Despite the tyranny of distaince that all watch enthusiasts face in Australia, there are more than a couple of excellent watch shops in both Melbourne and Sydney that carry some of the world’s rarest and most collectable timepieces.
But what are the best watch shops in Melbourne, and how do you know which are reliable? We wanted to address this question head-on, not only as fellow members of the local watch-collecting community but as experts who have visited or patronised many of the city’s boutiques.
No matter if you’re hunting a hard-to-nab modern Rolex at retail or you’ve been lusting after a micro-brand known for its value proposition, we cover all of the best addresses to view and handle timepieces in Melbourne. Let’s get into it.
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Boss Hunting’s Favourite Watch Shops In Melbourne
Monards
Owned and operated by watch expert, tailoring enthusiast, and passionate cyclist Bernard Fung (whose family, between them, have over 30 years of experience in the biz), Monards is a must-visit spot when you’re watch shopping in Melbourne.
The range of brands offered is very impressive, with a focus on many of Swatch Group’s heavies (including Omega, Breguet, Blancpain, and more), as well as household names like Tudor and TAG Heuer.
The roster of indie watchmakers is nearly peerless in Australia; the service you can expect is immaculate; and if you’re lucky enough to meet Bernard in the flesh, you’ll find that he’s a fount of wisdom whose recommendations extend far beyond the topic of luxury watches.
Address: Shop 7/101 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9650 9288
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday (10 AM — 5:30 PM); Friday (10 AM — 6:30 PM); Saturday (10 AM — 5 PM); Sunday (11 AM — 5 PM)
Other Locations: Crown Melbourne, Gold Coast, Brisbane
Main Brands:
- Omega
- TAG Heuer
- Tudor
- Longines
- Bulgari
- Hublot
- Piaget
- Blancpain
- Breguet
- Zenith
Watches Of Switzerland
Another long-respected player within the Australian watch-buying landscape, Watches Of Switzerland is based in the heart of Collins Street.
The service you can expect is friendly and knowledgeable, with more of a focus on education and understanding than hard-selling of any one particular brand (exactly what you want if you’re going in cold).
Additionally, the Collins Street boutique has recently undergone a significant renovation and now spans three full levels. If you’re in the Melbourne CBD, it’s well worth a visit.
Address: 294 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: 1300 808 135
Opening Hours: Monday — Saturday (10 AM — 5 PM), Sunday (11 AM — 4 PM)
Other Locations: Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Sydney CBD, Barangaroo Sydney
Main Brands:
- Rolex
- Omega
- Cartier
- Tudor
- Hublot
- IWC
- Jager-LeCoultre
- Vacheron Constantin
- Blancpain
- Breguet
Kennedy
Helmed by man-about-town James Kennedy, this is a name you’re likely already familiar with through its affiliation with spring horse racing and the AFL (including past ambassador relationships with Christian Petracca and Dustin Martin).
While the Crown location is most conveniently situated and stocks popular brands the likes of Cartier, IWC, Tudor and more, the boutique in Chadstone is where you need to go when you’re on the hunt for Rolex or Patek Philippe.
Overall, the quality of the offering is good across both locations, and the level of service is as high as you’d expect.
Address: Crown Towers, Shop 17/8 Whiteman St, Southbank VIC 3006
Contact: (03) 9686 7900
Opening Hours: Monday — Thursday (11 AM — 7 PM), Friday — Saturday (11 AM — 9 PM), Sunday (11 AM — 7 PM)
Other Locations: Chadstone Melbourne (with Rolex and Patek Philippe), Star Sydney
Main Brands:
- IWC Schaffhausen
- Cartier
- Tudor
The Hour Glass
Originally founded in Singapore, The Hour Glass has built up an enviable presence all over the Asia Pacific, and now operates more than 70 boutiques across the region.
Its Collins Street location is a spectacular building (renovated a couple of years ago), covering a number of levels and boasting separate concessions for Rolex and Patek Philippe. The Hour Glass also owns and operates the Tudor boutique across the road.
Expect a consistent level of service across the entire network of boutiques, with expert and generally enthusiastic staff.
Address: 252 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9650 6988
Opening Hours: Monday — Saturday (10:30 AM — 6 PM), Sunday (10:30 AM — 5 PM)
Other Locations: Chadstone Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth
Main Brands:
- Rolex
- Patek Philippe
- Bulgari
- Hublot
- Chopard
- Tudor
- Zenith
Hardy Brothers
With an establishment date that reaches all the way back to 1853, Hardy Brothers has been a reliable fixture of the Australian watch and jewellery landscape for a very long time. Today, its focus remains split between timepieces and jewellery, offering a number of well-known names such as Floyd Mayweather’s favourite, Jacob & Co, Breitling, Bremont, and others.
Hardy Brothers also stocks a number of smaller watchmakers, including DOXA, Speake Marin, and more, making them a store to visit if you’re keen to check out some watches you might not have seen before.
Address: 338 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9624 5300
Opening Hours: Monday — Friday (9:30 AM — 5:30 PM), Saturday (10 AM — 5 PM), Sunday (10 AM — 4 PM)
Other Locations: Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast
Main Brands:
- Jacob & Co
- Louis Moinet
- Speake Marin
- Baume et Mercier
- Breitling
- Bremont
- DOXA
Swiss Emporium
Well-situated in the busy thoroughfare that is St. Collins Lane, Swiss Emporium splits its offering between brand-new watches from Tissot, Oris, and Raymond Weil, while also selling quality pre-owned stock from the likes of Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet.
If you’re after a specific watch that you can’t find from an authorised dealer, the family team at Swiss Emporium will be able to help you source almost anything you can think of.
Address: Manchester Unity Building, 220 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9650 7062
Opening Hours: Monday — Saturday (11 AM — 5:30 PM); Sunday (11:30 AM — 5 PM)
Main Brands (New):
- Tissot
- Oris
- Raymond Weil
Main Brands (Pre-Owned):
- Rolex
- Patek Philippe
- Audemars Piguet
- Omega
- Tudor
Time+Tide Watch Discovery Studio
The Time+Tide Watch Discovery Studio is operated by the Aussie watch mag of the same name, and was opened with a vision to give locals a chance to handle a range of smaller brands that don’t otherwise have any physical presence in-country.
These include the cultish likes of Studio Underd0g, Baltic, Fears, and Furlan Marri, which are all available to see in the very nicely appointed space, staffed by expert enthusiasts who love collecting as much as you do.
Even if you’re just passing through Melbourne as an international or local traveller looking for some retail therapy, this is probably the single best watch boutique in the city for something more characterful.
Address: Suite 1, 178 Collins Street, Melbourne 3004
Contact: (03) 4422 2044
Opening Hours: Monday — Saturday (9 AM — 5 PM)
Main Brands:
- Tissot
- Dennison
- Hamilton
- G-Shock
- Fears
- Zodiac
- Zenith
- Baltic
- Doxa
- Furlan Marri
- Mido
The Watch Gallery
For the last four decades, The Watch Gallery has been one of the best places to buy rare and collectable pre-owned and vintage watches in Melbourne.
It’s not the largest boutique in the city, but its range of watches is almost unbeaten, and owner Chris La Galle is a trusted expert in all of the timepieces he deals in.
Address: 337 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9670 4233
Opening Hours: Monday — Friday (10:30 AM — 3:30 PM); Saturday (11 AM — 2 PM)
Main Brands:
- Rolex
- Patek Philippe
- Audemars Piguet
- Cartier
- Omega
- Panerai
- Breitling
- Longines
The European Watch Gallery
Another of Melbourne’s most well-respected pre-owned and vintage watch dealers, The European Watch Gallery is where you’ll find everything from hard-to-obtain modern Rolex to obscure Patek Philippe dress watches from the mid-20th century.
While the timepieces in stock are always worth a closer look, they are also able to source almost anything that your heart desires.
Address: 83 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9650 1511
Opening Hours: Monday — Friday (10 AM — 4 PM)
Main Brands:
- Rolex
- Patek Philippe
- Audemars Piguet
- Cartier
- Omega
- Panerai
- Breitling
- Longines
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