unfortunately I won't be of a big help here Sir, as I have no idea how it works when you aren't directly in touch with a boutique.
I am also wondering if Bucherer is having these models as, as far as I know (at least in my country) these are AP boutique only.
you're right today the leap is significantly higher and it is worth thinking between the grey or the boutique option. Moreover, you should also keep in mind that with the grey you're missing the magic of entering the boutique to pick it up, which somehow might also be part of your pleasure, but seeing your watches, I think you already now this ...
As far as i remember Bucherer lost the permission to sell AP in many of their stores long time ago. I remember the time when AP used to buy the watches back and Bucherer was up to give reasonable discounts straight away... That was end of 2017 and 2018 if i remember correctly.
The big "problem" with ADs is that AP won't notice you as a customer - only AD does which results only in a good relationship between you and him - but not towards the brand itself.
The logical consequence is that AP won't offer you the opportunity to get one of these highly sought watches.
The fact that AP returned almost every watch from ADs to focus on their boutiques only doesn't help to gain access or to build up a reasonable portfolio to signal that you are more than just a grey market flipper which is the case with most "waiting lists"... You can speak more of a "focus group" rather than a real chronological waiting list when it comes to watches like this. Patek is also a perfect example for this. You as a Patek owner yourself are familiar with the brands identity and its way to behave - even though your vintage beauty didn't come from the Boutique directly.
Legend knows how the AP game works - he is much more experienced in this manner and you know... a legend on his own haha
I didn’t know that was the reason with Bucherer. But it’s true because they can’t sell it here either. Here another retailer had AP but I think they didn’t sell enough so they revoked their license to sell APs unfortunately.
Francois talked about the business move in an interview around 2018 that they are going to focus only on boutique sales.
In addition to that he shared the thought of a brands second hand market on which used but fully refurbished watches would be offered by AP themselves. I don't know what happened to those plans but you can easily mention the intention to cut off every part in the sales chain that doesn't make a dollar for AP.
He was harshly criticized for those ideas.
For those that wonder, the Chinese text regarding the now notorious pizza hand stack says:
"ZF has polished the hands, but the diameter of the cannon pinion has to be wider".
no other explanation given why.
legend I concur that the text portion in Chinese that is next to the image of the ZF and gen dial with the hands says something to the effect of:
"The needle shaft from ZF is polished and rounded, but the shaft disc is larger than the original".
It does not explicitly state that it had to be made wider but just that it is wider.
Thanks for thinking of me for this translation. I must admit that some of the higher technical terms are difficult for me but a good practice and learning experience!
Yes I see, the anatomy of watches is something I am not familiar with either in German or English, let alone in a language as complex as Chinese.
As you mention, the larger diameter hand base is troubling on such a fine effort by ZF. We will soon know if it can be modified to look much nicer.
I like to think they did it just to mess with RWI/Repgeek(s) etc.
+1
Lol
But again I am no expert in these matters so please take no offense monkeypie .