Purchasing my first Rolex

[Ok4696]

Hello, I will be visiting in the UK in a few weeks and I'm interested in a buying my first grown-up watch. After a serious research I decided to go for a ceramic sub date (116610). i figured that since the pound is low it would be a good idea to buy in the uk, but i wasn't able to get a conclusive pricing for the piece. I hoped that any of you would be able to give me its price, I'm able to get the piece new in 8000$ right now but i thought i could grab it for less in the uk..

so what's the price for a Rolex Submariner Date Ceramic black dial (ref 116610LN) in the UK ?

Thanks

[beshannon]

If you can find one

[brandrea]

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=542294

6250 pounds sterling

[m j b]

I think the SS models are difficult to find in the UK. When I was there last year, I had the same thoughts as you (we were there during the Brexit vote, and the pound took a dive) but when I did all the math, figuring the hassles of paying VAT and getting a refund, then paying US duties on it, what I could buy it new at Heathrow versus what I could get it (new) from a gray market dealer here in the US, I figured I could do better here.

Go ahead and shop while you're there, that's half the fun, but I think if you do all of the math, you'll come to the same conclusion.

[m j b]

Ooops, sorry, just saw that the OP is in Israel, not the USA. I don't know what the prices are like there, so you may be better off in the UK after all.

[Uhtred59]

If you want a sub think you would have better luck flying to the US.

[AK797]

Very little chance of finding a Subc in the UK, esp if you are a tourist and not a local.

[wach16]

Good luck on the hunt!

[Nairn1980]

Yeh Steel subs/GMT/BLNR etc are very hard to find at RRP from an AD.

When they do come in, they tend to go straight back out to someone on their list without even going in the window.

Also ADs tell me they like to sell to locals only (for SS Sports pieces) so I don't think you'll have much luck.

Definitely worth a try though!

[Zakalwe]

$8000 sounds like a great price - it's actually a tick under what you'd pay here, though I guess the VAT refund would still make it cheaper for you to buy in the U.K. (less any import duty you might have to pay on the way back home).

But as others have said, you're highly unlikely to be able to walk into an AD and pick up a SubC, unless perhaps you're also in the market for a PM piece. I reckon you should snap the arm off whoever is offering you your current deal.

[Beowulf]

Originally Posted by Ok4696

Hello, I will be visiting in the UK in a few weeks and I'm interested in a buying my first grown-up watch. After a serious research I decided to go for a ceramic sub date (116610). i figured that since the pound is low it would be a good idea to buy in the uk, but i wasn't able to get a conclusive pricing for the piece. I hoped that any of you would be able to give me its price, I'm able to get the piece new in 8000$ right now but i thought i could grab it for less in the uk..

so what's the price for a Rolex Submariner Date Ceramic black dial (ref 116610LN) in the UK ?

Thanks

Amazingly, the Submariner is still not something you can just go to a shop and buy immediately, except in some countries (or if you have contacts).

Best price I found in the UK for a 116610LN, a couple of weeks ago, in reliable sellers (well, the ones I know, doesn't mean others are not reliable) was £6,950. That's 7588 EUR / $9003 USD. I've bought more watches from this [grey] seller and he replied that he really couldn't get it lower because it's a watch that gets sold as soon as it arrives. So supply & demand, even being a Submariner, the Big Mac of Rolex.

The price is marginally lower than the catalog price at an AD where I live (7850 EUR, ~200e saving). I ordered one merely because the ADs here didn't really want to sell it even at full list price.
Two told me "The waiting list is too long, so we are not taking orders" and the other simply replied "We do not sell it." (Gassan, Schaap)

I ended up ordering from this UK shop because they can source it in 4 to 8 weeks and at least they seemed to try to help.

The best prices for it in the EU are if you manage to buy it duty-free at an airport. That will mean an instant big discount, which can be up to -23% or so. For example, this same submariner would cost about 6100 EUR instead of 7850.

The problem with airport shops is that many don't take orders/have lists and won't tell you what is in stock. So it's a matter of being lucky that day and grabbing something that just arrived.

In short, I don't think you'll get any advantageous deal in the UK (or the EU in general) unless you manage to buy it tax/duty-free - in that case expect 20-25% less than the catalog price.

You stated you can get it at $8000, so even if you get it duty free, the savings in Europe would be minimal.
$8000 in EUR=6741
Duty free price at airport=6,487 EUR (this is up to date, price at Schipol Airport, Netherlands)

Best case scenario, you'll save ~$250. Which means, don't bother. It's a 2.3% discount... I'd snatch that one you mentioned.

Good luck!

PS. Still waiting for my 116610LN. Three weeks elapsed :D