Buying top brand Swiss watch in Switzerland is cheaper than Hong Kong or Singapore ?

No really sure I understand the question. But my experience is that usually Swiss watches are cheaper when bought in CH itself.

Unfortunately, I always find the best deals for watches not in switzerland. If you want one cheap, take a connecting flight through dubai and buy it there. Much better deals.

This shop is on Bleicherweg in Zürich:

http://www.first-swiss-luxury-watches.com

They seem to offer a reasonable discount, not sure if it's the best available though.

Even for Swiss brands?

I would claim the opposite: Do not go to the tax free countries but the ones with the highest VATs: I found the end prices of luxury goods pretty similar all over Europe, they are obviously not priced based on the taxes or costs, but streamlined by their marketing guys. So if I buy them at 19% VAT in Germany, I can get a nice 12% discount when I filed in a tax return. If you buy in Scandinavia, it should be even better.

My wife bought a designer handbag abroad this year and it worked easily. Every up-market shop in a city is used to fill out the tax forms for you.

I know this logic to be true with cars in Denmark - they have the lowest pre-tax price in Europe.

Good point.

And I suppose that with the current GBP/CHF rate the UK (even with slightly lower VAT) may offer some bargains?

do you know any other offline shop ? do they give a more discount if paid by cash ?

What exactly do you want ?

I want to buy a Patek watch and just wonder if anyone knows a shop in Zurich offering a competitive price.

Patek don't usualy give discount, they don't need to....Maybe Dubai or possibly UK with exchange rate

Then you have to shop at the bleicherweg to get a Patek Philippe or the other watch dealer near the new Stock Market at the Selnaustrasse or someone else who stoks them. You also can buy direct from the manufacturer in Geneva and have a visit in the Museum.

Its realy sad, my last Patek Philippe i have lost on a Diving trip because i forgot it was not water proof, and the other one bevore it was on a fishing trip in Guyana. So there are 2 watches on the bottom of the ocean, both worth over 70K. I have got a cheapie now, but it is a more solid Rolex with metal wrist band and safety lock.

A rolex is a cheapie?!

OP, if you are a tourist, definitely works out cheaper to buy a Patek here regardless of where in Switzerland. A couple of my friends from Singapore have done that - coming here for a visit and buying their watches, claiming tax return and saving about 10% off Singapore retail shop prices.

Hopefully you insured them?

amazing how well your English has improved in the last three days ... been a profitable experience trolling on here then ...

I second this recommendation. I was in there the other day and I believe they are currently offering a discount on all (or some of) their new model Rolexes.

On a similar note, does anyone know if it is cheaper in Singapore to get a full maintenance/overhaul on a Rolex? I have heard it is.

I went in to both Beyer and Bucherer here in Zurich to inquire. Beyer quoted me 650 CHF and Bucherer 900 CHF for this specific model. Granted, they clean the entire inside of the watch, replace the face and band if needed, etc., but it seemed steep to me. Then again, I have nothing to compare it to.

ABSOLUTE Answer -Hong Kong. Not sure about Singapore but in HK, you could get the same exact item at even up 30-40% cheaper. If you manage to buy more than 2 or 3 and without being caught by custom, you probably will save the cost of airticket

p.s. I'm talking about genuine one, 100% from original manufacturer, not fake or copy.

Switzerland is not the place to buy Swiss watches on the cheap.
The US is cheaper:
http://www.philippeswatches.com/shop...-philippe.html

I don't know how you dare to walk around with your cheapie Rolex