Swiss timepieces may gather the majority of attention in the watch world (think: Rolex, Omega, Patek, etc), but Japan is no stranger to the world of timekeeping. One could actually argue that they have been the greatest innovators in this industry for decades. It was Seiko's release of the first quartz watch that nearly destroyed the mechanical watch industry in the 1970's, while the Spring Drive movement is easily one of the greatest innovations in wristwatches ever.
Given this splendor, you may be wondering how to procure one of these excellent pieces for yourself. Let's cover the best way to do so.
To Nippon We Go ✈️
Seikos can easily be obtained anywhere watches are sold, but there's something special about buying one in Japan. Firstly, because Japan is awesome. And second, it's actually significantly cheaper to purchase in their home country. The reasons for this are threefold.
Lower Prices + Strong Dollars
We'll be using Grand Seiko's most popular reference, the SBGA211G (aka the "Snowflake") as our reference point. This watch currently retails for $6,600 USD pretax. In Japan, this piece can be obtained for 902,000 yen - approximately $5,788 (at the current exchange rate). Simply buying local has netted us $800.
Pictures don't do her justice - video
Tax Free
Japan allows tourists with non-Japanese passports the ability to purchase items tax-free. This applies to just about anything you could want to buy in Japan, with certain restrictions for particularly high-end items (think Louis Vuitton + Patek).
The current consumption tax rate is 10%. On a roughly $5,800 watch, we've saved another $580.
Retail Incentives
On top of all of this, certain retail stores (like Mitsukoshi) offer an additional 5% off if you show them your passport. $5,800 retail price gets knocked down another $290.
Adding it All Up
Ordering this watch in the United States, before shipping costs, will make you roughly $7k poorer. Combine all the incentives by purchasing in Japan, and we can acquire this magnificent piece for roughly $5k.
$2,000 USD goes a long way in Japan. Kanpai.