Author Topic: Purchase Watch In Europe  (Read 4991 times)

Offline rahkshi007

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 71
Purchase Watch In Europe
« on: November 17, 2015, 11:28:13 AM »
Hi all, I am going to Spain on Feb, would like to ask if anyone had experience of buying watch in Europe ?
How much discount do they give ? and how much  % of tax refund ?
Especially for Omega, I am eyeing on the  dark side of moon.
Any recommended area / shop to buy watch in Spain ?
The reason i want to get a watch from there due to i got pretty good exchange rate of euro during Greece crisis.

Thank you  :Cheers:

Offline kenji1903

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 365
    • My travel blog :P
Re: Purchase Watch In Europe
« Reply #1 on: November 17, 2015, 12:25:31 PM »
Spain's VAT is 21% but depending on your flight schedule since you can only reclaim VAT when you leave Europe

previously what i did was i contacted some of the major ADs and checked if they offer any special discounts, my visit was short so i don't have time door knocking on each AD, and just to make sure they have stock for the model i wanted

you can check out this blog for VAT refund, but its Amsterdam though
http://wlst-ourfirstjourney.blogspot.in/2013/09/a-personal-experience-vattax-refund-at.html

good luck :)
« Last Edit: November 17, 2015, 12:30:32 PM by kenji1903 »

Offline beaujarle

  • Freshie
  • *
  • Posts: 40
Re: Purchase Watch In Europe
« Reply #2 on: November 17, 2015, 12:40:53 PM »
Bought from Rome a few years back. After service charge & everything, got back about 15% of the vat.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
PAM 111
Oris TT3 Time/Date
Omega Seamaster 2254.50

Offline rahkshi007

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 71
Purchase Watch In Europe
« Reply #3 on: November 17, 2015, 03:14:12 PM »
Thank you.. how many % of discount that normally AD in europe gives ?

Offline adamjohari

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 314
  • Wristy
Re: Purchase Watch In Europe
« Reply #4 on: November 17, 2015, 06:51:50 PM »
What brand are you looking for? Certain brands are cheaper in Asia. Demand and supply kind of thing. Heard that JLC is cheaper in Asia.
Adam J
Currently own: Rolex GMT Pepsi 126710BLRO mark 1

Offline kenji1903

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 365
    • My travel blog :P
Re: Purchase Watch In Europe
« Reply #5 on: November 18, 2015, 07:38:19 AM »
Thank you.. how many % of discount that normally AD in europe gives ?
depends on brand... best to check with the AD

2 years back, with a discount its only marginally cheaper than Malaysia...

back then there's no GST, now i'm unsure how strict is the Malaysian Customs at the airport cos to claim back VAT, you need the watch with box and papers

Offline rahkshi007

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 71
Re: Purchase Watch In Europe
« Reply #6 on: November 18, 2015, 11:58:04 AM »
What brand are you looking for? Certain brands are cheaper in Asia. Demand and supply kind of thing. Heard that JLC is cheaper in Asia.

I aiming to get Omega dark side of the moon. Seem that only large Omega AD / boutique has this model.

Offline chengho99

  • Freshie
  • *
  • Posts: 27
Re: Purchase Watch In Europe
« Reply #7 on: December 17, 2015, 06:33:46 PM »
What about getting watch in Switzerland , is it cheaper than Malaysia ?

Offline nikfs1881

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 425
  • "Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend."
Re: Purchase Watch In Europe
« Reply #8 on: December 17, 2015, 09:41:42 PM »

What about getting watch in Switzerland , is it cheaper than Malaysia ?

In Switzerland, you will be blessed with enormous selections and availability is normally abundance. Unfortunately, Switzerland is one of the most expensive place to source for your Swiss watches, particularly with 4.3-4.5 exchange rate! Plus, Swiss hates it when you haggle and most of the big ADs in Switzerland will not even give you any discount.

For some lower end brands (TH, Oris, ML, tissot, Ebel, Rado) though, the local ADs do some clearance in Summer and Winter (up to 50pct off) but it is only for selected models.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Rolex Sea-dwellerC|Breitling Seawolf Blacksteel LE|Tag heuer Grand Carrera|Chopard Monaco Historique Time Attack|Baume et Mercier Capeland|Tudor Grantour|Omega Seamaster|Oris Artix Complication|Rolex 6694|Tag Heuer Link|Oris William F1|Tag Heuer 2000|Tissot T-Race LE|Rado D-Star 200 |Sistem51|Longines Hydroconquest Chrono|Seiko SRP577|Seiko SBDC003|Steinhart GMT Pepsi & Nav B44| Nomos Tangente 38

Offline watchdiver

  • Administrator
  • Jr. Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 51
Re: Purchase Watch In Europe
« Reply #9 on: December 18, 2015, 12:34:35 AM »
I too have experienced and heard that in Switzerland you almost never get any discount, especially in the large ADs. 

I think buying in Italy and Spain might be worth a shot, I had good experience in Rome.  In Greece I found haggling was widely accepted, and sometimes in the Greece islands I understand you get a good discount near the end of the season (around September).  I was given a superb offer on a Black Bay a couple years ago in Greece islands but I turned it down, only to find it was the best price I would be offered ever again in Europe.  In tourist areas I think Rolex AD are less likely to discount at all as many tourists are looking to buy.  In some Rolex AD they would not even have time to talk to me, so busy were they.

Offline Timeless

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1165
Re: Purchase Watch In Europe
« Reply #10 on: December 19, 2015, 08:14:21 AM »
Vat is up to 21%, try avoid those tourist area as they might or might not give u an attractive discount

Offline nikfs1881

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 425
  • "Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend."
Re: Purchase Watch In Europe
« Reply #11 on: December 19, 2015, 01:02:56 PM »

Vat is up to 21%, try avoid those tourist area as they might or might not give u an attractive discount

U mean the EU countries but not switzerland, right?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Rolex Sea-dwellerC|Breitling Seawolf Blacksteel LE|Tag heuer Grand Carrera|Chopard Monaco Historique Time Attack|Baume et Mercier Capeland|Tudor Grantour|Omega Seamaster|Oris Artix Complication|Rolex 6694|Tag Heuer Link|Oris William F1|Tag Heuer 2000|Tissot T-Race LE|Rado D-Star 200 |Sistem51|Longines Hydroconquest Chrono|Seiko SRP577|Seiko SBDC003|Steinhart GMT Pepsi & Nav B44| Nomos Tangente 38