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Purchasing a Watch
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Purchasing a Watch
Please find answers to the most frequently asked questions in the FAQs section, if you can’t find the required info then you can contact the Sales Department for help with your query.
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Call +44 844 247 8884
Frequently asked questions
All our watches are meticulously inspected and prepared by our highly trained, manufacturer-accredited watchmakers. Each timepiece is closely inspected inside and out, under high magnification, by our experts, who are trained to spot any indication that a watch might be fake, and when the information is available, we will also cross-reference our watches against official brand records.
All our watches are meticulously inspected and prepared by our highly trained, manufacturer-accredited watchmakers. Each timepiece undergoes a rigorous testing regime, using manufacturer-approved tools and equipment, to ensure its condition, accuracy, efficiency and water-resistance meet brand specifications. A multi-stage QC procedure also ensures any problems are flagged and dealt with immediately.
Every watch we sell is furnished with a 24-month warranty for your peace of mind, in conjunction with any remaining manufacturer’s warranty. If your watch develops a fault and is still covered by warranty, you can return it to us to be diagnosed by submitting a warranty enquiry. If the fault is covered by the warranty, it will be repaired free of charge. Warranty diagnosis takes 5 working days, with the repair time quoted once the diagnosis has been made. If your watch is covered only by the manufacturer's warranty, it will be sent to the manufacturer. A manufacturer report will be provided in 14 working days. For more information on your consumer rights regarding faulty goods, please review Consumer Rights Act 2015 (legislation.gov.uk).
Most watches at Watchfinder cannot have VAT reclaimed, however there are a few that can. Please ask your sales advisor before purchase for further information.
For complete confidence when purchasing online or on the phone, we give you 14 days to return a watch you aren't happy with for a full refund. If you purchase in store, we can offer you an exchange or credit note if your return a watch within 14 days. Please return items in the same condition and with the same accessories as purchased, with online and telephone purchases retaining the red returns tag. Refunds will be processed after inspection in 5 working days. You can return a watch by post or in person at your closest Watchfinder location.
Contact us to arrange a return
Do you have an extended Christmas return policy?
For complete confidence when buying a Christmas gift, we're extending our return policy. If you place an order online or over the phone, or buy a watch in one of our boutiques between 4th November and 24th December, you're entitled to return it for an exchange only, up to 31st January 2025. Please ensure we receive your return by this date.
Don't see another watch you'd like to exchange for? We can offer you a credit note instead.
Please note, if you buy a watch sold by a certified seller on our Marketplace, we are unable to offer this extended returns policy and our usual 14-day return policy for a refund will apply.
Please return items in the same condition and with the same accessories as purchased, with online and telephone purchases retaining the red returns tag. You can return a watch by post or in person at your closest Watchfinder location.
If you purchase your watch online or over the phone, our usual 14 day return policy for a refund will apply throughout this period.
You can use your current watch to exchange or upgrade to another timepiece quickly, simply and in one transaction. Part exchanging with Watchfinder removes the uncertainty between selling and buying altogether, making the purchase that much more enjoyable.
Watches in short supply can often command a higher value both to buy and sell. Market demand requires us to offer a higher price to acquire these watches, and as such the sales price can exceed the RRP.
Due to the nature of pre-owned watches, strap and bracelet sizes can vary; however, we endeavour to provide watches with an adequate strap and bracelet length to fit the average wrist size. Upon purchase of your watch, we will request your wrist size to determine if your watch will be a comfortable fit. Additional links can be purchased if necessary.
If you have a certain watch in mind that we do not currently have in stock, we can create an alert for you so you're the first to know when one becomes available to purchase. With hundreds of new watches arriving every week, you'll be sure to find your ideal watch soon.
Find your next watch here
Although the EU trade agreement has preserved an import duty-free system for many new goods, the changing rules of BREXIT mean that pre-owned watches sold into and out of the EU are liable for a 20% tax. To prevent this from affecting you, we have ensured that the watches available in your locality do not have any hidden tax or customs charges. Be aware that watches available on external marketplaces may still be liable for the 20% tax.
CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement that restricts the import and export of certain specimens of wild animals and plants, that aims to protect the survival of the species it covers. Visit the CITES website for more information.
Exotic skins such as alligator, crocodile, or ostrich are often used for luxury watch straps, and Mother of Pearl is often used to add lustre to watch dials. These materials are restricted by CITES, which means we’re unable to ship them across customs borders.
If the watch you intend to purchase is located outside your customs area and it has a strap made from exotic skins restricted by CITES, we will replace the existing strap with a calfskin strap of the same (or similar) colour, so that we can send the watch to you. The replacement strap will be either embossed leather or suede and we display an indicative image of the replacement strap on our product page for your reference.
If a watch has a Mother of Pearl dial, we are unable to ship this across customs borders to remain complaint with CITES.