I heard that HK is a good place to buy watches (i.e. good prices).
Is this true or just another myth like buying electronics in HK?

HK is one of the best places to buy watches. You can practically get any model you want with Rolex, Patek Philippe and all other luxury brands. If you're after more budget brands, try and stay clear of the smaller shops in Tsismshatsui and go to the more mainstream ones.

the nice thing about buying watches in Hong Kong is that they are duty free and tax free as well and always open to negotiations - the mainstream ones.

curious ... with your namesake, why do you need to ask this question ?  

Are there any problems with copies and fakes? Anywhere to avoid.

I love G-Shocks and will hopefully grab another one when I am in HK in a few months time - any recommendations?

And bro timewaster - thanks for asking this question  - I was planning on asking just before I return to HK!

Some people come to HK with buying fakes in mind. Usually these days, a quartz watch movement from Japan is so cheap, there is no need to be too concerned about a fake not working. There's really no point in supplying you a watch that doesn't work.

A tip: Shake the watch hard and see if the hands fall off. Assuming that's Ok, then time the watch against your own for 5 mins. If it passes both tests you will usually be getting a watch that works just fine.

In terms of price, watches, like hand bags and all manner of fakes in HK have different levels of "quality".

At the bottom end is "any old watch" that someone has pad printed a "Rolex" (or similar) logo on.
In the middle range, in addition to a logo on the dial, you will find a debossed clasp with the logo, often engraving on the back etc all helping make the watch look legit.
At the top of the range they call these the "A" copies. These are exact replicas of an actual model. Often they are very good even for a discerning buyer. The watch looks "right". Gold plating will last longer etc.

Ball park price you should pay for an "A" copy watch is around HK$200.00.

If you're buying the real thing, and want to be sure of what you are getting, I agree with Geo's comments in post #2.

Hi,

Where would you go if you are interested in an 'A' copy watch in HK? any good place you can recommend?

if you want A copy - just head over to shenzhen or zhuhai which has pretty good A copy out there than in Hong Kong

although i find that they are not that flexible. during my last trip 2 weeks ago, i found that it was more expensive than singapore or the philippines. i was looking at AP's Royal Oak Offshore. the IWC botique at the airport though, seemed to have decent pricing and was willing to negotiate.

The shopping centre in Lo Wu (Shen Zhen) is an excellent solution, about 45 minutes by KCR from TST if you have a China Visa. Can be a little intimidating to go on your own first time though.

In HK go to the Ladies Market in Mong Kok. Walk through and find a person selling copy watches out of a catalog. Tell them you want to go "upstairs" (I have done this 100's of times and never had a problem but by all means go with some friends if you are concerned).

You'll get taken up stairs in a building, usually one on the street you're in. You may be asked to travel up crappy stair cases and rickety elevators. Eventually you will arrive at a room with a big steel door.

When you go inside you will find hand bags, watches, pens, everything you want. There will be an instant attempt to find out where you are from so they can calculate the exchange rate and work out how much they can charge you. You will be told that the fake Louis Vuitton bag is worth HK$1,500 because a real one costs HK$30,000. Be prepared to walk out! No fake hand bag is worth more than HK$600 and most are only worth HK$200 - $300.

There are literally 100's of such places along both lengths of the Market, hidden on various floors in buildings. Going to China is one option, but at the end of the day, the cost is the cost so if you know what you're doing and you're prepared to walk out and try the next place. While you are negotiating, whisper so they are not compelled to refuse you, for example, if they are about to sell the bag you want to some bozo for HK$1500 the last thing they want said out loud is "you must be joking, that's worth HK$300!"

In some of these buildings you will also find walk up girls, so consider the excellent time management of buying your wife a gift and getting your dick sucked in the same building (not by the person selling you the watch or bag or whatever obviously)...

actually i agree what you said because many people told me buying watches in singapore is cheaper than HK because of tax. but i never go and find the answer given i dont want that i cannot go back to the shop to fix the watches after i bought it.

what tax are you referring to?

I have seen the Ladies market touts with the catalogues but never tried personally

But with Lowu Commercial City, am quite experienced with the bargaining process and browsing for watches there. Many will be quoted over 1k rmb or perhaps just under, if you are talking about AP, IWC, Hublot, Patek etc.

My best tactic is bargain it down to a price but DO NOT COMMIT to that price, as it means that if the shopkeeper can match that price, then it's very hard to argue your way out of it (well, you can but you have several people shouting/chasing after you demanding money), but then walk away. I have done this to get a watch from 900rmb down to 200 or 190 rmb for a decent AP and then Cartier watch.

Be careful at Lowu, as last time i went there i had a shouting match with 2 guys from this one shop on the ground floor which i thought was going to escalate into a proper fight but it was merely blowing off steam.

not really true.  For example, when you come to usa, you are suppose to declare your purchases when you go to US customs which are subject to taxes. Be careful of that

people tell me there is high imported tax in HK and prices are mark up because of expensive rental price but not have this kind of problem in singapore.

To be honest I am happy with my old trusty original Tag.

With a bit of care should last me a lifetime.

Next time I come out to HK I might be tempted to buy a few grade A copies though for those times when I don't want to wear an original.

I'm not interested in fakes.
Looking for the real stuff. Tag Heur, Citizen, maybe rolex.
would you be able to bargain on the real stuff?
would the price come out cheaper than the U.S.? If so, about what % would you be able to save?
what % off the retail price would you get?

[ Last edited by  timewaster at 16-9-2010 07:57 ]

There's no import tax on watches, the only issue is retailer's margin. As you can imagine, some of the prime location placesin TST pay very high rent.

Coming from the US, your dollar is pegged to the HKD so you dont get the benefit or "not" of exchange rate variation like I do coming from AUS. Now is an especially good time.

Over the past couple of years I bought a TAG at the Galleria on Peking so I know it's real. Cost me AUD$800.00. When I got home I had it priced at the TAG store and it's worth over AU$2,000. I also bought a Mont Blanc pen at the same place, paid AUD$250 and when I got home had it checked and value was AUD$675.00. Our dollar was high like it is now so things worked in my favour. I can give you 3 suggestions:

(1) stick to the bigger stores as Geo said in his earlier post.
(2) Know exactly what model you want and how much you can buy it for. If you cant save at least 30% forget it.
(3) Be prepared for the retailer to try and talk you into buying a different model you are less familiar with, they are trying to take your knowledge of the value of what your buying out of play. Dont let them.

Good luck.

A number of indians stand outside the Holiday Inn Goldern Mile touting for business selling fake watches. They tend to go for the tourists.  What price should you pay for automatic copy watches?