Buying a watch

Daily Life, Swiss News and General Topics
21
We go through a transition period after the 31st of January so nothing will change while we are going through that.

22
Just go on chrono24.com, find a reliable grey dealer and you will save a lot (incl on as new watches incl. full warranty)

23

What is a grey dealer?

If I purchase from Germany on this site I just need to consider import tax (7.7%), customs charges (maybe 3%), shipping and handling fees, exchange rate....am I missing anything?

I think even with these charges can still work out better...

24
A grey dealer is an unofficial dealer who sells brand new watches with full paperwork and warranty

How do they do it? Let's take Rolex - they stuff their official dealers with inventory and monitor closely that they don't discount but dealers also need to make a living so rather sell some stock to grey dealers and just make 10% margin than sit on inventory forever.

I bought my Rolex in Germany from a grey dealer I found on chrono24 who had bought it from an official dealer in Greece. Both dealers made money, and I got a brand new watch at 20% discount.

I just drove to Germany to pick it up.

25

did you pay swiss import tax though?

26
Even if he did, on the EF he just paid an export tax.

27
be careful, there are fakes on chrono24, for example the following one looks fake to me:

https://www.chrono24.de/rolex/datejust--id14157182.htm

(one hint: look at the "rolex crown" on the watch crown)

28
No way I could tell these photos apart from genuine ones (photos :-) ).

29
Instead of trying to be a smart ass and assuming everony knows what you are talking about, why don't you say specifcally why the crown looks fake?

30
'Gears' on the winder or whatever they would be called look very poor quality & certainly would not have passed QC at Rolex.