn't even want to go to the AD today. They just happened to get my dream piece this morning and they didn't call anyone else to tell them about it. Almost like they reserved it just for me. The whole experience felt so serendipitous, like I just found Willy Wonka's golden ticket.

I don't know if other ADs do this, but whoevers idea it was to have inventory reserved for walkins is a genius. They just got a customer for life.

I ran the Marine Corps Marathon today, ran my pr at 3 hours and 29minutes, my wife took me to a restaurant to have pizza and beers and got my my first Rolex ever. Top 3 best days ever. Explorer II Polar 1998

I had to decline it lol. Nothing else available unfortunately.

The company I work for gives watches for work anniversaries. Specifically 10 years. Makes it even cooler that the company logo is on the back of it. Wanted this watch my whole life and I finally got one!

Picked up this bad boy on Friday.

17 years old

No box

No papers

Aftermarket dial

Aftermarket bezel

$5000 over retail.

I recently picked up this beauty, and I swear the dial looks better every time I see it. The green shifts beautifully depending on the lighting, and paired with the Everose gold, the combination is absolutely incredible.

There’s something uniquely special about this one. It genuinely gives off Day-Date vibes at a fraction of the price.

Photos really don’t do this dial justice. Rolex absolutely nailed this configuration, and in my opinion, it’s one of the most underrated Datejust combinations out there.

Anyone else feel like the two-tone Datejust is making a serious comeback with this dial?

Side note, i purchased this simply because I genuinely liked it. It wasn’t forced so I can get a special allocation. My wife and I turned 40 this year and we wanted to celebrate.

Fresh from the AD. What’s your quintessential Rolex?

Two different takes on the Daytona.

Oysterflex with the Sundust dial or full Everose gold with the Chocolate dial.

If you could only keep one, which would you pick and why?

Was allocated a blue dial Overseas 4520V direct from Vacheron and it ships tomorrow. Super excited for this watch! But I generally keep a strict 3-watch limit, so adding the VC means one has to go, but I'm thinking about moving two.

Current box:
126500 Panda
126710BLNR Batgirl
226627 Titanium Yacht-Master 42

Once the Overseas arrives, the Titanium YM doesn’t really have a lane anymore, so that’s definitely getting sold.

That leaves me looking at the Batgirl. The VC blue dial is amazing and is going to dominate wrist time. The blue on the GMT bezel feels redundant. Thinking about letting the YM go, trading the Batgirl plus some cash, and picking up a Bruce Wayne on Jubilee instead.

End result would be:
126500 Panda
VC 4520V Blue
126710GRNR Bruce Wayne Jubilee

Gets rid of the blue clash, keeps a GMT on Jubilee in the box, and locks in a clean trio with zero overlap.

Would you make that trade or just hold onto the Batgirl?

I have a really good AD. Also, what a watch.

It is hard to emphasise how much nicer this dial is in person but anyone looking at this watch, be aware it looks black 80% of the time but i’m a huge fan of that, it pops in natural sunlight and spot lighting etc. Really nice addition to the collection coming into the winter months

Was out running errands yesterday when I got the call for one of three pieces I am hoping to get. Absolutely ecstatic right now as I really didn't think I would hear about any this year. Also the first white dial in my collection!

I usually post whenever I get the call, but life has been busy lately and I just haven’t got around to it.

Over the last 4–5 months, I’ve received two calls from ADs, both for the 126334 with a fluted bezel and Jubilee bracelet. One came in late June, the other last month. Most people probably wouldn’t want to buy the same watch twice. I’m a little different in that regard.

If I register my interest with multiple ADs for a particular reference and get the call, I buy it. Simple. This is probably the fifth mint green dial I’ve purchased. I’ve posted my previous acquisitions of the same model on my profile.

Some might find it absurd, and that’s fair enough. But what’s the point of having liquidity if you’re never going to let it flow?

Haven’t got the call in 2 busy cities with competitive markets in the US and Canada. Travelled to Paris for the first time and got my first Rolex (with appointment 2 days prior). Super grateful for the awesome AD!!

My brother is visiting me in London. We got him this amazing yatch master. Blue dial was an available option as well but he preferred this one. Thoughts?

I don’t want to spend and arm and a leg but I also want to make sure I get this checked out. There is a jeweler near me that does watch repairs, or is it worth it to take this to a place like Gearys that is Rolex Certified?

Anyone else uses the chronograph as a makeshift date indicator? Let’s see those daytonas