Qantas twanged Australia’s emotional chords this week, with a video called Fly Away that had half the nation choked up.After not having been able to travel internationally for a year and a half, the video showed a bunch of Aussies imagining what it will be like to travel and see loved ones again.That video has been reported on extensively, with many pointing out how it captured a common sentiment, sparked FOMO and wetted eyes.“We’ll be there soon,” the video ends, with a flight attendant reassuring a man looking at a photo of a loved one.Watch the full video below

Qantas captioned the video: “We’re all dreaming about the day we can fly away to see family, friends or enjoy a long-overdue holiday.”

“Getting vaccinated is an important step that every Australian can take to bring us that little bit closer to life as we knew it.*”

The video also, in some speculative corners of Instagram, sparked questions over when that fateful day will actually be.When will we be able to travel internationally again?With the proviso that this is complete speculation, one Perth based frequent flyer and first class points hacker Immanuel Debeer reckons he may have spotted a clue as to when our borders could open, at the 1 minute 22-second mark.

The idea being? The boarding pass in the video appears to be dated the 20th of April 2022. So could that be when our borders open?Not everyone was convinced. 61% of respondents to Immanuel’s poll (Debeer has 101k followers) said “yeah nah.” Only 39% of respondents thought he might be onto something.On Youtube, not many people thought borders would open any time soon.One clever commenter quipped: “Nice of Qantas to release their 2025 advertisements ahead of time.”Another wrote: “Never thought i’d see the day we would collectively be looking forward to eating bland food in small confined spaces.”Qantas itself has said international flights to the US and UK could return by December 2021.According to news.com.au, Qantas expects to resume international travel by Christmas, with Singapore, the United States, Japan, United Kingdom and Canada among the first overseas destinations it will fly to.This all depends on the Government opening the borders, which depends on, to a great degree, Australia’s vaccine rollout hitting key targets.Australia’s current goal is for 80 per cent of adults to be fully vaccinated by December.Countries with high vaccination rates and low Covid risk, like the UK, North America and parts of Asia, will be Qantas’ first priority for international travel.News.com.au reports that flights to riskier destinations with low levels of vaccination (think: Bali, Phuket, Bangkok, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City and Johannesburg), “will be pushed out to at least April 2022.”Qantas chief executive officer Alan Joyce has said: “The prospect of flying overseas might feel a long way off, especially with New South Wales and Victoria in lockdown, but the current pace of the vaccine rollout means we should have a lot more freedom in a few months’ time.”“It’s obviously up to government exactly how and when our international borders re-open, but with Australia on track to meet the 80 per cent trigger agreed by national cabinet by the end of the year, we need to plan ahead for what is a complex restart process.”Maybe Immanuel wasn’t so far off the money with his April prediction, after all?

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The post Did Qantas Just Accidentally Reveal When Australia’s International Borders Will Open? appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Tony Hawk must be one of the most loveable celebrities on the planet. An immensely talented professional skateboarder, entrepreneur and philanthropist, he’s also a very humble dude with a great sense of humour – which is what probably inspired his latest skating collaboration.‘The Birdman’ has teamed up with Liquid Death, an irreverent canned water company, to produce the Hawk Blood Deck – a limited-edition skateboard deck that’s been decorated with red paint containing the man’s very own blood. 10% of the profits are going towards charities 5 Gyres and The Skatepark Project, and all 100 of the things have already sold out.It’s brilliant marketing. But it’s inadvertently led to the creation of 2021’s latest viral trend, as well as sparking a rather less light-hearted debate about moral panic in America. Keeping up so far?

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A post shared by Liquid Death (@liquiddeath)

If you’ve been browsing your favourite celebrities’ social media accounts over the last 24 hours, you may have seen a sea of comments all saying “nah he tweakin”, and you might have been asking yourself what that’s all about?Well, it’s not bots – Instagram’s algorithm would be able to nip that in the bud. It’s people.Where did it come from? Fans of rapper/singer/songwriter Lil Nas X have taken it upon themselves to make it into a meme of sorts, after the Old Town Road star used the phrase when commenting on an Instagram post sharing news of Tony Hawk’s bloody skateboard.The 22-year-old (real name Montero Lamar Hill) earlier this year released a similar collaboration with Brooklyn-based streetwear company MSCHF called the ‘Satan Shoes’ – a modified pair of Nike Air Max 97s with a drop of genuine human blood embedded in the sole that also featured a pentagram pendant and a Bible verse printed on the side. These shoes generated a huge amount of controversy upon release and were even the subject of a court case.RELATED: ‘The Devil Wears Nike’: Sportswear Giant Loses Control Over Its Own Bloody ReleasesUpon hearing about Hawk’s copycat blood gimmick, Lil Nas X has taken to Twitter to point out the double standard of how Hawk’s project has barely caused a stir, when his shoe project was the centre of an enormous media maelstrom.

now that tony hawk has released skateboards with his blood painted on them, and there was no public outrage, are y’all ready to admit y’all were never actually upset over the blood in the shoes? and maybe u were mad for some other reason?

— nope (@LilNasX) August 25, 2021

Lil Nas X, a black gay man, seems to be implying he has been treated differently than Hawk, a straight white man. Indeed, it’s hard to ignore the double standard. The furore over Lil Nas’ shoes, some have argued, smacked of homophobia and moral panic – like something from the AIDS crisis in the 80s and 90s.RELATED: Kanye West’s Million-Dollar Sneaker Auction A Turning Point For Modern LuxuryThat said, while many of Lil Nas’ fans support him, many have also suggested that the controversy had less to do with his sexuality or race and more to do with Satanism, and how taboo that still is in the US, which is still a very religious country.

Sir, you’re very talented and smart. Please don’t continue to miss the point. Folks didn’t like your shoes because it was a Satan shoe. And the vast majority of people, irregardless of their view towards your sexuality, don’t play with satanic imagery. No one’s out to get you.

— Ruslan (@RuslanKD) August 25, 2021

As for Hawk, he hasn’t weighed into the discussion yet – although we don’t really see what he has to gain from doing so. We just imagine Liquid Death is loving all the free press.If Lil Nas’ Satan Shoes are anything to go by, the Hawk Blood Decks will no doubt become real collector’s items. Despite MSCHF being forced to recall the sneakers, very few customers seem to have taken them up on that, and you can find pairs of the sneakers selling for well in excess of their US$1,018 retail price – take this pair going for US$1,900 on eBay.As they say – any publicity is good publicity…

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The post Nah He Tweakin Feud Sets Internet Ablaze appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

With international travel finally back on the cards post-COVID, you could be forgiven for being a bit rusty when it comes to travel prep. You’ll need to gather the essentials: a hardy set of luggage, some comfortable clothes, a good book for the flight, and don’t forget your passport… Another valuable tool in the globe-trotter’s arsenal is a GMT watch.

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A much-misunderstood category of timepieces, leading jeweller and watch purveyor Bucherer provides this handy definition: “in simple terms, a GMT watch is a timepiece with a 24-hour format hand that indicates a second time zone in addition to the other hands, not just any multiple time zone watch with more than one 12 hour format dial.”

In essence, a GMT watch easily allows you to keep track of the local time in two different time zones – typically your home time zone and the local time in wherever you’re travelling… And the most famous GMT watch of all time is the Rolex GMT-Master: one of the first GMT watches ever made and the standard of the breed.

Designed in collaboration with Pan American Airways for use by their pilots and navigators, the iconic Rolex first hit the market in 1954 – its red and blue bezel, originally intended to be a reference to Pan Am livery, since garnering the nickname Rolex ‘Pepsi’ by the watch community. It’s easily one of the most iconic and desirable watches on the market.

And therein lies the dilemma. Because they’re so popular, they’re pretty hard to get one’s hands on: a new Rolex Pepsi officially retails for AU$13,300 (already a pretty hefty sum) but good luck getting one at retail. There’s a waiting list stretching out for years. On the aftermarket, expect to pay thousands on top of that – even as much as double retail.

But what if you want a GMT watch now – and you don’t want to blow all your savings on one, either? If that sounds like you you’re in luck; we’ve collated some of the hottest and best alternatives to the Rolex Pepsi that you can buy in boutiques or online right now in 2021 for less than the retail price of the famous ‘Rollie’. Let’s get cracking.

Bulgari Aluminium GMT

First up, we have the Bulgari Aluminium GMT. The famous Italian luxury house has long been respected as a serious player in the world of fine watchmaking, in no small part thanks to its Octo Finissimo line of watches, which has been the subject of many world firsts in watchmaking, with highlights including the world’s thinnest minute repeater and the world’s thinnest mechanical chronograph.

RELATED: Luxury Fashion Brands’ Long-Term Watchmaking Investments Pay Off

The Bulgari Aluminium, first launched in 1998, is a rather unconventional watch. Rubber and aluminium for a high-end timepiece? At the time, that was a rather shocking prospect, but actually, it makes a lot of sense: it means the watch is exceptionally light and comfortable. They’re also the two main materials used in the construction of aeroplanes – so it’s highly appropriate that in 2021, Bulgari decided to add a GMT variant to the Aluminium line.

Featuring a slick blue and red colour scheme (just like the Rolex Pepsi), the Aluminium GMT is a rather sporty take on the GMT watch. With a 42-hour power reserve thanks to its in-house movement, water resistance to 100m and a case constructed from an aluminium/titanium alloy that’s light yet scratch-resistant, it’s a rather tough little cookie – and for AU$5,200, it’s also a bit of a steal.

Bell & Ross BR 03-93 GMT

Another great alternative to the Rolex Pepsi is a watch from a manufacturer that’s all about aviation: France’s Bell & Ross. Their iconic square case design is meant to mimic aircraft cockpit instrumentation – so it’s no big surprise that they make a GMT watch or two.

RELATED: Red Alert: Bell & Ross Reveal A New Radar-Inspired Statement Piece Watch

The Bell & Ross BR 03-93 GMT takes the tried and tested Bell & Ross formula – that signature square case with a crisp, clear, ultra-legible dial – and adds GMT functionality, with a bi-directional 24-hour-marker bezel and fourth hand. A minimalist date window peeks out at 4 o’clock and an internal bezel provides minutes/seconds markers for additional functionality.

Available with either a chunky calfskin leather strap or a mil-spec black synthetic fabric strap, the BR 03-93 GMT is a super modern take on the GMT watch that really makes you feel like you’re a fighter pilot just by strapping it on. For AU$5,500, you get a lot of watch for your money.

Tudor Black Bay GMT

Of course, we couldn’t have a serious conversation about an alternative to a Pepsi without mentioning Rolex’s sister brand, Tudor – ‘the people’s Rolex’. If you’re looking for the next best thing to a Rolex, Tudor is an obvious choice: the collector-favourite brand has similar designs and a similarly impeccable level of build quality as their Rolex siblings at a much more accessible price point (and more realistic availability).

The Tudor Black Bay GMT pours some Pepsi on the brand’s perennially popular dive watch, boasting that classic combination of a black dial with a red and blue bezel. It’s almost like a hybrid between the GMT-Master and the Submariner, but with a more retro aesthetic thanks to its domed sapphire crystal, lack of cyclops lens and more utilitarian form factor.

RELATED: Tudor Unveils What Can Only Be Described As ‘The People’s Rolex Daytona’

Crucially, it costs less than half of the retail price of its Rolex counterpart at AU$5,510 (for a stainless steel bracelet; a leather or fabric strap lowers the price further to AU$5,090) while featuring double the water resistance at 200m. You’d be mad not to grab one, frankly.

Timex Q Reissue

This last one’s a bit of an outlier, but definitely worthy of inclusion. Is the Timex Q Reissue a true GMT watch? No. Does it come from a high-end manufacturer or house a Swiss movement? Hell no. Is it even an automatic watch? Not on your life.

But what it is, is highly affordable. The Q Reissue is the cheapest and best way to get a watch that looks like a Rolex Pepsi without having to spend thousands of dollars. Indeed, this bad boy will only set you back a measly AU$330 in comparison.

RELATED: Best Timex Watches That Will Keep You Stylishly Punctual For Under $300

For that, it’s not a bad buy. Unlike a Rolex Pepsi, this Timex has a day as well as a date window (that is, it spells out the day of the week). Unlike the BR 03-93 GMT, it comes with an integrated steel bracelet. It’s thinner than the Tudor Black Bay GMT and more conventional-looking than the Bulgari Aluminium GMT. Crucially for a traveller, you won’t have to worry about it getting nicked when you’re on holiday (and even if it does, it’s cheap to replace).

On that note – here’s to safe travels and successful horological purchases.

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The post The Rolex GMT-Master ‘Pepsi’ Alternatives We Can Approve appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

US airlines have a long history of passengers acting up. From the man who thought a flight was an opportune moment to show off his guns to the woman who recently started a window shade war, the anecdotes are endless.But one woman’s recent act has turned all that on its head.The woman, on what appears to be a Delta flight, thought it cool to do a spot of yoga whilst up in the air.The passengers around her didn’t think it was quite so cool. One of them, @justinchanthalangsy_, filmed it and uploaded it to social media with a text overlay reading: “I can’t make this up y’all.”“Ma’am getcho musty toes out of here.”“Oh no baby, what is you doing?”

“Get me OFF this flight (good form though).”

The video eventually went viral, landing in the lap of social media giant Complex, who reposted it on Instagram.

Watch the video of the in-flight yoga below

Comments on Instagram, in response to the video, show that most people think a plane is a bad place to do yoga.Though one user proffered a potential defence of the woman’s actions (if ironically) with the comment “I PaCkEd BAbY wiPes iTs FinE” most others slammed the act.“You do that on a plane, you definitely ain’t bathing regularly either,” one commenter said.“Oh no ma’am!” wrote another.Yet another Instagram user said: “We need to go back inside. People forgot how to act.”Though there was a pretty strong consensus this particular action is not ok, it opens the door to an important plane etiquette debate – where, exactly, is it appropriate to stretch on a plane?Out in the aisle, where you might annoy other passengers? In your seat in a less invasive manner? Or anywhere you like as long as your shoes are on?Stay tuned for an etiquette coach’s response.

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The post Woman’s Brazen Mid Flight Act Sparks Plane Etiquette Debate appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

A fact of life is some people are just born talented or gifted. While they naturally won’t fall into their natural field until a few years after walking at least, at the end of the day, some of us take to certain fields like a duck to water.For David Beckham, he was always destined to play football at a high level. In his youth, he had trials for a number of soccer teams, including Leyton Orient (his local team), Norwich City and he even attended Tottenham Hotspur’s school of excellence. However, since his parents were both die-hard Manchester United fans, it was to be the club he would always hope to play for, and he was signed as a trainee when he was 16-years-old.The rest is history.Today, Beckham is part-owner of Inter Miami CF, and a video he recently uploaded to his Instagram account proves that, while he may no longer play ‘the beautiful game’ professionally, he’s lost none of his God-given talent. A classic way for players to show off their skill is to perform keep-ups, and usually, they would be wearing football boots or sneakers at the very least, to help them control the ball.As the video below shows, Beckham has no need for such accoutrements…

Beckham says ‘up yours’ to such niceties, instead choosing to wear Christian Louboutin dress shoes, to entertain his fans. And, while we can’t quite pinpoint the exact pair he’s wearing from the video, an example pair of the luxury men’s dress shoes are currently retailing for US$950. So, while the rest of us would probably save such footwear for special occasions, Beckham is more than happy to get them a little scuffed.Naturally, the video has garnered much acclaim from his friends and peers, with Kyle Martino claiming, “How on earth did you not slip my man?”, while his mum Sandra said, “Get them boots on. What have I told you about wearing your best shoes”.How the other half live.

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The post David Beckham Shows $1,000 Dress Shoes Are No Impediment To A Lifetime Of Football Talent appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

We’ve waxed lyrical here at DMARGE about how you’re only as old as you feel, and that age shouldn’t play factor with regard to keeping yourself fit and healthy. You only need to take a look at the likes of Greg Norman, who keeps himself ripped despite being in his 60’s, or this 64-year-old who has a super shredded rig and can perform an insane number of pull-ups.RELATED: I Tried Greg Norman’s Most Radical Fitness Advice. It Blew My MindBut to further prove there really is no excuse that age is a limiting factor, you only need to watch this video of 87-year-old Bob. Brought to our attention via CrossFit Especially Awesome – a CrossFit gym in Fort Walton Beach, Florida – the Instagram post shows Bob, a retired marine colonel, who also happens to have Parkinson’s, looking happy and healthy as he performs a sled push – a movement favoured by the likes of Chris Hemsworth himself.The post adds, “[Bob’s] doctor told him to exercise and referred him to CFEA for this class. He called and showed up and has faithfully come three times a week, putting in the work.”

“He never whines. Never complains. No excuses. Displays grit and gratitude. Be like Bob.”

It serves as a perfect reminder that you’re never too old, or that it’s never too late, to workout. It shouldn’t need explaining, the benefits of keeping your body moving and keeping your joints healthy, and you don’t even need to put yourself through a gruelling strength workout. As HelpGuide says, doing something as simple as walking every day can significantly improve your cardio fitness, and this can be incorporated with walking around shopping malls, for example.Or if you are feeling up for something a little bit more extreme, you can always feel free to drop by your local fitness studio. Images from all around the world show many people who are in their 50s and 60s (Bob still remains an outlier at 87) working out with the young ‘uns…

Alternatively, get yourself to a swimming pool, as the water helps relieve stress on your joints, while also giving them a great workout, and classes aimed specifically at pensioners can even increase your social circle.Time to get moving.

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The post 87-Year-Old Man’s Crossfit Workout Proves You’re Never Too Old To Get In Shape appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The last gasp? As Sydney was hit by what could be this winter’s last major swell, surfers today filled their boots (and not just with nervous pee).Videos on social media show daredevils taking on the waves all over. From surfers jumping off the rocks at Bronte pool to ‘goat boats’ screaming down large walls of water at Coogee’s Wedding Cake Island (which was looking, arguably, less like a burger than it’s ever looked), to Queenscliff and Long Reef coming alive, there was action all around.Magic Seaweed puts the open ocean swell at 25ft at 13 seconds, from the SSW. This translated to waves with faces of everything from 2ft (in protected corners) to four times overhead at exposed reefs.

Watch surfers take on waves up to four times their height in the video below

The likes of @saltyseadog.sydney, @hotndelicious, @atdusk, gfunk_ and more were on hand to capture the action.@saltyseadog.sydney wrote on Instagram, “Coogee was like Nazaré this morning.”A big call. The analogy isn’t too far off though. Though Wedding Cake doesn’t get anywhere near as big as Nazaré (one of the world’s most renowned ‘big wave’ spots), both Nazaré and Wedding Cake have been accused of being ‘burgers’ (one of the rudest insults a surfer can throw at a wave, and also something, in the case of ‘big burgers,’ usually only thrown by those who haven’t surfed the place).As big wave surfer Kai Lenny discussed with DMARGE earlier this year, these kinds of waves can still be very difficult and dangerous to surf – they just have different challenges.Anyway… Photos by @maccasphotos show the swell well and truly made it into Cronulla too.There were even some quirky corners of Sydney harbour that saw some action.With the 5km lockdown rule in effect, there was a sense of local communities coming together rather than running off all over the place to chase the swell.As surf journalist Nick Carroll wrote last year in Surfing World issue 412, “In a normal year many of the core crew would have scattered on their various missions on or off the grid, hunting surf, or work, or some combination of the two.”With lockdowns having come back this year with a vengeance, the same sentiment seems to be in effect right now – as does the trend for more and more ‘normal’ surfers to be buying gun surfboards and testing themselves in deep water waves.The only place we’ve seen suspiciously little footage of today is Deadmans, where what was described as the best wave ever ridden in Sydney was ridden, under somewhat similar swell conditions as today’s, last year.Maybe it wasn’t that similar after all? Instagram will probably enlighten us tomorrow.In any case, we’ll stay cosy and warm inside for now though, thanks very much.

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The post ‘Coogee Was Like Nazaré This Morning’ Sydney Surfers Enjoy Ultra Rare Swell Event appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Qantas rung our ears a bunch of times this week. Not only was there an ad that brought many Australians to tears but they also announced some tasty new vaccine incentives.Beyond the two biggest incentives (which you go into a raffle to win) of a year’s worth of free flights and Accor hotel stays, there is also a secondary incentive (which everyone gets) where double vaccinated Qantas Points members are offered three treats to pick from, after uploading proof to the Qantas App of their double vaccinated status.Qantas announced on Monday, “From tomorrow, fully vaccinated Australian-based Frequent Flyers who are 18 and over will be able to claim their reward through the Qantas App.” When you log into the app you will be faced with one of following three options (you get to pick one):

• 1000 Qantas points
• 15 status credits (which help Frequent Flyers move up between Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers)
• $20 flight discount for Qantas or Jetstar

DMARGE recently saw the email Qantas Points members are receiving. It reads: “We’re all dreaming about the day we can fly away to see family, friends or enjoy a long overdue holiday. Getting vaccinated is an important step that every Australian can take to bring us that little bit closer to life as we knew it.”“If you’re a Qantas Frequent Flyer who has been fully vaccinated for COVID-19, we want to say thank you for protecting yourself and the community, with your choice of reward, and the chance to win a fantastic major prize.”But which is the best reward to pick?

In our humble opinion, it’s actually the $20 voucher off Jetstar flights.Given our history of waxing lyrical over business class and raging against the Jetstar (baggage weighing) machine, you might call this choice unexpected. But hear us out.RELATED: How Jetstar’s Worst Economy Seat Won Over A Business Class SnobThe Jetstar option offers the most ‘feel good’ bang for buck.Why? Qantas flights typically go for somewhere up in the $200 to $700 range. So you’re not really going to notice $20 being knocked off.Jetstar flights, however, much more often are dropped to the $40 to $80 range, where that same $20 reduction is going to make a much more obvious difference. Think about it: if you scored a $40 Jetstar flight, that could then potentially become a $20 flight. A $20 flight. How good?

Also: status credits are already being extended by another year anyway (read about how that all works here) and 1,000 Qantas points isn’t that much.That’s our two cents, anyway. But in the end, it’s your $20 to play with…

The post Qantas Vaccine Incentive: The Best Reward To Pick Right Now appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

While there’s nothing quite like visiting a watch boutique or a jeweller’s when you’re shopping for a new piece of wrist candy, shopping for a luxury watch online has never been easier than it is in 2021.

Not only do watch brands spend a huge amount of time, energy and coin making their ‘online boutique‘ experiences as lavish as their brick-and-mortar options, but you’re also spoiled for choice when it comes to third-party marketplaces, many of which offer luxurious customer service.

Indeed, depending on where you live in the world, you might not have much of a choice. Most of Australia’s biggest cities are still languishing under strict lockdown rules, for example, and boutiques simply aren’t open. You’ve got no choice but to go online.

But just because your options are limited doesn’t mean you should ignore your better instincts. For example, buying a high-end watch from Amazon. The world’s biggest e-commerce platform and most valuable brand, Amazon sells everything from groceries to pre-fabricated homes… And increasingly, luxury watches worth thousands of dollars.

Amazon has long been a great place to buy cheap and cheerful timepieces from brands like Casio and Timex but these days, timepieces from brands like Rolex, OMEGA and even Audemars Piguet can be found on the platform’s US shopfront – often for rather competitive prices, too.

But as tempting as buying a watch from Amazon might be, it’s actually a pretty terrible idea… As is selling your luxury watch on Amazon, for that matter.

As Rob’s Rolex Chronicle relates, Amazon’s ‘Fulfilled By Amazon’ program (FBA for short) can easily be “hacked” by bad actors and lead to adverse outcomes for both buyers and sellers alike.

“For example, say you are selling a Rolex. It is legitimate. You have owned it for years and now want to sell it. So you ship it to the Rolex warehouse and now the Amazon FBA program will guarantee delivery to Amazon customers, right? Not exactly.”

“If an unscrupulous dealer decides to ship a fake Rolex to FBA, your Rolex and the one provided by the other dealer can be co-mingled. When someone buys [a] Rolex, your Rolex, Amazon could ship them the fake one provided by the crooked dealer, as if it was sent directly from you.”

“If the client realizes [that it’s] fake they can get their money back, but [it] will likely crush you as a fake seller.  Amazon doesn’t check to see if your product is different from the other sellers. And you could be out your whole investment. Sound fair?”

RELATED: Rolex Introduces ‘Deliveroo’ Service For One Lucky Country

He explains that Amazon has no in-house watch experts who can judge whether watches are real or fake, which is both a problem for vendors as well as customers. They’re a business that’s more about selling books and basic consumer electronics than high-end goods; they simply don’t have the same level of due diligence.

“If you are a buyer… you really won’t know what you got until you get it appraised by a real Rolex dealer. So, it begs the question, why buy Rolex from Amazon at all?  Why not go to a respected Rolex dealer in the first place?”

Here at DMARGE we’ve previously criticised eBay’s foray into the luxury watch market for not doing enough to assure customers that they’re not going to get a fake watch, but Amazon is even worse than eBay in this regard.

eBay at least authenticate any watch selling for over 2,000 USD on their platform – although this service is only offered to American customers and isn’t available to ‘custom’ watches (with a very broad definition of what ‘custom’ actually entails). Still, that’s better than nothing, which is what Amazon offers.

RELATED: The One Place You Should Never Buy A Luxury Watch

The other big issue with buying luxury watches like Rolexes from Amazon, as this Watchuseek thread on the topic elaborates, is that getting a watch serviced or doing any sort of return or warranty claim through Amazon can be a crapshoot. As one commenter puts it:

“If your watch needs repair during their warranty period, there’s a 99% risk that you’re not going to get the right parts. Also, you say you can get a refund? Well maybe for the first 30 days, if they’ll let you.”

“It’s your money, waste it any way you want to.”

Indeed, we put the question to our Instagram followers – would they buy a Rolex on Amazon? And the answer was pretty conclusive: no.

As we’ve said before, it’s the curse of being a jack of all trades but a master of none. Amazon might be a fine place to buy many things but it’s just not a very good platform – either ergonomically, functionally or otherwise – to buy a luxury watch like a Rolex from. It’s just too risky.

You’re far better off going to a reputable dealer that specialises in luxury watches specifically, like Bob’s Watches or Chrono24, or simply negotiating with an authorised dealer (AD) to get a better deal on your watch, or build a relationship with them in order to get the watch of your dreams.

It’s not rocket science, people.

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The post 'Avoid Like The Plague': Watch Fans Reveal The One Place They Would Never Buy A Rolex appeared first on DMARGE Australia.