City guide · Japan
Buying ultra-luxury watches in Tokyo
Tokyo is the global vintage Rolex + Patek capital. Japanese collectors hold incredibly well-preserved 60s-80s pieces (humidity-controlled storage culture is mature here). Jackroad's Shibuya store has ~5,000 pre-owned luxury watches at any time. Tax-free shopping for tourists with passport = ~9% net saving. Strong yen-weakness has made Tokyo arbitrage-positive for foreign buyers since 2022.
Tax & import regime
| VAT / sales tax | 10% consumption tax (tax-free shopping for tourists) |
|---|---|
| Import duty | 0% |
| Market tier | Vintage Specialist Market |
Auction houses · Tokyo
- Antiquorum Japan (vintage Patek catalog)
- Christie's online
Key retailers
- Jackroad (Shibuya — Asia's largest pre-owned)
- Komehyo
- GMT (vintage Rolex)
Best for
Vintage Rolex sport models (Daytona, Submariner, GMT) in unpolished original condition. Vintage Patek complications. Travel arbitrage opportunity.