At Winsor Bishop, we are renowned for offering one of the best portfolios of Swiss watches in the country such as Patek Philippe, Rolex, Breitling, Omega, and TAG Heuer. But did you know that we also offer a curated selection of preowned luxury watches? It’s true, and they are often available for a generous discount compared to the original retail price.

As with any major purchase though, there are several points to keep in mind when buying a preowned luxury watch. Or any luxury watch for that matter. That’s why we’ve put together this quick guide on how to buy a preowned luxury watch. It will help you ask the right questions when it comes time to make that all important purchase.

Preowned vs. New

The first thing to consider is whether you want to buy a preowned luxury watch or a new one. There’s no right or wrong answer to this question. It comes down to a matter of personal taste and circumstance. The last thing you want though is to be riddled with buyer’s remorse because you bought used when you wanted new, or you feel like you missed out on making a saving, and so on.

If you’re buying a watch as a gift or to mark a special occasion for yourself or a loved one, then perhaps new is the way to go. That way the watches story starts with you. If you want something that already has a bit of character after a few years of wear, or you’ve got your heart set on a specific model that is now discontinued, then pre-owned is the obvious choice.

The great thing about luxury watches is that they have been built to last. If looked after properly and serviced regularly, they will in many instances outlast the original owner.

Buy The Seller

Now that you’ve decided you want to buy a pre-owned luxury watch, the next step is to do your research. There is a plethora of preowned luxury watches available online these days, and it is very tempting to simply go with whatever the cheapest option is. Beware though of deals that seem too good to be true. Lower prices are often a trade off against poor after-sales service (if any), warranties that are not honoured by the seller and questions around authenticity.

That’s why it is important to buy the seller. This means becoming familiar not just with the preowned luxury watch you’re buying but also with the person or company selling it to you. At Winsor Bishop, we offer expert knowledge, a 1-year guarantee on all pre-owned luxury watches and a reputation for quality that dates back to our founding in 1834. Best of all, we have a physical brick and mortar boutique in Norwich. So, if something is not quite right, simply bring your watch back and receive the full benefit of our world-class customer service.

Ask Questions

Now that you’ve found the pre-owned luxury watch of your dreams, it’s important to ask questions about it. Does it come with a warranty? What about the original box and papers? How recently has it been serviced? What happens if something goes wrong? And so on. Reputable retailers, such as Winsor Bishop, will be able to answer all these sorts of questions and more.

You simply cannot put a price on peace of mind or good customer service.

Now that you’ve learned some more about how to buy a preowned a luxury watch, we invite you to browse our current selection of pre-owned watches here. As always, our professional and courteous staff will be pleased to answer any and all questions you may have.