Investing in a beautiful timepiece can be an easy decision to make for some, especially those who simply want an attractive watch to wear on their wrist.

However, to more serious watch enthusiasts who want an exceptional piece of kit or people wanting more value for their money, trawling through the vast world of pre-owned watches is a bit of a minefield of genuine timepieces and difficult-to-spot fakes.

No matter if you are a professional looking for a refresher course or a complete newbie to the world of watches; take a look at our short guide to investing in a second hand watch.

See the Watch in Person

It doesn’t matter if you are buying a pre-owned Omega watch or a lesser known make, the best way to judge the condition of the watch that you are looking to buy is to take a look at it firsthand.

It’s a sad fact that you can’t rely on a lot of sellers to be truthful about the condition of the item they are selling. Make sure that you handle the piece and cast your investigative eye all around the body of the watch, looking for any signs of tampering or damage.

Scratches and Damage

Any watch that has been worn will have some scratches and that’s to be expected. After all, they are designed to be worn on your wrist and it’s a shame that some watches don’t get to be appreciated as much as they should.

However, if the watch you are viewing has very deep scratches or multiple areas of damage, you need to determine how the damage could have occurred. If the watch has been damaged, it’s not just the case that has been shaken up… the mechanical components inside have been rattled around too, which leads us nicely onto the next point…

Check the Functions

In order to make an informed decision, you need to make sure that all of the functions of the watch are in working order.

This is to make sure that you won’t have to spend money on getting the watch repaired, especially if the functions such as the date and chronograph aren’t working as they can also be quite timely to repair.

Consult a Professional

If you really aren’t sure about if a watch is worth the price that a seller is asking, don’t be afraid to approach a professional for help.

These watch enthusiasts will be able to help you spot features which you may not be able to see for yourself and will generally have a good enough knowledge of watches to be able to spot counterfeit pieces with ease.

As one of the best jewellers in Glasgow, we are on hand to help with any watch or jewellery query you may have. We specialise in Breitling watch repairs as well as watch valuation and sale, and we are available to help you find the perfect second hand watch for a competitive price.

For more information about the services that we provide, don’t hesitate to contact us on 0141 946 6333 where one of our friendly team members will be happy to take your call.