Japan’s ROLEX Market 1 Year Later - What Happened?
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- Опубликовано: 9 фев 2025
- Hi there, my name is Watch Fan Henry and I just returned from Tokyo. I spent some time evaluating the local Rolex market. I was there this time last year, as well as in years past where I enjoyed terrific buying opportunities for fabulous condition current and vintage Rolex watches. However, in December 2024, I noticed big changes compared to years past, as presented in this video.
I was thinking about going Rolex shopping in Japan but at these inflated prices, it's a hell no. Thanks for making this video.
Prices aren’t inflated it’s the same as US.
@ayush876 if they are the same as US it is inflated because they were lower than US before.
@@ayush876 Oh and US is not the only place to compare prices.
Hi Henry, I just wanted to say thank you!
I saw your Tokyo videos a while ago and it was the last straw that convinced me to take a short trip to Japan last October (Of course the watches weren't the main reason, but rather Japan itself!) I visited your recommended shops on Nakano Broadway, including 7Hours and also Mizutani in Uono, and I was really blown away by everything! Unfortunately I didn't treat myself with a vacation present, but what isn't there yet can still happen on the next trip to Japan!
Regarding your analysis of the current market situation: you are right - prices have been adjusted upwards. I found it interesting when I was there in October how many Asian tourists were hanging out and shopping in Jackroad - supply and (above all) demand regulate the price and so I suspect that the market has adjusted upwards due to Consumer behavior. I took a closer look at your videos of the watches in 7Hours with the prices and couldn't find something similar there on my visit, nor my desired models 1601/1603. Nevertheless: it was a fantastic experience to be there.
Keep up the good work and content!
Wow, thank you so much for your detailed report. It was a thrill to hear all this from you that you basically retraced my steps. I also revisited Mizutani in Ueno as well on this trip and had a great visit with him. He told me that a lot of people have come into his shop from seeing my videos and I was so happy to hear this .. because he is such an awesome seller. He’s second generation owner of the shop. He’s super honest. He only sells good watches and he’s always there to help you. Hopefully in the future, you’ll be able to get a watch from him. As you said it’s wonderful to visit Japan, whether one gets a watch or not because it’s such an awesome country. I also did a 4 day trip down to Okinawa this time and that was wonderful. Indeed the Japanese Rolex market has adjusted to the global pricing equilibrium for Rolex watches so the large amount of savings aren’t what they used to be, but who knows .. maybe that will change in the future. No matter what .. it’s fun to go and look at the watches. I’m wishing you all the best in your travels and watch hunting and hope you’ll find the pieces that you like in the coming months . all the best for 2025.
I used to own five Rolex watches, sold three during the peak, keep a submariner and an explorer two. I am now mainly looking for Japanese watches and micro brands. Bought a GS gmt in 2023.
Interesting..what 3 models did y let go.
I will be in Japan again next month and shopping for a GS. I was at Nakano last year and I picked up a Speedmaster sandwich. I bought a Datejust for my daughter last year and it was definitely not cheap.
Kinda opens up a new world when you realize the value of GS!
@@culturehorse Two OP, and a vintage submariner.
Same here
Presented very well Henry! Thanks for your time and effort. Very Interesting. I really like the Sea Dwellers.
Thank you very much for your kind words. Yes, those Sea Dwellers were fantastic. It’s just that the price is higher by a fair margin than last year. Also, there’s far less Submariners for sale than there was last year, and almost no Air Kings and very few Milligauss watches. I bought a 2022 Air King last year for a good price as I showed in my video from last year.
11:56 These look stunning!
Enjoyed this video immensely. Thank you
Awesome! Thank you! I really appreciate your letting me know and thanks for leaving the comment. Wishing you good luck in your watch hunt.👍👍
It seems that the watch market is dead. These Rolex will all be cheaper later this year, as the grey market must dump stock to survive. Rolex designs never change. Therefore, it makes sense to wait. It makes more sense not to buy Rolex at all since they are grossly overpriced and unlikely to rise in the near future.
Currently waiting for the 16570 to continue going down.
I read yesterday that Rolex prices were crashing and selling at a 5-6% discount now. I have not seen the prices drop in a while.
It’s not just rolex market that is dead, most collectible markets are dead - paintins, rare plants, luxury bags, etc are all dead.
The more you say this outloud in front of a mirror, the greater the likelihood of getting any stainless steel sports watch you want upon walk in with no purchase history at a Rolex AD. I know people who have been saying this for the last 3 years and while they still haven't gotten anything, it's only a matter of time now that the watch market has been "dead" for 3 years!
"It makes more sense not to buy Rolex at all since they are grossly overpriced and UNLIKELY TO RISE IN THE NEAR FUTURE." By your own logic, it therefore doesn't make sense to buy ANY watch brand since every watch brand has historically always depreciated. Most notably brands like Omega and Breitling have terrible depreciation. In fact Rolex, Patek Phillipe, and AP are the only watch brands that have historically always appreciated in value or retained their value. So in other words, your advice is to only buy AP or PP since every other watch brand is unlikely to rise in the future. Got it. 😂
I find vintage Seiko more interesting than buying a Rolex in Japan and they are harder to find.
Yes - or some the limited edition Seiko Presage Star Bar range can be very hard to get - particularly the ones with more amazing (almost GS standard) dials.
Weirdly there are almost no shops in Japan specializing in used Japanese watches, you have to search for general pawn shops that do a lot of watches and that's where you'll find them. A lot of dealers also just throw them straight on ebay for international sale because they know there's a good market for older Seikos abroad.
@@strangelove770 Indeed - I have had some luck on Mercari (Japanese online market) buying from private Japanese individuals.
@ I do know a few spots in Tokyo but I also think a lot of Japanese keep their old Seiko’s here in Japan and they aren’t as widely available. I’ve lived in Tokyo for ten years and still haven’t seen a lot of the vintage Seiko you see sold on some of the major watch sites in person here. In fact, I used to sell vintage Seiko that I would randomly find on my journeys around Tokyo before Covid hit and messed up the whole global shipping scene but that’s another story altogether. All my contacts are small local businesses.
@@yokosomike Interesting, so I guess I'm not just bad at looking and there's something to my observation that used Seikos are surprisingly hard to find in Japan relative to the overall VERY impressive secondhand watch market. I need to find one or two good spots to check before I go again, and then not spend too much time/energy on it besides that. There's so much to do in Tokyo, I hate wasting time on wild goose chases. Thankfully Japan is an incredible place for deals on new Japanese watches so whenever there's something in a mfg's current catalog that I'm interested in, it's usually quite easy to find a great deal between in-store discounts, exchange rate arbitrage, and the VAT refund.
Been there many times over the past 30 years. Lots of memories. Used to have lots of antiques and collectible toys. Good ice cream in the basement. Nice coffee shop on the first floor.
I never tried the ice cream thank you so much for sharing your nice memories of Nakano Broadway. I’m also a collector of professional Aircraft Models and I’ve been looking for them at Nakano Broadway going back to my first visit in 2019. Sadly I have never found a single airplane model. I’m thinking the selection of vintage Japanese toys and collectibles is down significantly compared to decades past .. for reasons I do not know..
Are prices generally negotiable in Japan?
We are heading to Tokyo end of the month for the Tokyo marathon!
Thanks for putting this video together! Interesting to see the changes.
I hope it gave you some insight into what has happened with Rolex availability in Tokyo since last year. Thank you for your comment. I appreciate it.
I was just watching your update video yesterday. Looking forward to this one as I'm currently in Tokyo.
That’s great to hear - I hope you have a fun time in Tokyo, and find a few watches you like! I’ll be curious to hear if you come to the same result that prices are the same as everywhere else. However.. there are a few pockets of value as I explained in the video. But it is nothing like it was last year and prior.
@ prices in Nagoya and Osaka were better and weren’t universal across the country, depends on the retailer. Stores closer to main tourist areas were marked up. The department store in Nagoya, surprisingly had better prices.
Luxury preowned watches are a global market. Every dealer knows the going prices.
That is a great point! And I agree, the luxury preowned watch market is a global phenomenon. However, last year, Japan was an anomaly, and there was great Rolex supply at prices lower than global prices. I produced a video on it at the time here on the channel. But Japan is now more or less been priced at global levels, and the arbitrage opportunity is gone.
@@WatchFanHenrySimilar with designer bags. Bought my wife a few a couple years ago in Japan because they were probably 20-30% discounted. No longer the case.
great video! I had an amazing time during my stay last year browsing the luxury watches in and around the Shinjuku area. I'm personally a huge fan of vintage pieces so I was having the time of my life browsing all the Cartier, Patek, AP, Rolex, and Omega pieces that seemed to proliferate shop windows. I didn't find anything during my stay this year, since as you've mentioned, the prices were really no better than home but there's always next year!~ I'll have to give Nakano a try when I'm in town next.
Hi Christian, It's good to hear you had such a great time exploring the watch shops in the Shinjuku area. Did you just do a Google map search for watches or were there specific key shops that you visited there? I will be very interested to hear about your experience if you find anything interesting in Nakano next time.
Feels like it’s not worth the trip to Japan for Rolex anymore
Grand Seiko though
It is not. Japan grey dealers list their Rolexes based on Western's fair market values. The only savings is the sales tax, which still adds up if you're talking about $10K+ purchase.
@@gaffs82 they use the internet prices!, there is no deals to be found in the Japanese watch market!, None!!!!!!
You are very right. Last year I was thinking it’s well worth making trips over there just for watch shopping, but it’s not the case anymore .. for the time being anyhow. Maybe by this time next year it will have changed again. Who knows.
@ I agree. They will adjust. Takes time to change all those price tags in windows 😜
Its amazing to see all the " over priced " units gathering dust...I prefer Seiko , Hamilton, Casio.....
Yes, that is true. The Rolex watches will probably sit there until the sellers decide to lower the prices. Maybe this time next year it will be a different story.
I have to say thankyou for introducing me to Mizutani from one of your video's last year. I made sure to go when i was in Tokyo August 2024 - i went to Nakano broadway and all the usual shops but it was Mizutani where i ended up buying a vintage gold Omega Speedmaster. The whole experience was exactly as you showed. So helpful, so knowledgable and a great product. We even talked about your visit and video as the way i found him. When i was leaving, there was an american family coming in to look also.
I intend to go back to Tokyo in the coming years and I'm defintely going back to visit the store!
I am so very happy to hear this. Thank you so much. I was in his store last month during my visit and had a great chat with him and he is very grateful for the introductions that my video made to his store. He deserves it because he operates such a wonderful little shop, and his level of customer service is second to none. This is a store that I trust implicitly and I speak from experience as I purchased my first watch from him back in 2019 and it’s working beautifully to this day. I visit him every time I’m in Tokyo and if you’re looking for a vintage Rolex, that’s been properly maintained in good condition and you want to have peace of mind with the purchase, I can’t think of a better source.
Just came across your vlog. Are you able to check out other luxury brands other than Rolex ie Chopard,Omega,Breguet, Zenith, Blancpain,etc
Thank you very much. This is a great question. Perhaps next time I’m in Tokyo I could do a video focusing on the other luxury brands that you mentioned. In all honesty, I’m not knowledgeable with those brands and their product lines in the same way that I am with Rolex. But I know they’re fabulous. Watch brands and have strong followings And it would make great video content that would be of interest to many people. So thank you for the suggestion and maybe I can try to do it in the future. I usually visit Japan in December so we’ll just have to see what things look like at that time.
Hi soon will be visiting Japan and will be panning to buy a Rolex sub date or a Batman , so could u please suggest which store I will be getting a good deal to buy , preferred new watch
Visit the store that’s shown behind me in the video grab for this video Kame-Kichi This will be my number one recommendation..
4:54 What are the differences between the prices listed in yen in red text at the bottom versus the prices listed at the top (in black text) by the year of the watch?
Nvm, you explain it later at 5:20
The black price at the top is the Rolex list price when the watch was new. The red price at the bottom is the price they are selling the watch for today.
I was there few weeks back, all excited and pumped up to hopefully get a piece to bring back home. But to my disappointment, the prices there are much higher than where I’m located, Malaysia. It is about 20-25% higher on most models. 30% higher for the new sets.
Thank you very much for confirming that my view is shared by you. May I ask, is there a big watch area in Malaysia that’s similar to this, or is it just small shops in different areas?
@ yes there are a few ‘watch venues’ in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia with preowned watch shops similar to Nakano Broadway. Namely ‘Berjaya Times Square’ and ‘Amcorp Mall’.
Algorithm brought me here. Informative!
Wish you use a mic for outside ventures
Glad the algorithm worked well. Yes I’m going to purchase a proper outdoor mic for my phone.
Thanks, ths is so useful. Im going to Tokio soon and now I know that is no point in looking for watches, no bargain there. At least on the Rolexes.
Glad I could help as this was my observation .. with exception to a few models .. specifically Explorer IIs and vintage Presidents without original gold straps.
Hello. About to go to Japan this April. Our hotel will be near the Tokyo Bay area. Which stores would you recommend that would be close to our hotel? Should I just go to Nakano and not explore nearby neighborhoods?
I can tell you there are a handful of shops in the Shinjuku area. But I’ve never been to the Tokyo Bay Area, so you would have to do a Google search for watch shops in that map location. I can only recommend going to where I went because that’s where there’s a high concentration of watch shops with competition Aamong the sellers. Despite the fact that prices were generally high.
Thanks for the review. Always disappointing when you spend your time and money travelling and you come home with nothing.
I know exactly what you mean, but I enjoyed the trip anyway! I love visiting Tokyo with my wife, we love being there, walking around the various areas doing other shopping, eating, etc. And I usually purchased a Rolex watch on previous visits to Tokyo because the deals were good and plenty. But things have changed and it’s not that way now in Tokyo for us Rolex Fan’s .. sadly. The Rolex inventory decreased and the prices increased.
The top price is the price? Or bottom is the price? I don’t understand
Thank you so much for the video Henry. Very informative. Quick question...while the illustrated prices may be nothing to get excited about, is there an element of "haggling" that is expected by these shops that may be able to achieve the better prices from last year? I have a hard time imagining the turnover as it was a few years ago. Appreciate any thoughts!
Haggling is just not done in Japan generally speaking. I did not see anybody negotiating watch prices in past trips, and certainly not on this trip. Maybe it does happen and I’m just not aware. But I myself would not do that. It’s just not my personality because I know that haggling is not part of the Japanese culture .. so I just look at the prices and walk away if they are not to my liking. Maybe other people can speak to this with more authority than what I can.
Im headed there tomorrow to buy that Wimbledon DJ 🤣
Prices are dropping like crazy in my local marketplace. People need cash but nobody has cash.
No deals in Tokyo. They raise prices like the restaurant menus catering to US tourists in Mexico in other words daily. That’s been my experience since 2022.
It’s very true. The Rolex price is in Japan are now world trend prices so there’s very few deals to be had .. not like last year (my visit of December 2023).
Please tell me, when you went into the first vintage store, all the videos had two prices, one at the top, black, the other at the bottom, red, so what is the real price?
The black price at the top was the price when the watch was new. The big price in red the bottom is the price today.
@@WatchFanHenryand the big price in red.. is that including the 10% tax ?
Hi Henry, did you see any rolex rootbeer? don't think I see any in your video
Are those new or second hand
I think that’s the risk of holding inventory. Because there is slow and steady downward pressure. And someone somewhere will have to take a loss
Welcome to Nakano！
As someone based in Singapore, the price is ridiculous. We are at least 5-10 % cheaper at this stage
Similar for hk
im from Singapore too. Looking for a 16750. Any recommedations on which trusted vintage dealer can source for me?
@@donald1983 go far east. I saw at least one over there for sale
@@AA-um3jgwhich shop bro? Last week I saw Watch District Carousell got 1 but they sold already
Thank you so much for pointing this out to me. I haven’t been to Singapore since the year 2000. Is there an arcade of shops where all the Rolex dealers and high-end watch dealers are located that is similar to Nakano Broadway in Tokyo?
Go for Grand Seiko Spring Drives.
I have a Rolex gmt 2 but no longer wear it after a GS.
Thank you very much for the suggestion. I’m going to look into this watch type as I’m now curious.
The market in Japan nowadays prices are getting much higher for new and even the second hand ones. The only thing that saves its industry is the free tax…
This is exactly my observation compared to a year ago. Most of the bargains for ROLEX watches have disappeared in Japan.
is there good supply of Cartier/Tudor according to your experience? Thank you very much!
Absolutely .. yes there are quite a few of these brands at almost all of these shops at Nakano Broadway. One could even do a video tour like I did focusing on these brands models. It’s just that I don’t know too much about them, but I think you would be impressed with the selection if you went there. I appreciate you watching my video and asking the question.
@@WatchFanHenry Thank you for your quick reply and for your incredible videos!
Very helpful video.
I'm heading to Japan in May for the first time and am looking to buy my first second hand watch (always bought from AD).
You get the tax benefit there, then just wear the watch back to Canada and pack the box/papers in your luggage?
I have watched Canadian border control, they check your luggage too, and they can be relentless if they catch you "lying"....just saying!!!!❤😂🎉
And watching Henry's video, he does compare the prices with "North America" so if you're from there, why bother. Unless ure going for a holiday, ud need to add the flight cost on to the watch price.....better buy it in North America then, if it was me.
@michaelfonseka7657 Hmm so maybe wear the watch, carry the papers, and ship the box back home.
Japan has some degree of confidence that the second hand good is what it's advertised to be. North America is full of liars and crooks, not sure I trust the grey market here.
Let me say I’m going to wish you a great holiday as you’re going to enjoy it. That’s for sure. I always enjoy Japan. As you know in my video, I explain that you will pay 10% less for the watches.. so you’ll get the tax free rate. The shop will give you a piece of paper confirming that they’ve given you the discount which you might have to show on departure from Japan. However, I always report my watches when I arrive in Canada and I pay all the taxes that are applicable, which is usually PST and GST. When I own a watch, I want to have proper paperwork with it .. showing that it was properly imported into Canada so that if I ever have to send the watch for service out of country, I can prove where I purchased it.. Also, if I wear the watch out of the country and I’m bringing it back into the country, I want to be able to prove I’ve paid all my taxes on mywatches. I wouldn’t personally just wear the watch back to avoid paying the tax as it could come back to bite me in later years. Also, when it comes time to selling the watch, I want to be able to prove that the watch has been legally imported into this country and everything is above board. A Rolex is an expensive time piece and you want to have proper paperwork to accompany it. This is my mantra.
@@WatchFanHenry okay so when you bring to back to Canada they charge Canadian tax (HST where I am) on the total purchase price in Japan (so sale price minus the 10% tax credit)?
Henry, I am going to Japan in August and will be watch hunting. I saw a Rolex in this video going for 3650.000 Japanese Yen How much is that in USD Dollars?
According to Google at this very second, that’s US$2335.
@@WatchFanHenry Thank you
If you are strictly looking at Rolex and perhaps Patek, you can forget about bargains. The worldwide market is more or less the same.
But if you look further afield at watches like AP, VC, JLC and some of the German makes like Lange and GO, then yes, bargains can be found in the pre-owned market.
If you are looking for heavy discounts on new watches, Omega prices there are about as good as you can get.
So no, bargain Rolexes are hard to come buy, since they are buying the pre-owned ones for inventory with a 10% premium now with their buy-in adverts.
Henry, will the Japanese negotiate on price? Is the tax removed at the register or do you have to do it at the airport?
They don’t haggle. The tax is removed at the register, but this rule is set to change sometime in 2025.
This is quite a common question. My view is that the Japanese are not big into negotiation as per their culture. I’ve never negotiated on a price for a watch in Japan. It’s not something I would personally do. Maybe other viewers have more experience in this area than I.
@ thank you
@@joshgrondie7545 thank you for educating me.
If i may ask, the price tags shows two different prices, listed price and tax included price, if for tourists do we only pay the listed price? Because i heard that tourists don't pay taxes for buying stuff there, or can claim the tax refund later, appreciate your answer, thanks😊
If you bring your passport with you, the watch shop will charge you the lower tax-free price. That’s how it works. If you do not have a non Japanese passport, they can’t give you the 10% discount.
I’m just a SEIKO guy and more than satisfied.
Is it the Grand Seiko watch that you own as a lot of people are mentioning that model here?
@ Thank you. No I’m in let’s say a lower income bracket so I’ve collected several of the older 5 sport watches. Great Automatic watches. I don’t like the newer watches of that line. I know it’s like anything else say gold. Do you buy 1/4 oz. Coin or save your money and buy a one ounce coin.
Don’t get me wrong I do dream of owning a Yacht Master someday.
Do they charge a percentage when using credit card to purchase a watch ?
I have purchased several Rolex watches in Japan going back to 2019, and I’ve always used my credit card. And I’ve never been charged a fee for using my credit card. I never carry thousands of dollars in cash with me on my holidays so it’s just not an option .. and my mind hasn’t even thought about a cash price scenario. It is possible that they might give you a small discount if you have the cash, but I’ve never asked the question.
Original Rolexes cost a lot because of the inflation. I go for super clones usually from wristova and their quality is pretty dope!
Cheaper in Singapore.. the Batman you showed is used at 2.7mil yen, you can get a brand new one in secondary market for less than that … new with box and papers.. including tax. Also in Singapore the watches are all registered and guaranteed not from dodgy sellers, local secondary retailers are very reputable, it’s Singapore they can’t fool around. On the face of it considering the YEN is low I think these prices are too high.
Is there a luxury watch shopping center with many dealers similar to this that exists in Singapore? I should point out for clarity, that these dealers in Japan, in my video, have been there for a very long time and they are reliable and reputable.
@ Yes Far East Shopping Center in SG.
@@mlee6136 im from SIngapore too. But any vintage Rolex specialist at Far East Plaza to recommend?
In Japan, get a Grand Seiko or a Japanese watch
A lot of people are saying the Grand Seiko is the watch to buy .. getting a lot of comments on it. Is the Grand Seiko a better deal to buy within Japan than outside of Japan? You’re a specific version of this watch that one should look out for as I know nothing about them?
@ I am not sure about second hand GS watches, but I expect more choices. For new, the prices of standard models will probably be about the same as outside of Japan, as you can normally get discount outside, but also get the same in Japan on the tax refund. A lot of people go for the Ginza limited edition or the Japan only limited editions. If you are in Tokyo until the 17th January, a new Ginza edition is being released (SBGA503), at their boutique stores, as well as in some department stores. Even if you don’t get something limited, it’s always nice to get something from a place that is made there as a souvenir. I have been collecting GS for several years, it’s good to see that is now more appreciated. I do have Rolex’s etc, but the quality on a price point of view, and the accuracy, is hard to beat.
that pepsi 98 is actually a good deal minus the 10% tax
There are some slivers of deals to be found if you dig deep enough. I might do a video highlighting just the deals so to speak .. but big picture the Tokyo Rolex prices are up .. and it’s not the way it was as recently as a year ago. I was hoping to purchase a Rolex watch this year as I do on almost all my visits to Tokyo, but it didn’t happen.
Did you see Rolex watch parts(bezels, hands, dials) for sale at Nakano Broadway?
Great question thank you for asking .. yes there are shops that sell Rolex parts and pieces, etc. I would say the selection is really good. Actually that’s a great topic for a video next time. If you ever go there, I wish you good luck with the search for what you’re looking for.
What are Omega Speedmaster prices like in Japan ATM?
I’m glad one of our other viewers answered this question for you as it’s a great question and I actually didn’t know the answer.
I went to look at a submariner Starbucks yesterday in Japan where I live. Retail is ¥1600000, first store was selling it for ¥2600000.
Isn’t that incredible? Yes, I noticed that a lot. Many of the tags at Nakano that Nakano Broadway show the brand new price for current models, as well their price .. which is a huge markup. So unless somebody is desperate, nobody’s going to pay their price and the watches will sit there and collect dust. I personally will not pay a massive markup over the brand new price. I might pay a reasonable markup, but not the huge markups that we’re seeing at Nakano Broadway on sports pieces. If you watch my video from Nakano Broadway I filmed last year in December of 2023, I think the prices were much better and the mark ups on late model sports models (near new) were smaller.
I was there last week. Rolexes were definitely expensive in Nakano Broadway. However I found bargains in brands like Zenith, Tag Heuer, Grand Seiko, etc.
It’s interesting to hear that the prices for other brands is still favorable. To be honest, I wasn’t looking at the non-Rolex brands as I simply didn’t have the time, but I appreciate your providing this valuable information for other people to be aware of.
Jackroad occasionally got NOS Zenith Chronomasters for close to half off retails. New glassbox Tag Heuers are close to 30% off and similar discount on Grand Seikos.
Thanks for the video Henry! This just confirms for me that I have a very valuable and unique watch on my hands. I love my Date Just 41 with jubilee band, white dial, Roman Numerals with box, papers and warranty cards etc. It's a beautiful watch and I got it in 23 at a good price.
I’m glad to hear you’re happy with your watch. I’m sure it’ll only get more valuable as time goes on. It feels good to have purchased a nice watch at a fair deal in the past, as that’s how I now feel with my past watch purchases from Japan.
Very interesting. Would love to visit Japan but I need to overcome my dislike of flying. I prefer vintage pieces and my daily watch for the last 20 years is a r serial 16610. Would also need a visit to Okayama for some denim 😊
My uncle recently took a wonderful cruise from Vancouver up through Alaska down to Japan and he absolutely loved it. You might consider that as a leisurely way to get to and from Japan if you have the time. I think you’d really enjoy being there.
Was in nakano in September,found most Rolex watches overpriced.I ended up buying a blancpain bathyscaphe titanium at a good price.❤🏴
Thank you for supporting my observation, I am glad you still found an awesome watch. Congratulations!! I hope you enjoy it with good health for many decades to come.
The muppet boiler room secondary grey luxury watch market is dead
And floating face down in the Meguro River .
The watch market is deader than a Tuna Maki that set In the back of an Alley in Tokyo for a full week in August 🍱
The problem in Europe/U.S is the availability of the watches, the sales policy is absolute junk atm.
That is the magical thing about Nakano Broadway. There is still a large selection of Rolex watches but not as extensive as it was last year or in the past, and now the prices have increased. Yes I agree, in the US and Europe the selection is very thin compared to what I’m seeing in Japan.
How much should I pay for a gold Rolex oyster with jubilee band used
If you watch my video, you’ll see a whole case full of them and they are priced in the USD 20,000s for vintage models .. and a lot more for newer models. I think the newer models are up to the high 30s and 40s.
Thanks for that as I was looking to buy something from there in 2 months - nothing to buy they are greedy
I’ve been there in September and couldn’t find anything worthwhile price wise. My biggest regret is that I didn’t buy a new seiko at Yodabashi camera, it’s a lot of fun shopping for new seikos there (for me).
Hi Mike, It sounds like you had a great time shopping for watches! I love Yodobashi as well and visit numerous locations each time I’m there (from top to bottom each store). But when it came to the Rolex Watches at Nakano Broadway you had the same conclusion as me .. there were just were not as many deals like there were in the past. Unfortunately.
@ Hello Henry, I have not had any luck with Rolex, either second hand or with the AD and I don’t really like the song and dance they put us through.
I had a couple Seikos in the short list, but my wife and I got distracted and the store closed down. It was our last day there. 😅
I also missed a toy I wanted to buy at radiokaikan at akihabara, I left to buy it for the morning of my departure and it was gone. Lessons learned, next time in Japan I shall buy two seikos. 😅
Rolex at retail is already overpriced. I’m waiting and refuse to pay ridiculous gray market prices
This is exactly my sentiment. That’s why whenever I go past a Rolex AD I stop in and ask the obvious question .. even though I know the answer is “no”. I’ll keep asking as long as I’m walking the planet .. maybe one day the situation will change.
The cheapest ones said USED "No Box no Warranty"
This true.
Are these shops open to negotiations?
Negotiation is not an accepted practice in Japan. I’ve never negotiated when I’ve purchased a watch here so it’s not something I would do personally.
So I watched the video. Where are the screaming deals??? That’s what folks hope to know
They’re really weren’t any that’s the problem. Times have changed compared to my visit of one year ago.
No deal!
Yup .. that’s the big picture Tokyo market for Rolex watches today from what I found.
“Poor mans datejust” remind me again about the majority of the watches Rolex sold in the 70s the 80s and the 90s a huge amount of them were steel watches.
I know, isn’t that amazing.. here we are in 2024 and the all steel models command a premium among serious collectors over the two-tone models. It’s quite remarkable isn’t it?
530am the algorithm has brought me here. I don’t own a watch and never been to Japan. But whatever.
Well, I hope the video wasn’t too boring but thanks for watching it. I do appreciate it. Let’s hope the algorithm can work better next time.😀😀🫢🙏🙏
Ive always felt seeing these watches massed together makes them look kind of pedestrian.
Interesting observation as I felt that way too. I personally have never seen so many Rolex watches lined up together anywhere else, except in London’s Bulington Arcade.
Watches in Japan are insanely priced even with cheap Japanese yen.
they are very sensitive to exchange rates changes.
Sadly, that is now the trend but in the past, Japan was an anomaly for Rolex watches and there were great deals to be had on a terrific selection. This was the case on my visit in December 2023, but the situation has now changed.
Nice
5:57, 114060 is good price 👍
where in Ueno ?
Just plug it into Google maps and you’ll have a good idea. It’s a major shopping area in central Tokyo.
It is the shopping area that’s all around Ueno station.
Nakano Broadway is not the same anymore. Got my brand new Explorer II there like 10 years ago and only paid about USD 5,500 and also paid around USD 8,500 for a brand new Hulk. The shops there used to have tons of watches from all sorts of brands, now mainly just Rolex watches. Pretty sad.
grand seiko
ALL THE WAY!!!
You are definitely not the first person here to be cheering the Grand Seiko watch. I’m sure it’s a fabulous watch and probably a lot better value than Rolex. I wonder if they’re a better deal in Japan than outside of Japan?
The Milgaus’s seemed high priced
I totally agree
I don't get why you have to keep mentioning g that the new condition Rolexes are priced higher than their list price.
Isn't that already to be expected for 99.5% of the case for Rolex models??
It is strange to see some people travel around (for example to Japan 😮) to buy a watch 😂
You have no idea, not everything is in chrono24. Assuming you are in the know
For me personally, I was already in Japan on a two week holiday .. so as I’m there, I’m going to do my usual visit to the Rolex watch shops at Nakano Broadway as Rolex watches are my passion. I have never gone to Japan strictly to visit the Rolex watch shops .. not to say that I didn’t want to!
You didn’t zoom in on the store tag. Can’t make it out.
I’m sorry I missed out on that specific watch that you were talking about here .. but in most of the video the full tags are visible. You can take a screenshot of the tag and do a Google image translate to English .. I hope that helps.
Those Explorer 2s were expensive for no box, no papers.
They were tax free priced in the USD $5000s. Which I thought was OK. My only other pricing source for these watches is eBay and they’re a lot more than that on eBay so that’s why I thought they were reasonably priced. In eBay they start at least $1000 more and of course you don’t get to cherry pick the best like you do in person at Nakano Broadway. Can you tell me where vintage Rolex Explorer IIs are priced better than this as I’d like to go have a look at them? Thank you so much.
@WatchFanHenry I've been using ebay and Chrono24 and a lot of the listings on Chrono come from these Japanese stores. As so one who's been on the waiting list for a retail rolex for years, what's your experience with import taxes or duty coming back into the States?
nice, thanks for sharing and amazing prices. hopefully prices will drop a bit more by about 50% so they are back to more reasonable senses.
I'm hopeful but I feel it unlikely
It's been a crazy couple of years, and the prices in Japan have recently shot up, but who knows what the future holds.
@@WatchFanHenry i dont konw, we will see, watches are great, but not at insane mark ups.
I bought my Rolex submariner date at jack road 15 years ago for 400,000 JPY.
Yes, that’s like me as well with my Rolex two tone Oyster Perpetual 36mm that I bought at Selfridge‘s watch room on Oxford Street in the mid 90s .. brand new for £2000. I wish I bought so many more Rolex watches pre-2020s.
I got a 2017 sea dweller from them for 9400 a few months ago.
That sounds like a good deal. Congratulations and I’m very happy you were able to find this.
They raise the prices for tourists, if you are Japanese and start speaking to them they will offer a locals price.
Yeah I believe you are correct. They have two prices. One for locals one for tourists. Guess that means i gotta become fluent in Japanese if I’m ever able to go there
Shops are fluent in cash. It’s just a matter of how much they are willing to understand yours
LOL stop the cap, just ask for discount. They will always lower the price.
@@AliasHSW Different culture, if you’ve been to Japan you will know they are a no-haggle culture.
@@challenger516 Have you been to Japan? 😂
I F ing hate Rolex. I have two but don’t wear ‘m. Just because of their marketing strategy. If I can’t buy one that I want and need to be part of their scheme then I don’t want it anymore. Now I’m into Zenith. And love the brand.
It’s interesting that you mention Zenith because that’s a brand that I first grew an attachment to when I was in Frankfurt a few years ago, and it actually featured in one of my videos. It’s the Zenith watch that looks like a Rolex Daytona and it’s a two-tone gold and steel .. And it really caught my eye. I was impressed with it. Are there specific Zenith models that you like?
@ Henry the one you mentioned is the Zenith El Primero Chronomaster Sport and that one is just beautiful. With a high beat movement and 60hours reserve. Zenith Defy Skyline is also nice. Next to Zenith, IWC and Vacheron Constantin is something i’m also interested in. What are your thoughts on them?
you can forget about going to Ginza!
I actually did go to Ginza and had awalk around and I did see some super high-end watch shops, but they were over the top luxurious. I felt out of place even going in to have a look as they seemed to be decked out for the billionaire crowd. So would unlikely to have good deals on the Rolex watches I’m looking for.
@ yes top dollar! i was able to buy a coffee for 120 yen at a vending machine! Omotosando has a few chuko (2nd hand) shops. Shibuya had a few have steel chuko rolex.
@ ikebukuro has 2 chuko watch shops
I thought the exchange rate would be beneficial, guess not…
This was my thought as well before I got to Tokyo. The yen has gone downhill against all currencies pretty much over the past year. So I was hoping that the prices might be beneficial for us Rolex watch fans. But as my video showed sadly this was not the case they’ve just increased the prices in yen to what I would consider to be essentially global trend levels. And the deals of 2023 and earlier just are not there anymore Not to mention the selection being a lot less than it was as well.
By the time you add airfare, hotel...its cheaper to purchase Rolex at home in the US.
I guess that’s a very valid point especially if you want to buy a specific model because it might be easier to find where you live. If one is already over in Japan on a holiday that’s a different story. Go have a look .. but making a special trip. I don’t think would make sense. Thank you for asking this and I appreciate your watching my video.
I was there 3 weeks ago. Highly overrated. Prices are high and stocks are limited. I did buy one in Ginza near the Tokyo Station. Better yet, I found a new dead stock Seiko SKX007 in a Philippine Department store.
Thank you for sharing your experience. The situation is definitely changed there compared to my visit of last year as presented in my video back then.
The Japanese are Not wearing those watches!, if the overseas visitors don’t buy them!, they will just be window dressing 🤫!. Note the internet is the guide for all the prices !, no deals to be found!, NONE ⚠️
From my understanding and observation, in the past, the Rolex watch was considered as a symbol status and career success to the Japanese. And many Japanese people did purchase them to show their status in this regard. And for this reason, Japan probably has the largest number of vintage Rolex watches in the world. This is why this Nakano Broadway shopping area has so many thousands of Rolex watches all in one location. Probably the greatest concentration of Rolex watches on the planet. I can’t speak to the dynamics of the Rolex watch brand and the population today, as I do not live there. I’m just going by the past association of the Rolex brand and the Japanese people.
@ sorry to be the truth in this conversation!, but in the past the Japanese where very patriotic!, and they longed for the best japan made watches !, as one example (Credor )!, and they look down on cheaply made tool watches made by Rolex!, sorry to share this truth with you!,
As a quick summary, you use to be able to get competitive prices on luxury watches in Japan. Given the weak Yen in the past couple years. Those days are long gone and prices have adjusted. And I can confidently tell you that if you are looking to buy a luxury watch in Japan to return back to the west or other countries in Asia to resell and make a profit, chances are very low. If you are looking to buy for personal collection and looking to save 15-20%, there are some.
I think that sums it up quite well. What I've observed is that the prices of the luxury watches in Japan have significantly changed. And your figures are pretty accurate based on what I saw.
Hey Henry! Really enjoyed your video. Do you think ¥1,720,000 for the 2023 Polar Explorer II is a fair price?
I just did a quick search on eBay and the cheapest price I can find it for 2023 Explorer with a white dial is $12,000 USD. If it was me personally, and I’m in Japan, and I can buy the same watch for US$10,780 and see the watch in person, from a watch shop that I know has been in business at the same location for many years, I would of course buy the watch in Japan and enjoy the $1300 savings. My preference is always to buy a watch in person from unknown store than a faceless enterprise on eBay or Chrono24. And the fact that it’s $1300 cheaper makes it a no-brainer.
2 years ago i got some good deals in Osaka
I was in Osaka, maybe 10 years ago and it was before I was into my watch passion. But I’d certainly like to go back and check out the watch shops there .. as there must be quite a few. I’m guessing the price is there are probably the same as Tokyo but who knows, maybe not.
@ it was cheaper than Tokyo for sure there were so many shops around it was an amazing selection
Japan probably has on average the highest gray market prices in Asia. Largest selection of brands and models to choose from but certainly not a bargain.
I was also in Tokyo in December of 2023 and there were a lot moreRolex watches available so a greater variety, and the prices across the board were much better. So something changed quite dramatically in the last year ..and that is what I observed and presented in my video.
no one knows why you are subtracting the tax
I like Apple Watch better then a Rolex watch
Fair comment I appreciate your sharing your being happy with your Apple Watch. There’s nothing wrong with that.😀😀👍👍
@ thank you, I just feel like Rolex is for old people
Think you’d get lot of these cheaper in the UK…
Rep watches ftw
But from HK, cheaper
I'm from hk and went to Tokyo few days ago. Came home empty handed, disappointing. Bought a few in may
Can you please tell me the name of the best Rolex shop in Hong Kong and I will check it out next time I’m there. Thank you so very much for leaving the comment.
Took you 5 min just to get to an actual watch? ok no problem
I want to show my viewers the lay of the land for people that have never been there, so they will be familiar with the setting. Without doing this, people would wonder how does one find this incredible location with thousands of Rolex watches .. there would be an unexplained mystery to it .. and I want to unlayer that mystery before potential watch purchasers arrive at this location. Knocking on Broadway’s a unique location as it has the highest density of Rolex watches in the world as far as I’m aware from my experiences. So I just want to show people the setting. I’ve seen videos filmed in Dubai where they’re showing rows of cases of Rolex watches, but there’s absolutely no background setting shown, and I find that perplexing.