Rolex shopping in Geneva

[greentimgreen]

Planning a european roadtrip in a few weeks and thought I might make a stop in Geneva to see what the watch scene is like. Is it silly to think that the streets will be lined with Rolex sports models?!

Any advice / tips from anyone who has found Geneva/Switzerland/continental Europe any good for watch shopping would be appreciated!


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[wlchuccc]

Originally Posted by greentimgreen

Planning a european roadtrip in a few weeks and thought I might make a stop in Geneva to see what the watch scene is like. Is it silly to think that the streets will be lined with Rolex sports models?!

Any advice / tips from anyone who has found Geneva/Switzerland/continental Europe any good for watch shopping would be appreciated!


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Bucherer Swiss will only sell professional models to Swiss. I would not waste time if you pass by Bucherer in Switzerland to be honest.

[greentimgreen]

Originally Posted by wlchuccc

Bucherer Swiss will only sell professional models to Swiss. I would not waste time if you pass by Bucherer in Switzerland to be honest.

Good to know!


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[jlovda]

Go to Rue François-Dussaud 3-5-7 and see if they have an outlet store.

[Merkaholic]

It will be like looking for a needle in a hay stack lol

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[ninjin]

My friend regularly goes to switzerland on business. He said the AD will now only sell to Swiss Passport holders.

[GMT Freak]

Originally Posted by greentimgreen

Is it silly to think that the streets will be lined with Rolex sports models?!

oh yes.

[DocJacko]

At ADs in Switzerland and EU countries, you can purchase watches from Glashütte/Germany such as Nomos or Glashütte Original for a much lower price than in the US. So if you are into those brands, being in Europe is a great thing. And if you factor in the VAT refund, the deal gets even better.
Rolex professional models are equally unobtainable as in the US. Bucherer won’t even put you on wait list if you don’t reside locally. But they will happily let you try on any hard-to-obtain model of your choice.


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[HappyFish]

Originally Posted by ninjin

My friend regularly goes to switzerland on business. He said the AD will now only sell to Swiss Passport holders.

Swiss first! Great practice!

[jrs146]

The last time I was in Geneva they had a fair amount of SS to choose from but that was years ago. I’m guessing it’s going to be as dry as a bone, just like everywhere else.


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[greentimgreen]

Thanks for all of the responses. Doesn’t sound hopeful...guess I’ll just make do with good chocolate!


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[marselluswallace]

Forget Geneva airport-there were no interesting Rolexes there at all when I passed through a few weeks ago

[casadecamporolex]

Visit the Patek salon and get the royal treatment.

[18●20●22●▼●2●4●6]

For real?!?!

Originally Posted by wlchuccc

Bucherer Swiss will only sell professional models to Swiss. I would not waste time if you pass by Bucherer in Switzerland to be honest.

[18●20●22●▼●2●4●6]

If that is true, I am shocked... that is belligerent!

Originally Posted by ninjin

My friend regularly goes to switzerland on business. He said the AD will now only sell to Swiss Passport holders.

[R G]

Was there not so long ago - no different to anywhere else in Europe when shopping for a Rolex.

[greentimgreen]

Originally Posted by casadecamporolex

Visit the Patek salon and get the royal treatment.

Great call!


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[greentimgreen]

So far on my European roadtrip I’ve stopped at two ADs in Aix-en-Provence, France...and it wasn’t too bad! Nothing amazingly hard to get, but some professional models, and the new bronze Tudor too! Côte d’Azur next...!





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[The Argonaut]

I'm in Geneva right now, and have been here a week. This is the second time I've been here in three months. It's a Rolex desert, and the hard to get pieces, which Bucherer don't have (or are back in the safe) will not be sold to anyone other than a local.
I spoke with a manager yesterday, whom I met three months ago, and they could sell 20 GMTs/Hulks/Daytonas/Subs, each, every single day. It's always possible to pick up a hard to get SS piece I suppose. If you were buying a Platinum Day Date and asked for one of the hard to get pieces, maybe you would get lucky. Maybe. However, that's what it would take.

[Dr. Robert]

Originally Posted by wlchuccc

Bucherer Swiss will only sell professional models to Swiss. I would not waste time if you pass by Bucherer in Switzerland to be honest.

Wow!

[Merkaholic]

By the book of rolex law, your only supposed to sell to a local...... I was recently told this by rolex customer service.

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[bigfatpauli]

So you are going to Geneva - basically the world capital for watches - you are you going to look for Rolex?

That's akin to going to France and eating at McDonald's.

There are so many outstanding brands, many of which are only available in Europe or Switzerland; why not see those!? I promise they are more interesting than a Submariner.

[CharlesN]

Geneva is not a great place to look for a rolex.

I am there frequently .. At least every other month. I have yet to see one of the sought after models available, not that i am looking for one either.

The same goes for Patek Philipe sought after models (Nautilus and Aquanaut).

I have seen the odd Rolex in basel but again they are VERY few and far between.

There is none area you might be lucky ... Gstaad .. But again, they look after the Swiss customers and the rich and famous there first.

Switzerland has never been a lucky place for me. i have far more "luck" in the UK.

If you want to spend a glorious few hours in geneva visit the Patek Philippe museum. An astonishing delight.

[askdanny]

The last two AD I checked out here in the US did I ask me where I lived. I simply responded, Does it matter? And let them try to explain the reason for their question.

Originally Posted by Merkaholic

By the book of rolex law, your only supposed to sell to a local...... I was recently told this by rolex customer service.

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[dtwer]

Originally Posted by wlchuccc

Bucherer Swiss will only sell professional models to Swiss.

I think it makes sense for this practice to be expanded worldwide, where AD's are selling only to locals. It's the local community, not the tourists, that supports the AD business with ongoing services etc.

[Andygmt2]

Geneva has the one and only store which is owned by Rolex, and even they don’t have any SS professional model stock. The SA even mentions when they travel to other ADs around the world , it is very difficult to stop the flipping or ADs selling above msrp. I walked into a used dealer round the corner from Rolex main store, they had a SS Daytona Black dial for 15,000euros which the date stamped was 3 days ago from the AD Bucherer around the corner ! Locals obviously making money!

[Solo118]

Originally Posted by Merkaholic

By the book of rolex law, your only supposed to sell to a local...... I was recently told this by rolex customer service.

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Maybe pay somebody at your hotel to join you, and make the purchase? That is if you find what you want.

[greentimgreen]

Originally Posted by bigfatpauli

So you are going to Geneva - basically the world capital for watches - you are you going to look for Rolex?

That's akin to going to France and eating at McDonald's.

There are so many outstanding brands, many of which are only available in Europe or Switzerland; why not see those!? I promise they are more interesting than a Submariner.

Not JUST Rolex! In fact I’ve been surprised to see new / hard to find models from other brands like JLC here too, just feeding back to this group on Rolex and Tudor. I’m looking forward to seeing what other brands (smaller and more niche) I might come across. Still got another five weeks ‘on the continent ‘ so will be interesting to see what I find...


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[greentimgreen]

Originally Posted by CharlesN

Geneva is not a great place to look for a rolex.

I am there frequently .. At least every other month. I have yet to see one of the sought after models available, not that i am looking for one either.

The same goes for Patek Philipe sought after models (Nautilus and Aquanaut).

I have seen the odd Rolex in basel but again they are VERY few and far between.

There is none area you might be lucky ... Gstaad .. But again, they look after the Swiss customers and the rich and famous there first.

Switzerland has never been a lucky place for me. i have far more "luck" in the UK.

If you want to spend a glorious few hours in geneva visit the Patek Philippe museum. An astonishing delight.

If my wife doesn’t object to yet another ‘watch stop’ I might try and squeeze in Gstaad - top tip!


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[CharlesN]

Gstaad is one place that is a little different to most.

It is VERY much so a playground for the ultra rich and very famous.

It is a delightful place though. I regularly go to a village close by for short breaks.

“Squeezing” will have zero effect. If they like you they will help you.