TicTac’s guide · Buying from private sellers
Buying a pre-owned watch without nasty surprises
4 min read 5 steps
A good deal takes a little preparation. I’ll walk you through what to check before, during and after the sale, so you can buy with peace of mind.
The essentials in 30 seconds
Remember these three rules
- 1Meet the seller in personIdeally at a watchmaker’s. Never buy remotely from a stranger.
- 2Check everything before payingThe papers, the serial number and the watch’s condition, point by point.
- 3Pay only at the very endOnce the watch is in your hands and checked, never before.
Step 1 of 5
The deal
Where to meet, how to pay, and the warning signs that should make you slow down.
Good habits
Talk through the site’s messaging — everything stays in writing.
Ask for a recent photo — with your username written on a piece of paper next to it.
Meet in person — in a public place, ideally at a watchmaker’s.
Pay once the watch is checked — with a traceable method.
Write a signed receipt — date, model, serial number, price.
Warning signs
A price that’s too good — far below the market.
A seller in a hurry — who refuses to meet or to see a watchmaker.
Payment up front — money orders, gift cards, crypto.
Forced shipping — by post or through a “middleman”.
Recycled photos — that show up elsewhere on the internet.
TicTac’s tip: if the seller refuses to go to a watchmaker, walk away. A genuine watch has nothing to hide.
Step 2 of 5
Papers and history
A watch has a story. Its papers should tell the same one.
Invoice and warranty
Purchase date, dealer, ideally in the seller’s name.
Serial number
The same on the papers, the box and the watch.
Servicing
Service invoices, date of the last one, done by the brand or an approved watchmaker.
Full set
Box, papers, extra links: they count when you resell.
Does it have a passport on coindesmontres.fr? Its whole history is already there: services, owners, photos over time.
Step 3 of 5
The watch’s condition
Six points to go over, up close and in full light.
1
Casescratches, dents, rounded edges: polishing lowers the value.
2
Bezel and crystalchips, scratches, a bezel that turns without play.
3
Dial and handsstains, moisture, even lume, centred date.
4
Crownscrews in and pulls out cleanly, without play.
5
Bracelet and claspstretched links, excessive play, a solid clasp.
6
Casebackcrisp engravings, no tool marks.
The function test: wind it, set the time, change the date, start the chronograph. A free timing app measures its accuracy in a few minutes.
Step 4 of 5
Questions to ask
Before you even travel. Copy them into the messaging, it’ll save you time.
Your conversation with the seller
How long have you had it, and why are you selling it?
When was it last serviced, and by whom?
Has it ever been polished?
Are all the parts original?
Has it ever taken a knock or been exposed to water?
The seller is typing…
TicTac’s tip: an honest seller answers everything, and quickly. Vague answers are already an answer.
Step 5 of 5
After the purchase
To enjoy it for a long time, and resell it one day at the right price.
Keep the signed receipt with the invoice and the warranty.
Any doubt? Have a watchmaker check it in the days that follow.
Create or take over its passport on coindesmontres.fr to follow its story.
Your checklist for the big day
Ready for your next watch?
Any doubt? Don’t close the deal: a good bargain can wait for a watchmaker’s opinion.
TicTac’s next guide: spotting a fake