Price comparison: Rimowa Topas suitcase prices

Rimowa has produced high quality pieces of luggage since 1898. However, it was in the 1930s that Rimowa began to make a name for themselves by crafting lightweight and watertight luggage made out of aircraft aluminum – which soon became fashionable travel icons.

Recently, the Asian Wall Street Journal’s weekly Arbitrage column conducted a survey of prices for a 32 inch titanium Rimowa Topas suitcase in various cities in Asia and around the world. The survey found that prices were considerably higher in Asia than in Europe. In fact, buying one in Shanghai will cost you US$845 more and nearly twice as much than if you were to buy one in London.

Price Comparison*

Shanghai	12,168 Yuan	US$1,782
Sydney	A$1,750	US$1,621
Singapore	S$1,887	US$1,355
Hong Kong	HK$10,480	US$1,352
New York City	US$1,350	US$1,350
Manila	59,800 Pesos	US$1,273
Rome	€799	US$1,202
Brussels	€795	US$1,196
Frankfurt	€779	US$1,172
Paris	€645	US$970
London	€570	US$937

* Titanium, 32 inch. Prices are based on foreign exchange rates as of October 23, 2009.