If you’re not buying from Crown and Caliber, the Hodinkee Shop, or another authorized, online vendor, always be careful with private sellers on open forums, eBay, or other online marketplaces.  Look out for sellers not being who they claim to be or sellers that misrepresent the product itself. Check reviews on their reputation for being ethical, fair, and easy to work with.

Ask the seller what their terms and conditions are for returns and exchanges, reputable sellers will guarantee the authenticity of the piece.

Request photos of the watch beyond the listing. Wrist shots, pictures of the caseback, and even the clasp can tell you so much. Additionally, if you’re buying a watch from a reseller, they should be willing and able to provide close-ups of any wear and tear the piece may have sustained throughout its lifetime. You can also request images of formal documentation around any provenance, history, or the precious metals & gemstones a piece may have.

Confirm the seller is providing insurance coverage for the time-piece during shipping and handling and that the watch is packaged carefully for safe delivery. Hodinkee Insurance recommends using a reputable common carrier who always provides a tracking number and requests a signature for delivery. Valuable purchases should be shipped with a professional jewelry shipping company.

Always verify what insurance coverage you have available for your watches as your existing homeowner’s policy may not provide sufficient protection if your watch is lost, damaged, or stolen.

Consider taking out a valuable articles policy through Hodinkee Insurance that provides all-risk protection to ensure that your watch is protected from the moment you click “buy.”