What’s The Cheapest Country To Buy A Rolex? We Investigate
The expensive Rolex watches are in high demand, but what is the cheapest country to buy a Rolex? We’re here to answer that question and help you get the best deal!
Rolex is one of the top watch brands in the world with a long and rich history, renowned for gorgeous timepieces crafted from luxurious materials. The Rolex brand was founded in 1905 under the name Wilsdorf and Davis in London and did not change its name to Rolex Watch Co until 1915. In the 1920s, Rolex moved to Geneva and continued to develop luxury watches, including the Air-Kings line and Oyster Perpetual watches.
Now, Rolex is considered an iconic Swiss watchmaker, with a whole plethora of beautiful watches on offer. If you do have your eye on a Rolex watch, you may be wondering how to get the best deal and where the best place is to purchase a Rolex.
We’re here to help you find the best price with this article on the cheapest country to buy a Rolex. We will explore the best places to buy a Rolex and how to secure the best deal. Plus, we have included a few Rolex watches you really need to have on your wishlist!
Cheapest Countries To Buy A Rolex
There are many different aspects that can have an effect on the price of a Rolex watch, including duty fees, transportation costs, taxes, exchange rates, and the VAT refund. The exchange rates and the VAT refund will have the biggest effect on the price of a Rolex watch and are dependent on the country you are originally from.
For example, some currencies are stronger than others so you will have to check the exchange rate before you travel so you can make sure you are getting the best deal. Also, the VAT refund, which is a great way to save money on a Rolex watch, is only available to those who live outside of the EU, so if you are an EU resident, unfortunately, you will not be able to get this refund.
Let’s take a look at some of the cheapest countries to buy a Rolex and why these countries have the best deals.
The cheapest places to buy a Rolex include Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands and Japan, for a range of different reasons, but ultimately it really depends on where you are traveling from.
1. EU Countries (As a Non-EU Resident)
The VAT refund system that is in place in many countries throughout the European Union is a great option if you are traveling from the United States or the United Kingdom. The VAT refund rate differs between each country, with some offering lower rates than others.
The cheapest countries to buy a Rolex in the EU include countries with the highest VAT refund rates like Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and the Netherlands, with refund rates up to 15%. With this said, France, with its VAT refund rate of 12%, is also a great option as popular tourist cities like Paris and Cannes often have a great selection.
As an example of potential savings, the Rolex DateJust 31 in Oystersteel and yellow gold will cost you $12,850 + tax in the US. If you buy this watch in Italy, it will cost you €12,800, after which you will receive a 15% tax refund, meaning the watch will cost you €10,880 ($11,807) in total.
This means you would save roughly $1,040, which is a significant saving!
2. Japan
Japan is also excellent for luxury shopping since the boutiques offer a lot of inventory, and because the Japanese Yen is often weaker than many currencies, the US Dollar and the Euro in particular, which means you can get a good deal on a Rolex watch.
In addition to this, you can claim a 10% VAT refund on your purchases (with a maximum of $3,800 in one day).
According to the Rolex website, the suggested retail price for the same Rolex DateJust 31 in Oystersteel and yellow gold is $11,700 in Japan, and with the VAT refund, your total price can come down to $10,530.
With this said, it is always worth checking out the exchange rates between the Japanese Yen and your home currency before you travel to guarantee the best deal since these exchange rates are always changing and Rolex has been working towards having similar retail prices across all countries.
Check the Latest Prices With A VPN
Like many luxury brands, Rolex typically tries to maintain pricing harmony across the globe, which means that as currencies fluctuate, local product prices will soon be updated. Typically, this means that a price increase will be seen wherever products are the cheapest at that moment, but this price increase doesn’t always happen instantly after a currency fluctuation.
So, if you are interested in getting a Rolex watch with a discount, we recommend you check the official Rolex website with a VPN that is set to your destination’s location before you travel. The website will have a suggested retail price with the most up-to-date information.
Of course, also check if the travel destination you’re heading to offers a VAT refund – surprisingly many countries do!
Best-selling Rolex watches
We have brought together some of the best-selling Rolex watch styles and most popular models that we think you will love to add to your watch wish list.
1. Rolex DateJust
The Rolex DateJust watches are a classic and elegant style, and there are lots of different variations available so you can find an option that best suits your personal style. We love the two-tone design of this Rolex 36mm Oyster Perpetual DateJust Watch, with a stainless steel and 18 karat yellow gold oyster bracelet.
The white dial is finished with black Roman numeral time markers and a date window at three o’clock. The stylish design ensures this incredible watch will suit any outfit and really stand the test of time.
If you are looking for something a little more unique, then this Rolex Stainless Steel and 18K White Gold Oyster Perpetual Datejust Watch is exactly what you need. This watch has the same oyster bracelet, just crafted from stainless steel and white gold for a stunning tonal silvery look.
A fluted bezel draws attention to the mint green dial, which adds a gorgeous pop of color to this sleek watch. The watch features automatic movement, a date window, and striking white time markers and hands that really pop against the green dial.
2. Rolex Submariner
The Rolex Submariner has a bolder look, just perfect if you love the chunky watch trend! This black Rolex 40mm Oyster Perpetual Submariner Watch really makes a statement, with the stainless steel oyster link bracelet and black face.
The face is surrounded by a black uni-directional bezel and features white time markers that really stand out from the black face. This Rolex is finished with a sapphire crystal cover over the dial and an automatic Swiss movement. This magnificent Submariner watch is available for $11,595 from Fashionphile.
We love the mix of color and materials on this Rolex Submariner Date Watch that will add a luxurious finishing touch to any outfit. This watch has an 18 karat white gold oyster bracelet, secured with a fold-over clasp, with a blue rotating diver’s bezel, made from cerachrom which is a ceramic type material exclusive to Rolex watches.
The white hour markers and hands stand out against the black dial, powered with an automatic movement. This unique watch is available for $38,945 and is an investment piece to pass down the generations.
3. Rolex Yacht-Master
This Rolex Stainless Steel Platinum 35mm Yacht-Master Watch has a sleek and minimalist aesthetic that will suit any outfit, whether at work or at the weekend, both day and night!
This all-silver watch is made from stainless steel, to ensure durability, with a silver dial, platinum bi-rotational bezel, and luminous hands and time markers so you can always easily read the time. The watch is finished with a sapphire crystal cover over the dial, a handy date window, and automatic movement – just perfect!
Or you can go for the striking two-tone Rolex Yacht-Master Watch which has an eye-catching look. This watch has a stainless steel and 18 karat gold oyster bracelet with a deployant clasp, finished with a gold bi-directional rotating bezel and a shimmering silver dial.
The dial is complete with white and gold hands and time markers for a stunning look, with a classically Rolex automatic movement. The two-tone finish and chunky look are sure to add a high-fashion, luxurious finish to any outfit!
4. Rolex Cosmograph Daytona
The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watch, which was launched in 1963, was originally designed for racing drivers with high-performance details.
This rose gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Watch perfectly shows the intricacies of this style of Rolex watch, with the engraved tachymeter bezel and three smaller counter dials to accurately track seconds, minutes, and hours. The watch is made from 18 karat rose gold with black engraved details on the bezel and a black face finished with rose gold details – just beautiful!
There is also a classic stainless steel version which has a chic and stylish look! This watch has the same stunning details, including the tachymeter bezel framing the white dial, with white and silver time markers and silver counters.
The bracelet has the same oyster link design, finished with a deployant clasp, to make slipping the watch on and off super easy. This watch is an iconic timepiece with so many incredible details that were essential for the racing drivers that wore this watch – making it a must-have piece in any luxury watch collection.
Conclusion
It really depends on where you are from as to which country is the cheapest place to buy a Rolex watch. If you live in the United States or the United Kingdom, it is best to travel to Europe to purchase your new high-quality timepiece, since there are low transportation costs, no import duty fees and you can receive up to 15% of the money back through the VAT refund scheme.
However, if you are from Europe, you cannot access this refund scheme, and therefore it may be best to travel to Singapore to purchase a new Rolex since the taxes on items such as luxury watches are lower, plus you can receive the 5% tourism tax refund.
Hong Kong and Japan are also great places to shop for Rolex timepieces, but they may not be the cheapest countries since the price is dependent on exchange rates and current sales taxes. Rolex watches, no matter where you buy them from, are a super style piece to own and are also great investment pieces that hold their value very well!
We hope you found this article about the cheapest country to buy a Rolex helpful! For more luxury fashion content, check out the links below.
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