First things first, the GMT-Master II, specifically. Why that one? I mean, they’re all fancy, but the GMT has that cool pilot vibe, and being able to track two time zones is kinda neat, even if you’re just using it to know when your bestie in London’s gonna be awake. Plus, those bezels! The Pepsi, the Batman, the Sprite… they’re all iconic.
But here’s the REAL talk: actually *getting* one. Forget walking into an authorized dealer (AD) and expecting to snag one off the shelf. That’s, like, a fairytale ending from a Disney movie. You’re gonna be put on a waiting list. A long, *long* waiting list. We’re talking potentially years. I’m serious. Years! It’s kinda ridiculous, I know. Feels like you’re waiting for a new kidney, not a watch.
So, what do you *do*? Well, you gotta play the game. Develop a “relationship” with the AD. Buy other, less desirable watches from them. Buy jewelry. Flatter them. Maybe even bring them cookies (Okay, maybe not cookies, but you get the idea. Butter them up!). It’s all a bit much, tbh. Honestly, sometimes I feel like they make it deliberately difficult just because they can.
Alternatively, there’s the grey market. Places like Chrono24. You’ll pay a premium, that’s for sure. Sometimes a HUGE premium. But you can get your hands on a GMT-Master II *now*. No waiting, no schmoozing. Just cash. Which, let’s be real, is the language most of these guys speak anyway, even if they pretend otherwise.
Is it worth it? That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? (Well, not a million, but you get the point. These things ain’t cheap.) I think… it depends. If you’re a watch enthusiast and you appreciate the craftsmanship and the history, then maybe. If you just want it to flash it around and impress people? Eh, there are cheaper ways to do that. You could buy a really obnoxious gold chain. Just saying.
And then there’s the research. Gotta know your references. What year was it made? What’s the bracelet like? Is the lume still glowing? (Lume is the stuff that makes the hands glow in the dark, BTW). Is it a “full set” (box, papers, etc.)? All this stuff matters to collectors, and it impacts the price. Do your homework, seriously. You don’t want to drop a small fortune on something that’s been Frankensteined together from different watches. Nobody wants a Franken-Rolex.
