Going to be in St. Maarten, Bahamas and St. Thomas aboard the Oasis in Jan. Want to purchase from authorized Rolex dealer only. I have looked at the Rolex site and found the authorized dealers. My question is, of the authorized dealers and islands, where will I get the best deal? Who will negotiate or give "free gifts" (I know they're not supposed to), and does it help to have the RCCL shopping guru make a contact or introduction for you? Thanks all!
St. Thomas or St. Maarten will be the best places. St. Maarten might be a tad bit less. I've never had a ship representative make an introduction for me, so can't answer that part of your question. Have a fantastic time on the Oasis.
My love/hate relationship with my Rolex watches...I like the timeless (no pun intended) style but the prices can be crazy. I have a Rolex "Date" model that is 35 years old. It kept perfect time until recently when it stopped working. I inquired about an overhaul, and a new stainless steel band. The overhaul is $295. A new band? $699!
Believe it or not, that is a good price for what they are going to do (the overhaul that is). I waited to replace a band on a hand-me-down Omega Seamaster and with the soaring price of metal commodities, my delay became expensive. It cost me a little less than the quote for your replacement band but not by much. I tend to shy away from Rolexes as they are the most copied of all watches.. (hence the term "folex"). I tend to be more of a Tag Heuer or Hublot kind of guy. I am also in to classic models. That is when the true craftsmen poured over their work. They took pride in what they accomplished and it showed in the quality of movement and accuracy. My wife wears a plain old Citizen. I bought her a gorgeous Breitling, but she has only worn it once in a year.
Yes, the overhaul price is reasonable. I was floored by the watch band price. For a few hundred bucks more I can get a reconditioned watch of the same model and vintage.
People tell me I am crazy to spend so much on a watch, when a cheap Casio will keep fine time and only cost a few bucks. It is more than the name Rolex to me. Owning and wearing such precision instruments is what fascinates me. It is amazing to think of people building these sophisticated devices years ago, with nothing but skill, hand tools, and really big magnifying glasses. No computer operated manufacturing tooling, etc.
I never had a Rolex because of a safety issue. If I had one, I'd be looking at it so much that I'd be bumping into things all the time.
Me too, or worrying about where it was. I have a habit of losing things. I like accurate watches though. I love my Casio atomic wave ceptor. My uncle surprised me with one as a gift last Christmas for helping him set his up. They are pretty neat after you figure out the automatic settings. They automatically connect to a calibration signal sent from the US government's atomic transmitter to keep the time accurate.
Not to say I haven't taken a peak in A.H. Riise on St. Thomas to check out the prices and dream a little though.
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