Asia - watches duty free

I have a couple of hours Changi Airport, and i am looking to buy a couple of watches Omega and Tag heuer.
I can buy these in Heathrow duty free,Los Angeles,Auckland, Sydney or changi. Does anyone know where the watches would be cheapest.
Cheers

Hong Kong is IMO the best place to buy high end watches. Changi is not bad, but you have to work the salespersons for a while until they really get down to some good prices. Its not easy, but its doable. They will have to call a supervisor by phone to get you the best possible price.

Also depends on the brand, in my experience. Prestige brands popular among Asian high-flyers, such as Rolex, aren't really cheaper compared to other places (my benchmarks are ZRH and LHR), but less widely-marketed manufacturers like IWC can be attractively-priced. As Gaucho100K pointed out, it never hurts to negotiate. (Negotiations are even more productive at stores outside the airport, often wiping out the dutyfree advantage at Changi.)

For sure prices in downtown Singapore are better than Changi. In any event, if you have to close the deal at the airport, I will again stress that you must negotiate in two phases. First, haggle with the salesperson until he doesnt offer you any more discount. Then, make sure you convince him that you will buy the item if he/she goes the extra mile and ask him to phone a supervisor and get the approval. This will usually yield the best possible price.

Most watches are cheaper in Singapore than Hongkong only because the latter is pegged to the US $ and doesn't leave much room for negotiation.

At Changi airport, most prices are fixed even though with some leeway, there are discounts. The best deals are to be had in town even with the same company.

Generally the best way to guage is to see what the recommened price is , and knock off about 25-30%. Then work your way around that.

Most watches are cheaper in Singapore than Hongkong only because the latter is pegged to the US $ and doesn't leave much room for negotiation.


Interesting approach, although, in my experience, Ive gotten better deals in HKong - though I have bought some pieces in SIN.

Would it be possible for you to give some specifics as to the stores you would recommend?

Im looking to buy a Jaeger LeCoultre...

Many thanks!!

Interesting approach, although, in my experience, Ive gotten better deals in HKong - though I have bought some pieces in SIN.

Would it be possible for you to give some specifics as to the stores you would recommend?

Im looking to buy a Jaeger LeCoultre...

Many thanks!!

I was traveling with a work colleague last year, HKG-KUL-SIN-SYD-DEL, and he is a watch collector. He purchased a JLC Master Geographic in KL at a shop in the KLCC. He had been looking for this watch for a while and said that the prices in KL were the best he had seen. He bought the base level model, stainless?, black alligator? clasp strap. It did have Kuala Lumpur for that time zone rather than Singapore, so I guess they must customize these for specific markets?

Changi has some signage saying they will be the lowest duty free airport in the APAC region.

I didn't know you could bargain for watches there.

If one has the time, I agree go shopping in downtown SIN...you'll probably do better, but it will take some time.

JL Master Geographic or Patek World Time? hmm...

I think the JLC Master Geographic goes for around 7-8k USD in Singapore (the base stainless steel one).

I did see IWC at Changi. I did not see Rolex. Come to think of it, has anyone every seen Rolex duty free? Kinda of like I see Coach duty-free, but I haven't seen LV at the airports.

After over a year of different airports including DXB,HKG. SIN has been the cheapest duty free i have seen for watches of "lower" end brands like Tag Heuer and Omega.

I think DXB has Rolex, LHR does, although i do not know of prices.