Long trip soon: Buy in Las Vegas or in Hong Kong?

[time]

Hi, guys and girls.

I will be travelling in the winter time.

I am saving for one or two nice watch(es) now.

I am think to buy in either in Las Vegas or in Hong Kong (Kowloon/Wanchai/Central) or Macau.

Any really good and NICE ADs in those places? The ADs should be Rolex/IWC/AP/PP/VC ADs [I like to look as well ]

I am thinking of buying 1 or 2 of these:
Explorer I
Daytona (black?)
AP RO 15300/chronogr./(Offshore used?)
PP Calatrava/Nautilus(Used maybe[?])
VC Overseas(?)
IWC Mark xvi/Ingenieur/Aquatimer 08 Vintage

Any ideas of ADs with good selection in Vegas and HK/Macau?

THANKS.

[Tango21]

Can't advise you about Hong Kong since 1989 was the last time I was there and looking at GMT Masters at the Royal Navy China Fleet Club (has it changed much since then?). ;-)

I was in Vegas in May/June of 2008 and there is a jewelry store in the Mandalay Bay Hotel. I'm pretty sure that they're an AD because I saw several Rolexes there. Make sure you get a salesman who knows Rolexes though. The girl I talked to didn't have a clue about the ones I was looking at.

You can't miss them when you're walking through the hotel. However, I doubt that they will give any on the price since they're located in Vegas and on some really hot real estate. Good luck!!!

Also, that was just the Mandalay Bay, I'm sure there are other ADs in the Vegas area. Several of the best casino/hotels have high end shops and I'm sure that some of them have Rolexes too. Ceasars Palace, Wynn, Palazzo and The Venetian come to mind.

Have fun exploring (Fremont Street is still cool and old school) and shopping around!!!

[Steven79]

Vegas sucks for Rolex shopping. almost no discounts and the selection is only okay since everyone there is shopping for nice things. i was there last winter and i was not impressed.

although i did not visit the new rolex store in the wynn hotel.

definitely HK. everyone here talks about the amazing discounts!

[Big Lu]

If you go to Vegas, I highly recommend going to The Wynn. The only Rolex badged store in the US is located in it's Esplanade. The selections impressive! Also, I recommend the Tourneau in Ceaser's Palace at the Forum Shops. Many of the brands you seek are there. They also have a fine selection of pre-owned watches.

[Poohsan]

Hong Kong is great for buying Rolex. There are numerous AD all over.

Helpful hints:
- Pay cash or ATM for best discounts. (Only do this at a true AD. You don’t want to do this only to find you cannot get your money back if something goes wrong.).
- There is no sales tax in HK.
- If possible take a local person to help negotiate for you.
- Negotiation is the name of the game in HK.
- Don’t take there first offer on a discount either, (They can always do better)

[sea-dweller]

HK is 'Rolex heaven' and beats Vegas 'hands down'. You will get a discount at an AD in Hong Kong and there are many of them around in the areas you mentioned (Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, or Causeway Bay are the best areas for Rolex shopping). In Vegas, the AD's won't discount a dime. As the post above said, 'try and bring a local person to help you negotiate for you'. I've done this and have also 'shopped around' alone to several AD's to see which one gave me the best price. Perhaps, one of the TRF members from HK can chime in on what to expect in terms of a discount.

[Poohsan]

I'll be in HK in September.
Any "TRF" Members up for a beer in HK?

[sys12345]

Wish i could join u but i'll be reaching HK only in late Oct. Have a nice trip!

Originally Posted by Poohsan

I'll be in HK in September.
Any "TRF" Members up for a beer in HK?

[superdelsol]

Originally Posted by Big Lu

If you go to Vegas, I highly recommend going to The Wynn. The only Rolex badged store in the US is located in it's Esplanade. The selections impressive! Also, I recommend the Tourneau in Ceaser's Palace at the Forum Shops. Many of the brands you seek are there. They also have a fine selection of pre-owned watches.

So is this Rolex badged store different from the Rolex Flagship store in Costa Mesa. It's called "Rolex Presented by Baron and Leeds".

http://investing.businessweek.com/re...capId=12932301

[sys12345]

Discounts given for Rolex watches from HK ADs depends on the model. If its a popular/hot-selling sports model, there'll be NO DISCOUNT whatsoever. For models like DJs, their AD policy only allows a max discount of 8% in general. That said, their retail listed price (after conversion to your respective currency) is usually lower than anywhere else.

Originally Posted by sea-dweller

HK is 'Rolex heaven' and beats Vegas 'hands down'. You will get a discount at an AD in Hong Kong and there are many of them around in the areas you mentioned (Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, or Causeway Bay are the best areas for Rolex shopping). In Vegas, the AD's won't discount a dime. As the post above said, 'try and bring a local person to help you negotiate for you'. I've done this and have also 'shopped around' alone to several AD's to see which one gave me the best price. Perhaps, one of the TRF members from HK can chime in on what to expect in terms of a discount.

[scottschoe]

Originally Posted by superdelsol

So is this Rolex badged store different from the Rolex Flagship store in Costa Mesa. It's called "Rolex Presented by Baron and Leeds".

http://investing.businessweek.com/re...capId=12932301

The Costa Mesa store is just a large AD, nothing special about it.

[Warren]

Hi time,
what sys12345 said is correct.

I am not familiar with other brand. But if you are looking for Explorer I which is available everywhere with 8% discount. credit card or cash. no worries

But for Daytona (black?) would be a bit difficult. the current price in hong kong is around HKD$95000 (over MSRP, source from local forum). since I am not interested to buy one over the MSRP. So I don't know any best way to find one, maybe just put down the money and ask for it at any AD in the busy area.

You can go to RSC Hong Kong at here in Central
http://www.rolexforums.com/showpost....5&postcount=11

and pick up AD List
http://www.rolexforums.com/showpost....44&postcount=1

Originally Posted by time

Hi, guys and girls.

I will be travelling in the winter time.

I am saving for one or two nice watch(es) now.

I am think to buy in either in Las Vegas or in Hong Kong (Kowloon/Wanchai/Central) or Macau.

Any really good and NICE ADs in those places? The ADs should be Rolex/IWC/AP/PP/VC ADs [I like to look as well ]

I am thinking of buying 1 or 2 of these:
Explorer I
Daytona (black?)
AP RO 15300/chronogr./(Offshore used?)
PP Calatrava/Nautilus(Used maybe[?])
VC Overseas(?)
IWC Mark xvi/Ingenieur/Aquatimer 08 Vintage

Any ideas of ADs with good selection in Vegas and HK/Macau?

THANKS.

[Z-Sub]

It is.
Any Tariff problem if you bring it back? I'm going there in December and I'll go there "empty handed" and hopefully to return with something on my wrist.

[jamesh]

One thing I've found buying Rolex in HK is that no matter how many ADs you visit the deal they offer you is usually the same - the amount of discount just depends on the model.

Because there's so many AD's and so much competition they usually keep each other pretty honest.

I can recommend Pecision Watch Co. on 3/F of Pacific Place shopping Mall Central/Admiralty (at entrance of Siebu Dept. store) where I have bought several watches.

Good luck!

[time]

I will be in Vegas for a business stay.. almostly round Mandalay Bay ...

Since I got many informations from you all, I will try to not buy in Vegas... until I get to HK. I hope to resist when I am in Vegas and see all Rollies there.

I will visit some relatives in HK. Fortunately, I can some Cantonese, so I will fire my bad Cantonese when I am made a deal. If I do get a good discount for a Rolex, I'll go for more "discreet" models of PP/AP/VC...

Thanks again. I am looking forward to see Vegas(never been there) and HK(looooong time ago).

Until I go to US/HK, I WILL NOT BUY THINGS HERE in noth! 25% Tax + fee

[YYD]

Two recommendations for Rolex AD in HK. One is on 2/F IFC mall, run by Dickson. The other is opposite to Time square, run by Emperor. These two shops sell exclusively Rolex, so they have more selections. Discounts are about the same as others have mentioned.

[time]

Thanks! Dozhe!

Any nice Rolex and AP/PP ADs round Jordan/tsimtsatsui? Halewinner/King Fook/Emperor/Prince?

Originally Posted by YYD

Two recommendations for Rolex AD in HK. One is on 2/F IFC mall, run by Dickson. The other is opposite to Time square, run by Emperor. These two shops sell exclusively Rolex, so they have more selections. Discounts are about the same as others have mentioned.

[aelvin]

definately HK esp its tax free!

[crimscrem]

Based on those options, i would go with Hong Kong. If you throw in the option of buying from an out of state AD in the US, then I would go with the out of state AD. I was in Hong Kong last winter and decided against buying watches there. Came back to the states and bought them. Saved a lot of money than I would have had I bought in Hong Kong.

[Trurolexer]

I heard HK is one of the BEST place for shopping Rolex.

[BigHat]

Realize HK is has a much different history / free market culture then Beijing but do the same principles apply? Anyone shop up north?

Going for a long visit after the Olympics.

[S/SOnly]

Vegas has an abundance of dealers here, though discounts can be rare, and some of the pieces are on the "Bling" side.

Best store, in my opinion, is Ben Bridge at Fashion Show. Very nice selection, and the service is wonderful. Not the stuffiness that some of the Hotel AD's have, though just as fine a selection.

Tourneau at Forum Shops Caesars Palace is a bit store, with lots of varying brands, though I find the Rolex selection average. Service is middling at best for me.

Tesorini at Bellagio, cool store, good selection, stuffy service however.

Rolex at Wynn. Amazing selection, nice service, though not overly sincere. If anything, go just to say you've seen it... seriously. Also, Wynn & Co. Jewelry carries some of the other time pieces you are looking at, and it is 3 doors down from Rolex. (Both stores are owned and operated by Wynn & Co.)

Hope this helps, and enjoy the trip.

D-

[YYD]

You can spend a whole day watch shopping in TST alone. Walk down Nathan road starting at Peninsula Hotel. There is a Dickson in the hotel shopping arcade.

Along Nathan road, there are two Emperors, one big King Fook, and many other watch shops. For Prince, you need to go to Harbour city on Canton Road or Causeway Bay. There is also an Elegant Watch shop in Harbour city.

If that's not enough, you can spend another day in Causeway Bay (near Sogo and Time square) and the third day in Central around Landmark (Emperor, Orential, Dickson, Carlson).

Have fun watch shopping in HK.