The new Rolex, no thank you

Terrible.
What is also strange, here in OC at the South Coast Plaza shopping center, the Tourneau store had the Rolex line pulled from their store because Rolex opened a boutique with another affiliate jeweler (Baron and Leeds).

 

Torneau is a great store for watch looking but.... The 1 and only experience I had inquiring on a purchase was terrible and they will not be getting any of my money either - as in not one nickle.

That is a real shame about your Rolex dealer. I hope it doesn't happen here.

 

Most of the major brands are severing longstanding A/D relationships and opening their own boutiques. Good way to stay ahead of the curve is to partner and run them.

Pretty soon cutesy scavenger shoppers will be SOL if they don't have the right relationships.

 

I know two ADs that lost Rolex in the past year. Both were great stores with good sales and many loyal customers. Count me on the list of those who wouldn't but from Torneau as well... snobby bastards.

 

Noticed this weekend that the Tourneau store in the Woodland Hills "big mall" (not the Promenade, but the other one) is now closed. Never anyone in there.

 

I read an article in my local paper about Rolex and Omega opening their own boutiques which may mean that small jewelry stores wont be able to carry Rolexs any more. Lots of large jewelry stores have each watch brand separated into their own little cubbyholes so that may be why Tourneau will remain a Rolex AD. I also know the Tourneau in San Francisco has a completely separate Rolex store next to it.

To my knowledge all of my ADs are still carrying them but who knows if that will last.

 

That Rolex store is operated by Torneau.


Rolex presented by Tourneau
845 Market Street, Space 129
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 979-0498

 

Yes it is a Rolex boutique operated by Tourneau. Their backrooms are connected. I can see that the "Tourneau has" and "completely separate" made it confusing.

 

Rolex and most of the other big companies don't care about a thing called loyalty. They will completely disregard a 50 year relationship if they can find someone who will just push more product. It's all about volume. They do not care about the buying experience. If they could sell them through vending machines they would.

 

I get my Rolex stuff from Ken Specht in Miami. He has a low rent office and can get you pretty much anything you are looking for new or used at a very competitive price.
Try to give him a call (305) 371-6827.

BT

 

This may backfire, I hope.

 

How odd, why wouldn't they have done the same thing at the South Coast Plaza store?
It doesn't make sense, in one city they are partnered with Tourneau, and in other they pull the rug from under Tourneau...
Ahh, whatever

 

Here's a good one for you. Tourneau in NYC has Omega for 40+ years, Omega opens up a boutique right next to them and then pulls out of Tourneau. Nice thank you!

 

buy patek....


i bought my zenith from a non authorised dealer, just a highly respected local jeweler. saved about 30% (this was pre-2008 crash), only downside was no 2 year warranty. with a well made watch like zenith one doesn't need worry about a 2 yr warranty. money in the pocket.

i say screw the AD. What are they good for really, highly inflated prices?

 

Great unless it actually breaks....

 

Do you still get the magazine subscription if you buy from a non-AD?

 

break...during warranty period? not likely.

out of warranty you are screwed in either case.

the price differential between AD and independent more than makes up for repairs IMO...similar concept to new Ferrari vs depreciated Ferrari.

i bought my zenith from independent for ~$8k, at AD ( bailey banks biddle...which btw went out of biz during warranty period) would have charged me ~$12k...obviously would have been wasted money. $4k buys you a lot of repairs ( i never needed anyway).

rob

 

have you seen the pp mag?.....not missing much imo.

read Forza instead!

 

I just like to see the auction prices.

 

Pathetic, gotta love the Swatch Group

 

There wouldn't be an Omega if there wasn't a Swatch Group.

 

If SMH didn't step in and buy/merge with Omega, another powerhouse would have.

 

Which powerhouse would have? So many of the great Swiss brands were dying off in the 80s "Quartz Crisis." Swatch really saved the entire Swiss watch industry.

 

I agree, they did save the Swiss watch industry. Their business practices and monopoly in the watch business is out of control