Used watch appraisal checklist

Use this checklist before paying for a second-hand watch. It is designed for ordinary private purchases, where the risk is overpaying, buying a badly described watch, or missing condition problems that reduce resale value.

1. Confirm the exact reference, size, dial colour and movement. Similar-looking watches can have very different resale values.
2. Compare against sold listings and current new-watch discounts, not only active asking prices.
3. Reduce value for scratches, missing links, aftermarket parts, no box or papers, poor photos or unknown service history.
4. Ask for timekeeping, crown, date-change, bracelet, clasp and lume photos where relevant.
5. For expensive watches, use authentication or escrow instead of trusting screenshots.

If the seller cannot answer basic reference and condition questions, treat the listing as high risk and price it at the low end of the range.