Waiting list, deadline, when getting the watch of your dreams is not just about the money:
If you have an iconic model in mind, you need to have patience and courage to hope not to pay the "premium" price (market price and not distributor price).
Each year the economy generates more new millionaires: about 1 million per year, including almost 700,000 in the United States alone. Reduced to the limited production of Swiss houses (for example 65,000 pieces produced in 2019 for Patek Philippe and 45,000 pieces for Audemars Piguet) this number alone explains the famous concept of supply and demand known to all.
For wealthy collectors who would be ready to quench their passion at all costs, nothing to frown on. For the others, the wait begins. Let's take a few examples:
- ROLEX GMT MASTER II - 3 - 4 years
- AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK 15202ST - 5 years and over
- PATEK PHILIP NAUTILUS 5711 / 1A - 14 years old
This data is variable depending on the city in which you live, your relationship with your distributor, its integrity, and other factors.
It is interesting to note that this scarcity of new products is causing a revival of interest in vintage, customers referring to more accessible models although they too are subject to an exponential rating.
An amateur looking for a Gmt Master II 126710 BLRO (sold € 9,100 new at Rolex distributors / € 17,000 on the market) will be able to look for references 16700 or 16710 (the old Pepsi) which have appreciable characteristics and make them sought after pieces, solid horns, dial stick, movement 3185 vs 3186 etc.). He will gain 3 to 4 years and additional knowledge.
The famous 39 mm ultra-slim Royal Oak 15202, which has become a grail, has little more than a little sister the very young reference 15450: a 37 mm Royal Oak that wears big. Very little expectation for this model and market prices have not (yet) inflated. As a reminder as we mentioned in a previous article that you can find below, the 15202 experienced inflation of 200% in the space of 7 years.
What better way to illustrate this article than the 14-year average wait for a Nautilus out of the factory. Over 300 per cent in 7 years, that represents the aberration and the madness which participate in the exclusivity of this iconic watch. If you want to get it immediately, you will have to pay € 70,000 instead of the € 28,000 requested by the house PP. As a result, many people tend to set their sights on the Aquanaut very strongly inspired by the Nautilus, but almost 2 times cheaper on the market according to the references. We have to admit that it also remains complicated to acquire from distributors, and that the market price is much higher than the AD (authorized dealer) price.
Fortunately, not all brands are aware of this phenomenon and offer very enviable and available pieces. Looking at the competition can also be a good way to get a watch, filtering by category will also help you compare. The Submariner - to name a few - is far from the only diving watch, Omega, and its Seamaster offers equally attractive versions. The same goes for the Speedmaster cosmographers, the eternal rivals of the Daytona.
Do not hesitate to ask us for advice if you are looking for alternatives. Our rich catalog of 3000 watches surely contains something to satisfy you and our team of enthusiasts will be happy to guide you in your choice.
And if you are one of the new French millionaires, take a look at the references mentioned above available on Kronos360.com
