Good second hand watch shops in London

[carter711]

Hi Everyone,

This is my first post, i have been browsing this section of the forum for a while though.

I am wanting to spend about £1000 on my first decent watch. I've figured the wisest way of going about this (other than paying cash to a private seller for a bargain price, although unless you are an expert there is always the danger of being sold a replica) is to buy second hand from a reputable dealer, this way i know i am getting an authentic watch, the watch will have done most of its depreciation and i get the option of spreading the cost over a year - hopefully interest free. I like this idea, not because i cannot afford to pay the cost in one go but because it won't harm my savings too much if i spread the cost over a year.

My question is, can anybody recommend a good second hand watch dealer in London? I've heard there are a few on Bond Street, i intend to go looking on Saturday afternoon.

Also, has anybody got interest free credit on a second hand watch before?

I like the look of the basic Omega Seamaster (black face) that i could buy new for £1000, but im not keen on exposing myself to the depreciation involved with buying a new watch. I also like the Tag Heuer Carrera (Black face, red hands, SS strap) They retail for £1695 so im hoping i could get one for about £1000 second hand?

Has anybody else spent £1000 on a second hand watch, if so, what did u get? and what was the discount like compared to the RRP?

Any help appreciated,

Thanks.

[Justayellowbadge]

There are lots round Bond St,there's also Austin Kaye on the Strand, The Watch Gallery,David Duggan etc.

However, rents are expensive, and it's you that will be paying for it.

Try www.watches.co.uk, or our own DominicH( Google for hackett watches)

Edited by Justayellowbadge on Wednesday 9th April 22:24

[bigsi]

Second trying out Austin Kaye or watches.co.uk (not used them but came close and the service was good). I have bought a couple of watches over time from Austin Kaye, they normally have a lot in your price range. Check out their website first and save yourself some shoe leather. I love the bond street stores, but as has been said with rents as they are prices not fabulous, if you wander up there be prepared to blow your budget!!!
Personally as a 'first watch' you cannot go wong with either of your choices (though I prefer omega). A few others that might be worth a look, and can be found used are:-
- chopard mille watches (I just got myself an excellent 2006 limited edition watch for under a grand through a jeweller advertsing on ebay, as long as you are careful that can work!)
- vintage watches, try for an old omega, iwc, rolex etc from the 50's or 60's. This will make you stand out from the crowd and you won't have to worry to much about depreciation. You may have to stretch out another couple of hundred for the one you want, or buy cheaper and get two, but a reasonably safe investment

The most important thing when buying used is to but from somewhere reputable, it it doesn't feel right it isn't! Just choose the watch you like best..

best of luck
bigsi

Edited by bigsi on Thursday 10th April 08:49

[x200sxy]

Top price but I bought a fabulous manual wind Zenith from Austin Kaye. Not needed it (yet) but they give 2 years guarantee too.

[Vesuvius 996]

Justayellowbadge said:

There are lots round Bond St,there's also Austin Kaye on the Strand, The Watch Gallery,David Duggan etc.

However, rents are expensive, and it's you that will be paying for it.

Try www.watches.co.uk, or our own DominicH( Google for hackett watches)

Edited by Justayellowbadge on Wednesday 9th April 22:24

Another vote here for www.watches.co.uk in Chiswick.

Speak to Tim or Dee.

[Justayellowbadge]

You could also try the classifieds here, of course.

I know of a astonishingly reasonably priced Seamaster chronometer that just went up there

[kiwisr]

Supposed to be a couple of very good ones in Burlington Arcade - which is near Bond St.

[Justayellowbadge]

John, you have mail.

[dbroughton]

Bought my brother an Omega Seamaster auto from Watches.co.uk in Chiswick

It was great, as new and basically let someone else pay the depreciation. They always have a bunch at £800. I would be surprised if anyone sells more second hand watches than them anywhere in the country or even the world (that might be stretching it)

[andy tims]

Second Time Round are also good, but mainly concentrate on Rolex

[Don1]

Mr Carter, have a look in the classifieds - there is a beautiful Omega at (very) good money in there.

As the the fella selling it... don't worry about that either.

Seriously though, if I liked Omegas I'd have snaffled it.

If it's not your thing, then good luck with your search!

Edit - JAYB, that is a good price - you selling as mates rates?

Edited by Don1 on Thursday 10th April 17:48

[cyberface]

Vesuvius 996 said:

Justayellowbadge said:

There are lots round Bond St,there's also Austin Kaye on the Strand, The Watch Gallery,David Duggan etc.

However, rents are expensive, and it's you that will be paying for it.

Try www.watches.co.uk, or our own DominicH( Google for hackett watches)

Edited by Justayellowbadge on Wednesday 9th April 22:24

Another vote here for www.watches.co.uk in Chiswick.

Speak to Tim or Dee.

Another vote from me - I dealt with John and they are proper enthusiasts in there. Takes bloody forever to get to from the City though... I can get home, pour myself a pint, and post some nonsense on PH at my gaff in Kent quicker than the tube to Chiswick... Easy to find though.

Out of the others - bought my Daytona years ago from David Duggan - perfectly civil transaction and it was a good watch, but all their stock was top money (rents, I guess, as stated above) and I was treated like 'just another punter'. Royal Arcade Watches were equally polite but not that interested, IYKWIM. A while later having the Daytona, I decided to sell my Explorer II because I wasn't wearing it - I was treated like st by Austin Kaye so I'd avoid them (astonishingly rude salesman sneered at it, saying it could be fake, looked me up and down like I was a tramp, etc. until he spotted the Daytona and then became more civil - by which time I'd decided to go elsewhere). One of my cousins (as enthusiastic about watches as me, but wealthier, so he has more ) recommends Watch Guru (google it) and has just acquired a blingtastic Franck Muller from them.

But my vote goes to Watches.co.uk - John's infectious enthusiasm made me feel a much more valued customer. But as he pointed out - they don't have to deal with the browsers, the tyre-kickers and the time-wasters (which must get very tiring very quickly) because they deal by appointment only.

But if you've seen something on their site and are serious, definitely give one of them a call. They know their stuff, and even showed that my yr 2000 limited-edition Speedmaster (Schumacher chequered dial, in the wrist shot thread) was still keeping very good time and didn't need a service yet, with a very tricky machine that appears to 'listen' to the movement, amplifies it and bungs it through an oscilloscope to measure the regularity in different positions.


Let's face it, the main problem with second hand watches, for most of us, is the possibility of being sold a fake. Especially these days, where the 'replica' market make astonishingly accurate watches (obviously, a watch made to almost the same level of detail as a top-brand watch will still be a very good timepiece, but it's counterfeit and that's not what you're wanting to pay for). Having seen the kit in their Chiswick office and had a good chat with them (I can only trust what they say, but John certainly sounded like he had a hell of a lot of experience), I wouldn't hesitate to buy another watch from them since I really don't think they'd get caught out by a fake, nor would they sell one deliberately.

Other internet dealers, and eBayers, I'd want to get plenty of recommendations first - since even the pros get caught out by fakes sometimes (even 'genuine' fakes such as desirable vintage watches that have had movements from later watches put in, from the same brand). So if I had to pick one - it'd have to be www.watches.co.uk