If Hong Kong is so expensive - which country/city would you go hunting for SS models?

[InitialAndPitch]

I’ve posted a number of threads about my experiences hunting for SS models in Hong Kong - especially the Kowloon side. Much of the feedback has been around Hong Kong being exceptionally expensive. “No bargains here” and so on. We’re talking about greys of course as the ADs are picked clean for walk in sales.

Where then, in your experience is the right country or city to try. I’m not expecting anything bargain basement on pricing but just maybe to avoid an over pumped location. HK sure has the stock though.

I’m on a plane constantly, so if I’m passing through better locations, I’ll take some time to look.

Thanks guys.

[enjoythemusic]

Airports and cruise freeports.

[zjd168]

If you are talking about AD then SS models are hard to get globally, your challenge is to find one available, not the price

[InitialAndPitch]

Originally Posted by zjd168

If you are talking about AD then SS models are hard to get globally, your challenge is to find one available, not the price

No I’m pretty much resigned to the greys.

[TheRolexKingofLV]

Orlando FL.

[milov]

With the Australian dollar being where it is right now, I'd say forget about it until it returns to something more reasonable.

[InitialAndPitch]

Originally Posted by milov

With the Australian dollar being where it is right now, I'd say forget about it until it returns to something more reasonable.

Yes, the Aust dollar, combined with credit card fees and GST tax on the way back in is rotten.

[chrome168]

if we're talking about greys here then you're out of luck... why? because of social media and the internet, the greys have uniform pricing now... just one click of a button and you can see their prices are not that far off from each other.

[Bebot]

They all pretty much the same by the time you converted into a US Dollars.

[supernova]

There are great deals in HK if you shop and haggle.

If your just window shopping and looking at sticker prices then it's definitely more expensive. Got a mint ExpII last year in HK for really good price, wore for year and sold it for nice profit last month :)

[nuts070]

In Hong Kong the technique is to show you're determined to buy and then haggle to the hilt.

[RL777]

There really isn't anywhere great for in demand SS models right now, it all eventually comes out roughly the same.

[GreatHarry]

I go to Japan, specifically Nakano, for my watches.
Not saying the greys over there are cheaper than HK, but having checked Chrono24, it's very much swings & roundabouts. Some were cheaper in Japan than HK and vice-versa. Buying overseas of course you're benefitting from "tax-free" purchases. Unless you're unlucky and get caught returning to your country of domicile, that was an unpleasent experiance!

[MinMay]

It’s not about discount but more about availability. Good luck in finding one. And if you do then just buy it with out question on pricing.

[TempoKing]

Gone are the times you could pretty much buy any Rolex you wanted.
The steel sport models...?
if you want to buy from an Authorized Rolex Dealer ...the new trend is for them to sell them at black market prices...(Not Gray market anymore)...and the “grays”...pretty much ask some crazy prices as well...all immoral in my opinion.

Hong Kong pays black market prices to the European ADs....every week they send a list for what they want/need...and they pay well over retail ...so no chance for any common folk to buy one at the regular retail price.

WHO’s fault is it ?
In my opinion the guy at the helm of the Rolex watch company
In his fervor to prove that he can do better than when he was with “zenith”
He introduced (together with some other clueless executives, a myriad of silly rules
and regulations ....in the mean time while finding ways how not to supply parts to
watchmakers, how to demand the removal of the silly protective stickers ...lol
How not to adjust production to demand...He....forgot the Rolex buyer !!
....yes the one who pays his fat salary.....idiots the lot of them

[InitialAndPitch]

Thanks for the replies. I bought grey in HK and got a grey deal that I felt was good and considering the price I saw them at today it was a bargain.

Many on the forum suggested that HK was overpriced in the grey market but I’d done my homework and it proved pretty competitive. I was therefore concluded based on comments that there was somewhere better to buy. But it’s all bad.

The Pepsi at one of the greys went up from $HK120,00 at end of January to $HK148,000 as of about a week ago. Original Batmans a bit behind that but the new Jubilee model is $HK188,000 $US24,000!!!

[HappyFish]

Originally Posted by TempoKing

Gone are the times you could pretty much buy any Rolex you wanted.
The steel sport models...?
if you want to buy from an Authorized Rolex Dealer ...the new trend is for them to sell them at black market prices...(Not Gray market anymore)...and the “grays”...pretty much ask some crazy prices as well...all immoral in my opinion.

Hong Kong pays black market prices to the European ADs....every week they send a list for what they want/need...and they pay well over retail ...so no chance for any common folk to buy one at the regular retail price.

WHO’s fault is it ?
In my opinion the guy at the helm of the Rolex watch company
In his fervor to prove that he can do better than when he was with “zenith”
He introduced (together with some other clueless executives, a myriad of silly rules
and regulations ....in the mean time while finding ways how not to supply parts to
watchmakers, how to demand the removal of the silly protective stickers ...lol
How not to adjust production to demand...He....forgot the Rolex buyer !!
....yes the one who pays his fat salary.....idiots the lot of them

Jean-Frederic Dufour is the best Rolex CEO since long! With all he did so far he has been right and did great! The status of Rolex is brighter than ever - great job!

Please more shortage and a higher premium Jean!

[watchmaker]

Originally Posted by TempoKing

....in the mean time while finding ways how not to supply parts to
watchmakers

Not sure what you base this statement on. Rolex have amongst the largest network of authorised external watchmakers of any watch brand worldwide.

If a watchmaker cannot pass or refuses to attend training courses it is right that they do not have access to parts.

[rambo99]

exactly which model are you looking for? brand new or used?

[TakeYourTime]

Rolex is hardly underpriced in the Euro area but the availability is low due to the high amount of wealth there (high demand meets low supply).

Oregon in the US has no sales tax but you will face the same problem as in the EU and they won't give you a dime off of PM models (in OR at least).

Try your luck at airports all over the world!

[jimbobali]

Regency watch in Kathmandu had a decent selection and is the sole AD in Nepal but unfortunately they charge somewhere between AD and Grey prices. I was there in late October and they had a sub, GMT LN, 126610 black as well as a sub lv in the display case.

[BillA]

OP
What did you end up buying?

[WatchLurv]

Originally Posted by TempoKing

Gone are the times you could pretty much buy any Rolex you wanted.
The steel sport models...?
if you want to buy from an Authorized Rolex Dealer ...the new trend is for them to sell them at black market prices...(Not Gray market anymore)...and the “grays”...pretty much ask some crazy prices as well...all immoral in my opinion.

Hong Kong pays black market prices to the European ADs....every week they send a list for what they want/need...and they pay well over retail ...so no chance for any common folk to buy one at the regular retail price.

WHO’s fault is it ?
In my opinion the guy at the helm of the Rolex watch company
In his fervor to prove that he can do better than when he was with “zenith”
He introduced (together with some other clueless executives, a myriad of silly rules
and regulations ....in the mean time while finding ways how not to supply parts to
watchmakers, how to demand the removal of the silly protective stickers ...lol
How not to adjust production to demand...He....forgot the Rolex buyer !!
....yes the one who pays his fat salary.....idiots the lot of them

I second that. The round table in Geneva is run by a bunch of dudes who needs to show who has the biggest bollocks. Along comes the CEO of Rolex in the US, Canada, APAC etc. who needs to prove back to their bosses in Geneva that they have similar sized bollocks. It's all bollocks and they're killing off ADs and potentially new watch collectors/clients.

And I'm not even hating here - Just speaking the truth as I own a double digit amount of Rolex watches. Would love to own more but someone spearheading Rolex's tactics is stopping me and everyone else in obtaining watches we would want.

[HappyFish]

Originally Posted by WatchLurv

I second that. It's all bollocks and they're killing off ADs and potentially new watch collectors/clients.

And I'm not even hating here - Just speaking the truth as I own a double digit amount of Rolex watches. Would love to own more but someone spearheading Rolex's tactics is stopping me and everyone else in obtaining watches we would want.

Thank you for choosing another brand!

[WatchLurv]

Originally Posted by HappyFish

Thank you for choosing another brand!

I chose Patek. Building that collection as we speak.

[zjd168]

Originally Posted by WatchLurv

I chose Patek. Building that collection as we speak.

PP hot models are harder to find, and grey premium is worse

[Rogdogg]

I'd start with Narnia and failing that Gondor might be worth a shout.

[watchfan1845]

I think supply in Hong Kong at ADs is pretty good, but the problem is intercepting them before they go out the door, either to grays, flippers or whales.

When I picked up my Submariner in Feb, I asked the AD how many BLROs they saw in 2018 - and they said 20. If this is anywhere close to the truth, it beats the supply of every other AD I've heard mentioned here.

[InitialAndPitch]

Originally Posted by BillA

OP
What did you end up buying?

I bought a brand new Pepsi. I was hearing the buzz that HK was nightmarishly expensive and just assumed there was a hidden stash I’d not heard about.

The American market certainly has advantages as your dollar is stronger than Australia’s.

[InitialAndPitch]

Originally Posted by rambo99

exactly which model are you looking for? brand new or used?

I’d pick up a blue Sky Dweller or a Batman. New would be the preference to save the assessments to be made over condition issues - but would go pre-owned if it was right.

For example there’s a Blue Sky Dweller, 1 year old in HK priced on par or below the Jubilee Batman.