Watches
 

I'm interested in purchasing a watch and will be visting Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Ocho Rios. Which port (I'm taking a cruise) can I expect to find better prices? I'm interested in either a tag or cartier. thanks

Do your homework before you leave. Do you have a particular style/model you're looking for? If so, search the internet for pricing and bring printouts with you when you shop - it can be overwhelming when you're in the stores (I'm speaking of Grand Cayman) as Georgetown has alot of competing stores all hungry for your business.

About 5 yrs ago I found a Movado cheaper on the internet than in GC.

Only can offer that a Rolex cost the same in the US as it did in Grand Cayman. However tax was saved.

since I consider tax part of the purchase, your Rolex was cheaper in GC.

I agree that the major savings will be the tax and of coures the more expensive the more the tax savings. My experience has been that the actual price in the duty free shops on the islands that offer them are usually about the same as what one could get at a good store like Costco etc, but you do save the tax. So, one could not justify a trip just to buy a watch but if one is already there and wants a new watch then yes the tax savings is good. I have found the same to be true for digital cameras as well.

Other than Rolex, Tiffany and Carier which are price fixed +/- 1-3% you can go to a reliable jeweler in a decent size city in the US that has a number of jewelry stores anfd get 15-18% off list on Movado, Rado, Tag Hauer, etc.

Sorry I don't own a tag or cartier but I do own several Movado watches that I purchased in Jamaica and in the Bahamas. I research my watch before I leave home to see how much it cost (this way I know if I'm getting a good deal) and I also print out pictures of the different styles that interest me.

Next I go to Movado's website to check for the stores Movado has authorized to sell their watches in Jamaica and the Bahamas. This is important to me because if I need to send the watch back for repairs, I have the full warrenty from Movado.

This may or maynot be important to you but this is one reason that I don't purchase my watches at Costo, Sam's Club or any other unauthorized dealers.

I bought my Tag in Switzerland. At the time it was $650 (at a discount b/c my friend bought one)and at home $ 1250. Costco had it for $800 so prices are decent there too for Tags. Be sure to have the exact model#'s and check for international warranty. If you are with a group, try to shop at the same location and use the same salesperson. You can get better deals that way. BARTER!