Buying a pre-owned luxury watch is safe when every part of it can be verified. This is the checklist we use at Bizak & Co. before any watch reaches a client.
- Reference and serial. Match the reference and serial on the case to the warranty card and box. If they differ, stop.
- Papers and provenance. Ask for the original warranty card, purchase receipt and service records. Ask who owned it and for how long.
- Movement. Ask for a photo of the movement with the caseback open, or have it opened in front of you. The calibre should match the reference.
- Dial, hands and bezel. Look for replaced or refinished parts: a dial that is too perfect, mismatched lume, a bezel insert in the wrong colour. Replaced parts can cut a collector piece's value sharply.
- Bracelet stretch and end links. A tired bracelet sags between links. Check the end links belong to the reference.
- Service history. Know when it was last serviced and by whom; a recent manufacturer service with papers adds trust.
- Fit to your wrist. Size the bracelet to your wrist before you pay, not after delivery. See how to measure your wrist size.
- Price against the market. Compare with recent sales of the same reference, condition and papers, not with asking prices.
- Payment. Pay by bank wire to the dealer's business account, with an invoice listing reference and serial.
Related reading: five questions to ask a dealer before you wire money, three red flags in a watch listing and how private watch sourcing works.
If you would like us to source and check a specific piece for you, request a private viewing at the Harbour Club in Miami Beach.
0 comments