Most significant watch purchases are paid by bank wire, and a wire is hard to reverse once it is sent. That makes the minutes before you send it the most important part of the purchase. These are the five questions we would ask any dealer, ourselves included. Get the answers in writing.
1. Who exactly am I paying?
The name on the bank account should match the business on the invoice. Do not rely on bank details that arrive by email or message alone: call the dealer on a number you found yourself, on their own website, and read the details back. If the account is in a personal name, or the instructions change at the last minute, stop.
This is how we ask clients to verify us; see our buyer safety advisory and wire transfer information.
2. Which exact watch am I buying?
Not a watch like the one in the photographs: this one. Ask for current photographs of the actual piece, and for the invoice to state the reference and the serial number. If the seller cannot show you the specific watch before you pay for it, you do not yet know what you are buying.
3. What comes with it?
Box, warranty card, purchase receipt, service records, spare links: each item should be listed. "Full set" means different things to different sellers. A watch without papers can still be a good purchase, but it should be described and priced that way.
4. What has been checked, and by whom?
Ask what was inspected: the movement, and the dial, hands, bezel and bracelet for replaced or refinished parts. Ask when the watch was last serviced and by whom. A dealer who checks properly will be glad to be asked. Our own process is on our authentication page, and the buyer's version is our private-client checklist.
5. What happens if it is not as described?
Before you pay, read the return terms, the warranty and how the watch will be shipped and insured. Know who to call and what the process is. Ours are published: buyer protection, return policy, warranty and shipping.
If any answer is vague
Wait. A good watch will survive a day's delay; a bad transaction will not survive these five questions. If you would rather see the piece in person first, we meet clients by confirmed appointment at Harbour Club Miami Beach. Start a private request.
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