Does country of purchase matter?

[8324david]

As I am new to here I have been reading though as many posts as possible.

When looking through the "for sale" section I noticed people keep asking which country the watch was bought from. Does this matter? I assume they are the same watches. I have also seen this on other sites.

I bought my SD from the only AD in Barbados last year. Yes I was concerned it could be fake but had read lots about the AD and even had it checked by an AD when I got home and it is genuine. Plus I got it duty free and saved a bit on RRP.

Does the country of purchase effect the price or is it one of those "well I bought mine in the UK" kind of thing?

[Ventus2]

If you purchase a watch outside the EU and bring it back to the uk then VAT is charged by customs and you receive a receipt. If you evade the tax then in future should the customs stop you and examine the watch they will be aware from the country code that tax is due. Hence EU residents will favour an EU watch.

[michael.jaye]

If you purchase a watch outside the EU and bring it back to the uk then VAT is charged by customs and you receive a receipt. If you evade the tax then in future should the customs stop you and examine the watch they will be aware from the country code that tax is due. Hence EU residents will favour an EU watch.

Very good to know...thanks

[stonty]

Jeez you'd really have to be unlucky for a customs guy to stop you & scrutinise the number of the watch on your wrist! :eek:

I bought my ex a TT lady YM in Miami, she wore it back through customs at Manchester & like an idiot showed it the the immigration guy who luckily was totally uninterested & just waved us through.

Years later, she (bitch) still has that watch on wrist constantly throughout her travels & I fail to see how any authority could now claim any duty on the watch.

PS there's a little piece of me that hopes they can lol :D :D

[Suhail]

I dont think it really matters where the watch was purchased, what matters is where the watch is currently.

In the sales corner, one sees Ads that specify location/shipping restrictions but not restrictions on origin.

[harb]

I bought my ex a TT lady YM in Miami, she wore it back through customs at Manchester & like an idiot showed it the the immigration guy who luckily was totally uninterested & just waved us through.

Years later, she (bitch) still has that watch on wrist constantly throughout her travels & I fail to see how any authority could now claim any duty on the watch.

PS there's a little piece of me that hopes they can lol :D :D

Good to see you've moved on and are now in a happy place, stonty :D

[harb]

Does country of purchase matter?

What Ventus said is theoretically possible but, as stony implied, highly unlikely.

So, in practical terms, the answer to your question is no.

[harb]

I bought my SD from the only AD in Barbados last year. Yes I was concerned it could be fake...

Two things, David. First - there would be absolutely no way you would get a fake from an authorised Rolex dealer so your concern was misplaced.

And secondly (more importantly :)) you've used the term "SD" to refer, I presume, to your Sub Date (You mentioned that watch in your introductory Thread).

However, on Rolex forums, SD is shorthand for the Sea-Dweller. Have a look here (http://newturfers.com/vb/showthread.php?t=169)on our Reference Section for other commonly used abbreviations.

A Sub-Date is usually just referred to as a Sub - which annoys the hell out of ND Sub (No Date Sub) owners who argue that since theirs was the original Sub it shouldn't suffer the ignominy of having the ND prefix. Purists, huh? What can you do with 'em...? ;)

However, you can always get the better of them in any arguments by suddenly asking them what the date is...:)

[Ventus2]

If you choose to smuggle items through customs then there is always a chance you will be stopped. Should you be an airline employee, police officer, IR employee, officer in the armed forces etc then the consequences may well be much more severe than just paying the duty. Your call really
It might just be the sort of thing that bites you in the bu* when you don't need it.:(

[harb]

...the sort of thing that bites you in the bu* when you don't need it.:(

I'd mind a bit if something bit me in the adversative conjunction "but" but I'd be a bit bitter if I was bit on the butt. ;)

[Suhail]

However, you can always get the better of them in any arguments by suddenly asking them what the date is...:)

To which they tell you the exact date and leave you in awe of their ingenuity ;)

http://www.newturfers.com/bin/mwf/topic_show.pl?tid=47768

[harb]

To which they tell you the exact date and leave you in awe of their ingenuity ;)

http://www.newturfers.com/bin/mwf/topic_show.pl?tid=47768

Quite so...!

And thanks for linking that old Thread - I'd forgotten how clever I was using the Daytona to track a different timezone :)

[Ventus2]

I'd mind a bit if something bit me in the adversative conjunction "but" but I'd be a bit bitter if I was bit on the butt. ;)
Great wordsmithery but I really meant bum so can you please revise the rythme.:)

[harb]

LOL!

Errm...bummer? :rolleyes:

Oh dear me...10 hours a day of American TV is clearly having a deleterious effect on my vernacular.

"Rumpole of the Bailey", "Crown Court" and "Miss Marple", henceforth...

[8324david]

Two things, David. First - there would be absolutely no way you would get a fake from an authorised Rolex dealer so your concern was misplaced.

And secondly (more importantly :)) you've used the term "SD" to refer, I presume, to your Sub Date (You mentioned that watch in your introductory Thread).

However, on Rolex forums, SD is shorthand for the Sea-Dweller. Have a look here (http://newturfers.com/vb/showthread.php?t=169)on our Reference Section for other commonly used abbreviations.

A Sub-Date is usually just referred to as a Sub - which annoys the hell out of ND Sub (No Date Sub) owners who argue that since theirs was the original Sub it shouldn't suffer the ignominy of having the ND prefix. Purists, huh? What can you do with 'em...? ;)

However, you can always get the better of them in any arguments by suddenly asking them what the date is...:)

Thanks for correcting me :cool:

[harb]

S'ok! :)

[Ozlanka]

Sorry to disagree with you guys.

There is no way in the world the Customs can tell where the watch was purchased from the numbers on the watch.

The serial number has absolutely no bearing on where it was sold.

The only place where the country of sale is shown is on the GRANITE card or sheet for the pre 2007 models.

How many passengers carry the guarantee card or form with them? I don't and I travel internationally about 6 times a year.

The country of purchase, to me, does not matter at all. I my collection I have watches purchased in many countries. Rolex Japan will honour the warranty and fix the watch without any questions if I produce a proper guarantee card.

Having said that, to many people the country of origin seems to be important. In Japan, a Rolex Japan delivered watch fetches a better price (+10% or so) when compared to a parallel import watch.

Not sure why, as the service and guarantee are the same.

[trainee]

the UK client number of the credit card guarantees is 160. Any ideas which country 888 relates to??

[subsea-sub]

the UK client number of the credit card guarantees is 160. Any ideas which country 888 relates to??

888 i think you will find is hong kong

cheers
mike

[8324david]

888 i think you will find is hong kong

cheers
mike

760 is Barbados

[Ozlanka]

Hi All, for future reference here are the official Rolex Country Codes.

Some countries have more that 1 code. Not sure why.

010 - Switzerland
012 - Switzerland
100 - Germany
110 - France
114 - Nice
120 - Austria
130 - Belgium
134 - Netherlands
138 - Netherlands
150 - Spain
160 - England
170 - Italy
200 - Italy
201 - Malta
202 - Egypt
208 - Greece
265 - Sweden
283 - Finland
400 - Hong Kong
413 - Korea
430 - Singapore
431 - Malaysia
440 - Taiwan
500 - India
505 - Pakistan
527 - Middle East
532 - Saudi Arabia
538 - Oman
548 - Israel
680 - South Africa
700 - Canada
710 - USA
720 - Mexico
741 - Bahamas
752 - Jamaica
767 - Grand Cayman
768 - Panama
780 - Brazil
781 - Chile
790 - Argentina
810 - Australia
818 - Philippines
828 - China
842 - New Zealand
873 - Guam
888 - Hong Kong
900 - Japan


Best to all

[rolexdubai]

As I am new to here I have been reading though as many posts as possible.


Does the country of purchase effect the price or is it one of those "well I bought mine in the UK" kind of thing?

Like other members even I feel the country code really doesnt matter... they all come from the same factory and are identical...

[Larry*]

Customs sounds like a good reason to make sure that your watch doesn't appear "too new".

Wouldn't want anybody stopping you after a dozen times through customs and telling you to prove you had it all along......:eek:

[rolexroz]

Ventus is correct, as are the others who tell you that there is no problem with customs.

UK Customs chaps CAN if they feel the need, stop you, seize your watch and the onus is then on YOU to prove that the watch is real and all taxes are paid.

For 99.9% of the population this is never going to happen.

If on the other hand you are a well known, or should I say alleged drug dealer, then you WILL be stopped and searched regularly, and under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) you will lose your Rolex and believe me they do lose them, but quite honestly they do not care as the next deal will buy another, Bast@*+s

However as you are obviously a GOOD GUY, even though you are from Glasgow (shame on you) you will be fine with your watch.

And lest anyone should wonder why I know you are a good guy??? It is easy, you are a fellow Turfer.......


Rolexroz


Now about another TURF dinner!

[harb]

Hi All, for future reference here are the official Rolex Country Codes.



Thanks, Imtiaz.
There's a version of that list on our Resources/Links board. There are some differences between the two lists, though - what's the source of your list?

[Rolesium]

A Sub-Date is usually just referred to as a Sub - which annoys the hell out of ND Sub (No Date Sub) owners who argue that since theirs was the original Sub it shouldn't suffer the ignominy of having the ND prefix. Purists, huh? What can you do with 'em...? ;)


Ah, yes, that would be me :-)

The Submariner has no date. The one with the date is the Sub-Date. I know, "biiiitch, biiiitch, biiiitch."

:-)


-James-

[harb]

Ah, yes, that would be me :-)

The Submariner has no date. The one with the date is the Sub-Date. I know, "biiiitch, biiiitch, biiiitch."

:-)


-James-

;);)

[morgan]

I have only heard of someone get caught in customs on a used watch - once.

Story:

Guy buys non-eu watch. Enjoys it. Takes wifey to Switzerland, buys jewelry for her. As the cheap wanker he is, exports (gets the 7.6% vat back from the swiss) and jumps on a plane to Copenhagen. When you do a VAT refund they fax the info to you'r destination airport. 99% of all airports do not care about this (who would be able to handles this anyways) - but - in Denmak the VAT is 25% and they have more customs than security. ;)

Upon entering Denmark the guy and wifey are pulled over. Get stamped 25% on the jewelry. Then customs guy notice the (newish) looking watch. Guy gets 30 days to produce the original invoice or warranty papers. Fail to do so (of course) and is levied the list price VAT @ 25%.

In all fairness - the chances of this happening is like 0.00000001%


M

[morgan]

Oh, and the reason most people prefer locally sourced watches is because of warranty. A dealer which has a local service center is not required to fix a warranty issue locally. But they tend to do it with locally boought watches. i.e. you show up with a missing hand and Paraguay warranty papers, you watch is slow-boated to geneva and fixed there. Im sure they will also let it sit for a few weeks before shipping it. ;-)

M

[harb]

Hmm...you seem to have fairly intimate knowledge of this story, M.
So...a cheap wanker who lives in Denmark, hmmm?
Anyone we know...? ;)

[stephengreen]

Thanks, Imtiaz.
There's a version of that list on our Resources/Links board. There are some differences between the two lists, though - what's the source of your list?

Enquiring about a watch today supplied by a Greek AD and the country code on card is 200.

[Suhail]

Hmm...you seem to have fairly intimate knowledge of this story, M.
So...a cheap wanker who lives in Denmark, hmmm?
Anyone we know...? ;)

Maybe ;) All I'm allowed to say is that he says "Wanker" a lot :)

[harb]

Enquiring about a watch today supplied by a Greek AD and the country code on card is 200.

Thanks, stephen. Our list has a '?' next to that code so I'll update it.

[Suhail]

Enquiring about a watch today supplied by a Greek AD and the country code on card is 200.

Since it was Greek, I would have thought they would have chosen 300 ;)

[Ozlanka]

Thanks, Imtiaz.
There's a version of that list on our Resources/Links board. There are some differences between the two lists, though - what's the source of your list?

hi Harb

Sorry I did not get back earlier. Been celebrating the end of Ramadan here in Tokyo.

The list is from my dealer here in Tokyo. I was surprised that a few countries had two numbers or more.

The dealer did not know why either.

Take Hong Kong as an example, the 888 code is all you see today. Most of the Gray dealers get their stock from HK and the guarantee cards all show 888.

As you would know in China 888 is the lucky number.

Cheers
Imtiaz

[harb]

Thanks, Imtiaz - Eid Mubarak!