Great Time To Buy From Europe

[JEA1K]

Well after some too-ing and fro-ing I've just ordered a SD4000 from Italy which (hopefully) should be here in the next few days. Had my heart set on one but I really couldn't face paying out £7,150 for one ... few UK dealers were offering them for £6k - £6.5k with BT but I wanted the security and convenience of a credit card so even after insured delivery and 2% card fee at todays exchange rate its cost me £5.5k.

[bigkeeko]

I was in Schiphol last week and the Longines Conquests on sale were working out at just over £300. Thought of buying a couple to sell on the bay.

[HotJambalaya]

JEA1K said:

Well after some too-ing and fro-ing I've just ordered a SD4000 from Italy which (hopefully) should be here in the next few days. Had my heart set on one but I really couldn't face paying out £7,150 for one ... few UK dealers were offering them for £6k - £6.5k with BT but I wanted the security and convenience of a credit card so even after insured delivery and 2% card fee at todays exchange rate its cost me £5.5k.

very nice price, especially since Italy just put prices up about 10%! did they discount or did their asking price work out that good?

I'm torn between this seadweller, the last seadweller, and a seadweller from 1978...

[JEA1K]

HotJambalaya said:

very nice price, especially since Italy just put prices up about 10%! did they discount or did their asking price work out that good?

I'm torn between this seadweller, the last seadweller, and a seadweller from 1978...

The current exchange rate certainly softened the blow ... great timing and who knows, it could get better! That was the best price the would do (which was the advertised price) 7250 euro + 120 euro insured delivery and 2% card transaction so all in all I was (will be when it arrives!) happy. As its a 40th present I thought about something from the 70's then realised I'd probably need to sell a kidney.

I considered the previous 16600 model but to get a 'mint' watch you're not far off 116600 prices (£4,500 - £5,500) as they seem to have shot up recently. When you see them side by side the changes are subtle but enough to bring it into line with the rest of the Rolex sports watches but if you can the older model get a watch in great condition for the right price then you couldn't fail to be disappointed.

[HotJambalaya]

Had a look at their website, and they refuse to refund any tax. Any idea why that is? -I'd want to send it ex-eu so quite fancy the vat off!

[AlexC1981]

What is the best way to pay European sellers? My current account is with Halifax and for a bank transfer they give an exchange rate of 1.3239 + a £9.50 charge on top. A 1000 Euro payment works out to £764.84 + £9.50, which seems expensive when Chrono24 shows the price as only £728.00.

[JEA1K]

AlexC1981 said:

What is the best way to pay European sellers? My current account is with Halifax and for a bank transfer they give an exchange rate of 1.3239 + a £9.50 charge on top. A 1000 Euro payment works out to £764.84 + £9.50, which seems expensive when Chrono24 shows the price as only £728.00.

Credit card is safer and not that expensive. Sellers will ask you to pay the 2% but Mastercard/Visa use the BoE rate (it was 1.37 when I paid yesterday) so for each 1000 euro, I paid £728 + 2% which is £742. Seems like you're paying more to use your own money and you don't have the same protection!

[NNH]

JEA1K said:

AlexC1981 said:

What is the best way to pay European sellers? My current account is with Halifax and for a bank transfer they give an exchange rate of 1.3239 + a £9.50 charge on top. A 1000 Euro payment works out to £764.84 + £9.50, which seems expensive when Chrono24 shows the price as only £728.00.

Credit card is safer and not that expensive. Sellers will ask you to pay the 2% but Mastercard/Visa use the BoE rate (it was 1.37 when I paid yesterday) so for each 1000 euro, I paid £728 + 2% which is £742. Seems like you're paying more to use your own money and you don't have the same protection!

If you already bank with Halifax, it should be pretty quick to get the Clarity credit card which has no additional fees for foreign currency transactions. I use it for almost all of my travel.

[AlexC1981]

Thanks, I think I will look into getting a Clarity card. Should come in use for my next holiday too.

[JEA1K]

Well a quick update ... after a rather unglamorous collection from a Stadium Self Storage depot (DHL service centre), I've opened the package and its not half a brick wrapped in bubble wrap.

More pics to follow later ...

[JEA1K]

As you can tell, no I'm amateur photographer.

All in all a very painless process ... paid for watch on Thursday afternoon, shipped Friday and collected it today. Chrono24 dealer was Show Commerce which I'd read a number of reviews with. Very straight forward ... you either do a bank transfer or pay via card (or multiple cards) via the website. No payment over the phone for security reasons. I dealt with Riccardo who was very straight forward ... his English isn't brilliant but its 100 times better than my Italian so we were able to converse fine.

Judging by the number of watches and value I'm pretty sure he operates on high volume/low margin basis. Watch came with all seals in tact and warranty card ... registered at the dealer it came from ... very happy with the deal and the process.

Having tried the SD4000 on last year already, it was no surprise how its feels. Obviously thicker than the sub or GMT but more slender than the Deepsea which was too much for my wrists. The maxi dial and minute marker ceramic bezel just works for me and I'm not a watch collector, so this will be a keeper.

[traffman]

Wow!

Stunner , i sort of miss my GMT 2.

[gvij]

That's a lovely watch wear it in good health. Tbh new is always better than vintage or old. Less wear on jewels, axels and gears, bracelet, case, crystal and bezel as well as rubber seals. I can't understand why old Rolexes are so dear.

[Beachbum]

AlexC1981 said:

Thanks, I think I will look into getting a Clarity card. Should come in use for my next holiday too.

Do a web search on Credit cards no international fees, there are a lot out there, from a variety of sources. I have just applied for one, who's APR is lower than the CC I currently use, so it will most probably become my default card

[JEA1K]

traffman said:

Wow!

Stunner , i sort of miss my GMT 2.

gvij said:

That's a lovely watch wear it in good health. Tbh new is always better than vintage or old. Less wear on jewels, axels and gears, bracelet, case, crystal and bezel as well as rubber seals. I can't understand why old Rolexes are so dear.

Thanks very much guys, very happy man and glad I went new too.

Beachbum said:

Do a web search on Credit cards no international fees, there are a lot out there, from a variety of sources. I have just applied for one, who's APR is lower than the CC I currently use, so it will most probably become my default card

There is no charge on the buyers side for using credit card ... its the seller who is charged the 2% so they pass it on to the buyer.

[michael gould]

JEA1K said:

As you can tell, no I'm amateur photographer.

All in all a very painless process ... paid for watch on Thursday afternoon, shipped Friday and collected it today. Chrono24 dealer was Show Commerce which I'd read a number of reviews with. Very straight forward ... you either do a bank transfer or pay via card (or multiple cards) via the website. No payment over the phone for security reasons. I dealt with Riccardo who was very straight forward ... his English isn't brilliant but its 100 times better than my Italian so we were able to converse fine.

Judging by the number of watches and value I'm pretty sure he operates on high volume/low margin basis. Watch came with all seals in tact and warranty card ... registered at the dealer it came from ... very happy with the deal and the process.

Having tried the SD4000 on last year already, it was no surprise how its feels. Obviously thicker than the sub or GMT but more slender than the Deepsea which was too much for my wrists. The maxi dial and minute marker ceramic bezel just works for me and I'm not a watch collector, so this will be a keeper.

Very nice watch at a very good price......great job...wear in good health and enjoy

[JEA1K]

michael gould said:

Very nice watch at a very good price......great job...wear in good health and enjoy

Thanks Michael ... its certainly softening the blow of hitting the big 4-0.

[maxest]

Lovely watch at a great price, which dealer did you use on chrono24 if you don;t mind me asking

[JEA1K]

maxest said:

Lovely watch at a great price, which dealer did you use on chrono24 if you don;t mind me asking

Thanks again. Show Commerce. Odd name I know! If you Google it there are plenty of reviews on various forums who've bought from them.

[michael gould]

ive purchased 2 watches from Italian dealers and made a profit on both of them when I moved them on......both we're a pleasure to deal with