Going through airport customs - Germany

[mr.president1]

Hey all,

I feel like it has been forever since I posted. I have a quick question about traveling internationally with my Omega Seamaster. In a month, I will be leaving for Europe and will be traveling through different countries. Did any of you have any trouble with airport customs when it came to going through the customs at the airport with your watch on. I've heard that 1. if they find a high end watch such as Omega, that they will check the watch for authenticity and either assess a custom duty fee or confiscate it if they believe it is counterfeit. Now, I'm not worried about the counterfeit piece, as I can back up the fact that it is authentic, but I am a bit concerned about customs duty fees. When I go through customs I will be wearing the watch. What are your guys' experiences with customs. The first part of my journey will be in Munich, Germany. Thanks!

[the_Hunter]

It has been several years since I have been to Germany but I did not have any issues. I do tend to take my watch off and put it in my bag so I don't have to worry about it going missing out of a check point tub.

[Rogdogg]

You will be fine, especially if it is your only watch and you don't have another bag full of them on you. I travel a lot and always take my watch off when going through security and put it in my bag. It just takes any risk out of the equation. If you are passing through customs you are usually already through security so if it was me I would have mine back on my wrist by then anyway. My watches are always on my wrist except for the actual few minutes I am going through security. I take it off before and put it on right after. They are not going to question the one watch you have on your wrist. They probably won't notice it anyway. Also, you shouldn't have your box and papers for the watch with you. This is the only thing that might ring alarm bells if they did check you and it looked like maybe you were bringing it in to see it. If it's your personal watch that you are wearing they shouldn't care.

[crfsocal]

I am not an expert, but I believe you will be fine if its your personal watch on your wrist...

I am sure once in a while you will hear a bad story... I can go on and tell you about the time a customs officer at Miami international was getting on my case because of my watch...more specifically the $90 g-shock I was wearing

[panerainut]

I travel through the German airports (Frankfurt and Dusseldorf) about 4 times a year wearing my PO, Rolex, or Panerai. Never had any issues. I even usually have a second watch in my carry on back pack and never had any issues. You should have no problems... but if you are sweating and acting nervous... well now a days anything can happen. :-)

[mr.president1]

Thanks All!!!

[Tools]

Originally Posted by mr.president1

Thanks All!!!

There is no "customs duty" just by passing through a country; it is when you are entering your home country that duty would be assessed.

However, like most have said, you are overthinking this. Many, many folks pass through airports with more expensive watches than your Omega on.

[texex91]

They could careless.

[tedscott3]

I was in Germany a few months ago and had no issues at the airports with my Sub on.

[Slipstreamer]

Never had a problem with Germany or any other European countries my wife & I visit at least once each year wearing my Sub and my wife with her Cartier.

[psholtz]

It always seems like arriving back in the U.S. is far bigger customs hassle than landing somewhere overseas.

I just flew through Frankfurt (Germany) about two weeks ago, had absolutely no customs hassles at passport control whatsoever. The guard was extremely polite, and basically just waved me on through. I was wearing an Omega Speedmaster, although I don't think it was visible under the jacket I was wearing, and I don't think he would have cared less if it was visible.

On the U.S. side, when arriving back, it was a bigger hassle and kerfuffle (as always), although even in the U.S. they weren't checking for wrist-wear.

I don't know that Omega is on the "watch list" of imported items to look out for.

I do know that importing Rolexes into the U.S. is generally not allowed, and I wouldn't try to cross a U.S. border w/ more than one Rolex on your person, and even then, you might want to carry documentation as to where you purchased that Rolex (even if you purchased it state-side, just to prove that). Same would probably go for Tudor.

The international terminal at Frankfurt, btw, is a great place to kill time if you're into watches! I don't know that the "duty-free" shops they have there are especially cheap (if seems like if anything, they would have been a bit more expensive than purchasing in the U.S.), but they got at least two big watch vendors in the airport there (both carry a wide selection of high-end brands, including Rolexes) that are good for eye-candy if nothing else.

At one of the vendors in particular they had a nice selection of Wempe branded watches, if that's your thing.

Just mentioning that since Wempe is an example of a brand that's extremely difficult to come by the U.S.

[hbi]

I've visited London, and transited through LHR and BRU with my Speedmaster on. Additionally, I usually carry a Casio or Seiko too in my carry-on. All my watches look well worn. Never had issues at customs or at security.

[tcpx]

As many have mentioned already, it should t be an issue at all if you're just wearing the watch as its a personal accessory

[Tri-Tip]

I went LAX -> CDG -> Frankfurt -> CDG -> LAX a few years ago with my 2-year old Sub-C on, and was not questioned anywhere.

Air France Terminal in CDG is an incredible watch place as well. Didn't see any in Frankfurt, of course, I spent my time at the airport having a Bavarian pretzel instead.

[NigeG]

I purchased my PO at Gatwick three years ago en route to Milan. Travelled wearing the Omega and my Breitling Colt in my hand luggage. No problems in either direction.

The box and papers for the PO were left at Gatwick for me to collect on the homeward leg in case you were wondering :)

[sea-dweller]

In my years of traveling, I was asked to remove my 16610 when going through the metal detectors at Frankfurt Airport. First and only time I have had to remove a Rolex. No issues with customs, though.

[GermanyMatt]

I live in Germany - nope, you'll be fine. And they never ask me to remove my watch once they figure out what I'm wearing.

[towernick]

You won't have any issues. In February of this year I flew through Frankfurt with my fiancée who was six months pregnant at the time. She had a yogurt in her purse which the German security officials freaked out about when her bag passed through the x-ray machine, however, once they saw the baby bump they were so nice, even let her keep the yogurt. I was wearing my Sea-Dweller, no issues.

[MATCH1969]

They have much higher priorities these days and travelling every week, I never had any issues with my watches at any time.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by texex91

They could careless.

And that is exactly the OP's issue.

Oh, you mean "couldn't care less'?

[texex91]

Originally Posted by directioneng

And that is exactly the OP's issue.

Oh, you mean "couldn't care less'?

No in Texas that's how we say it and it means the same thing

[trackntrail]

Originally Posted by texex91

No in Texas that's how we say it and it means the same thing

I've lived in Dallas before and no thats still wrong

[PADI_Diver]

I recently bought a 8500 planet ocean 42mm in germany and wore it in the airport and flew home with it on my wrist. Not a problem at all. When I got to the us I 100% paid the duty taxes ; )

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[etp095]

Originally Posted by PADI_Diver

I recently bought a 8500 planet ocean 42mm in germany and wore it in the airport and flew home with it on my wrist. Not a problem at all. When I got to the us I 100% paid the duty taxes ; )

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Whats the duty?