The official Rolex website, bless its heart, does a decent job of pointing you in the right direction. It’s kinda vague though, you know? Like, “Find the nearest Rolex affiliate or service center…” Yeah, thanks Rolex, very helpful. It’s like saying, “Want pizza? Find a pizza place.” Duh!
But hey, they *do* specifically mention APM Mall (Emperor Watch & Jewellery) on Wangfujing Avenue. That’s at least something concrete, right? “138 Wangfujing Avenue 128 & 129, G/F, Beijing APM Beijing Dongcheng 100006 Mainland China” – copy and paste that into your phone, trust me. You don’t wanna be wandering around Wangfujing like a lost tourist, even though, let’s be honest, you probably *are* a lost tourist. Wangfujing is a zoo anyway, but hey, at least you’ll be a *stylish* zoo animal with a Rolex.
Now, my personal opinion? Buying a Rolex is a *process*. It’s not like grabbing a coffee (although maybe you *should* grab a coffee first, fuel up for the experience). It’s more like… auditioning to be a Rolex owner. Sounds dramatic, I know, but seriously, be prepared.
First, the selection. I mean, they might not have *exactly* what you want in stock. Rolexes are like hot cakes, especially in a place like Beijing, which is teeming with people who appreciate the finer things in life, or at least *want* to look like they do. Be prepared to wait. Be prepared to be put on a list. Be prepared to possibly… maybe… just maybe… have to charm the salesperson a little. I’m not saying bribe anyone (definitely don’t do that!), but being polite, knowing what you’re talking about (do your homework!), and generally not being a jerk goes a *long* way.
And then there’s the price. Oh, the price! Let’s just say, be prepared to part with a *significant* chunk of change. If you’re thinking of buying a Rolex with your spare ramen money, well, you might need a bigger bowl of ramen.
Also, a little aside: Dongcheng district is pretty central. I’m just mentioning that because… well, I don’t really know why. It just feels like relevant information. Maybe it’ll help you plan your route. Or maybe not. I’m just rambling now.
