Where to buy a Rolex
Where to buy a Rolex
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Discussion

S70JPS

Original Poster:

621 posts

243 months

Sunday 4th March 2018
quotequote all
I'm thinking about buying a new Rolex. Where is the cheapest place to buy? I currently travel to Saudi via Dubai regularly and have been looking at the airport. Their prices seem to be a couple of hundred cheaper than the UK on a £7.5K watch. Should I be looking elsewhere?

Spice_Weasel

2,328 posts

276 months

Sunday 4th March 2018
quotequote all
Which model are you seeking?

Schipol airport has traditionally been a good destination and being within the EU you won’t have to pay duty. Buying outside the EU would make you liable for duty.

Here in the UK you could try Iconic Watches or Dominic Hackett. He posts on here and can source pretty much anything within reason.

S70JPS

Original Poster:

621 posts

243 months

Sunday 4th March 2018
quotequote all
I'm looking at the datejust 41. It's about 9K on the Rolex site. I fancy white face with the thick gold centre to the bracelet. I think it may be about 1K cheaper in Dubai. I'm sure I totted it up at 8K on Friday. Just got to get the go ahead from SWMBO.

mikeh501

799 posts

204 months

Sunday 4th March 2018
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just remember to add in any card charges and crappy conversion rates when you work out your saving.

CRB14

1,494 posts

175 months

Monday 5th March 2018
quotequote all
S70JPS said:
I'm looking at the datejust 41. It's about 9K on the Rolex site. I fancy white face with the thick gold centre to the bracelet. I think it may be about 1K cheaper in Dubai. I'm sure I totted it up at 8K on Friday. Just got to get the go ahead from SWMBO.
I live in Dubai. I think prices have gone up recently. As a point of reference for you a DJ41 126334 is around AED 34500 from the main dealer compared with £6900 in the UK so bang on the money. Submariner date is 35k but very difficult to find.

You would probably get 5 to 10% off the DJ.

ChrisPackit

271 posts

146 months

Tuesday 6th March 2018
quotequote all

FYI, I'm just back from Barbados where I was hoping to get hold of a BLNR. What I found was like most AD's over here, they had virtually no stock of any of the SS ranges (GMTs / Subs) and a rather nice Yachtmaster they had would've been cheaper to buy in the UK.

Sadly not what I was expecting... Not sure at present, there are many places abroad that would be worth heading for to make a saving.

jonamv8

3,255 posts

189 months

Tuesday 6th March 2018
quotequote all
ChrisPackit said:
FYI, I'm just back from Barbados where I was hoping to get hold of a BLNR. What I found was like most AD's over here, they had virtually no stock of any of the SS ranges (GMTs / Subs) and a rather nice Yachtmaster they had would've been cheaper to buy in the UK.

Sadly not what I was expecting... Not sure at present, there are many places abroad that would be worth heading for to make a saving.
my batman came out of BARBADOS, was in stock and bought for slightly less than GB RRP. Often timing is everything they get some decent SS stock in that store

ecain63

10,639 posts

198 months

Tuesday 6th March 2018
quotequote all
I went through Heathrow Terminal 3 the other day to Dubai. Heathrow have some fantastic prices on watches. Now in Dubai and the exchange rate sucks.

If it wasn't for the wife rushing us, I'd have picked up that Pelagos LHD for £2600.

Chessers

745 posts

235 months

Tuesday 6th March 2018
quotequote all
I would look at a site such as The Rolex Forum, some great deals to be had there. Have purchased my last three watches via that site.

Obviously be very careful and make sure you do your due diligence on the seller.

ChrisPackit

271 posts

146 months

Wednesday 7th March 2018
quotequote all
jonamv8 said:
ChrisPackit said:
FYI, I'm just back from Barbados where I was hoping to get hold of a BLNR. What I found was like most AD's over here, they had virtually no stock of any of the SS ranges (GMTs / Subs) and a rather nice Yachtmaster they had would've been cheaper to buy in the UK.

Sadly not what I was expecting... Not sure at present, there are many places abroad that would be worth heading for to make a saving.
my batman came out of BARBADOS, was in stock and bought for slightly less than GB RRP. Often timing is everything they get some decent SS stock in that store
Sounds about right! My timing always sucks! ..... so the Missus tells me :-(

LeadFarmer

7,411 posts

154 months

Wednesday 7th March 2018
quotequote all
Pricing aside, why not treat yourself to a trip to Geneva and buy from the home of Rolex?

I flew there to buy my Explorer 2 as I liked the idea of buying it from the country/town where it was made. Prices were about the same, but I had the choice in the shop of paying the UK duty there and then, or buying it for £500 less and then paying the duty once back in the UK.

Oh, and this next bit will probably cause a bit of a stir on here but here goes..

It's a little known fact , even amongst die hard Rolex fans that Rolex actually have their own shop in Geneva. I did lots of research on this before going and have since had it confirmed. There is nothing in the shop to confirm this, it looks like any other authorised dealer. But I decided to go there anyway and the lady in the shop confirmed it to me. I posted about it afterwards on the Rolex Forum.





Edited by LeadFarmer on Wednesday 7th March 11:21

critical mass

153 posts

128 months

Wednesday 7th March 2018
quotequote all
I’m not trying to be pedantic (honest.....) but there is no duty payable on watches coming into the UK. However they will be subject to 20% VAT if coming from outside the EU.

As has been discussed endlessly on this site, your decision whether to declare it to HMRC depends on your attitude to risk and your personal ethics with regard to tax evasion.

ecain63

10,639 posts

198 months

Wednesday 7th March 2018
quotequote all
Revisiting my post above......

After seeing the Pelagos LHD for approx £2600 at Heathrow on Saturday the cheapest I've seen here (with discount) is £3000. Same dealer group as running the DXB airport branch. Exchange rate is poor! My missus datejust was £7330 at LHR. In DXB it's over £10k.

DJMC

3,584 posts

126 months

Saturday 17th March 2018
quotequote all
critical mass said:
I’m not trying to be pedantic (honest.....) but there is no duty payable on watches coming into the UK. However they will be subject to 20% VAT if coming from outside the EU.

As has been discussed endlessly on this site, your decision whether to declare it to HMRC depends on your attitude to risk and your personal ethics with regard to tax evasion.
...and don't forget it's not just the trip back smuggling it in, it's EVERY future trip back in that may worry you.

GT03ROB

13,976 posts

244 months

Saturday 17th March 2018
quotequote all
DJMC said:
...and don't forget it's not just the trip back smuggling it in, it's EVERY future trip back in that may worry you.
Do you think they catch many??

hilly10

7,501 posts

251 months

Saturday 17th March 2018
quotequote all
Pray tell me what’s the problem with every future trip. Do you honestly think Customs will request a receipt for the watch on your arm.

Edited by hilly10 on Saturday 17th March 13:56

homerdog

250 posts

254 months

Sunday 18th March 2018
quotequote all
hilly10 said:
Pray tell me what’s the problem with every future trip. Do you honestly think Customs will request a receipt for the watch on your arm.

Edited by hilly10 on Saturday 17th March 13:56
It's unlikely. But if they do, the onus is on you to prove that you have paid any taxes due.

GT03ROB

13,976 posts

244 months

Sunday 18th March 2018
quotequote all
homerdog said:
hilly10 said:
Pray tell me what’s the problem with every future trip. Do you honestly think Customs will request a receipt for the watch on your arm.

Edited by hilly10 on Saturday 17th March 13:56
It's unlikely. But if they do, the onus is on you to prove that you have paid any taxes due.
I can't even remember the last time I saw a customs officer in customs!

jshell

11,937 posts

228 months

Sunday 18th March 2018
quotequote all
LeadFarmer said:
I flew there to buy my Explorer 2 as I liked the idea of buying it from the country/town where it was made. Prices were about the same, but I had the choice in the shop of paying the UK duty there and then, or buying it for £500 less and then paying the duty once back in the UK.
Can you elaborate on how you can pay UK duty in a non-UK, non-EU shop? I don't understand the process. Is there proof of this for UK Customs?

jshell

11,937 posts

228 months

Sunday 18th March 2018
quotequote all
GT03ROB said:
homerdog said:
hilly10 said:
Pray tell me what’s the problem with every future trip. Do you honestly think Customs will request a receipt for the watch on your arm.

Edited by hilly10 on Saturday 17th March 13:56
It's unlikely. But if they do, the onus is on you to prove that you have paid any taxes due.
I can't even remember the last time I saw a customs officer in customs![/quote

Exactly. Don't listen to the hysteria.