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Amazing Watch Shops...

  • 10-05-2018 4:37pm
    #1
    Bluefoam
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,753 ✭✭✭


    Does anyone have any suggestions?

    Am doing some research into the best places in the world to experience watch buying... Links & images welcome!


Comments

  • #2
    The_Guvnor
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 176 ✭✭The_Guvnor


    Bluefoam wrote: »
    Does anyone have any suggestions?

    Am doing some research into the best places in the world to experience watch buying... Links & images welcome!

    I am surprised no one has replied to this.
    If you want to see a great selection of vintage Rolex pieces see this shop in Hong Kong. Some lovely rare pieces.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eml4dq61jY4
    When it comes to best places; I can recommend Lunne's in Belfast. Excellent 10/10 customer service.
    Worst I would say the Rolex Boutique (29 Old Bond Street) London. Ironic as its one Watches of Switzerland's most profitable Rolex AD's in the UK; as it is in the Golden Triangle in London; Regent Street, Old Bond Street, Knightsbridge. These Rolex AD's gross more profit than any others in the UK.
    But they treat one with contempt as a customer.
    The positive is the shorter waiting list at the Rolex Boutique than other UK Rolex AD's.
    So if you want to feel special buying a piece; I would recommend Lunne's.


  • #3
    Bluefoam
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,753 ✭✭✭Bluefoam


    VostokIreland wrote: »
    I am surprised no one has replied to this.
    If you want to see a great selection of vintage Rolex pieces see this shop in Hong Kong. Some lovely rare pieces.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eml4dq61jY4
    When it comes to best places; I can recommend Lunne's in Belfast. Excellent 10/10 customer service.
    Worst I would say the Rolex Boutique (29 Old Bond Street) London. Ironic as its one Watches of Switzerland's most profitable Rolex AD's in the UK; as it is in the Golden Triangle in London; Regent Street, Old Bond Street, Knightsbridge. These Rolex AD's gross more profit than any others in the UK.
    But they treat one with contempt as a customer.
    The positive is the shorter waiting list at the Rolex Boutique than other UK Rolex AD's.
    So if you want to feel special buying a piece; I would recommend Lunne's.

    That's fantastic, thanks,
    went on a tour, Bond st, Regent st, Knightsbridge, Kensington etc... recently... some great shops & some not so great...


  • #4
    The_Guvnor
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 176 ✭✭The_Guvnor


    Bluefoam wrote: »
    That's fantastic, thanks,
    went on a tour, Bond st, Regent st, Knightsbridge, Kensington etc... recently... some great shops & some not so great...

    Burlington Arcade (off Old Bond Street) is good for vintage pieces.
    Here is a good dealer there:
    http://www.vintagewatchcompany.com/
    Good selection of over 1000 pieces.
    One function of their website I particularly like is one can search for pieces by birth year.
    So one can find a Rolex made in 1980 etc.
    http://www.vintagewatchcompany.com/choose-your-birthyear
    I have no affiliation, nor dealings with them; so not shilling etc.
    But I believe TGV purchased his Audemars Piguet piece from a dealer in Burlington Arcade.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ioCA1y2ByE
    It's an enjoyable walk through Burlington Arcade window shopping anyway as one will see lots of lovely pieces.
    For modern pieces that are preowned I would recommend any of the Watchfinder branches in the UK.
    Excellent customer service, and also good selection of stock too.
    They sell Rolex pieces at higher than RRP (as usual for grey market dealers). But some good savings to be had on Omega, Tudor, etc.


  • #5
    Cmar-Ireland
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,340 ✭✭✭Cmar-Ireland


    Prague.

    I was there earlier this year and the selection of watch shops was great.
    Pařížská Street, off the Old town square is full of luxury watch brand shops.
    Koscom watch shop has a huge selection of brands.
    Well worth a visit.


  • #6
    The_Guvnor
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 176 ✭✭The_Guvnor


    Cmar-Ireland wrote: »
    Prague.

    I was there earlier this year and the selection of watch shops was great.
    Pařížská Street, off the Old town square is full of luxury watch brand shops.
    Koscom watch shop has a huge selection of brands.
    Well worth a visit.

    Thanks for the heads up. I have been to Prague, but never thought of looking around for watch shops. How do the prices compare? I suppose with the Euro still strong against the Koruna one might get a bargain.


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  • #7
    The_Guvnor
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 176 ✭✭The_Guvnor


    I have never been to Hong Kong. But after seeing this video I really fancy a holiday there; purely for looking at watches really.
    Apparently the prices aren't any cheaper than Europe really, so wouldn't buy there.
    But I would just like to see so many different pieces on display all in one place.
    Champagne Court.
    Address: Kimberley St, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
    See video below.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7Vtw5i4liA


  • #8
    Bluefoam
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,753 ✭✭✭Bluefoam


    The_Guvnor wrote: »
    I have never been to Hong Kong. But after seeing this video I really fancy a holiday there; purely for looking at watches really.
    Apparently the prices aren't any cheaper than Europe really, so wouldn't buy there.
    But I would just like to see so many different pieces on display all in one place.
    Champagne Court.
    Address: Kimberley St, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
    See video below.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7Vtw5i4liA

    One thing I did notice while travelling... The IWC boutique in Singapore were immediately willing to negotiate on price without even being prompted, whereas the stores in Ireland wouldn't budge, nor would the IWC boutique in Dubai...


  • #9
    The_Guvnor
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 176 ✭✭The_Guvnor


    Bluefoam wrote: »
    One thing I did notice while travelling... The IWC boutique in Singapore were immediately willing to negotiate on price without even being prompted, whereas the stores in Ireland wouldn't budge, nor would the IWC boutique in Dubai...

    Very interesting.
    Customer service and discounts seem to vary around the world with respective AD's.
    In America for example, it is typical for a Rolex AD to give a customer; leather wallet/umbrella/holdall, baseball cap/watch winder etc; as free gifts when buying a piece. But I have never received anything from UK AD's when I purchased pieces over the years.
    The Gassans 5 boutiques at Schipol Airport seem to be the best tax-free place to buy pieces. 0/10 customer service, but one gets the price.
    However the customer service in their Amsterdam Square shop is 10/10 in comparison.
    Main reason being, they aren't dealing with grey market dealers waiting for that Friday morning steel sports delivery. Many fly into Schipol to buy them all up and sell them on at profit you see. So customer service means nothing to them.
    I have found Omega AD's to offer the best of customer service, levels above Rolex in comparison.


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