Regan’s group did a great job of successfully rewriting the narrative. Knowing Carter would never argue in public they pushed everything off on the former administration, while keeping the warm and fuzzies for themselves.

Rolex has had issues for decades with authorized dealers who leverage potential buyers into buying other items, just to have a chance at buying the Rolex they want. Also dealers who sell high demand watches to friends or known resellers. A year ago if you could get a 126710BLRO on a jubilee you would pay around $14,000 after taxes, but could resell for $23,000 to gray market dealers. The prices have come down a lot, but you can still make around $6,000 if you can take delivery of this watch.

These games have hurt the brand, and Rolex is changing the game by buying a luxury retail chain that will likely specialize in getting the right watch to the right person and cut the gray market guys out. That along with their new secondary market for pre-owned Rolexs. It’s a brave move, and a lot of third party “investors” will likely lose a good deal of paper profits when the prices stabilize.

For so many years I wrote them off as yacht rock or just being really good at setting a dirty 70’s feel I didn’t like. I kept trying to like them, and after the 3rd listening to “Can’t buy a Thrill” it clicked. That’s a perfect album.