Watch Stores in Lebanon: From Fashion to Haute Horology
AdvisorLB Team
Lebanon has a strong watch culture, with official Swiss dealerships in Beirut and Metn alongside grey-market sellers and an active second-hand scene. Buying a watch is a major purchase that rewards due diligence.
Movement types
- Quartz: battery-powered, accurate, affordable. Most fashion watches.
- Mechanical (manual): hand-wound; the traditional approach.
- Automatic (self-winding): winds with wrist movement; most luxury watches.
- Smart: Apple Watch, Garmin, Samsung — replace traditional watches for some.
Price tiers
- Fashion ($50–500): Casio, Fossil, Daniel Wellington.
- Entry mechanical ($300–1500): Seiko, Tissot, Hamilton.
- Mid luxury ($1500–8000): TAG Heuer, Longines, Omega Aqua Terra.
- Luxury ($8000+): Rolex, Omega Speedmaster, Cartier, IWC.
- Haute horology ($30k+): Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin.
Buying tips
- Buy from authorised dealers for full warranty.
- Verify serial numbers and box/papers for second-hand.
- Mechanical watches need servicing every 5–7 years ($300–800 typical).
- For investment-grade pieces, check the secondary market price first.