Why Is It Smart To Buy A Pre-Owned Expensive Watch?

Rolex Watches
Rolex Watches

How often do we become confused by a product’s price? Many of us want to spend more money on things we value to acquire greater quality.

Anyone looking to purchase a high-end watch from a brand like Cartier, Breitling, or Omega is aware of the importance of a well-made timepiece. But is it preferable to spend a few thousand dollars more on a brand-name watch straight from the manufacturer than on a used one?

Watch enthusiasts have long welcomed the concept of purchasing previously owned watches. For this reason, auctions and private sales are widely available for watch lovers to purchase rare and vintage pieces.

It is usually a good idea to consider used options when choosing your next timepiece. In this article, we will examine the benefits of purchasing a used watch, and why you should do it. Stay tuned!

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Saving money

In many circumstances, purchasing a pre-owned item allows you to save thousands of dollars on the same exact watch. If you’re prepared to purchase an older watch, you can save several thousand dollars on a piece that resembles current models. Luxury timepieces, like fantastic cars, often don’t change all that much over time. 

You can be confident that your pre-owned watch has undergone a rigorous inspection and is guaranteed to function flawlessly if you purchase it from a reputable retailer. For the duration of your life, they will detail and overhaul your watch without charge once a year, thanks to their standard one- or two-year guarantee policy. Additionally, it implies you will receive a genuine timepiece.

A chance to get a limited edition piece

Numerous watch companies produce watches in special and limited editions. These watches are for sale for a brief period only. This implies that many people won’t get these watches once they’re sold out.

But many people buy the timepieces with the idea that they’ll just wear them for a while before they’ll sell them. This shows that used watch dealers commonly list limited edition timepieces for sale.

Furthermore, many upscale companies like Cartier, Rolex, Patek Philippe and Omega don’t sell their new watches online. This indicates they quickly become sought-after, and many people will want to get them. 

Only a select few people get access to the watches, which all but guarantees that those who do will resell the timepieces. A luxury or limited edition timepiece is almost always available among the used possibilities, so it is always worthwhile to explore there.

(cocoparisienne/Pixabay)

History and solid making

Pre-owned timepieces have a past. This is particularly true of old watches that may have been used to record significant historical occurrences. This trait is seen in both vintage jewelry and pre-owned watches.

Many consumers who buy pre-owned timepieces, like learning the history of the watches. They can learn more about the watch’s past owners and the events it witnessed. 

Many reputable second-hand watch dealers can explain the history of the timepiece to the purchaser. This sense of history is not present in newly manufactured timepieces.

Looks brand new

Many people assume that used watches would be worn out and broken the moment they see them. It doesn’t happen often. Most second-hand vendors will provide watches in excellent condition. However, some may offer timepieces that need a lot of care and time to repair. It can even locate recently purchased pre-owned watches.

Some watch collectors buy a timepiece to realize they don’t need it. People will frequently decide to sell the watch in this situation on the secondary market. They frequently purchase timepieces for less than they paid for them. As a result, it is occasionally possible to find virtually brand-new watches for a substantially lower price when browsing for used timepieces. It never hurts to browse in the used market when looking for a new timepiece.

(Dalyn Joy Layderos)

Environment friendly

Many fans of fashion and merchandise are eschewing fast fashion in favor of vintage or investment goods. It is based on the assumption that less waste will be produced and end up in landfills. Although most watch collectors believe their timepieces will be passed down through generations as investments, this isn’t always the case. 

To save unnecessary waste, many people choose to sell their high-quality items on the used market. So by getting their hands on a great, high-quality wristwatch, a watch collector can benefit the environment while saving money.

Investing in a pre-owned watch is worth it due to its numerous advantages. Collectors should always double-check that the shop is authorized and has the knowledge and skills to verify that the timepiece is in working order and of excellent quality. 

Always inspect a pre-owned watch before purchasing it to ensure it is as described. However, when you buy a watch from a reputable pre-owned watch vendor, you nearly always get a great watch at a reasonable price.

Conclusion

You may save a ton of money and get all the advantages of a high-end watch by purchasing a used wristwatch. Pre-owned watches are also excellent watches to start and grow a watch collection, because they are more economical.

When searching for their next new timepiece, many watch collectors are lured to used timepieces. They constantly question whether buying used timepieces is worthwhile. The large used watch market is teeming with top-notch timepieces. However, many watch collectors opt not to take these paths, preferring to purchase brand-new timepieces. We hope this list will encourage you to think about purchasing used watches.

It’s Shopping Time – Where Are Quality Luxury Pre Owned Watches?

Harry Winston and Rolex Watches
Harry Winston and Rolex Watches

Have you been searching for a dream watch? A Rolex, an IWC, a Patek Philippe, an Audemars Piguet, an Omega watch, a Cartier watch, one of the Panerai watches, a Breitling, a limited edition luxury watch, a chronograph watch, or one of the other top brands?

Owning one of the luxury timepieces creates a feeling of awe, knowing you own a watch crafted with superior standards and premium materials, made by one of the Swiss trained watchmakers, or by a company considered a luxury watch brand.

Giving a special someone the gift of a luxury watch is as invigorating. The holidays are fast approaching, and it is time to start looking for those luxury gifts at an affordable price.

pre-owned luxury watch

Shopping for pre owned luxury watches has its pros and cons.

Pre-owned watches are a great way to add to someone’s or your own watch collection, or to give as a gift. Before the purchase, you want to consider the pros and cons of buying pre-owned.

Pros of a purchasing Pre-Owned Watch

First, pre-owned luxury watches are considerably cheaper than new luxury watches. Some pre-owned watches will cost half the cost of a new model.

Second, sometimes finding a new luxury watch or a new limited edition watch is difficult. Buying pre-owned will open up various available luxury watches. There is a large secondary market for buying and selling watches. There is a large market for used vs. new watches.

Third, pre-owned watch models are popular and stylish. A pre-owned Rolex taken care of and in good condition fits the bill of a dream watch. Watches are difficult to keep in new condition. Just wearing a watch a few times will result in a scratch, which means the value is now dropped. Finding a pre owned watch is easier than finding a new one, and shopping online or at a pawn shop is a great way to discover what is available.

Fourth, luxury watches are durable, and a pre-owned watch has the potential to have many years of keeping time.

Fifth, some pre-owned timepieces are iconic and have intricate complications not found in new watches. Luxury watches don’t diminish in style or the craftsmanship they stand for. Owning and wearing pre owned iconic timepieces will create a feeling of confidence.

Rolex Watches

Cons of purchasing a Pre-Owned Watch

First, some pre-owned luxury watches show scratches or obvious signs of wear. Most pre-owned luxury watches have scratches or small dents. The wear lowers their value and makes them affordable, but may be unappealing to the purchaser. Buying brand new with no blemishes comes at a price.

Second, pre-owned luxury watches may need servicing. A new watch needs very little servicing, because it hasn’t been used. The internal moving parts on a pre owned Rolex or other watch have been used often, and this means the watch may need to be serviced.

Third, pre-owned watches, depending on how they were cared for and how old they are, may be less reliable than a new luxury watch. Since pre owned watches have been worn, they may be less reliable and have accuracy problems. They have the potential to “break down” sooner than a new watch.

Fourth, most of the time, a pre-owned watch no longer has a manufacturer’s warranty. Most luxury watches when purchased new have a warranty. Warranties are important for watches as a protection against defects. Buying pre owned doesn’t guarantee a warranty.

Luxury Watches

Authentication

When you buy a pre owned watch from an online store, individual, off the Marketplace, from eBay, or from a pawn shop, ensure the seller knows the authenticity of the watch. Nothing would be more disappointing than spending the money on a watch, even if it is on sale or at an affordable retail price, to later discover it is fake. This would be particularly true if you were giving the watch as a gift.

Prices set too low may indicate the watch is not a genuine luxury watch brand. It is the buyers responsibility to understand what they are buying. When you buy from an individual, it may be difficult to tell if the watch is authentic, unless you know enough about the watch brand to ask the right questions or look for the tell tale signs of a luxury watch.

Some collectors find buying online safe and appreciate the efforts made to authenticate watches before the watch goes into inventory.

Pawn shops have a team of experts who will take the time to ensure that each Patek Philippe, Rolex, Cartier, Omega watch or other name brand watches they bring into their stores are authentic. It would be poor business to sell fake watches, and customers wouldn’t return. If they did a pawn loan using the watch as collateral, it wouldn’t be financially smart to loan a large amount of money on a fake watch. So they make sure what they bring in and sell is authentic.


R&J Jewelry and Loan

R&J Jewelry and Loan

Since 1978, R&J Jewelry and Loan has provided personalized services to the residents of San Jose, CA. They have a large jewelry selection and affordable prices. If you need to sell or pawn a luxury item, like a luxury watch, designer purse, gold or fine jewelry, diamonds, or other items, they make fair and reasonable offers.

R&J Jewelry and Loan are watch enthusiasts. They know watches. They believe a watch is more than just an instrument for telling time. It says something about its owner without saying a word. Some people consider their watch a piece of art, a way to express themselves and represent their place in society. Others simply need a way to know what time it is, and prefer a rugged utility piece.

They understand that giving a luxury watch as a gift for the holidays is an incredibly genuine gesture. Whoever you are and whatever your needs, they are available to help. If you are looking to pawn or sell your watch, they can help.

Where Can You Purchase Audemars Piguet Used Watches in San Jose, CA?

Luxury Watch for Christmas
Luxury Watch for Christmas

Audemars Piguet Watches

North of Geneva, in the Jura Mountains, in the small town of The Vallee de Joux, the Audemars Piguet watch brand was born. Due to the iron ore available in the region, the Swiss timepiece evolved into the brand it is today.

In the 18 century, during the winter months, farmers would spend hours a day in their homes’ day light-filled rooms crafting wheels, bridges, semi-precious stones, pinions, and springs for the watchmaking industry. The tight-knit community and the family artists led the way for the brand name Audemars Piguet watches.

Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet were childhood friends and reconnected in the 1870s. They discovered they were both watchmakers and were working to create mechanical timepieces. 

By 1875 the two men joined together to create the brand that we know today as Audemars Piguet.

Before they joined forces, Audemars created complicated watch movements for different manufacturers to then finish and fit into their own cases.

Piguet performed the final regulation on the watches.

After they started working together, Audemars oversaw the watches’ production and technical aspects, and Piguet focused his time on sales and management.

By 1881 the watchmaking team announced the name Audemars Piguet & Cie, a watch brand known today.

Audemars and Piguet died in 1918 and 1919, respectively. The company continued with sons Paul Louis Audemars and Paul Edward Piguet, moving the company forward to the success seen today.

During the early-mid 1900s, the two sons pushed for innovation and, in 1925, released the thinnest pocket watch caliber. The first skeletonized pocket watch was released in 1934.

Grand Complication Pocket Watch was released in 1899. It featured a minute repeater, alarm, perpetual calendar, deadbeat seconds, chronograph, and split-seconds hand.

The company built a reputation for inventiveness when it unveiled the first-minute repeater wristwatch in 1892. They continued with their ingenuity by pioneering the jumping seconds hand pocket watch. and the first skeleton watch.

 

 

Luxury Watch Authentication

Skeleton Pocket Watch

A skeleton pocket watch is a pocket watch that shows the inner movement that makes the watch “tick.” The mechanisms are seen through glass or uncovered directly so you can touch the mechanisms oh so gently. The word skeleton watch was used because the outer case is like the “skin” on the body and the inside or underneath is the skeleton.

In 1946, Audemars Piguet launched the world’s thinnest wristwatch. In 1967 the brand released the first self-winding automatic caliber featuring a central rotor with a thickness of 2.45mm.

On the eve of the 1972 Swiss Watch Show, Audemars Piguet gave Genta the task of creating a luxury sports watch. The next day Genta presented the idea of the Royal Oak.

Royal Oak Audemars Piguet

The Royal Oak

The Royal Oak featured was made of stainless steel and an integrated bracelet. This was different than other previously made Audemars Piguet watches. The case of the Royal Oak had daring designs not ordinarily seen on other watch brands. The octagon bezel with eight screws featured a round dial. The design is iconic and is still sought after today.

The watch saved the Audemars Piguet watch company brand by making it one of the most popular models in the watch industry. In 1972 when it was first produced, it took three years for Audemars Piguet to sell 1,000 Royal Oaks since sales have increased.

The Royal Oak Blue Dial men’s watch was launched at the Basel fair in 1972. Never seen before, the luxury watch is a steel timepiece and more expensive than the Patek Philippe dress watch and more than ten times the cost of a Rolex Submariner.

The Royal Oak Offshore in 18k gold with a black ceramic bezel, push-pieces, and screw-locked crown was introduced in 1993. It is one of the most prominent sports watches of all time. It is a fusion of rose gold and a black ceramic case.

Some Royal Oak watches feature the Royal Oak Hands with luminescent coating making this watch one for collectors.

Audemars Piguet introduced black ceramic into the Royal Oak Line in 2017. The black ceramic is made of zirconium oxide and yttrium oxide. The black ceramic is seen in some Offshore models. The Royal Oak Line also comes in various metals and finishes, from steel to 18k gold to frosted gold and pave diamond designs.

The Royal Oak Offshore is known for its bold look and more masculine and sportier presentation, which is different than the classic Royal Oak.

The Royal Oak celebrates its 5oth anniversary this year. It is one of the most collectible watches available. Audemars Piguet released the 39-mm Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillion Extra-Thin to mark the momentous occasion.

There is no denying that the Royal Oak inspired other brands and models.

The Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillion GMT

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon GMT is part of the line and case that has been used for eighteen years. The first Royal Oak Concept watch, designed by Claude Emmenegger, was presented in 2002 to mark the 30th anniversary of the Royal Oak.

The movement was developed by Audemars Piguet Renaud & Papi (APR&P). The line tends to be more experimental than the Royal Oak Offshore. The line has been a springboard for technical development. The first version combined a titanium case, a black ceramic bezel, a blacked-out dial/movement, and featured rose-gold accents. The watch was flashy and sophisticated looking.

The subsequent model was the Royal Oak GMT Tourbillion and was more low-key. It is monochromatic gray, including the display, the rubber strap and clasp, and even the movement’s back. The large case is made from sandblasted titanium. The bezel is complimentary and also sandblasted titanium. The screw-down crown and the push-piece at the side of the case are grey ceramic.

The Jules Audemars Collection

As a tribute to the original founders, Jules Louis Audemars, the collection has a simple, classic, and sometimes vintage appeal. Jules Audemars was a pioneer in the watch industry. He was dedicated to the art of mechanical calibers and was refined and artful. The collection features Audemars Piguet watches.

Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Perpetual Calendar

Audemars Piguet watches are often considered in terms of the Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore watches. A finer, less sporty watch is the Jules Audemars Perpetual Calendar.

Not known as an everyday watch, it is a special kind of watch that is worn on special occasions. The watch has a brown sunray dial, with rose gold index hour markers and hands.

A finely printed seconds and minutes track appears between the applied rose gold index hour markers around the dial’s perimeter.

Turn the watch over, and the watch features a transparent sapphire back that is secured with six screws evenly spaced, with three on top and three on the bottom. The back reveals the in-house caliber.

The case itself is 18kt rose gold and slender in appearance. It has a polished fixed bezel and lugs with a brushed finish. The movement is an ornately engraved and partially skeletonized solid gold automatic winding rotor. The letters AP show along with the different features of the movement such as “ADJ TO HEAT COLD FIVE (5) POSITIONS”,  “ISOCHRONISM,” and “THIRTY-EIGHT (38) JEWELS”, “SWISS AUTOMATIC,” along with the AP logo.

The Calendar sub-registers are a slightly darker brown and have a white printed typeface to indicate the day, date day of the week, and leap year indicator located at the center of the 12 o’clock sub-dial. The moon phase is displayed in vivid color at the 6 o’clock position.

With the impeccable craftsmanship and the pride of owning one of the prestigious brands like Audemars Piguet, where does a person find a watch at the best prices?

Whether you are looking for one of the minute repeaters, millenary models, Royal Oak Offshore watches, one of Audemars Piguet dress models, or an original Royal Oak, R & J Jewelry and Loan may be a perfect shopping place for Audemars Piguet used watches.

R&J Jewelry and Loan

R & J Jewelry and Loan specializes in all luxury watch brands.

As a pawn shop located in San Jose, CA, and serving all of the surrounding communities, the company has been in business since 1978. They built their reputation on personalized services and their extensive jewelry selection in various price ranges.

They strive to set themselves apart from other pawn shops by offering real money for your personal items. Fair and reasonable offers are how they do business.

Fine watches are their specialty. Do you need instant cash? Pawn your Rolex, Omega, Cartier, Audemars Piguet, or other fine watches. They have a watch appraiser on site with over 20 years of experience. Vintage Rolex, Vintage Omega, and Vintage Cartier watches are their specialty; the older, the better.