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“We Had Watches in the Safe…” Ex Rolex Manager Exposes the Truth

Casual Watch Reviews

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In Part 3 of our Rolex interview series, I sit down once again with Justin — a former Rolex boutique manager — to answer YOUR questions in a completely unfiltered Q&A.

Follow Justin Here: https://www.hot-horology.com

We dive deep into the topics every watch enthusiast wants to know but rarely gets honest answers on:
• What’s REALLY in the Rolex AD safe 👀
• How waitlists actually work (and how long you’ll REALLY wait)
• The truth about Rolex flippers and how dealers try to spot them
• Whether buying Rolex Certified Pre-Owned helps your chances
• How to actually get a Daytona (and if there’s a strategy at all)
• Do ADs play favorites?
• Why some models are impossible to get… and others aren’t
• The reality behind Rolex scarcity, supply, and “the game”

Justin shares insights from his time inside a Rolex boutique, giving you a rare look at how allocation, client relationships, and sales strategy really work behind the scenes.

If you’ve ever wondered why getting a Rolex feels so difficult — or whether it’s all part of a bigger system — this is the video for you.

⚠️ Disclaimer: All views, opinions, and insights shared by Justin in this video reflect his own personal experience working in the watch retail industry. Nothing discussed should be interpreted as an official statement, position, or policy of Rolex SA or any of its authorised dealers. Justin is not employed by, affiliated with, or speaking on behalf of Rolex in any capacity.

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⌚ Watch the full series:

Part 1: What It’s REALLY Like to Sell Rolex – Form...
Part 2: Former Rolex Manager Reveals the Truth Abo...

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📲 Follow Justin:

Instagram / YouTube / TikTok: @hot_horology

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Like, subscribe, and drop your questions for Part 4 👇

00:00 Intro
00:34 Disclaimer
01:01 What is in a Rolex Stores Safe
02:14 How Long is the Waitlist
05:42 Are Meteorite Dials Rare
07:01 How Can Sellers on 42nd Street Have so Many Rolex Models
08:49 Watch Flippers Friend or Foe
12:06 Does Cert Pre Owned Help Towards Purchase History
13:12 Rolex Short Term Gain Long Term Pain?
18:08 Is There an Order of Rolex to Buy
19:59 Two Tone Hate
22:28 Air King or Explorer II Easier to Get?
23:44 How Do Staff get Paid?
24:38 What is an AD?
25:52 Asterix by Your Name?
27:33 Are We AI Bots?
28:28 Thank You Gifts
30:06 What Happens if Your Contact Leaves
35:26 Why is Rolex so Desirable
37:33 Does Rolex Share with Tudor
39:22 Coke GMT Come Back?
41:09 Is there Stock ready to go after W&W
42:08 Can You Buy Exhibition Only Watches
43:10 How to Get a Daytona
44:10 Does Jewellery Spend Help
44:44 Outro

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Disclosures:
I use affiliate links when linking products in the video description. Casual Watch Reviews is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

20 Comments

@digit4455 2 months ago (edited)

I just bought a Casio. I waited 60 seconds to checkout at the register. I did build a nice relationship with the cashier by saying good afternoon

@twitchzie 6 months ago

I wanted a dj41 blue or green for my wedding. That was 3 years ago and still no response lol. Since then I gave up on Rolex and bought an Omega and a Vacheron.

@drer4783 6 months ago

The big flippers don't deal with the sales associates, they deal with the manager or the owner directly.

@MrHondaguy1 4 months ago

I can’t even comprehend coming in the store to buy a watch with money in hand and being told I’d have to wait 2 years or being told flat out I couldn’t have a particular watch…. No thanks.

@stevetren9248 4 months ago

I was interested in buying my first Rolex until I called around to my local AD's. No straight answers, just get on a wait list and if you're lucky enough or spend enough money with them you might get "the call". lol.. Nope, not getting involved with this shady BS. Don't want one that bad.

@Dr.Schlitz 4 months ago

This model of doing business is fundamentally corrupt and disreputable.

@basswars7060 1 month ago

When I was in high school in the 1980's, my best friend took the money he made cutting grass, went to a Rolex dealer in Toronto and bought a Submariner for $1,700 Canadian. I thought he was crazy to do this, but he still has the watch and he loves it.

@tedseltman4919 3 months ago

40th birthday coming up for me, my wife went to an AD (her first experience) to inquire about a dj36 blue fluted jubilee as a present for me. She had such a bad experience with being pressured to buy other things and the games and lack of confidence that she would get the watch that she has expressed that she doesn’t want to go back and would rather go grey. She is totally new to the watch industry and can’t believe this is how bad it is for Rolex.

@Ozgur290 6 months ago

I was on waitlist for an Air King for a few months. Then, I dropped into another AD (which was a competitor company, not the same chain), I told about this, it was my birthday, they gave me an AK right there and then (I assume to switch my future purchases to them instead).

@royguidry1311 3 months ago (edited)

This is so similar to car dealers. I sold new and used cars and trucks at a Jeep, Dodge, Ram dealership. beginning of the month we were definitely not taking a penny off of a cheap vehicle or even a used vehicle with a huge margin spread. Once we got closer to the end of the month if we absolutely crushed it, it would stay the same, if we did not come close to meeting our goals or must meet numbers we would discount anything to get our operating cost money or to get the floor plan down. If we had a big order of vehicles coming in we would discount vehicles weeks in advance to make room. If a specialty vehicle came in we would usually have a buyer already because we let a good client know it was coming. We would only get a few allocations for Hellcat Challengers and Chargers and there was no way you were buyig one without being a previous customer or if you were from a long distance away. We received an allocation for a Challenger Demon 170. Worlds quickest vehicle. By mid morning we had around 75 people trying to pre buy it. Some offered over 100 grand over sticker. The owner sold it to a customer that had bought several hellcats and demons from him.

@mjturnb 5 months ago (edited)

In 1988/89 I was tasked to purchase multiple Daytona's from ADs in San Diego. Pretty surreal experience, I was only 20 years old. My boss new his stuff.

@user-lo5lp2fp4d 4 months ago

To hell with the Tampa AD. After buying 4 Rolex watches, AD said I should forget about getting the Daytona

@locosmiley2008 6 months ago

That crooked picture behind him is giving me the OCD itch

@UcoSalta 6 months ago

If Rolex didn't want flippers to flipp, they would limit purchases of hard to get watches like panda to one per customer registered at rolex. That would keep the flippers from having 5 different AD's and getting 5 pandas a month. The whole thing is BS.

@jtaylorb88 1 day ago

I bought my first and only Rolex back in 1993, walked into my favorite jewelry shop and without buying other watches they sold me what I wanted a coke GMT. After that I bought other stuff from the dealer but never wanted another or the next watch from Rolex. I now want it in reverse and an explorer or a GMT explorer in white but the hassle isn't worth it.

@kelvin.0044 6 months ago

The best thing with all these bundled deals and profile building with ADs is, we are able to buy the other watches that are dumped at up to 40% discount off MSRP!

@SteveBurns-k4f 6 months ago

There is nothing more perverse in a watch buying process than buying a gift for the sales person. I mean that just does not make any sense.

@AlphaRomeoOneFive 6 months ago

Thoroughly enjoyed this gentleman 🙌

@isitwindy21 1 month ago

I’ve been on a waitlist for 3 years for a stainless Daytona and was told that it would be probably another 2-3 years even after buying a IWC Top Gun and a Cartier Tank from my local AD 😂