Visiting Hong Kong and Singapore

[JC180]

Hi Gents,

I will be visiting Hong Kong and Singapore next month and wondered if anyone has any tips as to what I can get up to when I am there horologically speaking.

Any chance of picking up a nice new aquisition (not Rolex or PP) maybe a Lange or Vacheron?

If not, where is nice just to browse and spend time?

If anyone has any general hints or tips to make me enjoy my stay a bit more, I would love to hear, it will be my first time in the Far East. Nothing food related though, thanks!

Cheers

Jacob

[RolexSimon]

Haven't been to HK since COVID so can't comment. Orchard road and marina bay sands are your locations. Hour Glass, Cortina, Sincere and the boutiques in the mega-malls on Orchard / Marina.
I was refused entry to AP without an appointment. Lots of PP on display but not for purchase. Likewise a blue dial laureatto - look but don't buy (go figure - was allowed to buy he black dial but no way!!). ALS Boutique had minimal stock, Vacheron almost nothing to buy. There are grey dealers but from my observations, Singapore is such a hot watch market that almost everything goes to local or asian VIPs. The rest of us just get the dregs.....!! Still, I enjoyed seing the MB&Fs, Mosers, Czapeks, Parmigianis, rose gold 5712, white gold 5711 and in some cases trying them on. Marina bay sands watch zone is just watch porn........

[Allanmodel]

Ion Orchard @ Orchard road. Nice to visit...there're many watch boutiques there..to name a few...ALS,PP,VC..etc!

[trackingtime]

singapore is the worst place to buy watches
lol nothing is for sale

[S``]

Originally Posted by trackingtime

singapore is the worst place to buy watches
lol nothing is for sale

Everything is for sale... to the whales lol

[ButtButt]

MB&F lab is worth checking out if you like the brand.

Lange and VC at Ion Orchard both have very limited stock. VC stuff on display is for sale but nothing popular and definitely not the overseas models.

If you want to see grey market dealers you can check out Far East Plaza.


Edit: This is for Singapore.

[S``]

Originally Posted by ButtButt

MB&F lab is worth checking out if you like the brand.

Lange and VC at Ion Orchard both have very limited stock. VC stuff on display is for sale but nothing popular and definitely not the overseas models.

If you want to see grey market dealers you can check out Far East Plaza.


Edit: This is for Singapore.

At Far East, Watch Exchange displays all stock at the front window... no need to get inside to browse... like that format best.

[trackingtime]

can head to the bencoolen as well
180 Bencoolen St, Singapore 189646

tons of grey dealers in it

[TimepieceRPP]

Same as everywhere u can't get any sought after models.
I am currently in HK

[JF100]

In H.K you can always go to the watchbox boutique to see pieces. Else near there in the Princes building is a bunch of boutiques, Lange, F.P.J, VC, Chopard, JLC etc.

Also check out Canton road (enter a circular looking area off the main road loads of boutiques there - posh looking area built in stone). From there you are super close so can explore Nathan road and surrounding areas in TST on Kowloon side. If you are staying on Hong Kong island to get to anywhere in this paragraph I suggest you take the Star Ferry to Kowloon side for these ones - a well recommended tourist thing to do.

[llngoc]

I was just in SG and visited the Patek boutique and MB&F Lab in Raffles Hotel. Also the L’Atelier in Orchard ION. SHH in MBS.

Every visit was a pleasure. Staffs are very knowledgeable and friendly. Only thing is that I don’t think you can expect to pick up anything as the local demand is high and all of them was focused with local collectors.

I was offered an Armin Strom Mirrored Resonance and was shown a few Grebuel Forseys but not sure if the GFs were for sale though since it is completely out of my price range.

I am sure you will enjoy your visit.

[JC180]

Guys this is all very helpful and useful information thank you.

I'll be in and out of meetings much of the time but I do hope to steal away and indulge a little too.

Not likely I'll buy anything but I don't get the chance to try on much exotica in Manchester as we have limited brands stocked locally and with only work hours spent in London these days I don't get any time to mooch around and track down the next one...

I hope to report back in due course.

Thank again.

[llngoc]

Originally Posted by JC180

Guys this is all very helpful and useful information thank you.

I'll be in and out of meetings much of the time but I do hope to steal away and indulge a little too.

Not likely I'll buy anything but I don't get the chance to try on much exotica in Manchester as we have limited brands stocked locally and with only work hours spent in London these days I don't get any time to mooch around and track down the next one...

I hope to report back in due course.

Thank again.

I think Singapore will be perfect for you then. At the Patek boutique, they have display model of most newer pieces. I was able to try on a green dial 5720P, 5811G, 5712R and a few other pieces which I would never have a chance to see back home.

After trying on the HM10 at the MB&F Lab, I am still itching...

[gusmac]

plenty of great sightseeing to be done and if you want to blow your mind on how the grey market looks go to Kimberley Road in TST and Champagne Court! You'll see everything!

[jts278]

If AP is your cup of tea, I would recommend booking an appointment at the two AP Houses in HK (the only city to have two). They’ve got wonderful brand ambassadors who will show you nice pieces and the AP Houses have really nice decor inside.

[Jmaster]

Originally Posted by jts278

If AP is your cup of tea, I would recommend booking an appointment at the two AP Houses in HK (the only city to have two). They’ve got wonderful brand ambassadors who will show you nice pieces and the AP Houses have really nice decor inside.

I have a friend who recently got an AP ROO diver without any purchase history. He also got to see a few other ROO at the AP House, so it’s probably worthwhile to book an appointment even if you’re not in the market for one.

[RobHK]

Originally Posted by gusmac

plenty of great sightseeing to be done and if you want to blow your mind on how the grey market looks go to Kimberley Road in TST and Champagne Court! You'll see everything!

I would say Dundas Street situated between Yau Ma Tei and Mongkok across Nathan Road is even better. This is indeed watch heaven for you to try on all those watches you would never ever even see once in your life in person otherwise.

Given the current market, you can pick up a lot of good stuff quite close to retail also.

[JC180]

Thanks guys I've had PP, VC and most of the other top brands save for AP as I have no access in the UK other than AP House in London.

Might just book an appointment!

Thanks so much for all the good advice!

[Beanhead]

Originally Posted by llngoc

I was just in SG and visited the Patek boutique and MB&F Lab in Raffles Hotel. Also the L’Atelier in Orchard ION. SHH in MBS.

Every visit was a pleasure. Staffs are very knowledgeable and friendly. Only thing is that I don’t think you can expect to pick up anything as the local demand is high and all of them was focused with local collectors.

I was offered an Armin Strom Mirrored Resonance and was shown a few Grebuel Forseys but not sure if the GFs were for sale though since it is completely out of my price range.

I am sure you will enjoy your visit.

I think I saw the AA mirrored force resonance that you mentioned. There are two grey pieces in sincere, MBS (or SHH as it's called) or in ngee ann city. beautiful piece, unsure about the price...

[Willyjo]

Still useless trying retail as a walk in

Some food honest greys and some good deals on AP, PM Rolex etc

Far East Plaza is decent - try Good Time Luxury (Charles) and Watch Exchange (William)

Both good and honest. I have more experience w Charles. He is awesome.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dannyp]

Probably worth walking into a Tudor retailer in HK (if you like the watches) as there are pieces available in that market not available elsewhere. For example, the old five-digit style Prince Date/Day-Date is still made for the HK market. Different end of the watch spectrum than what's being discussed here, but thought it worth mentioning.

[Parapraxis]

Was in HK 2 months ago. 4 Rolex ADs and 2 pateks on the same street. Suffice to say, nothing to sell. A lot of money in HK, as you'll see/hear by the supercars driving by you as you walk down that street

[youthagainsttt]

I'll just add that the pricing in Hong Kong with grey market dealers is fairly opportunistic, it's rare to find good deals altho the stock is amazing. I found better luck in SE Asia for eg

[sw88]

Watches in HK tend to be cheaper than most other places as there is no tax on goods here. This is if you can get at retail, of course. Especially if you are visiting from UK, you can get 20% off what you would pay in the UK.

I recently got a VC in HK at retail which was roughly 20% cheaper when converting to the same currency.