Anyone been to Hong Kong recently?

[Riledan]

Hey all, heading to Hong Kong for the first time in 4 years next week and was wondering if anyone has been recently and knows what the situation is like out there. My main questions are since HK has been closed for so long what’s the AD situation like ? Are there many models like Datejusts and entry OPs available ? What is the grey market pricing like ? And lastly any recommendations of trusted grey dealers out there? Thanks I’m advance!

[ninjin]

AD is same as everywhere in the world. Grey's are always market price. The market is a world market now and no local. You can DHL anything anywhere in 48hrs nowadays.

I was there in November. Will be going back in march.

[Jkcwl]

Youd have to be lucky for any DJ in AD's. Pretty much all the AD's only try to deal with you if you have purchasing history. Even then, hot models are really not available unless youre willing to pay more...

[MinMay]

Rolex in Hong Kong before the pandemic

[MinMay]

[TheEscapist]

Being one of the most active watch markets, and the border just having opened, unfortunately the AD situation here is just about the same as around the globe, presentation only unless you have a relationship.

Feel free to ping me if you come to town and want to talk watches! Safe travels.

[faimag]

AD should not be different but the secondary market is among the largest around, I 'd say. Enjoy your trip, before all else :)

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by Riledan

Hey all, heading to Hong Kong for the first time in 4 years next week and was wondering if anyone has been recently and knows what the situation is like out there. My main questions are since HK has been closed for so long what’s the AD situation like ? Are there many models like Datejusts and entry OPs available ? What is the grey market pricing like ? And lastly any recommendations of trusted grey dealers out there? Thanks I’m advance!

“Entry level OPs” are harder than many to get.

I’d forget ADs as you’ll have little luck there. Enjoy your trip

[Old Expat Beast]

Just discovered something interesting. Pre-covid there were more than 60 (about 67 as I recall) Rolex ADs in Hong Kong. I just did a count on Rolex.com and could only find 36 still listed. Not surprising really, I guess, with so many retail spaces closed down in recent years.

[CedCraig]

I think the flood of „I got the call“ posts here and elsewhere was substantially linked to China and HK being locked down for basically three years. With the lockdowns over, I think it will be harder for regular folks to get the call in the coming year, world wide.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Just discovered something interesting. Pre-covid there were more than 60 (about 67 as I recall) Rolex ADs in Hong Kong. I just did a count on Rolex.com and could only find 36 still listed. Not surprising really, I guess, with so many retail spaces closed down in recent years.

Interesting indeed.

I wonder how that compares to other parts of the world. I realize Hong Kong is quite unique, but still …

[Jkcwl]

Just want to chime in again. The AD's game now is hard to play too, most are asking street price unofficially...

[CedCraig]

Originally Posted by Jkcwl

Just want to chime in again. The AD's game now is hard to play too, most are asking street price unofficially...

Right. At least a few(?) ADs there have nothing to sell, but their subsidiaries are fully stocked with market priced watches. Wow, gee, how does that work? 😂

I have to assume Rolex Geneva knows this, which for me makes them fully complicit in the games ADs play.

[Jkcwl]

Originally Posted by CedCraig

Right. At least a few(?) ADs there have nothing to sell, but their subsidiaries are fully stocked with market priced watches. Wow, gee, how does that work? ��

I have to assume Rolex Geneva knows this, which for me makes them fully complicit in the games ADs play.

I would imagine so. This seems like the new norm now, they are all dropping subtle hints with the paying the market price. They also won't suggest it unless you've purchases a few watches from them.

Personally, I would prefer buying up stock they don't want in exchange of buying at MSRP. Seems like that is not even a game plan for them anymore.

They were willing to show what's in the safe for me, they pretty much had everything you could ever want. They even offered a few sport models to me, but I wasn't willing to pay market prices...

[ninjin]

In December, my cousin picked up a Polar EXP2 from a AD at RRP... but had to bundle a 34mm Tudor (one you couldnt give away) also at RRP.

So he ended spending HK$16,000 over the price of the EXP2 but ended up with 2 watches. Luckily for him, he gave the Tudor to a very appreciative daughter, so the bundling worked out ok for him.

[CarlOver]

Comment about entry level OP is interesting. With the many sizes and color combinations, AD getting one in size and color that you want requires patience.

[talkingbollox]

Originally Posted by MinMay

Rolex in Hong Kong before the pandemic

HKIA boutique now closed down. I was informed that the rent was HK$800,000 a month when it opened in August 2013. An acquaintance bought a 116520 white dial on a walk in a month later.

[Solace]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Just discovered something interesting. Pre-covid there were more than 60 (about 67 as I recall) Rolex ADs in Hong Kong. I just did a count on Rolex and could only find 36 still listed. Not surprising really, I guess, with so many retail spaces closed down in recent years.

That wouldn't surprise me because on the Kowloon side, Nathan road used to have the green crown on almost every street scorner. It was almost comical, partly because they are mostly empty. The lack of tourism from the mainland and offshore had to put a dent in retail.

Even some of the secondary dealers have vanished online or they have temporarily closed on their profile. HK does act as a hub for watch distribution.

[EssexRolex95]

I am new to the forum after lurking in the shadows for a while!

I am currently over in Hong Kong and have been looking around the various grey market dealers the city has to offer, and the value here is much better than the UK. I have been looking at adding a Batman and a Hulk to my collection, however have only ever purchased from AD in the UK.

They have a "no fake pledge" sign in some of the windows which appears to be government backed, and they check out to the website but I am not sure if that holds any water not being a local.

I have found a couple of watches at a dealer with a few stores spread across the city, and am happy with the prices....however with 30k on the line I wondered if anyone had any insight.

RWW Watches are the store in question, it appears that they were recently the victim of a raid by a gang of thieves.....at least they wouldn't steal fakes??

Any experience would be great!

should mention that the hulk comes with the AD receipt….could also be a fake but why bother when all the other watches don’t have one?

[arcampado]

Originally Posted by EssexRolex95

I am new to the forum after lurking in the shadows for a while!

I am currently over in Hong Kong and have been looking around the various grey market dealers the city has to offer, and the value here is much better than the UK. I have been looking at adding a Batman and a Hulk to my collection, however have only ever purchased from AD in the UK.

They have a "no fake pledge" sign in some of the windows which appears to be government backed, and they check out to the website but I am not sure if that holds any water not being a local.

I have found a couple of watches at a dealer with a few stores spread across the city, and am happy with the prices....however with 30k on the line I wondered if anyone had any insight.

RWW Watches are the store in question, it appears that they were recently the victim of a raid by a gang of thieves.....at least they wouldn't steal fakes??

Any experience would be great!

should mention that the hulk comes with the AD receipt….could also be a fake but why bother when all the other watches don’t have one?

Welcome to the forum

[norcalctr]

Enjoy your trip. Doubt you can find anything at the AD without purchase history.

[EssexRolex95]

Thanks for the welcome messages!

Yeah, no hope with the ADs haha. But the Grey market here has great value but it’s just hard to tell which ones are decent and the rouge ones

[Viceproductions]

With travel resuming in the region, I think supply will continue to worsen.

[youthagainsttt]

Originally Posted by EssexRolex95

I am new to the forum after lurking in the shadows for a while!

I am currently over in Hong Kong and have been looking around the various grey market dealers the city has to offer, and the value here is much better than the UK. I have been looking at adding a Batman and a Hulk to my collection, however have only ever purchased from AD in the UK.

They have a "no fake pledge" sign in some of the windows which appears to be government backed, and they check out to the website but I am not sure if that holds any water not being a local.

I have found a couple of watches at a dealer with a few stores spread across the city, and am happy with the prices....however with 30k on the line I wondered if anyone had any insight.

RWW Watches are the store in question, it appears that they were recently the victim of a raid by a gang of thieves.....at least they wouldn't steal fakes??

Any experience would be great!

should mention that the hulk comes with the AD receipt….could also be a fake but why bother when all the other watches don’t have one?

I live in Hong Kong and know a lot of the grey dealers very well. RWW is an established company over the last few years and have 3-4 branches. Anyone correct me if I'm wrong but I think prob in business less than 3-4 years. They've always been polite to me when I go to the Tst branch, prices generally not too bad but obviously YMMV & depends which model

Feel free to ask abt other greys - I'd steer clear of those near Hankow road for example and the biggest grey dealer in Tst, the crazy big one prob has the worst prices

[OneMoreSi]

I was there a few weeks ago for Easter, the AD's all have exhibition models out and as usual there were plenty of pre owned Rolex's.
I saw pre owned 116660's going for $108,880 HKD, so a little bit cheaper than the UK!

[sw88]

Originally Posted by EssexRolex95

I am new to the forum after lurking in the shadows for a while!

I am currently over in Hong Kong and have been looking around the various grey market dealers the city has to offer, and the value here is much better than the UK. I have been looking at adding a Batman and a Hulk to my collection, however have only ever purchased from AD in the UK.

They have a "no fake pledge" sign in some of the windows which appears to be government backed, and they check out to the website but I am not sure if that holds any water not being a local.

I have found a couple of watches at a dealer with a few stores spread across the city, and am happy with the prices....however with 30k on the line I wondered if anyone had any insight.

RWW Watches are the store in question, it appears that they were recently the victim of a raid by a gang of thieves.....at least they wouldn't steal fakes??

Any experience would be great!

should mention that the hulk comes with the AD receipt….could also be a fake but why bother when all the other watches don’t have one?

I live in Hong Kong and I would say from a brick and mortar store I would imagine they are legitimate watches. Hong Kong has a very strong watch culture and most people will rather save up months / years for a second hand legitimate watch rather than buy an 'A grade' fake watch. Obviously a lot of the second hand watch shops are not as glamorous as an AD as they will not have the money to rent luxurious premises - but they certainly have a lot more and actual watches you can buy!

The fakes are obvious - people offering you on the street or at the street markets where they show you from a catalog.

Out of interest, what was the hulk price listed as? You might be able to negotiate down a little on the price

[EssexRolex95]

Looking at purchasing from 28 Watches in Causeway Bay, any experience of this would be great!

Thanks so much for the responses! Very helpful

[youthagainsttt]

Originally Posted by EssexRolex95

Looking at purchasing from 28 Watches in Causeway Bay, any experience of this would be great!

Thanks so much for the responses! Very helpful

28 watches is long established business in Hong Kong, probably even 10 years. As a general rule their prices tend to be at higher end of the spectrum but they are certainly legit

[wng88]

Originally Posted by EssexRolex95

Looking at purchasing from 28 Watches in Causeway Bay, any experience of this would be great!

Thanks so much for the responses! Very helpful

Yes. I’ve bought and sold there before. Would go there again if I needed to.


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[EssexRolex95]

Thanks for all the messages!

I managed to get a 2016 Hulk with the AD receipt from 28Watches in Causeway Bay. I paid 147,000 which was including a 2% charge for paying by card. I am quite happy that it is an authentic piece but will have a little stress when I get it checked over in the UK haha

I’m sure it will all check out and I will be back to see them next time!