The Rolex Waiting List Examined

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A Rolex purchase may be one of the most important buys of your life. Rolex is one of the world’s most iconic luxury brands, but that does not mean that it delivers fast service for new production. And do you know how long the Rolex waiting list is?

Of course, no one would associate a luxury watchmaking brand with the ability to produce new timepieces en masse because that would go against everything a deluxe brand stands for.

Rolex is synonymous with precision, engineering excellence, and top-quality design aesthetics accompanied with luxurious Rolex bands and straps. The company has not run with ever-changing manufacturing runs and mass production methods. Therefore, it is slightly reassuring among would-be Rolex owners that there is a waiting list for new watches.

What’s Behind the Rolex Waiting List, And How Long Is It?!

What catches many buyers out, however, is just how long that waiting list can be. To begin with, you can expect at least a two-year wait for a brand-new Rolex purchase. In many cases, it is three years until orders are fulfilled, and four and even five-year waits are not unheard of. If you put your name down for a particular model with an approved Rolex dealership, then the length of time you will have to wait won’t be given to you even if you place a substantial deposit. 

This is because no one really knows how long it will take for particular dealers to receive their orders. Nor is it possible to say which models will be forthcoming sooner than others. In short, you simply have to wait it out. The fact is that Rolex’s waiting lists have been notoriously bad for years.

That said, the pandemic hit Rolex harder than many other manufacturing companies. It relies on highly skilled individuals, some of whom left the watchmaking industry for other career opportunities or who simply retired.

This has caused a recruitment problem for numerous watchmaking firms. In addition, there was difficulty obtaining many of the luxury metals and gems that go into Rolexes. A combination of logistical issues and high demand for metals has meant that a Rolex purchase comes with a hefty waiting list.

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In addition, some investors have been known to buy Rolexes with no intention of wearing them. They’ve done so to protect themselves against rising global inflation caused by energy and food price hikes, amongst other reasons. Nevertheless, it is possible to obtain Rolexes without having to wait. According to a luxury watch dealer based in Essex, Bonds of Brentwood, high-quality Rolexes in mint or near-mint condition, come on the second-hand market all the time. So maybe you don’t have to wait for years to wear a Rolex purchase of your very own; it all depends on the style you are seeking and the price you are willing to pay.


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