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John Lobb vs Edward Green vs Crockett & Jones: Singapore Luxury Men's Shoes 2026
Crockett & Jones is the best value English bench-made shoe for Singapore buyers in 2026, Edward Green sits mid-tier and John Lobb Paris tops the price range.
John Lobb vs Edward Green vs Crockett & Jones: Singapore Luxury Men's Shoes 2026
Updated: September 2026.
TL;DR verdict
If you are a Singapore buyer building a first serious bench-made shoe wardrobe, start with Crockett & Jones Benchmark at roughly SGD 1,500 to 2,200 per pair. It is the best construction-per-dollar in the English top tier and resole-friendly for a lifetime of tropical wear. Move to Edward Green when you want a more elegant last and finer waist work at SGD 2,400 to 3,000. Reach for John Lobb Paris (the LVMH Ready-to-Wear line) at SGD 2,700 to 4,500 only if you value the brand cachet or the specific St James models. All three are Goodyear welted, all three can be resoled, and the price gap between them widens faster than the construction gap.
Where the price differences come from
The three brands sit inside the small English and French luxury bench-made cluster, but each occupies a slightly different tier and business model. Crockett & Jones is family owned in Northampton and runs two lines: Main Collection (Benchmark) and Handgrade. Edward Green is a much smaller Northampton workshop with a single Ready-to-Wear line plus Top Drawer bespoke-adjacent upgrades. John Lobb Paris is owned by LVMH (Hermes handed it to LVMH via a licensing history; the current owner is Hermes for the London bespoke house and LVMH for the Ready-to-Wear operation in Paris and Northampton) and carries the highest retail markup in the category.
According to The VOU's Northampton pricing survey, "Crockett & Jones benchmark models start at £895, with handgrade shoes reaching upwards of £1,250" (thevou.com, 2026). Edward Green Ready-to-Wear opens at roughly GBP 1,400 and its Top Drawer range sits around GBP 1,500. John Lobb Paris Ready-to-Wear starts at roughly GBP 1,600 per pair for a standard oxford. Converted at a September 2026 rate of about SGD 1.72 to GBP 1.00, before GST and any shipping, that is roughly:
| Brand | Line | GBP RRP | SGD equivalent (pre-GST) | SGD landed (with 9% GST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crockett & Jones | Benchmark | 895 | 1,540 | 1,678 |
| Crockett & Jones | Handgrade | 1,250 | 2,150 | 2,344 |
| Edward Green | RTW | 1,400 | 2,408 | 2,625 |
| Edward Green | Top Drawer | 1,500 | 2,580 | 2,812 |
| John Lobb Paris | RTW oxford | 1,600 | 2,752 | 3,000 |
| John Lobb Paris | Museum Calf / exotics | 2,500 | 4,300 | 4,687 |
Two things matter for a Singapore buyer. First, the 9 percent GST on imported goods over SGD 400 applies at Customs on personal imports. IRAS states that "the value of goods imported into Singapore is subject to GST at the prevailing rate" (iras.gov.sg, 2026). Second, London and Paris retail counters charge full sticker plus 20 percent UK VAT or 20 percent French VAT, and the VAT is refundable to non-EU / non-UK residents at the airport. Effective savings for a Singapore visitor buying in London are around 12 to 14 percent after refund processing fees, before Singapore GST.
Named-entity construction comparison
Bench-made in the English sense means each pair passes through a bench and is assembled by hand at multiple stations, with Goodyear welt construction so the sole can be renewed several times. All three brands are bench-made, but the labour intensity varies by line.
| Feature | Crockett & Jones Benchmark | Edward Green RTW | John Lobb Paris RTW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | Goodyear welted, machine-lasted | Goodyear welted, part hand-lasted | Goodyear welted, part hand-lasted |
| Uppers | French box calf, Horween shell cordovan (select) | French box calf, Utah, antique calf | French box calf, Museum Calf, exotics |
| Sole options | Leather single/double, Dainite rubber | Leather single/double, Dainite | Leather single/double, JR rubber |
| Resoling cost (UK) | GBP 195 (2026 tariff) | GBP 260 | GBP 380 |
| Lead time from stock | 5 to 10 days | 14 to 21 days | 7 to 14 days |
| Ships to Singapore direct | Yes, DHL from Jermyn St | Yes, from Northampton | Via Paris flagship |
Gentleman's Gazette's 2026 ready-to-wear ranking places all three brands in its top tier and notes that "brands like Gaziano & Girling, Edward Green, and Crockett & Jones Hand-Grade offer comparable quality at lower prices than John Lobb" (gentlemansgazette.com, 2026). Styleforum's long-running community thread on the three brands returns a similar consensus: John Lobb Paris carries a brand premium that is real for LVMH shelf presence and less real for construction hours.
For which persona does each brand win
For the Singapore lawyer or banker building a first rotation of three or four dress shoes in oxfords and captoes, Crockett & Jones Benchmark is the honest starting point. You get a black oxford (Audley), a burgundy semi-brogue (Belgrave), and a dark brown captoe for under SGD 5,000 landed, with sole recrafting available for another SGD 300 to 400 each after five to eight years of Singapore-humidity rotation.
For the buyer who already owns a couple of Crocketts and wants a more elegant almond last and slimmer waist, Edward Green makes sense. The 202 last (Chelsea) and 82 last (Dover) give visibly more shape than the round C&J 348 or 337, and the Top Drawer upgrade at Edward Green (hand-welted, not machine-welted) is the closest you can get to bespoke without going bespoke.
For the John Lobb Paris buyer, the correct rationale is a specific model love (the St Crepin whole-cut, the Philip II tassel loafer, the William double monk) or brand cachet. The LVMH retail experience in Paris on Rue de Marignan or Boulevard Saint-Germain is worth the visit if you are already going, and VAT refund plus the direct-buy shaves the effective delta versus Edward Green by roughly SGD 250 to 400 per pair.
When this does NOT apply
Do not chase bench-made shoes if you rotate two or fewer times per week or if you keep them stored in humid closets without cedar trees. Singapore climate is aggressive on leather; mould appears in three to four weeks on unrotated boxed pairs. Better tier for casual wear or holiday shoes is Loake 1880 or Meermin Linea Maestro at SGD 500 to 900, which are Goodyear welted and resole-friendly without the SGD 2,000 sunk cost.
Also skip the John Lobb Ready-to-Wear tier and go straight to Gaziano & Girling MTO if you are moving above SGD 3,500 per pair. G&G at that price is meaningfully better construction than John Lobb Paris RTW according to most enthusiast consensus.
How ShopBack fits into the buy
Check ShopBack before you book any UK trip that anchors on shoe shopping in Northampton or Jermyn Street. Booking airfare on Trip.com, Singapore Airlines, or Scoot via ShopBack and stacking hotel bookings at Booking.com or Agoda earns cashback on the travel portion. Use ShopBack to compare cashback rates across the airlines and OTAs before you lock the SIN to LHR ticket. Activate ShopBack via the browser extension on your desktop before checkout so the referral cookie sets before the payment page. Cashback tracks on the base fare or hotel total after taxes and does not apply to the shoe purchase itself since John Lobb, Edward Green, and Crockett & Jones do not run cashback partnerships in the Singapore market.
Frequently asked questions
Are Crockett & Jones as well made as John Lobb Paris?
At the Crockett & Jones Handgrade tier, the construction gap versus John Lobb Paris Ready-to-Wear is small enough that most buyers cannot tell them apart in a blind wear test. C&J Handgrade uses hand-lasting on select models and finer waists on the sole. The bigger gap is in the leathers used and the retail brand markup, not the number of construction hours.
How much does GST cost on a Crockett & Jones shipped from London to Singapore?
Singapore GST of 9 percent applies at Customs on the CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) value of goods over SGD 400. A pair of Benchmark oxfords at GBP 895 (about SGD 1,540) plus DHL express at roughly SGD 60 lands at about SGD 1,678 total including GST. IRAS collects the GST at import; the courier (DHL or FedEx) usually pays it and bills you a small handling fee of SGD 15 to 25.
Is Edward Green worth SGD 500 more than Crockett & Jones Handgrade?
For most buyers, no. For someone who cares about elegant lasts (specifically the 202 Chelsea or 606 Rangoon) and prefers a lower profile silhouette, yes. Edward Green also holds resale value on grail models (Dover, Piccadilly, Cadogan) at 60 to 70 percent of retail on the used market, versus 40 to 50 percent for equivalent Crockett & Jones.
Where can I buy John Lobb Paris in Singapore?
There is no John Lobb Paris standalone boutique in Singapore. Selected models occasionally appear at LVMH-affiliated retailers and at ION Orchard concept spaces, but the full ready-to-wear range is only stocked at the Paris flagship on Boulevard Saint-Germain or via johnlobb.com direct-to-Singapore shipping. Bespoke John Lobb London (the Hermes-owned separate business on St James's Street) does travelling trunk shows in Hong Kong roughly twice per year.
What is the cheapest way to buy Edward Green as a Singapore resident?
Fly to London, visit the Jermyn Street or Burlington Arcade stockists (New & Lingwood, Trickers Jermyn St), buy in person, and process the 20 percent VAT refund at Heathrow. Effective saving after refund fees is about 12 to 14 percent versus SGD-converted RRP. If you are not travelling, edwardgreen.com ships direct to Singapore with GST paid at import. Watch for the twice-yearly sample sale (typically late January and early July) at the Northampton factory shop which discounts overstock by 30 to 50 percent.
Are these shoes resoleable in Singapore?
Yes, but the quality of Singapore-side recrafting is inconsistent for bench-made shoes. Master Shoe Repair at Killiney and Mason & Smith (bespoke leather in Duxton) both handle Goodyear welt recrafting at SGD 220 to 350 per pair. For a full factory recraft, all three brands accept shoes shipped back to Northampton or Paris: Crockett & Jones charges GBP 195, Edward Green charges GBP 260, John Lobb Paris charges GBP 380 in 2026.
Which lasts are best for wider Asian feet?
Crockett & Jones offers the 337 last, which is rounder and slightly wider than the standard C&J 348, and works well for most Asian E to F width feet in a UK 8 to 9. Edward Green's 82 (Dover) is narrower and better suited to D to E width; the 606 (Rangoon) is fuller. John Lobb Paris's 8695 last runs generous through the ball and narrow at the heel. Order half a size down from your Brannock UK size for all three brands unless you plan to add insoles.
Do John Lobb Ready-to-Wear shoes match John Lobb Bespoke quality?
No. The Hermes-owned John Lobb Bespoke house on St James's Street in London is a separate business from the LVMH-owned John Lobb Paris Ready-to-Wear line. Bespoke starts at GBP 6,500 for a first pair and involves 50-plus hours of hand work over four to six months. The RTW line is factory-made in Northampton and Paris workshops with significant machine assist.
Should I buy secondhand instead?
For Crockett & Jones and Edward Green, a lightly worn secondhand pair on eBay UK or Marrkt often lands at 40 to 55 percent of retail. Combined with a factory recraft, you can get an Edward Green Dover in wearable condition for about SGD 1,600 all-in. For John Lobb Paris, the used market is thinner and price drop is smaller; expect 55 to 70 percent of retail on grail models.
How long do bench-made shoes last in Singapore humidity?
With proper rotation (at least three days rest between wears), cedar shoe trees, and monthly conditioning with a wax-free cream (Saphir Renovateur is the enthusiast pick), expect 8 to 12 years before the first sole recraft, and 3 to 4 recrafts before the uppers are beyond repair. Total useful life is 25 to 40 years on a single pair. That works out to under SGD 100 per year of ownership for a Crockett & Jones Handgrade, comparable to a mid-tier Sneaker replacement cycle.
Is Paris cheaper than London for John Lobb?
Post-Brexit, France and the UK are separate VAT jurisdictions; John Lobb Paris RTW sells at similar EUR RRPs in Paris as GBP RRPs in London. The 20 percent French VAT refund process for Singaporeans is roughly equivalent to the UK VAT refund. Paris flagship carries a slightly wider selection of exotic leathers; London stockists (Harrods, Selfridges) carry a wider selection of standard calf.
Does ShopBack offer cashback on John Lobb or Edward Green?
None of the three brands run ShopBack partnerships in the Singapore market as of September 2026. Cashback opportunities exist on the travel leg (Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Trip.com, Booking.com, Agoda) if you are flying to London or Paris to shop, and on adjacent purchases at Farfetch or MR PORTER when those retailers occasionally list Crockett & Jones (check ShopBack Farfetch and MR PORTER pages for current rate).
What does John Lobb Bespoke London compare against?
John Lobb Bespoke on St James's Street competes with Cleverley, Foster & Son, Gaziano & Girling Bespoke, and Stefano Bemer (Florence). Bespoke John Lobb starts around GBP 6,500 for a first pair with wooden last cost included. The three RTW brands in this article are a different value proposition entirely; do not conflate them with the bespoke tier.
Primary sources referenced
- The VOU on Crockett & Jones pricing, 2026: https://thevou.com/blog/why-crockett-and-jones-shoes-so-expensive/
- The VOU on John Lobb pricing, 2026: https://thevou.com/blog/why-are-john-lobb-shoes-so-expensive/
- Gentleman's Gazette RTW brand ranking, 2026: https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/ranking-rtw-shoes-brands/
- Styleforum John Lobb vs Crockett & Jones vs Edward Green thread: https://www.styleforum.net/threads/john-lobb-vs-crockett-jones-vs-edward-green.93206/
- IRAS import GST guidance: https://www.iras.gov.sg/taxes/goods-services-tax-(gst)
- John Lobb Bootmaker corporate history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lobb_Bootmaker
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