Where are people buying their watches?

[holymadness]

Browsing through B&S, I notice that watches are hardly ever listed. I've also noticed that there don't seem to be any bargain watch websites the way there are for clothes (e.g. STP).

Are people paying full retail for their (expensive, luxury) watches? If not -- and I hope not -- where do you go and what do you do to find bargains?

 

[tky56]

From looking around on the forums, several members seem to buy vintage luxury watches (i.e. Omega), which usually can be found for a relative bargain in your local shop or even online.

Part of the problem is that it is very easy to produce replica luxury watches that will fool the average customer from far away, and so most people are reluctant to buy watches that seem like a very good deal.

 

[obie]

Try the Sales Corners of various watch forums. Timezone, Watchuseek, Poor Mans Watch Forum and others. Now is actually a very good time to buy used watches as their value had plummeted over the last several months. I buy and sell exclusively through Timezone.

 

[HRoi]

i've ordered two watches through www.thewatchery.com i don't think they are an AD for anyone, but they have great prices for brand new watches and they are very prompt to respond/ship.

 

[butkusrules]

www.Ashford.com has great "deal of the day" stuff. Thats the hook on the bait if they get you on some of their regular price watches.

 

[huy]

For used watches, watch forums are the best places to buy. For new watches there are grey market dealers online and authorized dealers that will sell at a discount. Ebay can also be a good place to find watches if you can spot the fakes.

 

[ProphetHammer]

Jomashop.com gemnation.com authenticwatches.com interwatches.com are all great stores to buy from. They're all grey market dealers who offer very good prices for authentic watches. I've bought from Authenticwatches.com (breitling) and Gemnation.com (tag) and haven't been disappointed.

Be very careful with e-bay. You can find some good deals on there but often enough those good deals will be replicas, hence the amazing price.

 

[cchen]

Besides the already mentioned watch forums, http://www.collectorstime.com/ is a site with good prices. I've been to their B&M store in KL, Malaysia and they're really nice guys.

 

[kontai69]

Another good place to look is www.bernardwatch.com

I bought my Omega Seamaster and Breitling Aerospace from them.

 

[sfo423]

Originally Posted by ProphetHammer

Jomashop.com gemnation.com authenticwatches.com interwatches.com are all great stores to buy from. They're all grey market dealers who offer very good prices for authentic watches. I've bought from Authenticwatches.com (breitling) and Gemnation.com (tag) and haven't been disappointed.

Be very careful with e-bay. You can find some good deals on there but often enough those good deals will be replicas, hence the amazing price.

If you are buying new and buying luxury, stay away from gray market. No warranty, sometimes removed serial #s and all around ****** service IF you need anything post purchase.

Start w/used. If its your first foray into lux watches, you will want a different watch or second watch after a while (meaning you depreciation on a used piece (vs. new) is minimal.

 

[peterfranks]

Watch U seek And Timezone sales forums are your best bet. Ebay can be good if you know EXACTLY what you are looking for (and how to tell a real one from a fake!)

 

[Twotone]

Alley behind Canal St.

Actually, +1 to the suggestions above. I buy, sell and trade quite a few watches -- the days of paying retail and buying new are over. Look for an original owner watch, gently used with box and papers. As with anything, buy the seller as much as the watch. I picked up this Omega Constellation from the original owner in like new condition for less than 1/3 MSRP.

Twotone

 

[holymadness]

Great advice guys, thanks.

 

[acidboy]

Singapore and Hong Kong for brand new watches.

 

[andyw]

Several sites I have purchased from are:

http://www.europeanwatch.com/index.htm

http://www.pduggan.com/cart/fine_watches.php

Both of the above have a brick and mortar location, and I stop in when on business in Beantown.

http://www.watchseller.com/

http://www.collectorstime.com/

In all cases, top notch quality, professional service, utmost security and very competitive pricing.