Pre Owned Watches | Buying & Selling Guide

What is a pre owned watch?

A pre owned watch is a watch that has been purchased and owned by a previous keeper prior to being sold on. All watches are first purchased from an autherised dealer or AD such as Goldsmiths, Watches of Switzerland or Beaverbrooks. This is when a watch is classed as new and unworn. The warranty card or certificate will be stamped and dated on the day of purchase and the watch will have a full manufacturer warranty. If the watch is then sold on by the first keeper then it becomes a pre owned watch. However, a pre owned watch does not necessarily mean that the watch has been worn. In recent years many watches have been purchased from and AD and immediately sold on without being worn. A watch will remain a pre owned watch after leaving the custody of the first owner. A watch may be described as a vintage watch in the future but it will always remain a pre owned watch. Other terms used for describing a pre owned watch is a used watch or second hand watch.

Why do people buy pre owned watches?

There are many reasons for buying a pre owned watch. The first reason may be that buying a pre owned watch is cheaper than buying the watch new. This is often the case with watch brands such as TAG Heuer and Breitling where values can drop after first purchase. There are of course exception to this rule whereby limited editions or discontinued models may hold or even increases in value, but in general, purchasing a pre owned Breitling Navitimer or TAG Heuer Aquaracer will be cheaper than buying new one. This highlights another reason for buying a pre owned watch. If a particular has been discontinued, or sold out in the case of a limited edition, and is therefore no longer available new, buyers will have no option but to buy the watch pre owned. Another reason for buying a pre owned watch may be out of necessity. High demand and relatively low supply of Rolex watches has forced buyers to explorer the pre owned route. In recent years there have essentially been two sets of buyers for popular Rolex models such as the Rolex Submariner, GMT and Daytona. One set of buyers want to buy and own the watch whist the other set of buyers want to quickly flip the watches for a profit. Buyers who are not lucky enough to get on a waiting list with their local AD may have no option other than to pay a premium for a pre owned Rolex.

What are the best pre owned watches?

The answer to the question is a personal one. There is no right or wrong answer. However, one answer may be that the best pre owned watches are the ones in the best possible condition with the most amount of provenance. As previously mentioned, pre owned watches can be days or many years old. Depending on the date of first purchase it is worth considering service history when it come it buying a pre owned watch. A pre owned watch with original boxes and papers plus a recent manufacturer service will always be a preferred over a watch that is missing papers and in need of a service. There will obviously be differences in prices depending on the standard of the watch. Whilst some may prefer to pay a high price for a watch with all the bits and pieces, some buyers may be tempted by a slightly cheaper lower standard watch. 

Where should you buy a pre owned watch from?

There are many option where you can buy a pre owned watch. You can purchase privately from sellers advertising on facebook, gumtree, instagram etc or you can buy from a watch dealer. There are also option that such as eBay and Chrono24 that offer buyers a degree of safety when purchasing from a private seller. There are no hard and fast rules as to where you should buy a pre owned watch, but there are rules about what to look for and what to expect. Buying privately may result in a lower price but there are the obvious risks involved.

Is buying a pre owned watch safe?

There will always be risks associated with buying a pre owned watch. To limit the risks buyers should always consider buying from a well established pre owned watch dealer. Is the watch genuine? Is it stolen? Is there an outstanding insurance claim? These are some of the questions you should be asking yourself when buying a pre owned watch. If you are in any doubt about the watch or the seller you should walk away, there are enough watches out there to not get caught on the first one you find. Take your time, do your research and find a pre owned watch with a seller you can trust. Read reviews, speak to the dealer/seller either in person or on the phone to build a relationship. Once you are happy with the dealer and the watch then it may be time to go ahead with the purchase.

Buying a pre owned watch from a dealer

There are many things to consider when buying a pre owned watch, especially when buying from a watch dealer. 

Check Reviews

If you decide to buy a pre owned watch from a dealer always check online reviews and feedback to ensure that the seller is honest and genuine. Verified reviews left by previous customers on website such as Trustpilot and Google are a great way of seeing how the watch dealer operates.

Check Social Media

Also be sure you check the company out on their social media channels including Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Check the they are regularly posting images and videos and using the actual watches for sale for their content. Check that the watch dealer has a real following and isn't a spam account being followed by bots. Also check that the link in their bio directs you to the correct website.

Check the watch dealers website

Check the dealers website for high quality and most importantly original and un-edited images of the actual watches they are selling. Get in touch with the dealer before making the final decision and don't be afraid ask for more images or a video if aren’t 100% sure on the condition or can’t quite see certain aspects of the watch for sale. If a dealer is serious about providing the customer with all the information required to make the buying experience as stress free as possible then they will be more than happy to help. Check that the website is in date, is being regularly maintained and that they offer safe online payment options. Purchasing a watch online using your debit or credit card is far safer than being asked to send a bank transfer or paying cash. 

View the watch in person

If the dealer is local but does not offer the option to view the watch in person prior to making a decision then you may want to look elsewhere. If visiting the watch dealer is not an option then ensure that there is a 14 day return policy and that the dealer will arrange safe and insured postage. If you are able to view the watch in person then ask as many questions as possible about the watch and the dealer. The dealer should be able to provide you details of the company history as well as the watches history, its operation procedure, maintenance and estimated future value. The watch dealer will also be able to size the watch for you to ensure a safe and comfortable fit.

Guarantee Authenticity

Always aim to purchase the very best pre owned watch, in the best condition, at the very best price with as much or the original packaging and paraphernalia as possible. Original boxes and warranty papers/card are a must with any pre owned watch, next come the hang tags and finally manuals. Original sales receipts are a huge bonus. Whist this is not a guarantee of authenticity, a counterfeit watch is often less likely to included boxes, hang tags and papers. If you are in any doubt as to the authenticity of the watch then walk away.

Watch Register

A watch dealer should always provide you with a copy of the Watch Register check. The Watch Register is a global leader who hold the world’s largest, most established, international database of lost, stolen and fake watches, containing data compiled over the last 30 years. A Watch Register report will ensure that the watch has not been registered on their database as lost or stolen.

Where can I sell my pre owned watch?

There are a number of ways you can sell your pre owned watch. As mentioned above you can sell privately on platforms such as Facebook, eBay and Chrono24. You can also sell your watch direct to a watch dealer. The price you achieve will obviously depend on the watch you are selling but generally speaking you may be able to achieve a slightly higher price by selling privately rather than selling to a dealer. As a private seller there are risks you need to consider such as counterfeit currency and your own personal safety. Selling to a dealer may be the safest option. However, more and more dealers are now offering the option of selling private watches on consignment, or a sale or return basis. Dealers will charge a flat fee for advertising and selling your watch. If the desired price is achieved then the seller can walk away with more money in their pocket than by selling privately or direct to a dealer. This method benefits all parties involved. The seller limits their risks, the dealer limits their investment and the buyer gets the best pre owned watch knowing that its been fully authenticated and has a warranty included.

Swiss Watch Trader is an independent watch dealer located in Whiteley, Hampshire - between Portsmouth and Southampton on the south coast. We have been buying, selling and trading the very best pre owned watches since 2010. Our collection of pre owned watches include the very best examples from Rolex, Omega, Breitling and TAG Heuer. We offer a part exchange option on all our watches. Customers are welcome to purchase online and take advantage of our free UK delivery service or visit us by appointment. We will also sell your watch on consignment ensuring you get the very best market price.