I did not realize AP was 30% off easy. Good to know, makes it easier to rationalize an AD vs pre-owned. Would not go AP gray market, though the gray market is great for certain brands IMO.

 

curious, which brands would you list in that catagory?

 

Omega all day everyday, Breitling, Tag Heuer, Bell & Ross, Graham, Hamilton, etc. Basically, any watch brand where the manufacturer allows or feeds the gray market. Rolex, Panerai, LW are worthy of an AD or a trusted pre-loved owner for example. They get and deserve the premium by keeping the integrity of the brand intact from a strict no-gray market. Opposed to say Breitling where their site used to say that 99% (maybe still does) of their watches sold on the internet are fakes I have owned a few B's and still have one, love it. Why should I take the hit (like when you drive a new car off lot) when the biggest hit comes from the immediate devaluation of the watch do to gray market discounting which could be monitored like Rolex does so VERY VERY well. Say what you want about Rolex, but the brand is solid and in part because there is no true gray market.
I work hard for my money and would love to an AD my money every time and support the local guy. But I also work too hard to throw 30-40% of it way because certain brands let the gray market run wild. So sometimes it is AD and sometimes not, the new 42mm Explorer II will AD and I can not wait! I am new here so do not know the general consensus, those are my generic thoughts.

 

Some of these guys saying 30 havent tried buying in Vegas...20 will generally be the initial offer for most of the places (as they are AD and held to certain standards) and if you say 30, they will often come in at a firm 25. The friend to friend discounts can get to 30 far easier. Just my .02 but still.