Empty Boutiques in Sydney: The Real Reason Luxury Watch Sales Have Slowed

Added: 2026-05-11

[00:00:00]Good morning. My name is Nicholas Heko and I'm a watch maker.

[00:00:02]>> Hello, I'm Andrew. I'm also a watch maker.

[00:00:04]>> Andrew, we are crazy busy today. We probably have minute and a half and I had no plans to record a video today.

[00:00:11]>> Yeah.

[00:00:11]>> But I have to share this with you. Last night on the way home, >> Mhm.

[00:00:15]>> I was properly embarrassed.

[00:00:18]>> Okay.

[00:00:19]>> And it is horologically related.

[00:00:21]>> Okay.

[00:00:22]>> Actually, I haven't felt this bad in a while. Uh what happened? My wife and my self were walking down home.

[00:00:31]>> Yeah.

[00:00:32]>> Passing Swiss Mono brand boutiques.

[00:00:36]>> Okay.

[00:00:38]>> And they were empty.

[00:00:42]>> I took a couple of photos just to share with you.

[00:00:45]>> A secondhand embarrassment.

[00:00:47]>> Yeah, that's what you would call it.

[00:00:49]>> Okay.

[00:00:50]>> Uh I took a couple of photos to share with you and I realized like I I had to stop. I couldn't take anymore because it was embarrassing to take a photos of empty shops, no customers.

[00:01:04]>> Yeah.

[00:01:04]>> Uh security guys standing in front of the door, staff on their phones.

[00:01:11]>> And it was Thursday night, the busiest shopping night in the heart of Sydney.

[00:01:18]Uh 5:30.

[00:01:23]>> City was packed. Like last night, city was absolutely packed. lead up to Mother's Day as well.

[00:01:29]>> On the lead up to Mother's Day as well.

[00:01:31]>> Yep. On Sunday, >> all those boutiques except for one were empty. And there is there was one where there was actually a queue.

[00:01:40]>> Okay.

[00:01:41]>> Uh to get in. I will tell you in a second which one was it.

[00:01:44]>> Okay. So what is a problem is high-end luxury and I'm talking 10,000 plus but specifically 20,000 plus watch market dead in Sydney.

[00:01:59]U the answer to this is yes again except for one boutique that is doing exceptionally well.

[00:02:06]>> I feel like it has been like that for a little while.

[00:02:08]>> Yes.

[00:02:10]What I'm trying to say is this.

[00:02:12]>> Yeah. We as a general public are trying to rationalize what's going on, why those boutiques are empty, >> right? And there is a long list of reasons why this is the case.

[00:02:24]>> But for those who are into watches, they know there is another completely different set of circumstances and reasons why boutiques are empty.

[00:02:35]>> Right? I'm not talking whether those boutics are actually making money or not or profit or not and how much they sell or not. That's a different story and I have no idea. No one knows what's going on >> uh at the bookkeeping level. But what I'm talking about there is no buzz >> and the key word is no buzz, no action.

[00:02:55]Okay. So I have a small list of reasons which are common excuses. for example, and you tell me if you if there is a one that you never heard of before.

[00:03:06]>> Okay.

[00:03:07]>> Wars, multiple wars going on, right?

[00:03:11]>> Mhm.

[00:03:11]>> Oil crisis.

[00:03:12]>> Yep.

[00:03:13]>> Housing crisis, >> interest rates going up, >> food shortages, >> right?

[00:03:21]>> Okay.

[00:03:22]>> You tune into media.

[00:03:23]>> Yeah. Okay.

[00:03:24]>> There is a shortage of this and that.

[00:03:25]Food shortages in Australia out of all places. Stock market way overheated due to AI bubble coming.

[00:03:32]>> Mhm.

[00:03:33]>> Gold skyrocketing, inflation, bad news everywhere. And nothing kills luxury goods industry like bad news.

[00:03:44]>> Yeah, it's definitely the worst industry to be in when people are trying to be a bit more um deliberate with their spending.

[00:03:51]>> Yeah, >> but as I said, these are not the reasons why boutiques are empty, why there is no buzz.

[00:03:57]There is a short list of reasons and I will share with our viewers today what in my opinion are true reasons and feel free to leave your comment and tell me if I'm wrong or not. Okay >> and how you feel about this.

[00:04:10]>> Number one problem number one is saturation.

[00:04:16]>> How many $20,000 watches a collector can have or should have? One, two, five.

[00:04:24]>> That's fair. I mean, my personal opinion, once you buy a tentigraph, you're not buying another watch. So, yeah, I guess why would you have five $20,000 watches?

[00:04:33]>> We rode a wave from COVID till last year. It was very much fun to invest in watches because they're advertised as a >> great alternative to, you know, bank deposit, zero interest rates.

[00:04:47]>> Buy a watch. They can only go up.

[00:04:50]>> Buy Pekk 100,000. It will be 200,000 next year.

[00:04:53]>> Yeah. And there was a lot of floating money around the co period.

[00:04:57]>> But even if you're a part collector, there is a limit. You have to stop. If you if you're just, you know, uh mid-level manager of some kind, >> you stop at $100,000 or maybe $200,000.

[00:05:11]>> Yeah. I I think maybe when you think like you say, you know, Pekk collector, the first person that comes into my head is someone that's regularly spending a couple hundred,000 on those really really cool part that you just you can't get anywhere else. He's the guy, you know, he has the best collection. But that's really like five people mo.

[00:05:31]What's the average part collector? What's he spending? You reckon about 100,000?

[00:05:36]>> No, a pop. Yes. Or or more.

[00:05:39]>> Okay. But your average watch collector is guy with probably$100 to $200,000 in watches. Beyond that, you're saturated, right? You have to find a reason why would you invest more in watches or buy another watch.

[00:05:52]>> So saturation and we see this saturation a high-end Swiss luxury >> has reached its point. Number two, prices are high.

[00:06:00]>> Yeah.

[00:06:00]>> Okay.

[00:06:02]There is we think there is no much difference between 21,000 and 24,000 and 32 and 39.

[00:06:11]>> Yeah, it doesn't sound like it but there definitely is.

[00:06:14]>> And 75 and 95 >> but in reality there's a huge difference between you know 5,000 and 7 and a half thousand and 10 and 12 >> prices are high. We that push like everyone wants to be Rolex and Rolex doesn't know what they want to be.

[00:06:35]>> Yep.

[00:06:36]>> Right. But >> price creep, you know, Rolex is like moving up here and then Amega is kind of sneaking into their spot.

[00:06:42]>> Okay.

[00:06:42]>> Yeah.

[00:06:44]>> It's too expensive. Yeah. Imagine if you just discover horology and you go to one of those boutiques, you read about XY Z.

[00:06:52]You'll be shocked. You will be very shocked that there is in some of those boutiques, there's nothing under $30,000. That's where the prices start.

[00:06:59]>> Yeah.

[00:07:00]>> Number three, too many brands. I walk from our workshop to bus stop. I'll pass 25 luxury watch retail >> shops. Too many.

[00:07:14]>> And like proper like ones you would have heard of, not some random luxury brand, but like actual like IWC for example.

[00:07:21]Everyone, every brand now feels to need to have a boutique. What is wrong with the oldfashioned concept of multibrands shops?

[00:07:33]>> I think it's it gives the aura of uh an airport shopping center >> having like a multibrand. You know, everyone has their own little desk. It's kind of like this place isn't dedicated, you know, and then you got Vashron having a whole building. Wow, that's cool. Australia, Sydney, capital of Australia is Sydney, not what you thought.

[00:07:54]>> Yeah.

[00:07:54]>> Is saturated again. There are too many brands competing for too few buyers.

[00:08:01]It's okay. A boutique of XY Z brand in Hong Kong and Tokyo and Mumbai. I don't know how many cities met you are larger in Asia than whole entire population Australia. I think you you were doing some research on that.

[00:08:16]roughly six.

[00:08:18]>> Okay. So, there's six cities just in Asia alone with a population larger than Australia. It's okay if you if you're 25 million town, of course you can have a boutique, but in Sydney, seriously. Um, no need for that.

[00:08:35]Number four, and this is a one that we don't think much about it until we actually start thinking about it. Today, watches are really wellbuilt. Yeah.

[00:08:46]>> Okay.

[00:08:47]>> And they're built to last for many, many decades. Why would you upgrade your Rolex >> that you bought two years ago or three years ago?

[00:09:00]>> Yeah. The Yeah.

[00:09:02]>> Where next one is as good as yours.

[00:09:04]>> The new models being released are almost entirely aesthetically new. the actual developments like the tech inside rarely are any different unless you have something completely new like say for example spring drive completely new um but really the technology in watches for the last like >> hundred years exactly the same I remember when ceramic bezel on Rolex was a big deal >> wow get a Submariner with ceramic bezel how much of a big deal. Ceramic bezel is today.

[00:09:41]>> It's almost the minimum. Now it's, you know, Seiko $2,000 ceramic bezel.

[00:09:45]>> $1,200 watch will come $1,500.

[00:09:48]>> Sapphire crystal, open case back, screw lock crowns.

[00:09:52]>> Yeah. Uh adjustable micro adjustable clasp.

[00:09:56]>> Y >> titanium.

[00:09:59]Everyone has a titanium.

[00:10:00]>> You can get those features now for much less.

[00:10:03]>> And there is no need. I can compare to my hobby. My hobby is amateur radio. My radio station, main radio is 15 years old and there are four new models on the market now, >> but they do exactly the same thing as my radio. Why would I buy another one?

[00:10:20]>> Yeah, that's fair, >> right?

[00:10:23]>> Um, the biggest killer of all is the weight list.

[00:10:32]>> Yeah. Who came up with that concept? I don't know. Let me ask you a question.

[00:10:40]>> You're happily married, small kids.

[00:10:42]>> Yep.

[00:10:43]>> Which appliance in your house is the most used one?

[00:10:48]>> Probably the washing machine.

[00:10:50]>> Washing machine.

[00:10:50]>> Yep.

[00:10:51]>> And who is your favorite boutique for washing machines?

[00:10:54]>> Um, I'd probably go JB Hi-Fi, Good Guys, Harvey Norman. That's the holy trinity, >> I think. Yeah.

[00:11:01]>> So, your wife sends you to buy a washing machine. Yeah.

[00:11:05]>> Because the old one died and you return home.

[00:11:08]>> Mhm.

[00:11:09]>> With four vacuum cleaners.

[00:11:11]>> Yep.

[00:11:11]>> And a toaster.

[00:11:13]>> Yep.

[00:11:14]>> And she goes ballistic and ask you, "Why in the world where is the bloody washing machine?"

[00:11:21]And you say, >> "Fair question.

[00:11:25]>> Wait, darling, I'm building a relationship with authorized washing machine dealer."

[00:11:31]>> Yeah. And I'm buying other stuff today, but one day when the washing machines become available, I'll get on I'll be will be on top of the list.

[00:11:44]>> Yeah.

[00:11:45]>> Like if you want to buy a wash, >> better be a bloody good washing machine.

[00:11:49]>> If you want to buy a washing machine, they're everywhere. There is no shortage of washing machines or any household appliances.

[00:11:55]>> This is the point of this video. Your watch is no different than washing machine construction wise. uh technologically uh as a product >> it's just a bigger a smaller washing machine that's all it is >> right >> that's fair >> there is no reason for shortage of Rolex watches from manufacturing point and why in the world are you required to get on a wait list for Rolex Submariner or even worse to build a relationship with The Rolex dealer makes no sense.

[00:12:34]See, we are conditioned to accept this as a normal where this is oralian crazy thing.

[00:12:41]>> It is interesting because like we have we have a very good washing machine and it's massive. So, it was one of the more expensive ones, but I bought that one because it was what I wanted. And in a weird way, I think maybe because all the brands are kind of in cahoots with each other, you know, there's really no competition in regards to making something better than everyone else's.

[00:13:06]Like if you want the really expensive watch, you'll go and get it. I wanted the really expensive washing machine, I went and got it, but it was available, so I was able to go and get it. And I think in like a weird way with all the brands being essentially two companies that are just picking, okay, this brand is going to have a good week this week and then this brand is going to have a good week next week. There's no real competition anymore to drive you to go to Rolex instead of Omega. The Rolex Submariner and the C Master 300 are essentially the exact same watch. They may be use slightly different technologies, but they are essentially the exact same watch. So instead of saying buy the Rolex because it's going to last longer, it has better technology, it has better timekeeping, it's just buy the Rolex because it's more exclusive. What does that even mean?

[00:13:54]>> Like if if the washing machine dude said that to me, I'm like, I'm going to buy whatever washing machine is available on the floor right now because if I go home without it, I'm going to get punched. So like, yeah, it's this weird kind of family where they're just deciding who's going to be popular at one time or another, you know?

[00:14:12]And now no one is because there's no reason to buy one more than the other.

[00:14:16]They're all just the same watch.

[00:14:19]>> We talk about boutique experience.

[00:14:21]>> And here is a quick reminder. Remember about three years ago, we went to Rolex Boutique.

[00:14:30]>> Yeah.

[00:14:30]>> With a very uh uh >> specific goal in mind.

[00:14:36]>> Specific goal in mind. Yeah. We want to buy a ladies two-tone day just midsize with diamonds. Mhm.

[00:14:41]>> In rose gold in steel.

[00:14:43]>> Y >> and we wanted to buy one stainless Daytona.

[00:14:46]>> Y >> that was 3 years ago >> with a black dial.

[00:14:48]>> With a black dial.

[00:14:49]>> Yeah. I prefer the white, but you want >> You remember that?

[00:14:52]>> We were there together.

[00:14:53]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:14:54]>> We got in.

[00:14:54]>> Mhm.

[00:14:56]>> And guy, a salesman was trying to sell us a watch off the screen, no stock, to put us on some kind of weight list.

[00:15:07]>> And at one stage he goes like Oh, what do you do for a living?

[00:15:13]>> And I go, um, I'm I'm a watch maker.

[00:15:15]Actually, we are watch makers. We make our own watches. And he immediately he goes like, "Oh, yeah. Black D would suit you."

[00:15:25]>> I do remember that. Do >> you I mean, this is crazy. This guy, >> we still haven't been contacted by Rolex as well. his ability to listen >> and process information was below zero was negative.

[00:15:43]I didn't expect you know him to shake my hand.

[00:15:47]>> But to dismiss that a watch maker is buying a watch from him >> was completely ignored because he was not trained to engage. He was trained to put you on a imaginary weight list.

[00:16:00]>> Right. Yeah.

[00:16:00]>> Which we Yeah. We still haven't been in contact with it.

[00:16:02]>> Why in a world >> not even for the rose gold date just?

[00:16:06]>> No.

[00:16:06]>> Crazy.

[00:16:07]>> Why in the world would I want to build a relationship with such person?

[00:16:13]>> Yeah, I suppose. So, well, he's maybe not this person in particular, but he's a representative of the company and that is how they're trained. So, it's really the low IQ company, I guess, that you're talking about.

[00:16:25]>> It's a low IQ training.

[00:16:27]>> Yeah, >> it's a low IQ training.

[00:16:31]U another thing and this is a big one and I'm done with with this.

[00:16:36]>> Okay.

[00:16:37]>> Um >> you still haven't told us which boutique.

[00:16:39]>> I will tell you in a second.

[00:16:40]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:16:41]>> I will tell you in a second which boutique is outdoing them all. Right.

[00:16:45]>> Okay.

[00:16:47]>> It's intimidation factor.

[00:16:50]boutiques, high-end Swiss mon boutics are built like um churches, >> like places of worship.

[00:17:01]>> Yep.

[00:17:02]>> The purpose of worship place, its grandiosess, its size is to make a sinner feel small.

[00:17:13]>> You agree with me on that one?

[00:17:14]>> It's it's it's not intimidating in a negative way, but it is intimidating.

[00:17:19]You're walking into this, you know, bu massive building where it's dark and it's gloomy and there's it's really architecturally designed to make you feel a certain way.

[00:17:31]>> Yes. To make you feel small, >> to make you feel guilty, to make you feel sinner >> and to make you repent.

[00:17:40]>> Now on your knees and pray for what? You might be just a, you know, a guy who enjoys company with other people. You're on a social level, you believe in something and that's fine, >> right? Boutiques copy that model. So when you walk into a boutique, you are this boutique is designed to make you feel small, guilty, inadequate.

[00:18:04]Uh and then if you to buy a watch there, if the watch is even available, >> you're doing that boutique a favor.

[00:18:14]>> How crazy is that concept in itself?

[00:18:18]When did that happen?

[00:18:20]>> Recently, you know, about 10 years ago, you can walk into any boutique or any shop, not pre-boutic time, any shop in Hong Kong, there were millions of watches available. There you go.

[00:18:31]>> We sell watches. When you come to our shop and to any shop, if you do business with us, you're doing us a favor.

[00:18:40]>> We're here waiting for you. Here is the watch. Thank you very much for your business. We appreciate your your your your business. That's how it should be done.

[00:18:48]>> You know, again, I've said this before.

[00:18:51]Watch guys, watch collectors, watch enthusiasts, people who can afford luxury. They're not stupid.

[00:18:59]>> Don't treat them as stupid.

[00:19:01]>> Yeah. We've had one example. We've had a customer come in who had a white uh dial ceramic Daytona. This was maybe a few years ago. And you know, it's always like, "Wow, how did you get it?" because it is so ridiculous to try and get one.

[00:19:15]And he said, "No, I bought it from a dealer. I spent $300,000 over about three years before I was given this opportunity." Now, that isn't to say that he had to do that because obviously they're not going to say, "Yeah, yeah, we forced him to do that." They may have given him that opportunity in three years time. It's been three years for us. You haven't given that opportunity.

[00:19:34]But that is literally what happened in that order for him to get that watch. So it it does seem you know a bit ridiculous that >> I have to also say this just before we sat down I told you what we going to talk about and then met overhearing conversation between two of us.

[00:19:54]>> Y >> what did you ask me >> straight into my face. What did you ask me?

[00:20:00]>> I thought Rolex hated you.

[00:20:02]>> No, you said why would Rolex sell a watch to you? That's what you asked me.

[00:20:07]>> Yeah.

[00:20:07]>> Yeah. It was more like how did they even let you in? Yeah, >> you're not that famous.

[00:20:12]>> You see, 20 something years old kid, >> his second week on a job.

[00:20:18]>> Yeah.

[00:20:18]>> And he asked me that question, would Rolex sell you a watch? Like, what makes me different?

[00:20:24]>> If I have enough in my pocket and I know what I want to buy, why are discriminating?

[00:20:33]>> Shame on you, man.

[00:20:34]>> What do I need to prove? Like is it am I less of a customer because I'm a watch maker?

[00:20:40]>> Am I less of a customer because how I speak, what I do for a living, how I look like?

[00:20:47]>> The whole concept. Like if you go to buy a washing machine and the salesperson goes like, "Oh, I don't like you."

[00:20:54]>> He only cares if you've got the cash in your pocket.

[00:20:56]>> Yeah.

[00:20:57]>> The like that's that's the way to get in. If you've got the cash, great. The question is, the question is >> when is a good time for me to deliver this washing machine? That's the only question. Sign here, tap here, done, move on. That's how Rolex and all other Swiss uh uh high-end luxury watches must be sold.

[00:21:17]>> Right? If you feel any intimidation of any kind, walk away, never return. They need to learn the lesson. They need to hear the message. We are not idiots.

[00:21:28]>> You know what I think it may be? I'm just kind of thinking about this now. I think people assume that luxury comes from waiting for something, but that actually is has been manufactured because that wasn't the case before. I think if you saying, "Oh, Rolex should just sell you the watch."

[00:21:50]>> Yes.

[00:21:50]>> Like my in in my head, my first thought was, "Well, then it wouldn't be luxury."

[00:21:54]If they just if they just had them, then it wouldn't be luxury. But that's not the case. Luxury comes from the quality.

[00:21:59]Exactly.

[00:22:01]>> I can create a thumbnail for this video.

[00:22:05]Us being, you know, uh you Leonardo DiCaprio and George Clooney, >> right? I'm not George Clooney.

[00:22:13]>> Rolex is not a luxury product.

[00:22:16]>> Okay?

[00:22:16]>> Because Rolex likes to be seen and presented as a luxury product. There is nothing luxury about Rolex watch except for the name on the dial. M when you >> but in my books that's not enough >> when you think about it if it's you know anything stainless steel is kind of like by definition not luxury but yeah I I I kind of understand what you mean >> you can call yourself luxury brand but you're not luxury brand >> there are some brands that truly luxury brands and and I have to say this remember our experience with Lang what happened when we walk into Langi boutique >> I do remember this is when they had their first boutique in Sydney in Martin Place they've actually moved now to King definitely go and check them out. But uh we walked in, we brought one of our watches and the we were just talking to one of the sales people. He goes and gets the sales manager because you know we said hey this is our watch. We made this like it's the coolest thing ever.

[00:23:09]>> That was not the purpose of visit for other reason but we happened to have a watch.

[00:23:13]>> Yeah. We wanted to check the the uh side work out but they didn't have any unfortunately. But um he went and got the sales manager. Sales manager came out >> and we were just talking about it was weird. We were talking about our watch cuz they were more interested in our watch than kind of almost we were than theirs. But um he said you guys like making watches you know so much like we don't get this information from Langa in order to sell watches you know that they don't kind of give us that kind of info packet. So you know if you're able we would love to have you. Uh maybe we'll just do like a little uh get together with some of our collectors. Yeah. and they can just ask you questions about making watch parts and you can just you know you're not like lang people or anything but you can just come and give us your knowledge.

[00:23:57]>> It was not official invitation on a letterhead company letterhead. It was conversation. It was excitement. It was maybe just a polite way of saying you know welcome to our boutique. But the experience was fantastic. We got far more uh respect for lang than when we walked in. you know, a knowledgeable seller, engaged, listen process.

[00:24:18]>> Yeah, that's that's a proper luxury brand.

[00:24:21]>> Now, last night there was one boutique, a shop, high-end luxury in the heart of Sydney where there was actually a queue in front of a shop. It was a Cartier boutique.

[00:24:36]>> Of course, it's Kartier.

[00:24:38]>> Yeah.

[00:24:40]>> Why? Because Kartier knows how to create buzz.

[00:24:45]>> Kartier is excitement. Kartier is true luxury brand.

[00:24:50]>> And they, you know what? I think the difference is they can do that for stock that they have an infinite supply of.

[00:24:58]>> I was there and you know looking at the other boutiques, I saw my wife in front of a Cartier window and she goes like, "Come over here. I want to show you something."

[00:25:07]>> That's the worst thing you can see as a husband. I thought it's going to be a earrings or ring. She's very very down to earth and and she doesn't wear anything luxurious, any luxury, but it wasn't piece of jewelry. It was a watch.

[00:25:20]>> And I put that watch on the screen.

[00:25:22]>> Mhm.

[00:25:22]>> Right. Do you know how to do you know how to pronounce a name of the watch on the screen?

[00:25:26]>> Uh Benoir.

[00:25:28]>> Benoir or Benoir, I think.

[00:25:30]>> Uh what that word comes from?

[00:25:33]>> Uh it's French. Yeah. And it means bathtub. Exactly.

[00:25:38]She loved the watch. It was on a gold bangle and and she said, "I like this watch. It's a cool design." And you know why Kartier is successful? Because Kartier is able to sell togetherness.

[00:25:54]>> I was there with my wife, mature person, >> mature couple, but there were kids there, you know, with their girlfriends.

[00:26:02]There were middle-aged men with their wives. Kartier has a bracelet that's called a love bracelet.

[00:26:08]>> Maybe some people with their moms Mother's Day coming up. Cartier, that's a nice Mother's Day gift.

[00:26:13]>> It's togetherness. It's love. It's a It's excitement. It's a buzz, >> right? And that's why Cartier will stay in the business forever. And some of the viewers here are actually subscribers to our newsletter and they know I've said this 20 years ago. I've said this 10 years ago. And every year I write a small kind of recap of the year. And if I start this, there is one brand that will never go out of business. It's a Cartier.

[00:26:39]>> No matter what we think about Cartier quartz watches, their water resistance and then servicing or it's irrelevant.

[00:26:48]>> Kartier sells togetherness, inclusiveness, love, relationship, luxury bundle.

[00:26:56]>> You go to other boutique.

[00:26:59]Sorry, put you on a wait list.

[00:27:01]>> Yeah. The a the crazy thing is I think maybe it wasn't the case five years ago, but I I think it is now. The availability of a piece doesn't degrade its luxury. If you go to Rolex and they had Submariners and you want it, that's a freaking $18,000. That's a very expensive watch. If you go there and they've got one, it's not any less luxurious if they have one or if they don't have one. it like it doesn't make any sense that we don't have one at the moment for you is a manufactured concept that somehow every it seems like everyone's forgotten what it was like before that concept existed like all those stores in Harrods that have you know the most amazing jewelry and the coolest you know independent watch makers and that sort of thing. You go in there and they have that thing available but you just can't afford it. That what that's what makes it luxurious is it's just out of your price range. So, it's kind of it's interesting that Cartier is able to still be luxury and be available at all times. You know, maybe not their most exclusive stuff. Fine. Makes sense.

[00:28:11]But it doesn't make sense that the base model men's Rolex watch is not available. That literally does not make sense.

[00:28:23]My Cartier boutique experience last night through the window. We didn't get in. We didn't want to go in was 10 was 11 out of 10.

[00:28:33]>> Yeah.

[00:28:34]>> Because my wife dragged me in front of the window and pointed out to a watch >> and she said, "I like this."

[00:28:40]>> To me, that's priceless.

[00:28:43]>> She's never done that with Rolex before.

[00:28:44]>> She would never do this with any other brand. Fine.

[00:28:49]>> Uh this was our message for today.

[00:28:54]>> Don't be treated like sheep.

[00:28:57]You have means to afford luxury. You have technical knowledge. You love watches.

[00:29:04]You have to be treated with respect, with care, and you should be able to get what you want now.

[00:29:11]>> Yeah, that's fair.

[00:29:12]>> All right. Thank you very much for >> rent over. This was full video in all caps.

[00:29:20]>> Yep.

[00:29:22]>> But sorry, this is how it is and we tell you how it is. I think our duty is to to report what is going on. By the way, on the other hand, >> secondhand market is as buoyant as ever.

[00:29:34]>> Things are happening.

[00:29:35]>> Yeah.

[00:29:36]>> Uh >> I think because of that, you know, it's the the focus has shifted. Oh, should we also mention about the uh the S-Class workshop?

[00:29:45]>> Yeah, why not?

[00:29:45]>> Because we finally got a you know, something's happened, so we may as well talk. We're waiting for a strata meeting to basically approve the works that are going to be done. That meeting has happened. Everything's been approved. So next step is basically pick a pick a tradey and then get going.

[00:30:02]>> I'm very excited about this. It took us four months from >> initial request to approval. We have to u deal through the lawyer.

[00:30:11]>> Uh you did fantastic job in uh doing uh uh >> Oh yeah, I did do something. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:30:17]I did uh the schematic, the layout for the actual room.

[00:30:22]>> Yeah.

[00:30:23]>> I told you what we need and what you want and you did the layout. Fire alarm.

[00:30:26]>> Did Gemma Gemma help you with the >> Gemma helped as well? Yeah.

[00:30:29]>> With the ceiling, walls, flooring, everything.

[00:30:31]>> We sent it to NH Micro and they actually put it into a a proper drawing. Yeah.

[00:30:36]CAD drawing for us. And then that was like our proposal.

[00:30:39]>> Yeah. And it passed.

[00:30:40]>> Jeez, that based on who worked on it, that was a very expensive drawing. We paid way too much for that drawing. I'm very excited about S-class workshop that is coming. Uh we said till Christmas this year. We have plenty of time still.

[00:30:53]Yep.

[00:30:53]>> But things will soon start to happen and you will see some u clips uh coming soon about the uh renovation.

[00:31:01]>> Cool.

[00:31:02]>> Process. Well done. Well done. I'm happy about that.

[00:31:05]>> Yeah, that's very exciting.

[00:31:06]>> All right, thanks for tuning in. Uh do subscribe. We do have a watch to give away. Actually, two watches.

[00:31:11]>> Yes, the Captain Turtle. At 100,000 uh subscribers, we'll be giving away the Seikko Arctic shelf. What we call it?

[00:31:21]Glacia. Glacia dial. Captain Turtle. Is it a turtle? Is it a Captain Willard? We don't know. We're giving it away. 2, >> 100, I think.

[00:31:30]>> 2,100.

[00:31:32]Fantastic. And also the racketed uh Seikko Supercars. We're giving that away as well. It's fully fixed. It's ready to go. The closest >> Grand Seiko dial on a Seikko watch.

[00:31:43]Captain Turtle.

[00:31:44]>> Yep, that's right.

[00:31:45]>> Uh, pin holes or no pin holes?

[00:31:49]>> Matt, get get >> I can't remember.

[00:31:51]>> Does see this is a question.

[00:31:53]>> This is going to be interesting. If it doesn't, if it doesn't, it does. Okay, fine. That's okay.

[00:31:58]>> Yeah, >> I was going to be a bit more mad at Grand Seo, but that's fine.

[00:32:02]>> Thanks for tuning in. Please do subscribe and see you uh in another video, another review coming soon.