Why are grey market Seikos sold without original box?

[JAM35F]

I'm after a Seiko Frankenmonster which will have to be sourced from a grey market dealer as it's not officially available over here.

All the dealers I have spoken to based here in the UK, America or Asia all supply the watch in a generic non Seiko box, but with original manual and tags. These dealers seem to be highly recommended and trusted (Creationwatches for example) so I'm pretty sure the watches are genuine. But why is the original box never supplied?

I'd really like the genuine Seiko box as it's a nice-to-have and may aid future resale value if I ever sell it. Why can I not get one? Alternatively does anyone know someone selling Frankenmonsters with original boxes and manuals etc?

Thanks in advance.

[bigandclever]

I thought it was as simple as Authorised Dealers get the boxes and no-one else does.

[JAM35F]

Hadn't thought of that. But they get the original manuals and tags? I would have thought Seiko would hold them back too.

If it is the case that seiko hold the real cases back then I won't worry about an original seiko case and just enjoy the money I save buying from a grey dealer.

[bry1975]

Dude,

Why not contact Lee at Chronograph.com and buy the box?

Bry

[pokethepope]

bry1975 said:

Dude,

Why not contact Lee at Chronograph.com and buy the box?

Bry

This, usually a couple on ebay too...

[jas xjr]

because a lot of them are smuggled into the country and they try to cram as many as they can into the outer container.that is why they are a lot cheaper than they should be.duty and vat are paid on the declared amount of watches in the outer.not the actual contents. customs will not ,normally , take them out and count them.
this is what i was told by a watch retailer . it may or may not be true.

[sneijder]

I got a proper Seiko box with my Creation Monster.

I don't recall many used sales labouring the point of having a box to be fair. In fact many grey used sales link to a PDF of the manual, as they don't have a physical copy.

[Dominic H]

jas xjr said:

because a lot of them are smuggled into the country and they try to cram as many as they can into the outer container.that is why they are a lot cheaper than they should be.duty and vat are paid on the declared amount of watches in the outer.not the actual contents. customs will not ,normally , take them out and count them.
this is what i was told by a watch retailer . it may or may not be true.

Probably quite a bit of truth in this.....

[936ADL]

My Monster from creation also came fully boxed up if that's any help.

[JAM35F]

Thanks for all the replies. Genuine box isn't as important as a good price on the watch.

I just wanted to check that lack of original box didn't imply a watch was a fake.

Thanks for the link to chronograph.com, not seen that site before. Useful if I did want a box or a change of strap in the future.

[Greendubber]

My Seiko 5 came from Creation in a nice blue Seiko box.... happy days

[Lefty]

My Frankenmonster arrived this morning from city watches, in a Seiko watch box.

[Stuart]

Another here who got everything you'd expect with a Creation Seiko. I'm not actually that bothered about the box for watches at this price point, and watch boxes for anyone with a collection for more than about 10 watches must be an almighty PITA to store as well.

[al1991]

If you buy as many Seikos as I have then you end up with a few kicking about anyway

[Gizmo!]

JAM35F said:

Thanks for all the replies. Genuine box isn't as important as a good price on the watch.

I just wanted to check that lack of original box didn't imply a watch was a fake.

Oddly, I'm less worried about buying a fake than I am about buying stolen/otherwise illegitimately sourced items.


Oh yes, and Creation, box, lovely.

[LukeBird]

I had the box with my recent Seiko Creation purchase, but no paperwork, just a hangtag on the watch.

[Lost soul]

because they are fakes

[LukeBird]

Lost soul said:

because they are fakes

Not strictly true.

[Tiggsy]

DO you care about the box? It only goes in the bin anyway!

[LukeBird]

^^ Mine don't!