| Line | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Local price | The price you would actually pay |
| Converted price | At the rate your card gives |
| Tourist refund | Only what you will really receive |
| Tax at home | What your country charges on arrival |
| Delivery and insurance | Carrying or shipping |
| Landed cost | Converted price, minus refund, plus tax, plus delivery |
Independent guides to luxury watches in Thailand and beyond
What to check before you pay, what a watch is really worth, who to sell to, and what happens at the border.
Start with the decision you face
Each guide answers one question and shows its sources and the date it was checked.
- BuyingWhat should I check before I pay for a pre-owned watch?Reference, condition, papers and the seller, in the order that matters.
- SellingWho should I sell to, and what does an offer really mean?Dealers, buyers, auction and private sale, compared.
- MovingWhat happens at the airport and at customs?Declaring, tax refunds and the paperwork worth carrying.
Three markets, one set of questions
The same watch is bought, valued and taxed differently depending on where you stand.
Thailand
Boutiques in the Bangkok malls, a pre-owned trade that runs on chat apps, and tourist markets selling imitations.
Tourist VAT refund, with an extra airport check for watches.
Dubai
New, unworn and pre-owned stock side by side, so the state of a watch has to be spelled out.
Tourist refund validated at departure.
United Kingdom
Specialist buyers, dealers and auction houses, with identity checks and tax rules for sellers.
£390 allowance on goods brought in.
Is it cheaper to buy a Rolex in Thailand?
Not reliably. The price on the tag is the third thing that matters. Work out the landed cost with the same method for each market.
Latest guides
Every guide shows when it was last reviewed. See all guides
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Buying a Pre-Owned Luxury Watch: What to Check Before You Buy
How to buy a pre-owned luxury watch safely: verify the reference, judge condition, check papers and provenance, assess the seller and know what to ask.
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Selling a Luxury Watch: Valuation, Buyers and Your Selling Options
How to sell a luxury watch: compare dealers, specialist buyers, auction, consignment and private sale, and prepare your documents, photos and payment safely.
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Luxury Watches in Thailand: Buying, Selling and the Local Market
How Thailand’s luxury watch market works: boutiques, Bangkok’s pre-owned trade, counterfeits, prices, and buying or selling as a resident or visitor.
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Is It Cheaper to Buy a Rolex in Thailand?
Is a Rolex cheaper in Thailand? How to compare Thailand, Dubai and UK prices properly: availability, tax refunds, import tax, warranty and resale.
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Buying a Luxury Watch in Bangkok: What to Check Before You Pay
How to buy a luxury watch in Bangkok: which seller to use, how LINE and Facebook deals work, where to meet, how to pay and when to walk away.
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What Determines the Value of a Pre-Owned Luxury Watch?
What sets the value of a pre-owned luxury watch: reference, condition, box and papers, service history and market demand, and how to check a fair price.
Written by Narin Suda
Narin is a luxury watch specialist from Thailand. He worked for Rolex in East Asia for more than ten years, then became a collector and dealer, and for the last five years he has traded watches and written about new releases. About Narin