RYUZU JOURNAL

Is a Pre-Owned Rolex from Japan Certified? RCPO vs Japan Market (2026)

A pre-owned Rolex from Japan is authentic but not RCPO-certified. Japan has just one RCPO retailer — see the 2026 premium data and what substitutes for the seal.

2026.09.08

Buying Guide

Landed Cost of a Watch from Japan: UK, EU, Canada, Australia (2026)

The landed cost of a watch from Japan to the UK, EU, Canada, or Australia in 2026: VAT, GST, import duty, and courier fees, with a worked example.

2026.09.08

Buying from Japan

Tudor Reference Number Explained: How to Verify a Japanese Listing

Learn how to read a Tudor reference number, tell it apart from the serial number, and use it to verify a Japanese pre-owned listing before you pay.

2026.09.07

Guides

Watch Strap CITES Import Rules: Python, Lizard, Ostrich (2026)

Watch strap CITES import rules: python, lizard and tegu need Appendix II permits; ostrich and stingray usually do not. The shipping-exemption trap explained.

2026.09.07

Buying from Japan

Crocodile-Strap Watch from Japan: CITES Import Rules (2026)

A crocodile or alligator watch strap is CITES-regulated: mailed from Japan it can be held or seized at customs. Import rules by country and how to keep your watch.

2026.09.07

Buying from Japan

Watch Held in Customs from Japan: Delays, Duty Bills, Fixes (2026)

Why a watch held in customs from Japan gets stuck: valuation queries, paperwork, the CITES strap trap, the suspended de minimis rule, and how to dispute the bill.

2026.09.06

Shipping & Import

Customs Declared Value on a Watch from Japan (2026)

The customs declared value for a watch from Japan is the price you paid. It sets your import duty and tax; see how FOB and CIF set it and why undervaluing backfires.

2026.09.06

Buying from Japan

How to Pay Safely for a Watch from Japan (2026)

How to pay safely for a watch from Japan: which payment methods leave a dispute route vs. ones you cannot reverse, plus the FX costs and red flags to watch for.

2026.09.06

Buying from Japan

Japanese Consumption Tax on a Watch Bought for Export (2026)

Japanese consumption tax is 10 percent, but exports are zero-rated. Learn when it applies to a watch bought from Japan and how export tax-free works (2026).

2026.09.05

Buying from Japan

Buying Grand Seiko in Japan: JDM Models and Real Cost (2026)

Buying Grand Seiko in Japan: which references are JDM-only, how the warranty and import tariff work, and how to price the real landed cost for overseas buyers.

2026.09.04

Buying from Japan