Consider this: you’ve had your eye on a luxury watch for a long, and after a few seasons of waiting, you’re finally ready to purchase it. You enter the business with your credit card in hand, only to be told that you can’t just stroll in and buy what you want.
“The watch isn’t here yet,” explains the store clerk, “but we can put you on our waitlist.” Even yet, they caution that there is no assurance you will receive the watch.
If you’re new to purchasing expensive watches, this may come as a surprise. If you’ve been collecting watches, though, this may have become a fact of life.
This is especially true if you’re purchasing one of the Big Four watch manufacturers that dominate today’s high-end collecting landscape: Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Richard Mille. To guarantee quality and exclusivity, these privately held businesses maintain limited production quantities despite growing demand. As a result, there is frequently a significant period of waiting.
So, how can you obtain the watch without having to wait indefinitely? Enter the used watch market.
Benefits of Buying a Second Hand Watch
- You can prevent depreciation
There will be an initial depreciation, as with most new items. This can vary from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars, depending on the price of the watch you want to buy and its value on the second-hand market. If you buy a luxury watch, it may take a long time for it to be worth more on the second-hand market. If you buy it used, you will save money on the initial depreciation, which often covers the first years of ownership.
- Better Deals
You have a better chance of finding better deals in the second-hand watch market. Of course, you must invest time in researching, comparisoning, and accessing the best deal. A good place to start is to find out in advance the average market value of the model you want. So you can decide if the offer you find is a good investment or if you should continue looking. In any case, a beautiful watch will make you feel good!
- Made to last
When we compare buying a used luxury watch to investing in a new one, we have more budget possibilities. What does all of this mean? We can get a much higher quality product for much less money. The quality of the materials used in these types of watches provides extra durability, making investing in them worth it, and how can you resist buying more for less?
- More options
Purchasing used luxury timepieces brings customers a world of options. As previously said, watches of this sort are designed to endure a long time. This implies that you can have models with hundreds of years of history. Consider the variety of alternatives you have at your disposal! You might also find limited edition timepieces or watches that are no longer made in this market. Although they may demand a larger investment than other options, they are a wonderful investment.
The top 5 places to shop for luxury watches online:
1, Stockx
StockX is best known as a destination to buy and sell sneakers, but the site deals with other collectible items including streetwear, handbags, watches, and even trading cards.
The watch selection ranges from low-cost but collectible watches like G-Shocks to high-end options like Rolex, Tudor, and Panerai. StockX is a great place to shop for luxury watches because you can gauge the market in terms of previous sales, highest offers, and lowest asking prices.
Just as with shoes, every watch is validated by an expert before it is mailed to you.
2, Watchmaxx
They are a family-owned company that has been selling investment-quality timepieces online since 2004. WatchMaxx.com is now one of the leading online luxury watch retailers.
As independent dealers, their industry connections allow us to buy the most desired brands at the best prices, and provide exceptional value to our customers.
Because of their extensive experience with the finest watch brands and collections, they are able to offer many of the most sought-after items. Even if the color or style you seek is not shown on the web site, they are often able to get it for you.
3, Nordstrom
Nordstrom might be your go-to department store for clothes and shoes, but the brand also has an impressive selection of watches for a wide range of budgets. While top-tier luxury brands such as Rolex and Audemars Piguet are not available, designer options such as Gucci, Versace, Salvatore Ferragamo, and others are available.
If you’re on a smaller budget, Nordstrom also sells numerous timepieces that aren’t exactly regarded to be luxury but are definitely elegant and well crafted. Some of these brands are MVMT, Michael Kors, Tissot, and Timex.
All returns are handled on an individual basis by Nordstrom, with the ultimate objective of making the client happy and pleased. That means you shouldn’t have any trouble returning a watch you don’t like, even if it’s been longer than the standard 30-day return period or you’ve misplaced the receipt. If Nordstrom can’t find a record of the sale, they’ll process your return in the form of a gift card.
4, Bobswatches
Bob’s Watches, the world’s first pre-owned and vintage Rolex watch exchange, is a usually secure site to acquire premium watches for all consumers. Whether you’re knowledgable with watches or not, Bob’s Watches assures you receive the greatest pricing.
While buying a $6,000 Rolex for $2,000 and reselling it for $10,000 is a typical occurrence in watch dealing, Bob’s lists pricing for buying and selling, so both buyers and sellers know that the margin is reasonable.
5, Watchbox
WatchBox is the world’s leading platform for buying, selling, and trading pre-owned luxury watches, powered by technology, innovation, and unrivaled global experience in the high-end watch market. We are the trusted destination for watch aficionados worldwide, with offices in the United States, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Singapore, and Dubai, with ambitions to expand further.
