Hey everyone,
I’m currently wrapping up a trip through Japan and Hong Kong. As you can imagine, the vintage market here was incredible, and I’m heading back to the US with about $80k worth of acquisitions (mostly vintage Vacheron, Rolex, Tudor, and JLC). I’m planning to do a full declaration when I land, but I’m trying to get a sense of the "real world" experience for a haul of this size.
For those who have flown back from JP/HK with a high-value collection recently:
The Actual Bill: Did you end up paying a flat percentage, or did they actually break it down by movement/case/strap? What was your "effective" tax rate in the end?
Verification: How did they handle the valuation for vintage pieces? Did they accept your receipts/invoices at face value, or did they try to look up "market rates"?
The Process: For a declaration this size, how long did the paperwork take at the airport? Was it a straightforward process or a multi-hour ordeal?
Disclosure: I’m curious if most collectors here go 100% transparent to protect their Global Entry/status, or if there’s a different "norm" I should be aware of.
I have all my paperwork and receipts organized, but I’d love to hear some recent data points before I fly back. Thanks!