Cheapest place to buy RO in Europe

[joshua-spade]

Hello,

I am trying to purchase the blue dial royal oak 15400 around Europe, Do you guys have any suggesting in purchasing one, as it is a boutique exclusive will any AD have it? and would the boutique give me any disc?

Thanks,
Joshua

[PJ S]

It’s supposed to be boutique exclusive, but certain traders seem to be able to acquire them.
As for discount from an AP boutique – highly unlikely unless you’re a high spending, regular client, and even then it’ll be pretty much a token gesture.
In a nutshell, buy pre-owned if you want to spend less.

[AK797]

Try chrono24 you might find one.

[joshua-spade]

if i instead consider the 15202 in steel, where do u guys think i can get the best price?

[exiger77]

Discount aside, I think the country that offers highest vat rebate is your best bet.

[Abdullasaif]

Originally Posted by joshua-spade

if i instead consider the 15202 in steel, where do u guys think i can get the best price?

Theres no "best" price its just paying in a price bracket for a watch thats in your budget

[beer]

UK has the highest VAT in the world (other than a few other EU countries--which you can't get a rebate on) so not worth getting a rebate as you will have to declare the purchase and pay UK VAT on it

[joshua-spade]

Originally Posted by beer

UK has the highest VAT in the world (other than a few other EU countries--which you can't get a rebate on) so not worth getting a rebate as you will have to declare the purchase and pay UK VAT on it

Actually I will be visiting to europe with a friend overseas that can give take a tax rebate and I take it from him later.

[FTE2014]

I generally get great deals for Patek, Rolex, AP in Italy, and I hear the same for the German dealers as well. I am based in Dubai where the retailers don't really give any "real" discounts, but they have good inventory. So I do my window-shopping here in Dubai (like many people), and then buy the watch I like from Italy - if I am not able to find it second hand with one of the trusted sellers here on the TRF.

[joshua-spade]

Originally Posted by FTE2014

I generally get great deals for Patek, Rolex, AP in Italy, and I hear the same for the German dealers as well. I am based in Dubai where the retailers don't really give any "real" discounts, but they have good inventory. So I do my window-shopping here in Dubai (like many people), and then buy the watch I like from Italy - if I am not able to find it second hand with one of the trusted sellers here on the TRF.

could you recommend me the AD in Italy and how much discount did u get?

[Kellokonttori]

Pfft, we have 24 %. UK's 20 % is nothing
Yeah, also VAT refund when exporting out of EU.

Originally Posted by beer

UK has the highest VAT in the world (other than a few other EU countries--which you can't get a rebate on) so not worth getting a rebate as you will have to declare the purchase and pay UK VAT on it

[edo]

Last year in Barcelona, Spain (Rabat ADs) they said to me 18-19% VAT refund but you pay full amount to AD and need to do all the paperwork and refund the money at airport or local offices, or you pay -15% of full price to AD and they do all for you...

[exiger77]

Originally Posted by Kellokonttori

Pfft, we have 24 %. UK's 20 % is nothing
Yeah, also VAT refund when exporting out of EU.

Finland 24% vat return??

[otoro]

Good question. If I may add to this. I'm planning to stopover in Germany soon so I would like to get recommendation on reputable second dealer there.

Also curious to know how much VAT refund I would be eligible for?

I noticed some of these dealers listed on Chrono 24. The price quoted there before VAT or after?

[Hpozzuoli]

Originally Posted by joshua-spade

could you recommend me the AD in Italy and how much discount did u get?

If going to Italy go to Rome and go to Bedetti Jewelers. Feel free to use my name.

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by exiger77

Finland 24% vat return??

As far as I'm aware you won't receive the full VAT amount.

I think you can get pretty good deals on watches in Finland, if you buy new. Used market has high prices.

But remember, the VAT percentage does not really matter. VAT could be 100%, it just means the government takes a 100% cut above the net price.

Say a Rolex is 10K net, then it will cost 12.400 euro in Finland at the AD, but 11.900 euro in Germany with a 19% VAT. So no difference in the end. Sure you'll get a bigger % of your money back when you leave, but you'll also be paying a higher sticker price. So to sum it up, best place to buy in the EU for a non-EU resident is where you'll be getting the biggest discount at the store.

[denvercenturion]

In regards to the 15400 "Boutique Blue" you would have to be fortunate enough to find one in store. As far as i've seen in my research they are tough to come by in general because they are so popular. Then you are unlikely to get a discount from AP, however I too have had success buying in Italy, the VAT return is pretty nice, particularly while the Dollar and Euro are relatively close.

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by denvercenturion

particularly while the Dollar and Euro are relatively close.

Which is not nice!

[lapince]

Originally Posted by PJ S

It’s supposed to be boutique exclusive, but certain traders seem to be able to acquire them.
As for discount from an AP boutique – highly unlikely unless you’re a high spending, regular client, and even then it’ll be pretty much a token gesture.
In a nutshell, buy pre-owned if you want to spend less.

Well that's what I was told to expect on the ceramic diver, black not white, and the AP boutique in Paris did me 10% on which you add 16% off tax refund, so the price was great, so my suggestion call the AP showroom, ask to speak to the director, if you speak to a salesperson forget the discount, say you want this watch and reserve it if they have it, and talk on the phone about getting a discount, that's what I did, 10% ain't lots but on the one you want and the one I got they supposedly give 0 except to good clients, another member called the AP showroom and wanted the same as you, he got zip, but didn't talk to the director… Oh and do you get tax refund when you're from England and shop in Europe??

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by lapince

… Oh and do you get tax refund when you're from England and shop in Europe??

Nope.

[lapince]

Originally Posted by bayerische

Nope.

strange I thought them not being in schengen applied also to products, guess I was wrong...

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by lapince

strange I thought them not being in schengen applied also to products, guess I was wrong...

Then we would also have to pay import duties when we shop in the UK.

Schengen treaty between countries was free movement of people.

Ultimately the UK (except some parts of it like Isle of Man, Channel Islands, although I don't think these are really part of the UK either?) are in the EU, meaning among a billion other things free movement of goods. (With a lot of exceptions, cars being one for Finland)

But from what I understood the OP already has a plan in place for this. A friend from a country outside the EU...

[Kellokonttori]

Originally Posted by exiger77

Finland 24% vat return??

The return used to be about 17 % from the total amount, not sure what's the number now.

[Kellokonttori]

Originally Posted by otoro

Good question. If I may add to this. I'm planning to stopover in Germany soon so I would like to get recommendation on reputable second dealer there.

Also curious to know how much VAT refund I would be eligible for?

I noticed some of these dealers listed on Chrono 24. The price quoted there before VAT or after?

Most dealers on Chrono are not AD's and the watches are subjected to margin tax, meaning there's no VAT refund possibility. Some dealers do advertise prices including VAT and in that case you can get the return if you export out of EU.

[dera]

Originally Posted by Kellokonttori

The return used to be about 17 % from the total amount, not sure what's the number now.

It has always been 24pct, unless you go via Global Blue.

Good dealers in Finland are happy to give you 100pct of the VAT back with customs declaration.

[Kellokonttori]

Originally Posted by dera

It has always been 24pct, unless you go via Global Blue.

Good dealers in Finland are happy to give you 100pct of the VAT back with customs declaration.

Ok, I may remember the Global Blue percent. I'm sure you're 100 % correct with this

[dera]

Originally Posted by Kellokonttori

Ok, I may remember the Global Blue percent. I'm sure you're 100 % correct with this

17pct is pretty close after GBs "fees".
I refuse to buy anything from places who insist on doing the return via GB.
The manual declaration is easier, faster and cheaper (well its free, you get all of VAT back). There is zero reason to use GB. Especially now when its all done electronically. No need to send stamped invoices back or anything. Theres never any wait and it takes less than a minute to process, compared to the often long lines and easily 10 minutes of faffing about with GB.

[FTE2014]

Originally Posted by dera

17pct is pretty close after GBs "fees".
I refuse to buy anything from places who insist on doing the return via GB.
The manual declaration is easier, faster and cheaper (well its free, you get all of VAT back). There is zero reason to use GB. Especially now when its all done electronically. No need to send stamped invoices back or anything. Theres never any wait and it takes less than a minute to process, compared to the often long lines and easily 10 minutes of faffing about with GB.

Fully agree with you! I think my last GB refund took smth like 3 months!!! (on top of the fees they charge), I had bought a watch from Italy and before I got the full refund the EUR/dollar rate moved quite a bit to my disadvantage.

[sm1810]

Originally Posted by FTE2014

I generally get great deals for Patek, Rolex, AP in Italy, and I hear the same for the German dealers as well. I am based in Dubai where the retailers don't really give any "real" discounts, but they have good inventory. So I do my window-shopping here in Dubai (like many people), and then buy the watch I like from Italy - if I am not able to find it second hand with one of the trusted sellers here on the TRF.

Hi Tim, I live in dallas but have a office in Abu Dhabi at two four54 , I'm flying emirates to Dubai at least once a month maybe we can meet up :)

Side note, Richard Mille at Galleria in AD gave me 20% off. I haven't bought an AP fro UAE yet but biggest issue is everything is about 30% more.

Back to original topic, I have personally found Cannes, FR and Monaco to be the best. The VAT is 20% and many Jewelers will give you the discount up front and just keep your cc on file in case you don't send them the tax refund form from airport.

[Gulfstream]

Great thread! Small percentages add to several hundreds of dollars when we are talking about an AP piece.

Thanks all for the helpful inquiries and info!