Has the Rolex bubble finally burst? Perhaps it has

[lowdrag]

My mother took me to Jersey when I was 12 yrs old, Coming back to Southampton (by Dakota DC3 believe it or not!) my mother had strapped three watches on my forearm and made me wear a long-sleeved shirt. We sailed through happily

[Buster73]

popeyewhite said:

Has anyone walked through Declare? Anyone on here like to report on what happens the other side of the door? Mobbed by bored staff?

Last time I flew in to a regional airport in the NE of England, the declare lane was roped off and you couldn’t have declared anything anyway.

[Wheelspinning]

okgo said:

dom9 said:

Blue-faced DJ41 with fluted bezel in the window of Kingston M&W... was rather shocked at the price... Knocking on £10k now! Yeeeah... no thanks!

Vintage market has softened nicely this year, can get a lot of "will never be made again" for 'entry level Rolex with date' money.

Quite a jump. I paid £7200 only 5 years back.

Fluted Bezel DJ41 Wimbledon or Blue face are currently £9100, up from £7900 18months ago.

[eyebeebe]

I went to the Rolex boutique in Zurich today to see if they had an exhibition bimetallic root beer I could try on to see what I thought of it against my skin tone. They only had the full rose gold in and available to purchase, as well as a bimetallic Yachtmaster 37. The full gold is a thing of beauty, but more than I want to spend and I can imagine a bit of a theft magnet. I didn’t know the YM existed. If it had been the 40 I think I’d have walked out with it. Still half tempted to go back and get it

I put my name down for the GMT. Apparently it could be anything from a few months to a few years. Based on my experience buying Daytonas with them, I’m hoping more towards the lower end.

[Chris Stott]

Full rose gold GMT is a massive lump of gorgeousness… but you do need a bit of nerve to wear it

[Wheelspinning]

eyebeebe said:

I went to the Rolex boutique in Zurich today to see if they had an exhibition bimetallic root beer I could try on to see what I thought of it against my skin tone. They only had the full rose gold in and available to purchase, as well as a bimetallic Yachtmaster 37. The full gold is a thing of beauty, but more than I want to spend and I can imagine a bit of a theft magnet. I didn’t know the YM existed. If it had been the 40 I think I’d have walked out with it. Still half tempted to go back and get it

I put my name down for the GMT. Apparently it could be anything from a few months to a few years. Based on my experience buying Daytonas with them, I’m hoping more towards the lower end.

The everose GMT is a lovely watch, and surprises you how much it weighs moving from a Submariner.

May I ask what the price was in Zurich?

When I purchased mine around March '22, it was around £32.5k, and it's around £37k now.

If its of interest, the AD I use has one on display that is available to buy currently.

[eyebeebe]

Chris Stott said:

Full rose gold GMT is a massive lump of gorgeousness… but you do need a bit of nerve to wear it

Yeah I know what you mean. Probably wouldn’t look out of place in some of the marinas around you, but is a bit gauche for Zurich. I don’t think there are many places in Alicante where it would work either. Seems a bit extreme to move our holiday home because of a watch!

Wheelspinning said:

The everose GMT is a lovely watch, and surprises you how much it weighs moving from a Submariner.

May I ask what the price was in Zurich?

When I purchased mine around March '22, it was around £32.5k, and it's around £37k now.

If its of interest, the AD I use has one on display that is available to buy currently.

Yes the weight was quite a surprise. Reminds me a bit of the Boris the blade scene in Snatch. “Heavy is good. Heavy is reliable”

It’s CHF 40,500 which is around £35,500. The YM is CHF 14,100.

Thanks for the offer. If I was thinking about spending that much on a watch, I’d need to compare it to some serious heavyweights first.

[Harry Flashman]

My problem with the full gold Rolex GMTs (and I love a rose gold watch, so this isn't about that) is that it's just a precious metal version of something else, at three+ times the price of the steel or bimetal.

As you say, £35k buys you some much more interesting stuff.

[M1K3]

Only time I have been stopped is entering Spain, put my bags through the scanner and asked what was my shoes made out of? I replied ‘leather’ and when questioned what type of leather, I merely suggested looking at the brands website as I have zero idea. I was given a death stare and then let on my way.

Dubai transit I am always swabbed.
Istanbul transit are always annoyed I cannot unbolt Cartier from my wrist.

Arriving home with all sorts of watches and never been spoken to once.

[RSTurboPaul]

M1K3 said:

Only time I have been stopped is entering Spain, put my bags through the scanner and asked what was my shoes made out of? I replied ‘leather’ and when questioned what type of leather, I merely suggested looking at the brands website as I have zero idea. I was given a death stare and then let on my way.

Dubai transit I am always swabbed.
Istanbul transit are always annoyed I cannot unbolt Cartier from my wrist.

Arriving home with all sorts of watches and never been spoken to once.

Can you actually (legally) decline a direction from a border control staff person?

I mean, I guess you can either way, but I am surprised that doing so does not render one's transit process suddenly a lot slower...

[M1K3]

RSTurboPaul said:

M1K3 said:

Only time I have been stopped is entering Spain, put my bags through the scanner and asked what was my shoes made out of? I replied ‘leather’ and when questioned what type of leather, I merely suggested looking at the brands website as I have zero idea. I was given a death stare and then let on my way.

Dubai transit I am always swabbed.
Istanbul transit are always annoyed I cannot unbolt Cartier from my wrist.

Arriving home with all sorts of watches and never been spoken to once.

Can you actually (legally) decline a direction from a border control staff person?

I mean, I guess you can either way, but I am surprised that doing so does not render one's transit process suddenly a lot slower...

I refuse the order to remove jewellery most weeks, mainly because I can’t remove gold bracelets for instance without a screwdriver, not because I want to be obtuse.

This probably causes a 30second delay max giving me a pat down before being let on my way.

[RSTurboPaul]

M1K3 said:

I refuse the order to remove jewellery most weeks, mainly because I can’t remove gold bracelets for instance without a screwdriver, not because I want to be obtuse.

This probably causes a 30second delay max giving me a pat down before being let on my way.

Ohhhhh, I think I know the ones you mean - the screwhead design bracelets? That makes sense. I thought you were just referring to a watch and refusing to remove it in case it 'disappeared'!

[M1K3]

RSTurboPaul said:

Ohhhhh, I think I know the ones you mean - the screwhead design bracelets? That makes sense. I thought you were just referring to a watch and refusing to remove it in case it 'disappeared'!

I’ve given up the leave the watch in through the X-ray argument. Now in my hand carry I have a little zip pouch, I just put it inside and drop it in the tray. I don’t really fear it going missing through the scanner, I’d wager 99% of people have zero clue about watches.

[Louis Balfour]

M1K3 said:

RSTurboPaul said:

Ohhhhh, I think I know the ones you mean - the screwhead design bracelets? That makes sense. I thought you were just referring to a watch and refusing to remove it in case it 'disappeared'!

I’ve given up the leave the watch in through the X-ray argument. Now in my hand carry I have a little zip pouch, I just put it inside and drop it in the tray. I don’t really fear it going missing through the scanner, I’d wager 99% of people have zero clue about watches.

I would not be leaving a watch worth 4-5 figures in the tray. In fact, it is a long time since I have taken off a watch through security.

[M1K3]

Louis Balfour said:

M1K3 said:

RSTurboPaul said:

Ohhhhh, I think I know the ones you mean - the screwhead design bracelets? That makes sense. I thought you were just referring to a watch and refusing to remove it in case it 'disappeared'!

I’ve given up the leave the watch in through the X-ray argument. Now in my hand carry I have a little zip pouch, I just put it inside and drop it in the tray. I don’t really fear it going missing through the scanner, I’d wager 99% of people have zero clue about watches.

I would not be leaving a watch worth 4-5 figures in the tray. In fact, it is a long time since I have taken off a watch through security.

Really depends where you travel through, my main transits are Dubai and Istanbul every week to two weeks. Dubai is hit and miss leaving a watch on, Istanbul want it off. If I am wearing anything more fancy than my AP, I normally just give it to the guard as I go through the scanner and then he hands it to me once I am through.

[Longy00000]

Unfortunately handing it to the guard as you get scanned rarely works within Europe. Having tried a few tines now at different airports I'm immediately told it needs to be scanned and needs put in a tray.
Probably unjustified and all in my head but I then have very anxious moments of it being out of my sight !

[Harry Flashman]

I put my watch in my bag for the scanners, along with the rest of my kit (phone, passport etc). I travel a lot. Never had an issue.

[mikey_b]

Harry Flashman said:

I put my watch in my bag for the scanners, along with the rest of my kit (phone, passport etc). I travel a lot. Never had an issue.

Surely the sensible answer. A small item like a watch could conceivably be lifted from your tray if you’re unfortunate enough to be held up on the human scanners whilst the bag shoots through quickly and gets well ahead of you. But I don’t think anyone would simply take an entire bag out of someone else’s tray. Most of the year, you’ll be leaving the UK wearing some sort of jacket, too - just stick all your loose items in or under that.

[okgo]

Yep. Just hide it down the bottom of your hand luggage or in a small inside pocket of a bag etc.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

I put mine in the jacket pocket. Never a drama.