Wondering if some of the watch experts here might have an explanation.
After my 42-year-old Rolex got stolen my wife has decided to buy me a new one. A basic 34mm Oyster Perpetual with no date. It turns out that all 4 Rolex shops in Rome require a "request," which may or may not be satisfied in a matter of weeks, months or years. They say demand is far greater than supply, that they do not know what is in each shipment from Geneva, and that they have discretion to first serve established clients. BUT, they do happen to have a few Rolexes in the shop which are for display, but which they let you understand they might be persuaded to actually sell. So my question is: if all their would-be customers are waiting, why do they have e few watches that nobody has bought yet? At the same time, they have some "certified" second-hand watches which they sell for slightly more than the current list price.