Lots of watches, especially Rolex, in Singapore!
Discussion
As some of you may know, Lou and I moved to Singapore about 3 months ago. Enjoying it a lot and not really missing home, if I am honest!
Now, been keeping an eye out for watches and haven't noticed them being particularly cheap (though I am yet to find something I really want and start the haggling procedure), which may be partly due to being in the UK and watching (excuse the pun) the economy take a hammering to the point of watches being cheapest at home, but I think the tide may be turning...
They do sell lots of Russian watches and other interesting marques here though, that you wouldn't generally see on the UK High Street.
I found a flea market yesterday (not a dodgy market) where quite a few watch traders set up shop. The selection of (genuine) watches was actually very impressive (lots of Rolex, IWC, JLC, Breitling, Omega, Tudor etc) with most of the mid-high end watches represented in some way or another. Prices didn't seem too bad (Rolex, vintage hand wind Precision Date around GBP700 before haggling, new-ish Sub Date GBP2,500 before haggling etc) and some of the more rare Rolex's were on offer, as new steel Daytona for just over GBP7,100 before haggling for example (though that is not 'cheap').
I also found a 2nd hand Rolex dealer in a mall in China Town (genuine watches), which was more expensive but had most models represented, including what looked like new steel Daytona's and Sea Dwellers.
So, what is the point of this? Basically, I was a bit excited that I found somewhere to offer a bit better value than the UK, but also had diversity in models that you don't usually see in shops outside of Bond Street! I had heard that Singapore was good for watches, one of the reasons I wanted to live here, but I had found Orchard Road a bit 'toppy'. I also visited a tiny dealer outside of town (my boss was having a vintage, hand wind military watch refurbed) who had some amazing watches but, more interestingly, so many genuine spares and bits and pieces:
http://www.bonfield.com.sg/Default.aspx
I will certainly be doing some haggling over the next few weeks and months and see what I can pick up as I quite fancy something vintage to compliment the collection and they had plenty of interesting pieces.
Dubai airport, on the other hand, I found to be more expensive than the UK (was looking at a DSSD) when we passed through on one of our trips home, a couple of weeks back, though I did see a member managed to get a new, ceramic Sub for just less than UK list. Having said that, there was a 20% discount on all watches (except Rolex - LOL) at the same time, but I didn't fancy anything else.
Just need to visit the Seiko dealer and try the Grand Seiko Diver, in titanium now and have a think about where I would want my money....
Now, been keeping an eye out for watches and haven't noticed them being particularly cheap (though I am yet to find something I really want and start the haggling procedure), which may be partly due to being in the UK and watching (excuse the pun) the economy take a hammering to the point of watches being cheapest at home, but I think the tide may be turning...
They do sell lots of Russian watches and other interesting marques here though, that you wouldn't generally see on the UK High Street.
I found a flea market yesterday (not a dodgy market) where quite a few watch traders set up shop. The selection of (genuine) watches was actually very impressive (lots of Rolex, IWC, JLC, Breitling, Omega, Tudor etc) with most of the mid-high end watches represented in some way or another. Prices didn't seem too bad (Rolex, vintage hand wind Precision Date around GBP700 before haggling, new-ish Sub Date GBP2,500 before haggling etc) and some of the more rare Rolex's were on offer, as new steel Daytona for just over GBP7,100 before haggling for example (though that is not 'cheap').
I also found a 2nd hand Rolex dealer in a mall in China Town (genuine watches), which was more expensive but had most models represented, including what looked like new steel Daytona's and Sea Dwellers.
So, what is the point of this? Basically, I was a bit excited that I found somewhere to offer a bit better value than the UK, but also had diversity in models that you don't usually see in shops outside of Bond Street! I had heard that Singapore was good for watches, one of the reasons I wanted to live here, but I had found Orchard Road a bit 'toppy'. I also visited a tiny dealer outside of town (my boss was having a vintage, hand wind military watch refurbed) who had some amazing watches but, more interestingly, so many genuine spares and bits and pieces:
http://www.bonfield.com.sg/Default.aspx
I will certainly be doing some haggling over the next few weeks and months and see what I can pick up as I quite fancy something vintage to compliment the collection and they had plenty of interesting pieces.
Dubai airport, on the other hand, I found to be more expensive than the UK (was looking at a DSSD) when we passed through on one of our trips home, a couple of weeks back, though I did see a member managed to get a new, ceramic Sub for just less than UK list. Having said that, there was a 20% discount on all watches (except Rolex - LOL) at the same time, but I didn't fancy anything else.
Just need to visit the Seiko dealer and try the Grand Seiko Diver, in titanium now and have a think about where I would want my money....
Gassing Station | Watches | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff