Hublot is a Swiss luxury watchmaker known for its distinctive and avant-garde timepieces. The brand was founded in 1980 by Carlo Crocco, and it quickly gained recognition for its innovative approach to watch design and materials.
Hublot is renowned for its “Art of Fusion” philosophy, which involves combining unexpected and diverse materials in watchmaking. This fusion often includes materials like gold, ceramic, titanium, carbon fiber, rubber, and even unconventional materials like denim or sapphire.
Hublot watches are easily recognizable due to their bold and unique designs. The brand often incorporates a combination of modern and traditional elements, resulting in timepieces that stand out in terms of aesthetics.
Hublot also produces its own movements, combining traditional Swiss craftsmanship with modern technology. This ensures a high level of precision and quality in their timepieces. Some of the movements are equipped with complications, showcasing the brand’s technical prowess.
One of Hublot’s most iconic and popular collections is the Big Bang series. The watches in this collection are characterized by their large, bold cases and the use of various materials. The Big Bang collection has become a symbol of Hublot’s innovative spirit.
Which Hublot watches are likely to increase in value the most? Probably their limited edition watches. Hublot frequently releases limited edition watches, collaborating with various artists, athletes, and organizations. These limited editions often feature exclusive designs, unique materials, and are produced in limited quantities, making them highly sought after by collectors.
The cheapest and best way to buy a Hublot watch is to travel to a country where you can buy the watch tax-free and claim the tax back from the government at the airport on your way home. You may not save if you spend too much on flights and hotels, but the price of your watch will be cheaper, and by traveling around the world to buy your watch, you will have more choices.
While Hublot watches are generally associated with luxury and can be quite expensive, if you are looking for more affordable options or discounted prices, there are several places you can consider. Keep in mind that buying from authorized dealers or reputable sources is crucial to ensure the authenticity and quality of the timepiece.
Here are some 10 suggestions of places to buy a cheap Hublot watch below:
1. Monaco
Which country are Hublot watches cheapest? You’ll find the cheapest Hublot watches in destinations where you can claim tax back. Our top pick is Monaco, which is bordered by France, because it’s safe, the sun shines most of the time, and you can claim tax back at Nice airport.
Most of our readers are from North America, Canada, and the United Kingdom. If you reside in these countries and fly to EU countries to buy an expensive watch. You can usually claim back most of the tax you paid on the watch when you leave. This means you’ll get your Hublot watch almost tax-free.
There is an authorized Hublot shop in Monte-Carlo just behind Casino Square as you walk down towards the Fairmont hotel and Buddha Bar.
We think Monaco is the best place to buy a Hublot because it’s easy to get to, just a 30-minute drive from Nice International Airport, there are great hotels to stay in, like Hotel Hermitage, and the authroised Hublot dealer is easy to find.
Monaco is an exceptionally safe destination. Monaco is one of the safest micro-states in Europe, renowned for its high level of security. The risk of petty crimes like pickpocketing and watch snatching is rare, which means you can wear your watch right out of the store without too much worry.
Monaco is glamorous so you won’t be the only person wearing a designer watch in Monaco, you’ll fit right in! If you want to make a weekend trip out of your watch purchase, book an overnight stay at Hotel Hermitage or perhaps Hotel De Paris via our luxury travel concierge for free breakfast, hotel credit and room upgrades (subject to availability). We can arrange for the hotel concierge to book you an appointment at the Hublot store.
The Monaco store is across the road from Hotel De Paris and a 2-minute walk from Hotel Hermitage. So, as long as you have your credit card, you should be able to walk into the Hublot shop in Monate-Carlto and buy yourself a watch.
How do you claim back tax on Hublot watches? If you buy your Hublot watch in Monaco, don’t forget to claim your tax back at Nice airport. Monaco has the same vat as France, and they give you papers for reimbursement in the shop.
Nice airport recommends claiming tax back from your purchases made in Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez, and Monaco. Non-EU residents can enjoy VAT refunds on their tax-free shopping, such as technology, clothing, wine, and cosmetics. As a result of Brexit, Brits can now enjoy these savings and receive VAT refunds on eligible purchases, too.
Value Added Tax (VAT) is applied to products that are purchased in France. The standard rate is 20%. Non-EU nationals can benefit from a VAT refund of between 12% and 16%.
Several eligibility conditions must be met: to have purchased more than €175.01 EUR worth of goods in the same store and on the same day; to be in France for less than six months; and to be at least 16 years old. Worth noting that shops with a tax-free logo will provide you with a tax-free form.
When you make your purchases in-store, you must ask the shop to give you a tax-free form. This form must be signed by both you and the store. Then present your form to customs so that they can validate it and refund the VAT. Make sure you keep the purchased goods in your luggage.
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport has 4 VAT refund offices (2 in each terminal) in the Arrivals hall (Terminal 1 or Terminal 2). If you are flying out of Terminal One at Nice Airport (the British Airways Terminal), you must first go to the office to stamp your receipts. This office is on the ground floor, next to the currency exchange desk. You can alternatively scan your barcode at one of the two machines in the same location if there is a barcode on your forms.
After declaring your purchases at the terminals or customs office, you need to go to the Interchange exchange office to recover your refund. This office is upstairs near the immigration counter and the currency exchange desk, which is on your left, in the departure area.
This is a bit of a hassle, but a 12 to 16% saving is well worth having. Please note that these offices are not open 24/7, so if you don’t have time to make your claim at the airport and you miss getting your forms stamped, it’s still possible to claim a refund in your home country via your local French Embassy.
If this all seems a bit much, I would suggest buying your Hublot watch in Monte-Carlo and then booking a night at the glorious Four Seasons Cap Ferrat via our luxury travel concierge to get free resort credit, free breakfast and room upgrade subject to availability.
Our luxury travel concierge team can arrange for a private Four Seasons transfer back to the airport and for their driver to get out and help you find the first exchange desk and help direct you to the second. This way, you are aided and will be shown what to do. Four Seasons is renowned for its service, and we have a special relationship with the team over in Cap Ferrat, so if you need help at the airport after your purchase, we can arrange for their team to help you.
2. Milan
Much like Monaco, Milan in Italy has some fabulous hotels and there’s a Hublot store in Milan. We would reccomend flying out to Milan for a night or two and to stay at Four Seasons Milan or Bulgari Milan.
Our luxury travel concierge can book you in with free breakfast, hotel credit, and room upgrades (subject to availability), and we can arrange for the hotel concierge to book you an appointment at the Hublot store. Ensure you request the relevant tax reclaim forms at the store before buying.
Once again, this is a great place to purchase a Hublot watch, as Milan is a place to see and be seen, so your new watch will enjoy a trip out here!
Claiming the tax back at either Milan airport is a faff, much like at Nice Airport, but we can connect you to your hotel concierge, who can arrange help and walk you through the process. A major advantage of staying at a luxury hotel is that their staff has the time to try and assist you.
3. Paris
Paris currently has the same rules as Monaco for buying goods and then claiming your tax back. There is a Hublot store in Paris. You need to prebook, make your purchase, and then claim tax back at the airport for the best deal.
There are some wonderful hotels with pools in Paris and we have also reviewed the best Marriott hotels in Paris in case you want to earn Marriott Bonvoy points while investing in your timepiece.
4. Geneva
Much like Monaco, Geneva has some fabulous hotels and a Hublot store.
As far as we have researched, it seems that if you are resident outside Switzerland, you can claim some tax back from purchases made in Switzerland. Find out more about claiming tax back in Switzerland here. Regardless, the VAT you pay on purchased goods in Switzerland is 7.7% making it an appealing country to buy an expensive watch for less, whether you live there or not.
If you decide to buy your Hublot watch in Switzerland, we would reccomend flying to Geneva for a night or two and to stay at Four Seasons Geneva, which is one of the best Four Seasons in Europe.
The hublot shop is a short walk from the Four Seasons Geneva, and by purchasing your watch here, you can also enjoy the lake and the luxury Swiss lifestyle.
5. Japan
It’s sometimes worth traveling further afield to pick up exactly what you want. The Japanese are huge collectors and traders of vintage timepieces. There is a Hublot watch store in Tokyo in Ginza which is Tokyo’s most famous upmarket shopping, dining and entertainment district.
If you are looking for second hand Hublot watches you will find a huge selection in Japan. Some authorized dealers specialize in pre-owned luxury watches, offering certified and authenticated timepieces. These watches may come with a warranty and should be inspected for quality.
6. North America
North America is not usually the cheapest place to buy a Hublot watch, but if you reside in America or Canada, it may be the most convenient option.
The Hublot Store of America can be found in Fort Lauderdale. There’s a Four Seasons in Fort Lauderdale too so you might want to spend the night here to celebrate your purchase. There are also Hublot stores in New York and Las Vegas.
These stores are all convenient for North American residents, but as far as we have researched, Americans and Canadians will need to fly out of North America to buy a Hublot watch and claim back tax on their purchase.
7. Spain
Have you ever seen the watch sellers on the Spanish beaches cheap Rolex watches and cheap Hublot watches straight out of briefcases? I’ve been accosted by these persistent salesmen at the beaches of the Costa Del Sol, just outside the Marbella Club, and in the backstreets of Tenerife.
Please don’t buy your watch from these guys. They aren’t real. Most are embarrassingly bad, and most don’t work for long, either. Admittedly, some of these watches are more convincing than others, but they aren’t the real deal.
8. Dubai
There’s a Hublot boutique in Dubai Mall. The UAE introduced a value-added tax (VAT) of five per cent in 2018, but tourists can still enjoy tax-free shopping across the country. Refunds for VAT are available on goods purchased during your stay in the UAE that will be exported.
Shoppers can take advantage of the VAT Refund Scheme in Dubai and the UAE, allowing them to claim 85% of the total VAT amount paid minus a fee of AED 4.80 per Tax-Free Dubai Tag. It is a convenient way to save money on your purchases while shopping at Dubai Mall.
9. Watch Auctions
There are some repuable watch auctioneers which you can visit either in person or online. Auctions can be a source of pre-owned Hublot watches, and you may find a good deal.
How about eBay? Please be very careful if you consider buying your Hublot from eBay. You need to be an expert to know whether the watch you buy is genuine. This is such a gamble, and we would not reccomend buying a watch this way.
10. Specialized Online Retailers
Look for specialized online retailers that focus on luxury watches. Some of these retailers may offer discounts, or deals or you make a big purchase or buy with a specific credit card. You can even load up on loyalty points and miles by using a hotel or airline point collecting credit card when you make your purchase.
Remember to exercise caution and due diligence when purchasing a luxury watch, even if it is at a discounted price. Verify the authenticity of the watch and ensure that you are dealing with a reputable seller to avoid any potential issues.
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