Rolex Purchase in Europe

[TexEd]

Hello to the forum members. This is my first post to the forum, and I am a newbie in the world of Rolex. I love the watches and was able to purchase my first Rolex this year. It has not taken me long to understand the pricing increases and the difficulty in finding and purchasing certain models. I have learned quite a lot by simply reading various posts on this forum and I appreciate the information provided. Thanks to all for that.

I do have a question regarding purchases in other countries. I will be traveling to Spain, France, and Italy in the coming weeks and I'm curious to know if (1) the pricing varies much between these countries and the U.S., and (2) will the scarcity in inventory be any different than it is in the U.S. at the present time?
While Duty Free shops at the various airports I will be visiting will have Rolex dealers can I assume their inventory will also be negligible? In summary, I will be willing to make a purchase but I doubt that I will have an opportunity? Thank you in advance

[2001jesper]

There is a sticky post on the "Rolex General Discussion" page with the prices per country per model. Prices do vary slightly and you can certainly expect for empty cases / negligible inventory.

Should a miracle happen and you find a reference you like, then you can get a VAT refund in the airport.

[Master_Grogu]

Nothing will be presented to you, unless you are extremely lucky. The ADs don’t sell to people outside their market anymore, unless they deem you wealthy enough to be worth it. So basically low chances. I’ve given up a while ago and don’t visit ADs when traveling.

[sj24k]

Pricing will vary slightly. Availability will be the same (as in, there will be none).

Enjoy your travels!


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[ks58]

What do the ADs typically say nowadays when they find out someone is from another country and visiting? I know some ADs have dealt with tourists in the past, but doesn't seem to occur much anymore.

[TimepieceRPP]

I had been in Paris twice last month and nothing I could see. Most lady DJ with diamonds, few two tone male DJ. ADs won't sell any hot models to walk in customers. I had asked SkyD, one AD offered gold osyterflex the first time and RG the 2nd time. He took them out from the safe.
I guess there were some stocks but won't sell them to unknown customers.
It happened for me to witness a customer collected his Pepsi in one AD. Funny enough the sales kept selling him other DJ with diamonds. No offense the customer was Middle East Asian and surevhe was big spender.

[TimepieceRPP]

Originally Posted by ks58

What do the ADs typically say nowadays when they find out someone is from another country and visiting? I know some ADs have dealt with tourists in the past, but doesn't seem to occur much anymore.

"No, no, no!". "All in the display". Lol

These were what they told me, unless you are asking PM models, they would take it little bit serious to chat with u.

[Societas]

I'm from France and I've visited a few Austrian AD in the past 2 years while on the hunt for my first Rolex. They usually give you the usual "high demand" / "no availability" talk.
Some might be pretty honest saying straight up they don't sell to tourists.

I would say worth a shot entering an AD if you walk by, but hope for nothing. You might be able to try on some "Exhibition only" pieces. I've seen them in Bucherer Vienna.

[inadeje]

Hi TexEd, welcome to the forum. It can take a while to get up to speed on the current Rolex situation. I was in France in the last 3 weeks. See below my threads on those visits to ADs.

St Tropez https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=816200

Nice, Cote D’Azur https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=814911

Monaco https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=814972

The watches I saw were all for sale. The ADs did not restrict or deter me from buying, quite the contrary, they were trying hard to sell me what they had while in full knowledge that I was a tourist. I wasn’t interested in any of the abundant pieces on display/available, mainly having visited simply to update TRF members.

[Xerxes77]

No chance

[TexEd]

Originally Posted by inadeje

Hi TexEd, welcome to the forum. It can take a while to get up to speed on the current Rolex situation. I was in France in the last 3 weeks.

The watches I saw were all for sale. The ADs did not restrict or deter me from buying, quite the contrary, they were trying hard to sell me what they had while in full knowledge that I was a tourist. I wasn’t interested in any of the abundant pieces on display/available, mainly having visited simply to update TRF members.

Thanks for the information..as it happens I will be in Monte Carlo, Nice, and Marseille in a couple of weeks. I intend to take a look at the watches and maybe buy one. I wish I knew more about which models are rare versus the more common models.

[TomLou]

Before the pandemic my family and I bought 3 Rolex watches in Europe.
2 at two different jewelry stores (Frankfurt and Paris) and 1 one at the FRA airport.
The shops gave us “Blue Point” tax free papers and we got 19% back exiting EU.
At the Frankfurt airport prices did not include the tax, they want your boarding pass and passport. All in all it was a good deal.
Gallery Lafayette in Paris …we asked for Daytona and they brought from the back 4 of them, white gold,
Rose gold, rose gold on the strap and yellow gold. Prices normal retail less 19% tax free export.

[Rick_Nashville]

Originally Posted by TexEd

Thanks for the information..as it happens I will be in Monte Carlo, Nice, and Marseille in a couple of weeks. I intend to take a look at the watches and maybe buy one. I wish I knew more about which models are rare versus the more common models.

Sounds like a great itinerary! Hope you thoroughly enjoy your travels. Regarding current watches, nothing is really considered common anymore, lol. Literally everything is held in the back for VIPs. My suggestion is to look for pre-owned. The ceramic bezel models (Sub, GMT, Deep Sea) have all been out now for 10+ years, so there should be more than a few pre-owned available, even if pricey. Carefully worn, full-set examples (I *get* that wear & use history is difficult to ascertain, but they should still be in fantastic shape.) For example, I have a black-bezel GMT IIc 116710LN that I bought in 2010 and it is still in amazing shape. Worse case, you send it to the Dallas RSC for basic servicing. If you just want to buy a watch to commemorate your travels, how about an Omega Seamaster or a Tudor Black Bay 58? Both should be easy to find and both are great watches.

[AEV]

If you are after a DD, two-tone DJ or perhaps PM Sky-dweller on OF or leather it should be possible.
Sports steel will be tough though.

[macrowatch]

Might get randomly lucky at airports, but I think that's usually like AMS not ZUR for example.

Lots of more ladies models available in stores, and generally I found better stock than US or Asia.

DJ41 will be scarce even in Europe.

VAT refund even after import duties tended to be great.

[Oxfordian]

My AD had a good display when I walked past the shop yesterday, they had three watches in the window, 2 x DJ 31’s with MOP dials and a RGYM on an Oysterflex with a diamond dial. I could also see two watches in the display case inside the store but what they were I don’t know.

So OP, lots of Rolex watches at my AD, at least 5 for you to choose from.

[Sprezzatura!,]

Originally Posted by Oxfordian

My AD had a good display when I walked past the shop yesterday, they had three watches in the window, 2 x DJ 31’s with MOP dials and a RGYM on an Oysterflex with a diamond dial. I could also see two watches in the display case inside the store but what they were I don’t know.

So OP, lots of Rolex watches at my AD, at least 5 for you to choose from.

Ask yourself, would you buy any of those from that plentiful selection.

Given that you went for typical mainstream SS models; a DJ and a Sub, I’m guessing not.

Mappin and Webb Bluewater are dire, like many other places.

[Master_Grogu]

Originally Posted by Sprezzatura!,

Ask yourself, would you buy any of those from that plentiful selection.

Given that you went for typical mainstream SS models; a DJ and a Sub, I’m guessing not.

Mappin and Webb Bluewater are dire, like many other places.

Yeah. I am currently in Lisbon and there are tons of watches at the prestige boutique-class Dealership. All TT, with diamonds, and DJs. There is not a single interesting model on display. The back is another story, but I promised I wouldn’t tell.

[inadeje]

Originally Posted by TexEd

Thanks for the information..as it happens I will be in Monte Carlo, Nice, and Marseille in a couple of weeks. I intend to take a look at the watches and maybe buy one. I wish I knew more about which models are rare versus the more common models.

It isn’t clear to me what you seek, but basically, as you can see from my posts I saw quite a lot of precious metal (PM is the acronym we use on here) pieces for sale in the ADs I visited. There’s another AD at Cap 3000 (Nice) that I didn’t post pictures from but also had quite a few PM and TT (another acronym we use = Two Tone - Gold/stainless). If you’re looking for mens size all stainless steel then the pickings are quite limited. However, there were a LOT more watches available than I’ve seen stateside for a very long time. In the US its quite common to see zero stock at ADs, yet as my photos show, in Europe it isn’t that bad if you’re ok with the aforementioned PM or TT offers. Also, note that you’ll get around 11% of the TVA (sales tax) back when you leave the EU. It should be 27% in France but Rolex boutiques have signed a tax refund deal with a company called “Pablo” and this company takes a chunk of the refund as an intermediary.

Good luck and let us know how you get on

[alex.cicollo]

I’m in Paris just now and looking for an OP for my niece who’s just been given a health-bill all clear, and something interesting for me (one OP too maybe). 99.9% sure we won’t be successful but doesn’t hurt trying!

[supernova]

Most European airports are actually quite direct in that they will tell you straight up to bundle for any SS piece they may have. This is from experience in a few airports.


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[DavB]

With the present COVID-19 laws makes it impossible to travel.

[thenewrick]

Availability and pricing won’t be any better outside of the US. All models have a wait list now. Visit your local AD in person and tell them what you want. Chose 1 model to start with an expect to wait. You’ll get it eventually.

[TexEd]

Originally Posted by thenewrick

Availability and pricing won’t be any better outside of the US. All models have a wait list now. Visit your local AD in person and tell them what you want. Chose 1 model to start with an expect to wait. You’ll get it eventually.

My wife has recently spent north of six figures at a local jewelry store (Rolex dealer) during a few visits. Her most recent purchase is a previously owned Ladies Pearlmaster, a gorgeous watch. The jeweler had sent it to Geneva for a complete check out and polish, and notified my wife when they received it back from Geneva. Anyway, while there, the AD whose watch case was bare, went back to his safe and returned with a new Daytona Cosmograph gold and diamonds and mop. He offered and I bought. The point of the story is if my wife weren't such a good customer I would not have been offered that watch.

[mattidk]

i was in Alicante in the weekend surpursingly to see YM42SS and YMI SS grey dial, also TT DJ wimbledon (wimbledon gone within same day and 2 YMs day after) so if u hit the AD at right moment might get lucky - that AD i visit shows apparently all their inventories for sale.
Avoid big cities with other tourists like Athens no Men size watches at all.

[Oxfordian]

Originally Posted by Sprezzatura!,

Ask yourself, would you buy any of those from that plentiful selection.

Given that you went for typical mainstream SS models; a DJ and a Sub, I’m guessing not.

Mappin and Webb Bluewater are dire, like many other places.

Haha, I love ‘mainstream’ you make it sound like a derogatory term for classic, desirable and very aspirational watches. Very happy with my little SS collection thank you.

As for Mappin and Webb in Bluewater, hell they’re a great little dealership, got me the watches I asked for very quickly. Have humoured me as I try different watches trying to find a TT/PM watch I like and the staff are brilliant.

But if you don’t like M&W then that’s fine, move on and find an AD you do like.

Oh, and my comment was firmly tongue in cheek about the availability, they like everyone else are struggling for watches.

[Sprezzatura!,]

Originally Posted by Oxfordian

Haha, I love ‘mainstream’ you make it sound like a derogatory term for classic, desirable and very aspirational watches. Very happy with my little SS collection thank you.

As for Mappin and Webb in Bluewater, hell they’re a great little dealership, got me the watches I asked for very quickly. Have humoured me as I try different watches trying to find a TT/PM watch I like and the staff are brilliant.

But if you don’t like M&W then that’s fine, move on and find an AD you do like.

Oh, and my comment was firmly tongue in cheek about the availability, they like everyone else are struggling for watches.

Nope. Nothing wrong with mainstream. I happen to also have a Sub and DJ in my collection which are staple pieces, so I’ll put that down to your perception.

M&W Bluewater are also fine as a dealer - I used to use their Guildford branch before they lost their AD status in 2015.

Again, I wasn’t referring to them generally, but purely the selection they have available, hence the reason I compared them with others who are the same. Looks like you’ve just said exactly the same thing…