First off, and I think this is the biggest thing, the Japanese Yen has been, like, *really* weak lately compared to the US Dollar. That means, theoretically, stuff priced in Yen *should* be cheaper when you convert it back to dollars. We’re talking potentially a 20% difference compared to China, according to one of those snippets you gave me. Twenty percent! That’s real money, folks.
But… and there’s always a but, isn’t there? Don’t go booking your flight to Tokyo just yet thinking you’re gonna snag a Submariner for peanuts.
See, the “cheaper” thing is relative. We’re talking about *retail* prices, possibly *before* taxes. And even then, “cheaper” doesn’t mean “cheap.” A Rolex is still gonna set you back some serious cheddar. We are talking $15,000 dollars as reported in one of the search snippets.
Then there’s the whole grey market thing. My brother (not literally *my* brother, but you get the idea, the hypothetical bro) apparently lives over there, and he says the grey market prices are way lower than in the US. Now, the grey market is kinda the wild west. You’re not buying from an authorized dealer (AD), you’re buying from… well, someone else. Could be perfectly legit, could be a bit sketchy. So you gotta do your homework.
And this is crucial: *always* check out the watch in person before you even think about pulling the trigger. Like, seriously. Don’t wire anyone money based on pictures alone. You want to make sure the watch is real, in good condition, and comes with all the paperwork (box and papers is the gold standard, apparently).
Now, VAT refunds… that’s a whole other can of worms. Apparently, the UK used to be a good place because of them, but they’re expiring. So maybe scratch the UK off your list. Japan, though, seems to still offer tax-free prices, which is a plus.
Honestly, from what I’m gathering, it kinda boils down to this: Japan *can* be a cheaper place to buy a Rolex, especially if you’re looking at used watches with the full kit (box and papers) and you’re willing to navigate the grey market. But it’s not a guaranteed steal. You gotta do your research, be careful, and know what you’re looking at.
