A watch should be worn. We have little use for people who put their new watch in a safe and never look at it again. Even if it costs $100,000, a wristwatch is meant for the wrist. Not every watch is suited for daily wear, but is a pity to see some of these beautiful watches disappear in collections that never see daylight. Of course, a watch that has been worn will get some tiny hairline scratches, a few deep scratches, and even an occasional dent. Always ask yourself what kind of shock or bump a watch must have received if a scratch is very deep or if the case has multiple dents. Remember, it is not only the case that has been knocked around, but also the mechanical movement inside. If a watch case has a dent in one of its lugs, it was probably dropped on the floor and landed on just the wrong spot. You may still decide to buy it, especially if you’ve checked to see that all its functions still work, but keep in mind that damages may go deeper than what’s visible on the surface. Also, when there is corrosion on the hands or applied hour markers, for example, ask yourself whether the movement is free of corrosion. If possible, and if the watch doesn’t have a display back, ask the seller if you can see the watch’s movement. Look for signs of corrosion and while you’re at it, also look for scratches and other signs of abuse.
We could go on and on about the things you need to look for, but in general, make sure you don’t ever consider buying a pre-owned watch without some knowledge of it. On Fratello Watches, we started with an Omega Speedmaster Buyer’s Guide to assist people who are looking for a new, pre-owned or vintage Speedmaster watches. There are other initiatives like this on other platforms as well for other brands and models. Last but not least, where does one go to find a nice pre-owned watch, anyway? As mentioned above, just as there is a Craigslist and an AutoTrader website, there are also on-line market platforms for pre-owned watches. Chrono24.com is definitely the world’s largest platform for watches and has more than 150,000 offers on watches from both professional sellers/dealers as well as private sellers. Another interesting initiative is watchrecon.com, a website that curates the offers on pre-owned watches from various watch forums and communities. This will save you the time you might take to search these forums one by one.
Some of these online sellers also have a brick-and-mortar shop as an extension to their online offerings, which means that you can visit the shop and see in person the watch you’ve seen online. It is always recommended that you see a pre-owned watch with your own eyes, and fiddle around with it a bit, instead of just buying it online without the opportunity to do a little inspection.
Some authorized watch dealers also carry a selection of pre-owned watches. These are mainly watches from clients who traded up to a more expensive model. Ask your local watch dealer about pre-owned watches. Most of them have a good relationship with their clients and might know someone who is willing to part with their watch. Then there are these watch auctions (both off- and online) carried out by several companies, including Auctionata, Bonham’s, Christie’s, Sotheby’s and so on. Be aware of the fact that, in most cases, you will be able to see the watches before the auction takes place, but also that there will be other bidders, so there is uncertainty regarding the final price, not to mention that you’ll have to pay a 20% fee to the auction house. Last but not least, always ask about warranty. In the case of a young, pre-owned watch, there might still be a factory warranty. If you buy the watch from a professional watch seller, a 6-to-12-month warranty is common.
voir plus montre homme de marque et Bell & Ross BR 01-94
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