How to Buy a Vintage Watch Online: 7 Checks Before You Pay
Seven practical checks to make before buying a vintage watch online: photos, movement, dial, case, papers, shipping and returns.
Collector Art Time
10/24/20261 min read
Buying a vintage watch online can be safe and rewarding if you know what to look at. These are the seven checks we recommend before you pay for any watch, from us or from anyone else.
Check 1 - Clear photos of the real watch. Ask for the dial, case back, crown, lugs and movement. A seller who uses catalog images or refuses new photos is a red flag.
Check 2 - The movement. Ask which caliber is inside and whether it has been serviced. For chronographs, the pushers should start, stop and reset cleanly.
Check 3 - The dial and hands. Check that the dial is original, with consistent aging, and that the hands match the era and the reference.
Check 4 - The case. Look for deep polishing that softens the lugs, and confirm the case back and serial numbers match the reference.
Check 5 - Condition described honestly. Wear, repairs and replaced parts should be written down, not hidden. A good seller says what is not perfect.
Check 6 - Shipping and insurance. Choose a tracked, insured courier. All our watches ship with DHL Express, insured, and are photographed before they leave.
Check 7 - A clear return policy. Know the time limit, who pays the return shipping and what condition the watch must come back in. Ours is here: https://collectorarttime.com/shipping-returns
You can see the watches we have available at https://collectorarttime.com and ask us anything directly on WhatsApp: https://wa.me/541131142424
