SECOND HAND WATCHES: Tips to Buying a Second Hand Watch

SECOND HAND WATCHES

Pulling the trigger and buying a second hand watch can be an enjoyable but stressful experience. There are now so many online outlets selling second hand watches such as Facebook, Gumtree, Chrono24 and eBay, plus the many established dealers such as Watchfinder and Blowers, it can be confusing knowing who you can actually trust and what you need to know about the watch before making a decision. We have put together this list of tips to help you with buying your next second hand watch. Hopefully it will help but feel free to ask any questions that are not answered in this article in the comments section below.

SECOND HAND WATCH DEALERS

Swiss Watch Trader started buying and selling second hand watches in 2010 when the market was a bit minefield. Poor photography, unclear descriptions and a general lack of buyer information made the whole experience far less enjoyable than it is today. We decided to make the whole buying experience far more transparent and honest with high quality photography, videos and full descriptions. We also offer a quick and easy return policy and all our second hand watches include a 12 month warranty. Although the second hand watch market has improved greatly in recent years, there are still some key points to consider before making your purchase, especially when buying from private sellers.

RESEARCH THE SELLER

Do your research. Google is your friend. If you are buying from a private individual, check them out on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin etc. If you are buying via eBay, check their feedback and completed listings. If you see that the watch you are interested in buying has sold before, there is a chance that the seller is trying to sell it multiple times before the buyers, eBay and PayPal catch up with them. If you are happy with the seller then there is a good chance that you will be happy with the watch. This goes for buying from a dealer too. If the dealer is open and honest about the condition of the watch, is happy to supply additional photograph or videos, and offers a full refund policy then you should be ok. Always check reviews on Trustpilot, Facebook and eBay though. Most sellers, both private and professional, are more than happy to discuss the watch over the phone or if possible in person prior to a sale. And if in any doubt, walk away.

BUY A SECOND HAND WATCH FROM A SELLER WITH A RETURNS POLICY

If you aren’t happy with your purchase, you should be able to return your watch within 30 days of purchase. Something might look great online, but not be quite right when it arrives in the post. A reputable seller will understand this and be able to offer you a full refund or an exchange with no fuss.

ASK QUESTIONS

Any reputable dealer or seller should be able, and happy, to explain the history of your potential new watch. You should expect any second hand watch dealer to operate with complete transparency. They should conduct background checks on their stock so you don't have to. Buying a second hand watch from a private seller offers a greater degree of risk but the asking price may also be lower. There are enough second hand watches out there so you don’t have to buy the first one you see and find yourself in a position where you are asking questions about the watch after you have purchased it. You should have all the information you require prior to making the decision, don't feel rushed as this is when mistakes are made.

IS THE DEAL TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE?

Second hand watches are more popular than ever and the days of finding a Rolex Daytona at a bargain price are sadly long gone.It is therefore essential to research the watch that you are interested in and get a good grasp on the current second hand market value. If something looks too good to be true, then it probably is. There are of course exceptions to this, but as a rule, if you are being offered a Rolex Submariner, Daytona or GMT Master II at a greatly reduced price, there may be a reason. Reasons can include it being stolen or counterfeit and the seller wants to move the watch on quickly. Or as is often the case with vintage watches, it may be made up of spare parts - known in the trade as a Frankenstein watch.

BUYING A SECOND HAND WATCH FROM SWISS WATCH TRADER

Our collection of second hand watches include watches from Rolex, Omega, Breitling, Tudor and TAG Heuer. At Swiss Watch Trader we specialise in selling only the very best second hand watches and unless there is a valid reason, ALL our mens watches will include their original boxes and papers. When buying any modern or vintage Rolex watch you need to ensure you are getting the very best example with as much of the original paraphernalia as possible. You should always look for a second hand mens watch that is complete with its original inner and outer boxes, warranty certificate or card, manuals, hang tags and if possible original sales receipt. For more information on how to buy a second hand watch from Swiss Watch Trader and the the services we offer including buying a second hand watch on finance, head over to the information section.

For more information on our favourite mens watches from Rolex, Omega and Tudor, head over to the News & Reviews section. Please get in touch if you have any questions about any of our second hand mens watches.

VIEW OUR SECOND HAND WATCHES

Contact Us today if you have a question about any of our mens watches for sale - we will be happy to help!