Caribbean Watch Shopping

[MarkO]

I have been lucky enough to visit a number of Caribbean destinations this year so thought I would give you my personal and completely biased opinion on where i have been.

1.Home, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.

There are 3 main watch shops on a small shopping area in the Grace bay area. These are just like regular watch shops as this is not a cruise destination. We have AD for Rolex, Omega, Breitling, Movado, Victorinox, Cartier, Hublot, Longines, Bell and Ross, Frederique Constant, Oris and a number of fashion brands. I probably missed a few. Generally the shopping is low key and the prices are almost duty free.

There is a cruise terminal on Grand Turk but I confess I haven't been so cannot comment on that.

2. St Thomas, there is a main drag with quite a number of shops covering pretty much the whole range of prices. I particularly enjoyed AH Riise who have a really good stock of Rolex. All major brands seemed represented.There is also the usual cruise terminal area immediately where you get off the boat but probably better to get to the main street.

3.St Kitts, no real downtown area and the cruise terminal reminded me of somewhere George Romero could film the remake of Dawn of the Dead. There seems to be fewer brands present than advertised on the outside of the shops. Don't let the hawkers put the monkey on your head!

4. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Much more of a real town with a few tourist shops scattered, main drag has a few shops. Bared has Rolex and Cartier and there is a shop up near the Dooney and Burke handbag shop that has some high end brands but stock level seemed low.

5. Phillipsburg, St Maarten. Cruise terminal new but the best area is the main drag in town, take a water taxi to get there. The road parallel but one back from the beach is a complete Zoo but has more watches than you can shake a stick at. Higher end brands in boutiques and lower end shops side by side. I saw VC, AP, Nomos, Tag Boutique, Bremont,Panerai, Parmigiani Fleurier, Montblanc,and loads more including uncommon brands.
The lower end shops and jewelery stores will give you free beer just for looking! Exhausting street,narrow, buzzy but fun.

6. Aruba, get away from the pier, turn right and stay on the main drag, there are some proper big stores with good range, this is where I got my Bremont and bottled getting the Datejust 2.

7. Curaco. Similar to Aruba, more refined shopping area but honestly by the time I got here neither MrsO or I could face another watch or jewelry shop so I have a less clear memory of what is here.

If anyone has a specific question about any of these places I am happy to try give more detail.

[cedargrove]

Thanks Mark. I'll be back to Providenciales in Feb, and maybe this time I'll get out of the resort and check out some ADs (although I have visited the AD in the airport).

I can add that Cayman Islands has a few good ADs in Georgetown (Seven Mile Beach). Kirk Freeport has many brands including Rolex, Patek, Omega, Ulysse Nardin, Blancpain, Breguet, JLC, etc. Magnum Jewelers carries AP - they have a store in Georgetown and a set-up in the Marriott lobby (I stayed there and checked out the Royal Oak daily and was very close to leaving with one). I also recall a small shop carrying Zenith.

[CamB]

Would love to get over there at some stage

[Bwana]

Appreciate the info Mark, I'll be heading your way in 2 months or so.

We love the Caribbean islands, go every year for 3 weeks or so. Generally hit the West Indies area the most, this year Antigua, St.Lucia...maybe Punta Cana on the way back.

[Nokie]

Going in March, so thanks for the good info.