Rolex Watches

[Lowie]

ok, so i'm obsessed with owning a rolex, a real rolex. when i told my mother about the cruise I booked she immediately mentioned that there is a shop in Ocho Rios, called swiss shoppes, that is an authorized dealer and sells them discounted.

 

has anyone ever purchased a rolex there? were they discounted? how was the selection?

TIA!

[cherylandtk]

Don't know about the prices, but this is the store, and they are an authorized dealer. I would guess they don't have to pay the duties normally found on imported watches, so that may be the 'discount' if any. You should research prices here in the US for the various models before you go, so you know what kind of discount is being offered.

 

http://www.swissstoresjamaica.com/stores/stores.htm

[barbarah33]

I don't know that store specifically but if they are an authorized dealer then you should be fine as far as getting an actual Rolex. You can always check the list of authorized dealers on line. The truth is that the Eastern Caribbean is much more of a shopping cruise than the Western Caribbean. (St. Thomas and St. Martin have so many more stores to purchase fine jewelry and watches in.) Definitely know exactly how much will cost you at home so you can see what kind of a bargain you are getting. I have bought - or helped friends to buy, several Breitlings down in the Caribbean and you do get a discount but it's really just on the taxes that you would pay in the US - not really that the actual price of the watch is a discount. Breitling sets the price on its watches and dealers are not allowed to go below that on the watch. But you can often bargain for other things - store credit toward a bracelet or something else you might have your eye on. I would imagine Rolex is the same way.

 

And don't forget that you will still have to bring that watch back into the US after you buy it and it will put you over your customs limit/allowance that you are given to bring back to the US. How you deal with that is up to you.

[BallFour4]

Last summer I stopped at this shop in Jamaica, and the bargains were for real. What I did see was less than authentic looking warranty cards and boxes.

 

I purchased a Citizen watch that had a USRP of $500. The stores here discount them 35% and I got a price of $220 cash. I looked carefully at the watch, the serial number (it was in a close sequence of the ones I had looked at here in Houston) and forked over the cash.

 

Now, a Rolex is like no other investment. Big bucks, and over time it will need servicing. I want one as well, but the TAG 1150 will have to do for the duration of my daughters college degree quest.

 

Rolex watches require skilled repairs, and with something that expensive I'd rather pay the small premium and purchase it here from a dealer I can depend on being there for the long haul...

 

If you do get a bargain of a lifetime pick me up a blue face Mariner with the two tone band :)

[jerseyjk]

I'm curious where you got the information that they are an authorized dealer? Was it from them?

 

The only way to be absolutely sure they are an authorized dealer is to contact Rolex World Headquarters in Switzerland.

 

To locate an Authorised Dealer in Switzerland, or in countries without a Rolex affiliate office, please contact Rolex World Headquarters in Geneva.

 

Rolex SA

rue Francois-Dussaud 3-5-7

Case postale 1755

1211 Geneve 26

 

Tel.: +41 22 302 22 00

Fax: + 41 22 300 22 55

 

Personally, I would we extremely wary of purchasing a $5k+ watch at that store.

[mafig]

You'll save about 5% -- that's it.

 

There's usually only one authorized Rolex dealer per island, and they will have the official Rolex sign on their door.

 

Know your prices before you go.

[cherylandtk]

I'm curious where you got the information that they are an authorized dealer? Was it from them?.

The name of the Swiss Store came from Rolex USA. 1-800-367-6539

[JanineM]

Just a cautionary tale ...

 

A friend bought himself a Rolex from an authorized dealer here in the States. It's a reputable store in our town. He wore the watch for not even 24 hours, and it stopped working. The store had a heck of a time finding a replacement for him (they would not refund his money, their policy is to find a replacement), but he eventually got a new one after about 3 weeks of waiting. Although Rolex is a reliable brand, you're investing a bunch of money in something with technology that can go bad. You may want to spend the extra duty and buy one in a place where you can try to work through the problems.

[spongerob]

I'm rather amused that the ad that appeared beside of the OP's question was for Pulsar Watches.

 

Why do Rolex watches cost so much if the break so easily? :D

[jerseyjk]

Why do Rolex watches cost so much if the break so easily? :D

 

They don't. My first one was a used Oyster Datejust my wife purchased at a local dealer in 2000, original purchase date was 1980. Still works like a charm. I have never serviced it (I'm bad that way).

 

One suggestion for the OP ... plan a trip to Switzerland and get one at Bucherer. That way you get to travel again and are guaranteed a genuine watch at a significant discount (this I know from experience) ;)

[goneclear]

As another poster posted the Easter Caribbean is the better bet for shopping.

I bought a Rolex Submariner (The one with a blue face and bezel) in St. Martin about 3 years ago. I did alot of research on pricing before I did this and st Martin was the best bet. I paid $5,200.00 when at the same time Mayors in Miami were selling the same watch for $5,800.00 plus taxes. Not sure what the taxes were but I am sure it would have brought it to well over $6,000.00.

That savings could almost pay for your cruise in an inside cabin for a 7 night caribbean cruise. The place i bought my rolex was called goldfinger (I ThinK).

It is on the main street in Phillisburg (spelling) and I checked with Rolex before to ensure they are an official dealer.

[PAISANO]

I bought my Rolex in St. Martin at a store called Little Switzerland.

Before I went I priced the one that I wanted. This was about 8 years ago.

2 tone silver jubilee was:

 

Here in the states..................4,400.00

Diamond face........................1,500.00

total before tax.....................5,900.00

 

Little Switzerland total (same watch with diamond face)..........4,702.50.

 

Almost 1,200.00 savings.

Still working great!

Do some homework before you go.

Good luck!

[mafig]

I've had my Rolex since the 80's and it's still working great.

 

Only had it serviced once (guess I'm bad that way too).

 

When DH was Rolex shopping (he ended up with a Breitling), the best deal he could find was at Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi (before the hurricane).

 

I understand you can get very good prices in Dubaii.:p

[LHP]

I bought my Rolex from Kirk's in Grand Cayman in January 2003.

 

They discount 15% off the retail price in the US and then give an additional 5% discount and of course you just wear if off the ship so you don't pay any customs on it. (which saved me another 10% because our state tax would have been almost 10% had I bought it here)

 

I have worn it every day without a problem. I have a friend that resales used Rolex watches and she loved mine. It was a little different with the diamonds on the numbers and the trademark name "Rolex" embossed on the face.

 

Hubby just bought a Breitling in October. Again, he saved about $700.00 off the lowest price we found on the Internet. He could not decide between the Rolex (blue face) and 2 tone bracelet or the Breitling and the Breitling threw in a $500.00 watch winder so he went with it. Personally I like the gold dials on the Breitling face better and the darker color blue. And again, no tax.

 

Years ago, John Bulls in Nassau had the best selection but Kirk's had the better price. I also looked at them at A H Rise in St Thomas but their selection was limited and their prices were not as good.

 

BTW, I have to laugh...when we were coming back through Customs in Tampa in October the Customs agent asked me if I had purchased my Rolex on this trip and I told him no. I showed him it was an older model with the smooth clasp (not the bracelet clasp like the new ones have now). And he said OK. He did not ask my hubby about his Breitling, which we had just purchased.

 

Good luck!!

[annierie]

BTW, I have to laugh...when we were coming back through Customs in Tampa in October the Customs agent asked me if I had purchased my Rolex on this trip and I told him no. I showed him it was an older model with the smooth clasp (not the bracelet clasp like the new ones have now). And he said OK. He did not ask my hubby about his Breitling, which we had just purchased.

 

Good luck!!

 

They have also asked about mine -- right after I had it cleaned. I carry a copy of my sales receipt in my docs.

 

I bought mine in the States, for less than the Caribbean. I have checked.

 

I found our dealer has a once a year 20% off sale on items over $1000. It applied. They also offered 10 month same as cash financing, so no credit card finance charges. AND, if there is a problem with your watch, as it sometimes does happen -- some dealers in the States won't deal with you if you didn't buy from them.

 

By the way, the cleaning is a major ongoing expense, but worth it. My sapphire face chipped. It's not supposed to, but it did. They replaced it for free, since it is guaranteed. They are very careful about checking the watertight integrity during cleaning. If you don't get yours cleaned, and wear it in the water, you may ruin it if the seal is no longer tight.

 

I get mine cleaned every 7 years. It is 17 years old.

 

So is my husband's, and he wears his everyday. It is virtually indestructible. Worth it for me, since in our first 10 years of marriage, he went through three "good" watches, before I got him his stainless Rolex. He wears it to do almost everything including white water rafting, snorkeling, gardening, and biking.

 

If you don't wear it every day, you accelerate the timing for when it needs to be cleaned, since you have to wind it more (wearing it daily keeps it going). The more you pull out the stem, the shorter the time between cleaning.

 

It's a great investment, but you have to take care of it. I wouldn't give up mine for anything else but I am very careful with it.

[scomyrwil]

Went to NYC for a conference and saw one that I just fell in love with. The prices are pretty much the same wherever you buy it. What I did was buy it in NYC and had it sent to my home in Fl. I did not have to pay any taxes in NY or Fl and saved about $500. I did spend a lot of $$ in NYC at Gucci and Fende (for the DW) to make up for those taxes because she wanted them now.

 

The DW wanted one so bad that I did the same thing for hers. This time no need to travel to NYC. Just called the manager of the store (who remembered me) and did the transaction. It was sent in a beautiful gift wrapped box for XMAS. BTW I checked the prices at my local dealer before and they were the same as NYC so I ordered it from them. Also, my local dealer said that was the thing to do. They could not do that type of deal. Had some warranty work done by them without any questions.

 

Buy it here in the US from their authorized stores and don't worry about it

 

The store I dealt with is Wempe. What a store.

[Ollie_WA]

I surprised hubby with a Rolex 3 years ago on our 20th Aniversary cruise. I bought it in Cozumel...got a great deal. Also paid the tax at customs...$105.00...we now carry that receipt on all of our cruises..we were told if we didn't they could make us pay again. Hubby wears his watch everyday...when he takes it off at night he puts it in a watch winder...this way it never stops working! I found the watch winder on Ebay for less then 40.00...3 years ago!

[LHP]

Since Rolex has changed the "clasp" to be one continous bracelet instead of a smooth clasp, I no longer worry about carrying my receipt. All I have to do is show them the smooth clasp to let them know it is "old" (still beautiful, but ~sigh~ 4 years old).