Where To Buy Watches In Sydney

Written by Mike Huynh

A luxury timepiece is a fine accompaniment to any man’s wardrobe, not only for their ability to dress up or dress down an outfit but the emotional connection a man creates. It’s something the gentlemen of Sydney know all too well and fortunately, there a number of bricks and mortar stores to buy luxury watches from. While it can be easy to head to any number of online watch stores to procure a watch, they can’t compete with going into a store to try on a number of time tellers to find the best model.

Luckily, Sydney has plenty of watch stores to peruse, from big name brands with their own boutiques, stores that stock a complete and varied range of luxury brands or even independent stores selling vintage, pre-loved pieces. And, rather than you scour the city in search of the best watch stores, we’ve compiled this list of the ones you need to know about.

Swiss Concept

A self-proclaimed specialist in Swiss luxury timepieces, one shouldn’t overlook Sydney’s Swiss Concept store. It’s been around for over two decades, having been established in 1995, so the reputation for quality and customer service is definitely evident. The business continues to pitch itself on being family owned and providing a high service to match the premium and limited edition Swiss watches on hand. Many of its customers today are returning customers who entrust Swiss Concept with their most prized timepieces. Their large showroom resides in the heart of Sydney’s Pitt street for easy accessibility .

Brands: Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Cartier, Chopard, Omega, Zenith, Tag Heuer, Ulysse Nardin, Roger Dubuis

Address: 90 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9221 6288

Kennedy / Rolex Sydney

One of the country’s most enduring watch retailers founded by Louis and Martha Kennedy is Kennedy. The humble store began life back in 1976 and is today one of the most respected watch retailers in the country with 14 stores nationwide.

Three of those boutique stores are in Sydney (two in The Star casino and one in Martin Place) with two being dedicated to all things Rolex. The third stocks watches from other brands including Cartier, Piaget, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Ulysse Nardin. However, Kennedy also deals with a number of other Swiss brands including Patek Philippe, OMEGA and Tudor. The extensive range to choose from alone should be enough to satisfy the most discerning horology punter looking for the world’s newest leading timepieces.

Brands: Patek Philippe, Rolex, Cartier, IWC, Tudor

Address: 38-456 Martin Place, Sydney, 2000 (Rolex boutique)
Phone: 02 9236 0411

Vintage Watch Co.

Catering to those who are after something special that is no longer in production is Vintage Watch Co. The store is conveniently located in Sydney’s The Strand Arcade and serves both the customer and seller of fine luxury watches. Established in 1994, the store has built a solid reputation over the decades for stocking a wide selection of new, modern and vintage watches along with an assortment of watch accessories. So whether it’s a heirloom piece you’re after or a modern piece, Vintage Watch Co. can help with competitive pricing. For peace of mind purchasing they even offer a 12 month guarantee on all transactions.

Brands: Rolex, OMEGA, IWC, Breitling, Patek Philippe, Panerai, Cartier, TAG Heuer, Longines, Tissot, Rado

Address: The Strand Arcade Shop 28/412-414 George Street, Sydney, 2000

Watches Of Switzerland Sydney

Another family-owned watch retailer steeped in extensive knowledge of luxury timepieces is Watches of Switzerland. The family owned business which began with Eric van der Griend in 1996 has today grown to incorporate the help of his children whilst boasting over twenty brands and 4,000 references of Swiss watches. Additionally, they are also the exclusive Australian retailer of A. Lange and Söhne timepieces. With no shortage of watches to choose from and the reputation as an official retailer across Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, you can bet that the boutique will have exactly what you’re after.

Brands: Rolex, A. Lange and Söhne, Jaeger–LeCoultre, IWC, Cartier, Panerai, Hublot, Piaget, Breitling

Address: 199 George Street, Sydney, 2000
Phone: 1300 808 135

IWC Sydney

IWC‘s dedicated boutique opened its doors towards the end of 2019, offering Sydneysiders an unrivalled selection of pieces encompassing all major families. Owned and managed by Kennedy, the store also presents a chance to soak up the history of the brand, with staff on hand to not only run you through what makes IWC watches special but to answer any other questions you may have.

Brands: IWC

Address: Shop 2, 84 King Street, Sydney, 2000
Phone: 02 9061 4522

Panerai Sydney

Situated literally next door to IWC is the Panerai boutique. Opened at roughly the same time as its neighbour and also managed by Kennedy, Panerai’s first Sydney boutique is decorated in a similar vein to its other global stores, with oak wood and brass being prominent features. As with its neighbours, the Panerai boutique provides customers with the best opportunity to understand the brand and to get hands-on with a range of different models before making a purchase.

Brands: Panerai

Address: Shop 3, 84 King Street, Sydney, 2000
Phone: 02 9061 4521

Hublot Sydney

Since King Street is one of the main streets making up Sydney’s luxury shopping district, it’s no surprise to find Hublot taking up residence too. The Swiss watch brand can also be found on what is essentially a dedicated horological row of shops, and is the first Hublot boutique to open its doors in Australia. What this means, is that the shop will be on the receiving end of priority stock shipments of both regular and limited edition models, making it the number one go-to store for Hublot enthusiasts.

Brands: Hublot

Address: Shop 5, 84 King Street, Sydney, 2000
Phone: 02 9221 0554

Jaeger-LeCoultre Sydney

Completing Kennedy’s opening of a trio of boutique stores at the end of 2019 is Jaeger-LeCoultre. The first JLC dedicated store in Australia, a visit will instantly transport customers in the luxurious world of the Swiss watch brand, which is approaching its 190th birthday in a few years time. Think a calming atmosphere and a devotion to intricate details that the watchmaker is renowned for, along with the best collection of JLC watches you’ll find in the city.

Brands: Jaeger-LeCoultre

Address: Shop 4, 84 King Street, Sydney, 2000
Phone: 02 9061 4520

Nicholas Hacko / Clockmaker

Nicholas Hacko is a Sydney-based watchmaker who offers an exacting service with a difference in the sea of reputable boutiques. As an independent watchmaker, Nicholas Hacko focuses on the repair and resale of pre-owned mechanical watches of demanding quality. That means a lot of them are Swiss and the range is a constant rotation of some of the most prized and out-of-production models one could get their hands on. The service is made easier by a subscription service which lets customers know when there are new arrivals before they sellout. Each watch also comes with a comprehensive ownership history and condition for peace of mind.

Brands: Rolex, IWC, OMEGA, Breitling, JLC, Zenith

Address: Suite 403, Level 4/67 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, 2000
Phone: 02 9232 0500

Gregory Jewellers Bondi

Another one of Australia’s oldest retailers is Gregory Jewellers, an institution of fine horology which has been stomping around since 1967. With a robust dedication to customer service alongside an offering of heritage craftsmanship, Gregory today boasts one of the city’s most extensive watch portfolios – shared across 14 boutiques – to inject both style and elegance into a customer’s needs.

Brands: Baume & Mercier, Breitling, Bremont, Gucci, IWC, Oris, Rado, TAG Heuer, Tissot, Tudor, Raymond Weil

Address (Bondi Junction): Shop 3015/3017 Westfield Bondi Junction, 500 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction, 2022
Phone: 04 8884 2891

Zaeger Diamonds & Watches

Operating in the wholesale segment, Zaeger has been a specialist in the luxury watch market for 25 years. Their main drawcard is offering customers rock bottom wholesale prices direct to the public. Their Sydney showroom located on Castlereagh St allows customers to buy, sell and trade both new and pre-owned luxury timepieces across Australia. As such, the business pitches itself on providing the perfect combination of competitive pricing, honest and reliable customer service specialists.

Brands: Baume & Mercier, Bell & Ross, Breguet, Breitling, Bvlgari, Cartier, Chopard, Hublot, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Longines, Maurice Lacroix, Montblanc, OMEGA,  Panerai, Patek Philippe, Piaget, Rolex, TAG Heuer, Tudor, Vacheron Constantin,  Zenith

Address: 101/185 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, 2000
Phone: 1300 923 437

The Hour Glass Sydney

Hailing from Asia as one of the most esteemed retailers of luxury watches, The Hour Glass sports over 40 boutiques across nine cities including Sydney. Leading the advocacy movement of not just fine watches but also horology, The Hour Glass is endeavouring to be the watch world’s leading cultural retail enterprise for both enthusiasts and collectors. They stock over 50 of the world’s best brands of Swiss made watches under the one roof.

Brands: Audemars Piguet, Cartier, Hublot, IWC, Patek Philippe, Richard Mille, Rolex, TAG Heuer

Address: 142 King Street, Sydney, 2000
Phone: 02 9221 2288

J Farren Price

One of the oldest retailers of fine timepieces in Sydney is John Farren-Price. The store was established way back in 1942 with a focus on providing watch connoisseurs with the best selection of European watches in the world. More importantly, John was the first to introduce these coveted timepieces into Australia.

That tradition and robust reputation continues today with the store bringing in some of the most exclusive quality watches, both in classic and modern guise.

Brands: Rolex, Chopard, Hublot, IWC, Panerai, Patek Philippe, Tudor, Vacheron Constantin

Address: 80 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, 2000
Phone: 02 9231 3299

Watch Exchange

The Watch Exchange team boasts experienced buyers who strive to provide the highest quality of new and pre-owned watches. Customers are both local and international so the selling power is no doubt robust as are the highly sought after models that come through. Their goal in the watch retail space is to provide the best advice, product and service to their customers. They also have a store in Westfield Bondi Junction to make acquiring that perfect peace simple.

Brands: Rolex, Richard Mille, Audemars Piguet, Panerai, Chanel, Hublot, Cartier, Breitling, Patek Philippe, Frank Muller, TAG Heuer

Address: 500 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction, 2022
Phone: 0424 808 888

Time Keeper Boutique

New kids on the block is the Time Keeper Boutique in the Strand Arcade. Owner Ian is part of the Hour Glass family and the selection on offer will suit those wanting to spend about $20,000 on a pre-owned timepiece. On our most recent visit the boutique had a great selection of Rolex and Audemars Piguet, even some brand new HYT models on display too.

Location: The Strand Arcade Shop 14, 412-414 George Street, Sydney, 2000

Brands: Rolex, OMEGA, Richard Mille, TAG Heuer, Panerai
Phone: 02 9233 2740

Sydney Watches FAQ

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