Buying a new Rolex in Geneva

[toneafficianado]

I have a friend who's off to Switzerland soon and has kindly offered to bring me back a new watch. This is a chance to get my grail at what will hopefully be a better price than is available here in Au at an AD. Also I am sure there will actually be stock there which is often not the case with ADs here. Can anyone recommend any shops or dealers there? My buddy in a non WIS so brand new will be the best bet. Anyone with recent Genevan experiences?
Is it , perhaps , better value for him to buy in France or Germany which are very close by so as to use Euros?

[AK797]

If he can't get a good deal then Germany and esp Italy often have the best prices so would be a good idea for him to research ones he can visit now. Oh, and I've never seen the word Genevan before so thanks for that. Outside of ADs look on chrono24 for those sellers that have 10 or more recommendations from other sellers, they are usually legit.

[themaninblack]

I didn't price Rolex specifically when last there two years ago but on previous visits it was more expensive to buy Rolex in Switzerland than just about anywhere else. Last visit I was after a particular Zenith and it was nearly 20% more than in Hong Kong. You can get a small tax refund in Switzerland but they make it very difficult.

[Vincent65]

Most things are more expensive, here. That includes watches.

[johneh]

Try Germany. The EUR is more "attractive" than the CHF, and you'll get a VAT refund when you leave the EU. The VAT is 19%, but the company that does the refunds (Global Blue) takes a cut of that so you don't get the full pop back.

[s14roller]

Everything in Geneva is expensive...

[djemmtee]

They dont really discount them in geneva. Like the others have said, try a Euro currency country as the conversion rate is low nowadays.

[Dan Pierce]

What you will find in Switzerland is stunning scenery and wonderful people. What you won't find is a bargain price.
dP

[jon_jon]

Originally Posted by toneafficianado

I have a friend who's off to Switzerland soon and has kindly offered to bring me back a new watch. This is a chance to get my grail at what will hopefully be a better price than is available here in Au at an AD. Also I am sure there will actually be stock there which is often not the case with ADs here. Can anyone recommend any shops or dealers there? My buddy in a non WIS so brand new will be the best bet. Anyone with recent Genevan experiences?
Is it , perhaps , better value for him to buy in France or Germany which are very close by so as to use Euros?

I don't know where in Australia you live in, but if you can get to Singapore, you can find any Rolex watch model you want. Most Rolex ADs there have 100+ Rolex watches in their display case and I am not exaggerating

As for Switzerland, I would contact some Rolex ADs before your friend travels over there to inquire about pricing and availability. Most Rolex ADs in Switzerland should be able to speak English well enough to answer your questions.

[toneafficianado]

Thanks for great advice guys!! I'll do some research into ADs and the possibility of my friend going to Germany for half a day too. Cheers!

[toneafficianado]

Originally Posted by AK797

If he can't get a good deal then Germany and esp Italy often have the best prices so would be a good idea for him to research ones he can visit now. Oh, and I've never seen the word Genevan before so thanks for that. Outside of ADs look on chrono24 for those sellers that have 10 or more recommendations from other sellers, they are usually legit.

"GENEVAN ". You're right it's a made up word. In Aussie[!] we say Melbournian and Sydneyite often. We're arguably the people who mess around with English the most!

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

What you will find in Switzerland is stunning scenery and wonderful people. What you won't find is a bargain price.
dP

Indeed

[watchwatcher]

Maybe swing by the HQ and see if they've got a few laying around...maybe a couple of factory defects at a bargain price?

[toneafficianado]

Good thinking re the HQ..Wonder if they have a "cellar door?"

[SIDMAN]

I was in Switzerland a week back and noticed the Chinese tour groups buying a lot of watches especially in Interlaken. Most of the dealers offered a 5% discount on Rolex and a 8% tax refund at the store itself so that makes it 13% in total but their MSRP's were relatively high in comparison to other countries. Interlaken was one place where a discount was offered on Rolex whereas in Geneva there was none. The only 'high' you can get of purchasing a Rolex in Switzerland is that it was bought in its country of manufacture. You should look to make your purchase in Asia where you may get it at an attractive price.

[Apalachicola]

Italy is where I found the best prices. Some store on via Conditti I'm about to get another in Aspen, at full retail, I suspect.

[joli160]

In Geneva you can buy direct from Rolex from the only store they have. Nice for the paperwork

[toneafficianado]

This is great info guys!! I'll check out where Interlaken is in regards to Geneva and see if my buddy can go there or maybe France though he may need to go a far way into France from Geneva to find Rolexes.

[Johny]

Originally Posted by joli160

In Geneva you can buy direct from Rolex from the only store they have. Nice for the paperwork

[ratty]

Originally Posted by AK797

If he can't get a good deal then Germany and esp Italy often have the best prices so would be a good idea for him to research ones he can visit now. Oh, and I've never seen the word Genevan before so thanks for that. Outside of ADs look on chrono24 for those sellers that have 10 or more recommendations from other sellers, they are usually legit.

Do you have any information about how much cheaper watches are in Italy? I may be going and I want to find out how prices there compare to GB.

Thanks

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

What you will find in Switzerland is stunning scenery and wonderful people. What you won't find is a bargain price.
dP

I guess you have mixed things up with Sweden.

[iazrollie]

The AD in the airport has a great stock (i was offered the 116520). They will also discount.

[Skyrider01]

I bought my BLNR in Geneva last November. Retail price was CHF 8500. No discount except for the VAT which is about 7%. When I factored in the exchange rate with the US$ and the tax savings, I paid about $1300 less than if I had purchased it from an AD in the U.S.

Generally there are no discounts on Rolexes in Geneva. I was in Zermatt about a year ago, and an AD there was willing to discount an explorer I about 200-300 CHF. It seems that dealers in the smaller towns during the slow tourist season might give a better deal.

As other have said, given the weak euro, one might get a better deal in another country that uses euros.

[jamesbondOO7]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

What you will find in Switzerland is stunning scenery and wonderful people. What you won't find is a bargain price.
dP

Exactly, we are a deluxe country. One has to pay the price for it.

[SeaAndSky]

Originally Posted by Vincent65

Most things are more expensive, here. That includes watches.

Beautiful country but definitely one of the most expensive in Europe. Still, a great place. I'm looking forward to a couple of days in Zurich again at the end of a two week trip to the Italian Alps in August.

[toneafficianado]

I am very grateful for all the helpful thoughts and advice here~! thank you all.
I wonder what the closest place to Geneva would be where i could fine another AD but not in Switzerland.. Lyon has one but it seems to be a fair way off.
This is all going to happen next week and I am chasing a 116613LB new.