Hong Kong AD advice

[HK852GMT]

Hi All,

Although there are a lot of ADs in Hong Kong, most are part of two or three big chains, and most of them are whale hunters. Most displays only have diamond encrusted bling that is of no interest to me.

While I don't expect to walk into an AD and see a sea of professional watches, my question to the group is: Do any of you know of an AD in Hong Kong that is worth visiting if you are a normal HKer as opposed to those who have a driver waiting outside in an El Grande, or a man bag wearing guest from the north?

Actually, if anyone has the full list of AD chains in HK that would probably help. I know Chow Tai Fook, Emperor, and Dicksons are three of them; but I can think of one or two more.

[InitialAndPitch]

There are so many of them. None worth the trouble. Some can be pleasant if you’re after tea.

Go grey...

[TswaneNguni]

The sea you will see is the sports dead sea....

[Anton911]

Better to go to grey dealers in Hong Kong,there are many,like Ken’s watches who have many branches in Kowloon,Mong Kok,Central etc
You will find anything you want.

[18●20●22●▼●2●4●6]

Originally Posted by HK852GMT

Hi All, Although there are a lot of ADs in Hong Kong, most are ...

I pass through Hong Kong about eight times a year for past 4 years... Forget it!

[Smarties]

Forget about ADs unless you have a history with them. You won’t get a sub date at msrp without first spending HKD200k+

[ninjin]

HK AD's although plentiful are a joke when it comes to Rolex that are sort after.

My friend recently got a hulk in HK (he is a HK resident). He said it was a gift from his son and daughter in law. He had been toying with getting a new Rolex for over 2years but he could get nothing he wanted so never bothered. So his son bit the bullet and paid over for a Hulk, which even though was HK$40,000 over list, his son still had to wait 9months before he could surprise his dad.

That part of the story is nothing special.....

This part is:

The watch was bought from a SA of Chow Tai Fook. Didn't even get to a grey dealer, AD SA did the sale, albeit not in Chow Tai Fook.

This is common and accepted practice in HK for high demand watches. Always has been and I cannot see it changing in the future.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by HK852GMT

Hi All,

Although there are a lot of ADs in Hong Kong, most are part of two or three big chains, and most of them are whale hunters. Most displays only have diamond encrusted bling that is of no interest to me.

While I don't expect to walk into an AD and see a sea of professional watches, my question to the group is: Do any of you know of an AD in Hong Kong that is worth visiting if you are a normal HKer as opposed to those who have a driver waiting outside in an El Grande, or a man bag wearing guest from the north?

Actually, if anyone has the full list of AD chains in HK that would probably help. I know Chow Tai Fook, Emperor, and Dicksons are three of them; but I can think of one or two more.

You can find them all at rolex.com listed by district. They're all much of a muchness. Short displays and long faces.

[LeBapt]

You can try Oriental Watch Co.

Otherwise, for grey market I like to go to Kimberley street.

You can take a look on Pottinger street for second hand and have a talk with Raymond Chung (I cannot post the link as I am a newbie here).

And just in case, if you want brand new Seiko (not GS) I have a very good address with nice discounts.

[HK852GMT]

Thanks all. Yes it is as i suspected. As a matter of principle i’m not going to get anything from a grey for 2xMSRP that should be obtainable from an AD.

The used watch shops (i prefer Dundas/Kwong Wa) are wonderful for the mid-00s late five digit pieces i want now, i am just hoping at some point to find an AD i can actually work with for the future.

If they only want whales, then that deals with that.

[WatchLurv]

Originally Posted by HK852GMT

Hi All,

Although there are a lot of ADs in Hong Kong, most are part of two or three big chains, and most of them are whale hunters. Most displays only have diamond encrusted bling that is of no interest to me.

While I don't expect to walk into an AD and see a sea of professional watches, my question to the group is: Do any of you know of an AD in Hong Kong that is worth visiting if you are a normal HKer as opposed to those who have a driver waiting outside in an El Grande, or a man bag wearing guest from the north?

Actually, if anyone has the full list of AD chains in HK that would probably help. I know Chow Tai Fook, Emperor, and Dicksons are three of them; but I can think of one or two more.

You said it all.

Whale hunters being the keyword. The diamond encrusted Platinum Daydate they want to shove down your throat to give you a stainless steel sub (they have it in the back). That's the deal they're after Not a deal I would do.

[youthagainsttt]

Originally Posted by LeBapt

You can try Oriental Watch Co.

Otherwise, for grey market I like to go to Kimberley street.

You can take a look on Pottinger street for second hand and have a talk with Raymond Chung (I cannot post the link as I am a newbie here).

And just in case, if you want brand new Seiko (not GS) I have a very good address with nice discounts.

I would go to the one in Central, Queens Rd which is supposed to be the biggest watch store in HK. I got my JLC Reverso there at a good price

Grey market dealers worthy of note:

Ken's Watches - I personally wouldn't want to deal with Ken, he kinda seems brash and if you let him manhandle your watch (if you're selling it for eg.) you may even find a scratch after he's looked at it. But the other shop managers have given me good service.

Union Watches - the largest collection of lux, ultra-luxe & everything in between in HK. Claims to buy back watches within 2 years for 75% (need to verify). They expect if you go into the shop that you are a serious buyer, if you don't buy after 5 minutes or so they become disinterested.

Po Wan Loi - they have good prices on Rolexes, new and secondhand. Service is either poor or average, I got my bluesey here at a great price.

Mariane's, TST - for a small shop, they have some good stock. I got my DJ41 here which is a sought after model in blue.

Tse's Collection - high prices, don't bother

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by HK852GMT

Thanks all. Yes it is as i suspected. As a matter of principle i’m not going to get anything from a grey for 2xMSRP that should be obtainable from an AD.

The used watch shops (i prefer Dundas/Kwong Wa) are wonderful for the mid-00s late five digit pieces i want now, i am just hoping at some point to find an AD i can actually work with for the future.

If they only want whales, then that deals with that.

You have to start somewhere with an AD.
I started 15 years with a Datejust and worked from there. Maybe consider that? Alternatively do you have a daughter? Wife? Parter? Pick up some jewellery or whenever you need to buy a little gift for someone, buy from your local AD etc. It doesn’t happen overnight.

Or grey may be your only option.

[Anton911]

Well to be honest in Hong Kong if you don’t want to buy a hot model from a grey dealer you have absolutely zero chance of getting it from an AD with no prior buying history,end of discussion.

[HK852GMT]

Originally Posted by Anton911

Well to be honest in Hong Kong if you don’t want to buy a hot model from a grey dealer you have absolutely zero chance of getting it from an AD with no prior buying history,end of discussion.

I appreciate that. I’m just trying to ascertain if there are any of the smaller chains that are even open to the option of entertaining a non-whale relationship.

The ‘buy jewellery for other people’ option doesn’t work in most cases here as the watch shops are standalone and don’t sell jewellery (and the lion’s share are Rolex/Tudor branded only).

[cloudplay]

Originally Posted by HK852GMT

Thanks all. Yes it is as i suspected. As a matter of principle i’m not going to get anything from a grey for 2xMSRP that should be obtainable from an AD.

Unless Rolex loses their mind and ramps up production dramatically, there really is no reason to expect hot models to be obtainable from AD's for random walk-ins.

Out of curiosity, I visited a small AD in a small city (population of 50000) in Germany yesterday, asking for a Sub just to start the conversation. The SA claimed that they get "30-40 people per day" asking for one of the hot models. If he took everyone's name the BLRO waiting list would be "1800 people" deep, vs the "5-10" they get per year. He suggested I come back after Baselworld...

I assume the HK AD's each get 10000+ inquiries per year. They could pick one out of a 100 randomly, or go with those who actually spend some money on PMs, lady's Date Justs etc.

I put my name down for a Sub at a different, newly opened, boutique, with supposedly only a 100 people in front of me. I don't expect a call until the current madness subsides.

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by HK852GMT

I appreciate that. I’m just trying to ascertain if there are any of the smaller chains that are even open to the option of entertaining a non-whale relationship.

The ‘buy jewellery for other people’ option doesn’t work in most cases here as the watch shops are standalone and don’t sell jewellery (and the lion’s share are Rolex/Tudor branded only).

It’s a difficult situation and I hope you get something you like.
If they sell Tudor, you could ask if buying a Tudor would help your case?

It’s unusual for an AD to just accept you for a steel GMT/sub etc without that purchase history (purchase history and a whale being totally different)

[nuts070]

You have to cultivate the relationship with HK ADs, as I did. Came across a DJ41 Blue in 2018 and never hesitated to take it. Then, I got 3 SS sports watches and now waiting for my BLRO. I also buy jewelries for my wife and mom (those 24K gold jewelry which has closer actual market value by gold weight) not as an inducement/bundle with the watches, but to make them see that I am here for the long haul. Although I would gladly add jewelries of my wife/mom's liking as a bundle and get some value for the extra money I shelled out than flat out bought something overpriced.

[vicsdca]

Same everywhere you go these days

[rambo99]

in short, there's no way you can buy a hulk at msrp in hk. either you go grey or pay to enter the wait list.

[brucethemanlee]

Originally Posted by rambo99

in short, there's no way you can buy a hulk at msrp in hk. either you go grey or pay to enter the wait list.

+1


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[Fleetlord]

Hong Kong Rolex AD aren’t interested in your business.

Sorry to come across as blunt, but that level of transaction is more of a nuisance to them.

They are completely focused on catering to whales. Period