Pre-Owned Watches vs. New Luxury Watches

A popular question which customers often wonder about is “Should I buy a used watch or new one?” when they want to buy a luxury watch. 

Used or “pre-owned” watches are not like used cars, which typically differ significantly in appearance and condition when compared to a new vehicle. A pre-owned luxury watch in a “like-new” condition might look strikingly similar to a brand new one. In fact, most watch buyers might not be able to tell them apart.

So then why the big fuss surrounding used-vs-new? Why do so many people can’t make up their minds when it is time to buy? It may be psychological. 

Some people will only get a warm and fuzzy feeling inside if they know with 100% certainty that they are buying a new, out-of-the-box model. Even if they were able to buy pre-owned watches for sale that looked identical to the more expensive newer variety, they wouldn’t be able to live with themselves. 

All kidding aside, when should you buy a new watch instead of a used one or vice versa?

It depends on three factors. 

Watch Dealer’s Reputation– When buying a watch, you need to make sure that the dealer selling it to you is trustworthy and reputable – so make sure to check reviews and the dealer’s reputation online. It’s better to buy a used watch from a great dealer than buying a new one from a dishonest one.

Condition of the Watch– In order to justify the purchase of a pre-owned watch, its condition must be relatively good. In order to be swayed in favor of pre-owned, the watch has to be in “like-new” condition; otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense to purchase it. 

Watch Price – A used watch, even in like-new condition, is going to cost less than an unworn model. This is the main reason that customers who want to get the most bang for their buck to gravitate towards the pre-owned market. If the difference between the new and used model is significant enough, buying used is the better option.

Price becomes an even more important factor if you’re planning or might trade in the watch at some point in the future, which could take place if you get bored of the watch or simply want to sport something different to impress your friends.

Since a luxury watch experiences a given amount of depreciation the instant it goes from new to used, a watch owner would lose a lot less money when trading in a pre-owned watch, which is immune to the new-to-used loss in value.

It is obvious that if the conditions are appropriate, Pre-owned watches are preferred vs. new when it comes to high-end watches. First of all, pre-owned watches in great condition can look practically identical to their brand new counterparts. Second of all, they will not experience the depreciation that new watches do when they move over to the used-watch space. Finally, used watches can also come with the additional warranty of a reputable watch dealer. This combination makes them extremely attractive for a lot of customers. You can also look for old Omega watches for sale and flaunt them like new.