First Rolex...which country would be easiest?

[Yess]

Originally Posted by topcat30093

I visited two of the AD’s in Sydney a couple of days before Christmas and apart from diamond encrusted pieces. There was very little to look at. The stock in The Hour Glass was laughable and honestly embarrassing to look at!

Yes - seems that is the case at the moment! I've just got back from two ADs in Sydney -- one had gotten the exact watch I am after on Tuesday lunch time and it was sold on Tuesday evening. They have my details now - so perhaps something will come of that before I leave. If not - the hunt is on in various cities.

[KingLouie]

In Finland Helsinki is not the place to go for Rolex shopping. The lists are full and they are out of stock for almost every existing model.

You should instead contact the AD in the city of Lahti, it's 1 hour drive from Helsinki. I got my Sky-Dweller from there in two weeks back in 2018. I just send them an e-mail to inquire if they have a list for sky-dweller and they send a reply saying "it might take a while since we don't have any at the moment". After two weeks they called and said "we have your watch here, would like to come and get it". Was very suprised but pleased.

[medtner]

I have seen OP 39 multiple times last year in different colors at ADs in Glasgow, Budapest and Dublin. Saw the grape in at AMS airport almost a year ago and in CDG few months ago. Still regret not getting it. Price without VAT was around 4500 Eur whuch is around $5000. US price didn't increase this year which is $5700. Not sure if price went up in Europe.

[-kk-]

OP39 is fairly common in Auckland, and I was asked if I wanted the rhodium dial last month. If you’re keen drop me a pm, I can find out if it’s still there and help you out.

[TempoKing]

I had one like you want Sorry
I sold for $3,750

[Smarties]

Forget Hong Kong. It's the worst place on earth to buy SS sport Rolex!

[Yess]

Originally Posted by Smarties

Forget Hong Kong. It's the worst place on earth to buy SS sport Rolex!

Really - such conflicting opinions on HK's availability.

Singapore may prove more fruitful then. And since it is my first port of call - can't hurt to take a look!

[chancm]

for Signgapore maybe you can try
Kee Hing Hung, an AD at Chinatown
1 Park Rd, #02-21/22 People's Park Complex, Singapore 059108

[BigBoy17]

Albania

[Smarties]

Originally Posted by Yess

Really - such conflicting opinions on HK's availability.

Singapore may prove more fruitful then. And since it is my first port of call - can't hurt to take a look!

Some of the ADs in HK are selling sought after models at premium (street price).

In general, you are allowed to buy a submariner after you spent USD20-30k.

And you are granted the privilege to have your name on the waiting list for SS Daytona after you spent USD120k.

You Should be fine since you’re Looking for oyster perpetual in Rodium.

[Ichiran]

Originally Posted by Yess

Really - such conflicting opinions on HK's availability.

Singapore may prove more fruitful then. And since it is my first port of call - can't hurt to take a look!

You can only see gorgeous 2-tone Rolex in Singapore. Nothing else.

In HK, you can find SS DJ41 and DJ36 in almost any color, some PM sport and some Day-Date, etc.

Personal experience.

[Yess]

Originally Posted by Ichiran

You can only see gorgeous 2-tone Rolex in Singapore. Nothing else.

Very interesting... well, at least I will get to see some nice watches while I am in town!

[ganagati]

Originally Posted by TswaneNguni

Aus AD or anywhere Grey

Grey in SA would give you 15% VAT back at the airport . Grey Sub/date minus 15% vat will give you 13% above local MRSP.Not bad

13% above MSRP is a shade above MSRP + tax in most places. Not too bad....

[ecsw]

Believe it or not, I was in London at the end of Nov. 2019 casually passing few AD around Bond Street and found my first Rolex (DeepSea). Didn't buy it right away, but 2 blocks away found another AD - "Watches of Switzerland" had a 37mm Yacht-Master SS as well for a little cheaper than Deepsea. I decided to go back and pick up Deepsea hours after.

I was in Paris days after and I was glad I bought it in London for 2 reasons.

1. Paris AD are emptier than London. When a sales in Paris saw my Deepsea, she was surprised I was able to get it in London.

2. UK duty return is close to 16%, whereas Paris is around 12%.

I know CDG has a Rolex AD. But the transit strike started in early Dec and my flight out of CDG was cancelled so I had to leave Paris without going to CDG.

London could be bare, but I found that when you visited AD that's not operated by Rolex , you will have better luck finding a SS than AD sells only Rolex.

[ecsw]

I would think Austin from Youtube is a member here as well. Loved his Rolex shopping video and I believe he commented Amsterdam has more SS than other city he visited.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN5sLss3A1Y&t=1273s

[DoubleBridge]

I'm American but live in Switzerland. I was looking for a 126710BLNR across Europe - London, Brussels, Istanbul, Zurich, Geneva, Milan. Of all places I got myself on a list in Florida and got my watch in ~3 months. Of course through my network but as far as availability, US was best for me.....Good luck with the hunt. Enjoy the pursuit, it's part of the hobby 😉

[Yess]

Originally Posted by DoubleBridge

I'm American but live in Switzerland. I was looking for a 126710BLNR across Europe - London, Brussels, Istanbul, Zurich, Geneva, Milan. Of all places I got myself on a list in Florida and got my watch in ~3 months. Of course through my network but as far as availability, US was best for me.....Good luck with the hunt. Enjoy the pursuit, it's part of the hobby 😉

Thanks!
I'm on a few lists in various places, it's fairly exciting to see if one of the options pans out over the next month or so...

[Rashid.bk]

This is what really sucks about buying a nice Rolex or AP for a new buyer. Unless they want pm or a DJ, they are going to be climbing Everest to acquire one.
Welcome to the forum. Your best bet is any out of the way country with a dealer in a small low traffic city, otherwise you're going to have better luck going grey market if you know what that is.

[Yess]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

This is what really sucks about buying a nice Rolex or AP for a new buyer. Unless they want pm or a DJ, they are going to be climbing Everest to acquire one.
Welcome to the forum. Your best bet is any out of the way country with a dealer in a small low traffic city, otherwise you're going to have better luck going grey market if you know what that is.

Yeah, it's a strange thing; I've always admired Rolex and have thought about getting one for a while. I'm not a watch collector, have a few Tissot watches that I wear, but have always admired the Rolex aesthetic and history. My wife and I were surprised at the difficulty of giving away almost $10k for a watch - we thought it would be simple! Supply and demand, I guess, and is a part of the reason for the brand's cache!

[bezler]

Originally Posted by Yess

Yeah, it's a strange thing; I've always admired Rolex and have thought about getting one for a while. I'm not a watch collector, have a few Tissot watches that I wear, but have always admired the Rolex aesthetic and history. My wife and I were surprised at the difficulty of giving away almost $10k for a watch - we thought it would be simple! Supply and demand, I guess, and is a part of the reason for the brand's cache!

Perhaps you would do well to simply wait awhile. As you've observed, these are not normal times. It's laughable to beg for the chance to pay $10k for a simple watch.

It might take a few years, but at some point there will be a nice selection of new Rolex watches available from ADs at a normal discount from MSRP, and bigger discounts from other dealers - essentially, the way it's always been before the fad of the last few years.

Unless, of course, this time is different from any other time in history.

[Yess]

Originally Posted by bezler

It might take a few years, but at some point there will be a nice selection of new Rolex watches available from ADs at a normal discount from MSRP, and bigger discounts from other dealers - essentially, the way it's always been before the fad of the last few years.

Unless, of course, this time is different from any other time in history.

Yeah, agreed. But the thing about buying one in Europe is that I'm hoping to get it tax free... This could be quite a saving off MSRP. And it seems that Rolex is set on increasing prices regularly (?)

[bezler]

Originally Posted by Yess

Yeah, agreed. But the thing about buying one in Europe is that I'm hoping to get it tax free... This could be quite a saving off MSRP. And it seems that Rolex is set on increasing prices regularly (?)

When you search internationally, you'll also run into problems (or benefits) based on exchange rates. Rolex watches are a competitive international market. If your currency is weak, your country's allocated watches are globally cheap, and they'll move to other countries that will pay more; you can't get them locally, even if the posted price is fair. And if your currency is strong, you'll have great product availability - but the price will be high for everyone, because those dealers and middlemen all need their cut.


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[Yess]

Originally Posted by bezler

When you search internationally, you'll also run into problems (or benefits) based on exchange rates. Rolex watches are a competitive international market. If your currency is weak, your country's allocated watches are globally cheap, and they'll move to other countries that will pay more; you can't get them locally, even if the posted price is fair. And if your currency is strong, you'll have great product availability - but the price will be high for everyone, because those dealers and middlemen all need their cut.

So far if one of the European lists that I'm on comes through, despite the poor Australian dollar, I'll be saving about 10% off local (Australian) prices (if I can get it duty free in Europe). High tax rates on goods in some of the Euro countries... 20%+

I'm not a fan of purchasing something here in Australia under our 'Tourist Tax Free' scheme. Basically if you buy something in Australia and leave the country within sixty days you can claim the GST...(close enough to 10%). But you can't bring that item back to Australia in less than 12 months without paying the duty. And they do flag you if you claim it on larger items.

[Neurogeek]

I am from Melbourne Australia and i Travel once a month. I was told by my ADs in Melbourne that Australia had one of the cheapest rolexes in the world. Pls note this is before the price hike this yr.
I'd say build your relationship with your local AD. Get more SS watches you want that way.
Good luck with watch hunting!

[Yess]

Originally Posted by Neurogeek

I am from Melbourne Australia and i Travel once a month. I was told by my ADs in Melbourne that Australia had one of the cheapest rolexes in the world. Pls note this is before the price hike this yr.
I'd say build your relationship with your local AD. Get more SS watches you want that way.
Good luck with watch hunting!

With the exchange rates (weak Australian dollar) I think this is quite true. But when travelling in the high-tax Euro countries, if you can find a watch, you can get about 8-10% off Australian prices, even with the poor conversion. Since no AD's are discounting at the moment (from what I have been told) it seems like a good deal. Happy to hear other thoughts.