TRUSTED dealers in ISTANBUL???

[GioVonGio]

Hello Gentlemen,
I will be traveling to Istanbul next week, and looking to buy my first Rolex. I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions of places to shop. So far the only place I found did not have an address, and Yelp mentioned that it may move locations on a regular basis. Not the kind of store I am looking for. If you are in Istanbul, i will attach a photo of the model I am searching for. Thanks for your help gents!
Model #6694 1980's Vintage Oysterdate Precision

[Old Expat Beast]

Does it have to be Istanbul? It's not a city known for trusted sellers or wide choice of vintage Rolex.

[GioVonGio]

that is the only city i am visiting, really i have a layover there so was planning to do some shopping. i would love to have one mailed to me in the states, but there seem to be many regulations shipping to the states

[Old Expat Beast]

Why not buy one from a US dealer?

[GioVonGio]

I just recently began looking at Rolex watches, and my gut tells me that I will pay more for a watch purchased in the states. I will investigate secondhand dealers when I am there, but I work out of the country for most of the year. I am trying to get a feel for where I might find a good deal.

[Old Expat Beast]

You will likely get as good a deal in the US as anywhere. The country is packed with Rolex dealers and watches! Try the for sale section here on the forum. The model you posted above is pretty common.

[andromeda160]

Shouldn't be hard to pick up a 6694 off ebay for a good price, or a similar vintage at a pawn shop or craigslist if you want the convenience. I've bought all my watches from the owner or off ebay and haven't had any problems except with a misrepresented watch from italy that I sold locally so I didn't have to deal with returns.
I'd imagine you would be charged more as an American, and have no recourse in returns,in istanbul. BUT there's an ebay seller I follow called istanbul market, and they sell alot of high end watches, I don't know if they have a booth in the grand bazaar or not, but I'm sure they're deals to be had there, but you're going to have to search around. I would ask around locally, check out jewelers, if they don't have any ask who will. Also take pics and post them here before you buy, there's good and bad places to buy in every country, just like watches being way overpriced in NY. If you are going to spend alot of time there, don't rush a purchase, but on a watch you can get for roughly $1500 here, I don't know how much you'll actually be saving

[AS1]

Buy in the US; traveling from the US to Turkey in the hope of a great deal/find on vintage Rolex is a highly speculative exercise.

[lis]

I spend a lot of time in Istanbul and while it's a good place for gold jewellry it's not a place for vintage watches, in my experience. And if you have a problem after you buy you'll have trouble resolving it. People in Istanbul buy their high end watches in Europe or the U.S.- if I were you, I'd do the same.

[Johny]

Originally Posted by GioVonGio

I just recently began looking at Rolex watches, and my gut tells me that I will pay more for a watch purchased in the states. I will investigate secondhand dealers when I am there, but I work out of the country for most of the year. I am trying to get a feel for where I might find a good deal.

can you not buy from where you work for most of the year?

[DigitalSushi]

I buy all my watches in the US because of variety and trusted sellers. Sometimes it's cheaper to buy watches abroad but you'll have to buy what they've got available because they might not carry the specific model you're looking for.


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[jguerrad]

Buy locally no question! I would only go abroad if there is something I cannot find here.

[PoderEsBueno]

Check this place, they had one 6694 three months ago. They still might have it as vintage is not moving so fast in Istanbul. They have 3 stores, i saw the watch in this one so you might want to visit the exact location.

Adress:
Abdi İpekçi Cad. No: 19/1 Kat: 1 Nişantaşı - İSTANBUL Tel: 0212 246 38 08 Tel: 0212 296 54 53 [email protected]

I can give you some other dealer contacts or locations if you want to spend your time seeing watches, but as mentioned above Istanbul is not the best place to hunt for VR, you will still be finding plenty of Classic Rolex with fair prices though. Also make sure to visit the Grand Bazaar, as it has a unique atmosphere you will also come across many used Rolex.

Good luck

[Mick P]

Chaps

Istanbul once had a reputation of being a good place to buy Rolexes amongst other things because back in the 1990s, Turkish inflation was over 200%. Therefore if Rolex fixed a price in Turkish Lira for say one year, then the watch would be only a quarter of its original price a year later.

Therefore lots of Brits (and I would guess Americans) would fly into Istanbul, buy a Rolex and fly back or take a short holiday, saving a small fortune in the process.

Today Turkish inflation is around 10% and hence this sort of thing isn't nowhere near as lucrative.

Regards

Mick

[Old Expat Beast]

When I first travelled around Turkey in the mid 1980s, it was as cheap as Thailand. By the mid 1990s, it was as expensive as France or Italy for most things.

[Atansev]

Hi, i am located in İstanbul ...i searched all the stores...there are huge amount of fake rolexes everywhere Here all are the lalest models...but if you are looking a vintage there is no fake ..be sure of it.
You can search from www.sahibinden.com. or www.sadansaat.com is a well Knowln place for used watches...

[andromeda160]

Originally Posted by Mick P

Chaps

Istanbul once had a reputation of being a good place to buy Rolexes amongst other things because back in the 1990s, Turkish inflation was over 200%. Therefore if Rolex fixed a price in Turkish Lira for say one year, then the watch would be only a quarter of its original price a year later.

Therefore lots of Brits (and I would guess Americans) would fly into Istanbul, buy a Rolex and fly back or take a short holiday, saving a small fortune in the process.

Today Turkish inflation is around 10% and hence this sort of thing isn't nowhere near as lucrative.

Regards

Mick

Expalains why they always wanted USD when my dad went in the 60's&70's. My grandfather bought a his/hers solid gold longines set in Istanbul back on one of their trips when my dad was a kid, my dad said they're mine, but i've never seen them lol

[Atansev]

http://www.sadansaat.com/product/sub...patina-kadran/

[strafer_kid]

Originally Posted by AS1

Buy in the US; traveling from the US to Turkey in the hope of a great deal/find on vintage Rolex is a highly speculative exercise.

Would be inclined to agree - seems like a bit of a long shot and might be risky particularly if you are in a hurry?

[MATCH1969]

You can also visit "Old Bazar section" in Grand Bazar, I found a nice Carrera Heuer From 1968 original and in good conditions for a fair price 2 years ago.

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by GioVonGio

that is the only city i am visiting, really i have a layover there so was planning to do some shopping. i would love to have one mailed to me in the states, but there seem to be many regulations shipping to the states

The import ban is over. I'm not sure what you're talking about.

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by GioVonGio

I just recently began looking at Rolex watches, and my gut tells me that I will pay more for a watch purchased in the states. I will investigate secondhand dealers when I am there, but I work out of the country for most of the year. I am trying to get a feel for where I might find a good deal.

Your gut needs to do some more learning.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by JP Chestnut

The import ban is over. I'm not sure what you're talking about.

Its an old thread. OP hasn't logged in for 20 months.

[alika]

Like Old Expat Beast says, this is an old post.

But ANY of you guys need any help in Istanbul, I will do my best, just dm me.

Cheers,

Ali

[andypandy]

The Grand Bazaar in Sultan Ahmet district has several Dealers , ask any shop owner , they will direct you to one of them . I have NEVER seen any vintage watch for sale there that could not be bought for a lower price from one of the excellent reputable sealers on this Forum . My Turkish friend , always acompanies me when I buy anything in Istanbul , that way I get a good deal . He describes his fellow businessmen " Endi , they are Turkish , they can catch Birds with their Mouths ! " . Great people though ! .

[FTE2014]

I moved back to Istanbul, my home 4 months ago after 16 years abroad and I also feel the secondary market here does not seem to very liquid. Having said that, Istanbul now seems to be a great place for. Using new watches at very good deals from the ADs given the economic downturn and very slow tourism over the past year.

I have been to two of the Sadan stores, did not buy anything personally but they seem to have a good inventory and they look quite trustworthy and professional.

[alexturka]

by chance, i came across onywatch. they have very good reputation on chrono24. maybe you can take a look.