Many dealers who sell over the internet will give out a large discount nowadays (about 20-%30% off list). Even Amazon.com has a large collection of fine watches. But I am wary. How do I know if these watches are even authentic?

Why not go vintage? Let somebody else take the depreciation hit. Later, if you decide to sell, you usually can get almost exactly what you paid for it.

might do, I actually did see one at a MIA jewelry show. It was like 50% off had been worn, but it had a nice scratch on the jewel, at at the SHOW I couldn't get a confirmation from my normal guy about how much to simply replace the saphire crystal glass.

I'll be in HKG early next year, there were nice 30% off deals in 2007, so they might be even better now. Authorized dealers as well.

Sorry, I havent had time for a detailed reply. But I have gotten over 25% off from authorized brick and morter dealers on both Breitling and JLC. timezone.com, a forum like this for watches has excellent advice. I have found 20% to be a first offer on most things at big box watch stores in Manhattan, although you have to convince them you are serious, they are happy to sell at list if you let them. I will post more later tonight, but luxury goods sales are down like 35%-40% from last year. This has got to be an excellent time to buy.

GadgetFreak - I'm interested in what you have to say. I've been looking into purchasing the new JLC Master Control Hometime, and am not exactly sure what sort of discount I should be expecting from an authorized dealer.

I'll be looking at other stores in Europe and Asia over the next few months (Madrid, Bangkok, Singapore, Tokyo, Brussels, London, Hong Kong, and Saigon) but I have a feeling that my best bet will be here in the States (preferably mail order so I don't have to pay sales tax).

The price of automatics can be mind boggling. I'd be curious to find out what the manufacturer's costs or profit margin is. Anyway, it's odd to find myself in a position where I'm deciding between a watch or a fully automatic rifle! Neither may be practical, though

I havent bought one for a few years but given the economy it has to be a buyers market. I would check timezone.com for more up to date information but I think generally JLCs are marked up about 100% by the dealer. I think 20%-25% off should be doable most places, Tourneau for instance has offered me 20% off on JLC and Breuget as first offers. I think that you can probably get 25%-30% and maybe 35%-40% if it is really bad out there and you are a tough negotiator. I think prices are probably best in the States as well. About the only ones that are really tough to get a discount on, at least when I was in the market were Rolex and Patek because they controlled their supply chain much better than the other manufacturers, and in Pateks case because of their pretty unique position as quality leader.

Do dealers typically ding you if you pay via credit card?

In my experience, sometimes. More likely the more discounted. I think they charged me an extra 2% to use a card one time. Other times no difference.

Take a look at the newly designed "Haptica" a movable braille timepiece. The link below will give you information about the designer David Chavez and how the watch will be avaliable after its funding project.



https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...-braille-watch