Getting Rolex in HK
 

Any good place to get Rolex in HK? Real ones, not fake please...

Prior to purchasing one for my wife in late 2006, I researched prices in Asia for some time, and concluded (at least from my research), that Singapore offered a bit better pricing than HK.

I realize I'm generalizing, and know that there will surely be specific models for which this isn't the case, but for the range I was looking at it was the case, and I know that I saved over US$1000 vs. US prices also.

Over the years, I too have consistently found Singapore more competitive than HK. But it is really dependent on the fx rates if you're comparing on US$ basis. Now with strength of S$, HK might be cheaper.

I don't have a particular shop in HK to recommend...sorry. I would suggest OP visit a few of the name brand stores in Central, Pacific Place and IFC to get a feel for prices and discounts. Personally I never shop on HK side - too touristy. But that is personal opinion and can't say for sure if better deals that side of island.

One other point, and maybe off topic - HK is flooded with mainland Chinese. Shopping for a rolex is like picking up a loaf of bread for them - that might have impact on discounts offered these days?

For new real Rolex, forget HKG -- too many nouveau riche mainlanders, prices are higher than in NYC. For old Rolex, you can sometimes find some gems, but generally few bargains. As mentioned earlier, SIN is cheaper most of the time. Even cheaper is Dubai. But the place to get cheap old Rolexes are in jewelers at small towns in the US rust belt, or where companies had a tradition of giving Rolexes for retirement. For example Poughkeepsie (about 100 miles upstate from NYC), where IBM gave out thousands of Rolexes over the past 50 years, and some have wound up at pawn shops and jewelers. But these are entry-level old Rolexes (quite nice but without the glitter). Otherwise there are no bargains in this market, and there are lots of fakes, some hard to detect (unlike the street corner ones).

If you do decide to look for a Rolex in HK, be aware that there are a massive amount of grey-market dealers, particularly in TST/Kowloon. The prices are indeed lower than the authorized dealers, but you have to be willing to accept the usual grey-market downside.

I second this. The same goes for Shanghai.
On a side note: IIRC, last year the official Prada store at the PVG airport was caught selling counterfeit bags. Its so hard to tell what's real and whats not real nowadays.

Having lived in HKG for 4 years now, I don't believe ANYTHING is legitamate no matter where its sold.

I bought my Rolex in Dubai From the dealer. I would NOT trust a HK dealer to service my watch let alone sell me one.

For what it's worth, last year I bought a Bulgari watch from an "Authorized" dealer not too far from the Peninsula. It came with paperwork, thank god. 3 weeks later it stopped working. Took it to Bulgari in Manhattan who took over a month to fix it. My hypothesis is that is was authentic, but the inner workings were tampered with. Runs fine now, maybe a few minutes fast. I think you're definitely taking a risk when buying in HK. But I did save $1500 and Bulgari New York didn't say it was a fake.

Sad but true
 

Follow-up to my earlier post and those that followed re red flag on HK product. Unfortunately there is truth to gray market and semi-legitimate goods in HK. Notorious bad rep - first they ripped off the Taiwanese back in early 80's, FF to now it's the mainland Chinese who are the targets.

That is why I suggested to stick with authorized dealers on the HK Island side - those at Pacific Place, IFC usually stand by their sale.

Good luck.

This is the place that my friend recommended.

www.kwaiyanwatch.com

The stores are located in Mongkok, Causeway Bay, and Jim Shia Chui(?)

Carlson, 29 Queen's Rd, Central. Helpful if you can have a Hong Kong local do the negotiating for you (and you aren't in the store), but at least you'll get a genuine item. My real advice is think beyond a Rolex, but lots of people don't agree.

Thanks. I will check it out.

That would be Tsim Sha Tsui in Cantonese I guess.

That's a good idea - getting an old Rolex. In fact, I'm going to see if I can get my grandfather's when he passes on...it's more for the sentimental value, the sense of taking care of something passed on to take care of. I don't particularly care for the noveau riche image but like the traditional ones.

If you know how to look for a real used one, consider going to Macau. There are literally hundreds of pawn shops each with rows and rows of Rolexes.