When it comes to luxury wristwatches, The Bahamas is one of the few places in the world where you can find nearly every major brand on one street.  That street is Bay St. in historic downtown Nassau.  Audemars Piguet, Breitling, Cartier, Chopard, Girard-Perregaux, Hublot, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Omega, Panerai, Patek Philippe, Rolex, TAG Heuer, Ulysse Nardin, Vacheron Constantin and many more.

Located just 180 miles off the southeast coast of the United States is the capital city of Nassau in The Bahamas. Convenient travel proximity, breathtaking beaches and the tropical climate make Nassau & Paradise Island a popular tourist destination, not to mention being home to the Atlantis Resort & Casino and the all new Bahamian Riviera. Both of these offering additional inventory and boutique stores of your favorite watch brands.

Whether you’re vacationing for a week, or simply docked for the day on a cruise ship, everything is at your fingertips. That’s especially nice if you’re having a hard time deciding between two or more watches.  Trying on different brands may simply mean walking next door.  And having the authorized dealers so close to one another is in the buyer’s favor when it comes time to negotiate.

Tourists visiting the Caribbean expect to find bargains and haggle with the natives.  Whether it’s buying locally handcrafted items from our world famous straw market or investing in a luxury timepiece, wheeling and dealing is a part of the culture.  And more importantly, it’s fun!  The Bahamas has its own currency called “B dollars” which is equivalent to the U.S. dollar. Please note that U.S. dollars are gladly accepted anywhere, making it unnecessary to exchange currency.

Fun In The Sun – Conch Salad & Local Beer

To make purchasing even easier, the watch dealers are typically 10% less than MSRP (Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price).  That doesn’t seem like a lot, but when you factor in the possibility of getting a better deal (20% to 30% depending on the brand), it soon adds up to substantial savings.  Now comes the best part – no sales tax!  This can mean close to another 10% depending on where you’re from.  That’s a big difference for something you may already have decided to purchase in your home country. Tops on the dealer’s list are Bahamas Watch Exchange, Carlo Milano, Diamonds International, John Bull, Little Switzerland, Solomon’s Mines and Quantum.

John Bull Flagship Store On Bay Street (Nassau, Bahamas)

In closing, if you travel and are planning on buying an expensive watch, it is certainly worthwhile considering The Bahamas for your next destination.  The savings from your purchase alone may very well cover the cost of your flight and more – not to mention the wonderful memories you’ll have every day when you look down at your wrist to check the time.

Note: This article does not factor in any duty or customs fees upon returning to your home country.