The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Can't say I'm surprised really...

Had a quote for a plain dial Chrono Evo, std leather today. Price was £2445 = standard retail. Same watch is available from PrestigeTime in the US here for equivalent to £1500, a massive £1000 price difference.

It would actually be cheaper to fly to New York, take a taxi to Prestige Time and buy the bloody thing, then go and have dinner in Manhattan

Actually, now that I think about it...

Remarkably common for consumer products!

You'll find a number of ADs in the US will ship abroad. My local does.

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2000 Emergency - Orbiter 3 Edition
2001 Chrono Colt Quartz SQ
2003 Navitimer Olympus
2008 Navitimer

Yeah it's great here ain't it Breezy!

I can see the marketing spin now -

"Come to Rainy Britain! Fun for all the family, such as that classic game - 'Avoiding Getting Stabbed by a Hoodie or a Chav'!! Play 'Spot the Wonderful Sights'..............., if you can see them through all the rat infested rubbish caused by bi-weekly bin collections!! PAY through the nose for petrol - that's right folks, it's the equivalent of a cool $10 a gallon here now!! Hug a taxman.... coz after all, he's your best friend who knows how much you earn better than you do! And if you're really lucky he'll take 40% of it all for himself without asking! Play that great game 'Get Out of Hospital Alive'! All you have to do is step foot in an NHS hospital and then step out again without catching MRSA or C-Diff. It's harder than is sounds folks! And lastly if you have any cash left (UNLIKELY!), buy a gorgeous Breitling from a store here as they are THE BEST Breitlings in the whole World! Well, they MUST be the best as you'll pay around 30% more than anywhere else! Yeeeah!!

Britain : The Most Expensive 3rd World Country On Earth"

Hmmmm, think it might catch on....

(Apologies for highjacking the thread with a minor rant there!)

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Fair do's, but if you ignore the 25% discount they are offering (besides, I'm on around 20% discount with my AD at the moment) and use US list of $4150, and add say 8.5% sales tax for NY, that puts it back up to around $4500 or £2,250 squiddies. Whats peace of mind from a UK AD worth ? lets say a couple of hundred ? Well thats it back up to £2450 and I havent sat on a darned flying cattle cart for 10 hours each way and Ive saved the flight / taxi fare and hotel fees.
I almost convinced myself there...I'll put emigration off for another year

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"Per Ardua Ad Lingi"

But sales tax is refundable for non residents....

As someone who emigrated across the pond (albeit to the Great White North) from the UK 11 years ago - come on over - nothing would get me back.

Another thread that makes me feel like singing O' Canada......

and im supposed to be going to london this summer. now kind of skeptical about what i should expect.

I love London! So much to see, the history, diverse culture, the sights lots to do. It is very expensive but great for a visit every couple of years (if you go in the summer)

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Certified watch nut.

Guys, don't fool yourselves. London is cheap. Living in Sweden, with a tax pressure of 47% and salaries well below most of the other countries in Europe (and not even mentioning US) I feel that shopping in London is rather cheap, compared to Sweden.

Another side of the same topic - I'm moving to Tokyo in a few weeks. Everybody always complain on the price levels in Tokyo, but you've guessed it... It's cheaper than Sweden.

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Collection: http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg32 ... mview=grid

Ewen, fair comments there, you can get a decent dicount in the UK if you shop around

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Breitling Super Avenger White, Steel
Breitling Superocean Heritage 46 Black, Ocean Racer
Rolex Submariner Bi-Metal, Yellow Gold/Blue
Panerai 112, Black Leather (Soon Hopefully!)

Who said anything about staying overnight? A friend of mine caught the first BA flight out on a Saturday morning which gets into JFK around 11am IIRC. Went to Midtown, hit the shops, flew back on the last BA flight out of JFK.

Another British emigrant here. Made the move in autumn 2005, was looking to move back in a few months but have decided against it. Despite the fact I HATE with a passion the US healthcare system (you'd never believe the NHS would be better!) and the fact nobody seems to be able to drive with a modicum of common sense I've decided to stay. I rather like it here. Besides my mother, bless her, told me not to come home!

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2000 Emergency - Orbiter 3 Edition
2001 Chrono Colt Quartz SQ
2003 Navitimer Olympus
2008 Navitimer

A few weeks ago I was in LDN and went to Mappin and Web on Regent St, as I wanted to get a Breitling Bentley Motors. Was specifically searching for the white dail with leather strap. After been offered 5% discount at Selfridges I was looking for a better deal. On entering M&W I walked over to the Breitling display and asked for whether they had the specific model. The salesman looked at me very arrogantly and told me that they dont have it and it would take at least 3 months to order (I was told at Watches of Switzerland on Oxford) that Breitland agent in LDN had one and could have it in the shop in 1hr!). I was treated so badly. Went back to Selfridges and eventually got a good deal after deciding to also get a navitimer.

You mustn't have been wearing the correct old school tie

Look its simple. Petrol is $10 a gallon, a pack of cigarettes $12, Tax is an easily calculable 40%, VAT on non essential goods is 17.5%, Houses cost an average $600,0000. Breitling timepieces are probably the most expensive in Europe from your local AD.

I dont know what all the fuss is about. Our government do their best to allow us to work out costs in big round numbers and still folks complain.

Still, I spend some time every year with the outlaws in Thailand where petrol is $2 a gallon, a pack of cigarettes $1 and you can buy a new watch for $5.

Trouble with that is that UK Customs will charge 17.5% on whatever value the AD sticks on the Customs Declaration slip. Of course, a Customs slip is not a legal requirement and if you know of any who don't always attach a slip...