Copyright of Vikeria Marketing L.L.C
When planning to buy a pre-owned watch there are quite a
few things to take into consideration.
Reputable dealers, warranties, service history, manufacturer
stand points, trade in policies, original parts, after market
parts. It can get quite detailed if you are new to the pre owned
watch market.
This article is a beginners guide to buying a pre owned
vintage watch.
Buying a used watch doesn’t need to be stressful, it can and
should be fun and rewarding.
This guide will help you enjoy the process.
few things to take into consideration.
Reputable dealers, warranties, service history, manufacturer
stand points, trade in policies, original parts, after market
parts. It can get quite detailed if you are new to the pre owned
watch market.
This article is a beginners guide to buying a pre owned
vintage watch.
Buying a used watch doesn’t need to be stressful, it can and
should be fun and rewarding.
This guide will help you enjoy the process.
The pre-owned watch market is vast to say the least. Every style and brand are available
in a used or as it is commonly known, “vintage” condition.
People choose to buy pre-owned watches for a variety of reasons.
Sometimes, they are simply looking for a price point that is simply not possible on a
new piece, or another common reason is they are looking for a specific watch that may
no longer be in production or is a limited edition.
Vintage watches find their way on to the market for a number of different reasons.
Sometimes people trade in their watches and the dealer takes the buyers old watch as
part of the deal, clean them up and then resell them. Some people simply want to sell
the watch for cash and put them on the market in places such as E bay, or agree to
a normal cash deal with a local store.
When buying a pre-owned watch always take a look at the reputation of the person or
company selling the item. If you are dealing with a local jeweler then you can ask
around friends about the store and its reputation. You can also check online for
reviews etc, and of course don’t forget to take a look at our
jewelry and watch store directory and also our vintage section
Buying on E bay is a great way to find rare watches at a great price.
E bay does a great job of regulating its market place and does not tolerate any under
handed sellers that may try to deceive people who buy watches. A sellers reputation
based on the feedback feature is a great way to make sure you are dealing with an
honest seller and a little bit of time spent researching the feedback section could save
you from having a bad experience.
E bay does an amazing job of regulating sellers, but the sheer vastness of the market
place is still reason enough for buyers to exercise caution. That said, some of the
rarest watches and amazing deals can be found on E bay, and any buyer should at
least consider taking a look at the selection available.
In the next section we look at warranties and service history.
in a used or as it is commonly known, “vintage” condition.
People choose to buy pre-owned watches for a variety of reasons.
Sometimes, they are simply looking for a price point that is simply not possible on a
new piece, or another common reason is they are looking for a specific watch that may
no longer be in production or is a limited edition.
Vintage watches find their way on to the market for a number of different reasons.
Sometimes people trade in their watches and the dealer takes the buyers old watch as
part of the deal, clean them up and then resell them. Some people simply want to sell
the watch for cash and put them on the market in places such as E bay, or agree to
a normal cash deal with a local store.
When buying a pre-owned watch always take a look at the reputation of the person or
company selling the item. If you are dealing with a local jeweler then you can ask
around friends about the store and its reputation. You can also check online for
reviews etc, and of course don’t forget to take a look at our
jewelry and watch store directory and also our vintage section
Buying on E bay is a great way to find rare watches at a great price.
E bay does a great job of regulating its market place and does not tolerate any under
handed sellers that may try to deceive people who buy watches. A sellers reputation
based on the feedback feature is a great way to make sure you are dealing with an
honest seller and a little bit of time spent researching the feedback section could save
you from having a bad experience.
E bay does an amazing job of regulating sellers, but the sheer vastness of the market
place is still reason enough for buyers to exercise caution. That said, some of the
rarest watches and amazing deals can be found on E bay, and any buyer should at
least consider taking a look at the selection available.
In the next section we look at warranties and service history.
Most businesses that sell pre-owned watches will provide at least a basic warranty.
A 12 month warranty is pretty typical, though it is not unheard of to see longer
warranties. Buying from an individual is a different matter altogether. Very very rarely
will you see an individual watch dealer provide a warranty unless they used to be or
are still a certified watch maker that can carry out repair work on time pieces.
It is advisable to buy a used watch that has a warranty because like anything
mechanical, watches, can and do break down. If you are buying an expensive or older
watch, you may find that parts are not cheap. A warranty will cover most common
problems, but again, this all depends on the seller and their terms and conditions.
A 12 month warranty is pretty typical, though it is not unheard of to see longer
warranties. Buying from an individual is a different matter altogether. Very very rarely
will you see an individual watch dealer provide a warranty unless they used to be or
are still a certified watch maker that can carry out repair work on time pieces.
It is advisable to buy a used watch that has a warranty because like anything
mechanical, watches, can and do break down. If you are buying an expensive or older
watch, you may find that parts are not cheap. A warranty will cover most common
problems, but again, this all depends on the seller and their terms and conditions.
Most watches will not come with any kind of service history. It is a very very rare
watch indeed that comes with a service history.
One area that a buyer needs to be aware of is the “after market” watch.
Some watches may have diamond bezels or dials added on after the watch was
purchased. Some people just want to customize their new watch with different features
to how it was originally sold.
This can be an area of concern for a pre-owned watch
buyer.
Watches that have been modified after purchase have usually compromised their
standing with the manufacturer. Most of the watch companies tend to take a very dim
view of watches that have been altered due to two reasons.
Firstly, with the large problem of counterfeit watches, companies are very protective
of their brand and designs. Altered watches can lead to illegal counterfeiting because if
for example a certain watch is not available with a blue dial, and someone modifies a
genuine watch, other people may like that watch and try to get one with a blue dial.
Guess who steps in to fill demand at a fraction of the cost....This may seem like a small
matter, but illegal copying of watches costs the watch industry millions in lost revenue.
Secondly, an after market modified watch may not be worked on by a qualified watch
maker that has been trained in that brand. A lot of watch companies only want their
watches repaired by people who have been to special classes to gain certification in
their brand.If an uncertified person has worked upon the watch and accidentally caused
a problem with the watch, why should the watch company pick up the repair cost
caused by an unqualified persons mistake?
watch indeed that comes with a service history.
One area that a buyer needs to be aware of is the “after market” watch.
Some watches may have diamond bezels or dials added on after the watch was
purchased. Some people just want to customize their new watch with different features
to how it was originally sold.
This can be an area of concern for a pre-owned watch
buyer.
Watches that have been modified after purchase have usually compromised their
standing with the manufacturer. Most of the watch companies tend to take a very dim
view of watches that have been altered due to two reasons.
Firstly, with the large problem of counterfeit watches, companies are very protective
of their brand and designs. Altered watches can lead to illegal counterfeiting because if
for example a certain watch is not available with a blue dial, and someone modifies a
genuine watch, other people may like that watch and try to get one with a blue dial.
Guess who steps in to fill demand at a fraction of the cost....This may seem like a small
matter, but illegal copying of watches costs the watch industry millions in lost revenue.
Secondly, an after market modified watch may not be worked on by a qualified watch
maker that has been trained in that brand. A lot of watch companies only want their
watches repaired by people who have been to special classes to gain certification in
their brand.If an uncertified person has worked upon the watch and accidentally caused
a problem with the watch, why should the watch company pick up the repair cost
caused by an unqualified persons mistake?
To conclude this article we will sum things up by reassuring the reader that pre-owned
watches can be a fabulous way to acquire a time piece. Though there are certain factors
mentioned above that buyers should take into consideration, most pre-owned watches
from reputable sources have been expertly restored and will give the buyer a great and
sometimes rare watch at a phenomenal price!
watches can be a fabulous way to acquire a time piece. Though there are certain factors
mentioned above that buyers should take into consideration, most pre-owned watches
from reputable sources have been expertly restored and will give the buyer a great and
sometimes rare watch at a phenomenal price!
