What to inspect
Check the business identity, watch description, reserve or minimum terms, and custody arrangements. Ask about third-party displays, shipping, and insurance, and who handles a buyer’s return or dispute.
A practical workflow
Photograph the watch and included items at intake. Keep the signed agreement and receipt. Ask the dealer to record any later price authorization or location change in writing rather than relying on a phone conversation.
When to pause or proceed
Do not leave the watch if the dealer cannot explain when proceeds become payable or what happens if the business cannot complete the sale. Seek local contract advice for material uncertainty.
Worked example
Suppose the dealer advertises a higher price but deducts several charges before your payout. Ask for a worked calculation using the agreed sale figure so the fee basis is clear.
Illustrative scenario, not a customer case or reported event.
Wording you can adapt
Use this for the relevant contact or as a private task note. Replace bracketed fields with accurate details and send sensitive records only through an appropriate secure channel.
Before I leave the watch, please confirm custody, pricing authority, fees, payout timing, insurance, and the unsold-return process. Please explain how a buyer return or third-party shipment is handled. I would like the agreement and intake receipt to identify the individual watch and all included items, with later changes recorded in writing.
Your working record
Copy these fields into a private note. For each entry, add the source file or contact, the date checked, and anything still unresolved. Leave unknown information marked unknown; do not guess to complete the sheet.
- Custody and insurance termsRecord: __________ · Evidence: __________ · Next action: __________
- Price authority and feesRecord: __________ · Evidence: __________ · Next action: __________
- Payout triggerRecord: __________ · Evidence: __________ · Next action: __________
- Unsold return and dispute processRecord: __________ · Evidence: __________ · Next action: __________
This is a recordkeeping aid. It is not a certificate, contract, valuation, or confirmation of insurance cover.
Describe what you can support
A useful sale description distinguishes things you have checked from things a previous seller told you. If you do not know whether a part is original, say what documentation you have and leave the uncertainty visible. Buyers can evaluate a disclosed gap; they cannot evaluate a certainty that the records do not support. Keep the condition description specific enough to compare against the watch at handover.
Agree the watch identity, included accessories, price, inspection conditions, payment route, and delivery arrangement in writing. Photograph the watch near the time it leaves your custody and retain a copy of the transaction record. After completion, update your private inventory and any relevant service or database records through their proper channels. Keep the history rather than deleting the file because you no longer own the watch.
A receipt records a transaction but does not resolve every ownership or consumer-law question. Consignment, private sales, and business sales may involve different duties. Have unusual or high-value contractual terms reviewed locally.
Does consignment mean the dealer bought my watch?
Not necessarily. Read the agreement’s actual structure and responsibilities. Consignment and outright purchase can create different payment and ownership arrangements.
Sources and scope
The sources below support the general principles for this topic. The workflow and hypothetical example are MyStolenWatch’s practical synthesis; the sources do not endorse this guide or verify a particular watch. Consult current provider terms before acting.
- FTC: Buying from an online marketplace
US consumer guidance on seller checks, marketplace terms, and payment protections; it does not authenticate watches.
- FTC: Online shopping
General US guidance on documenting purchases and resolving shopping problems. Remedies vary by country and payment method.
Check a watch serial number
A MyStolenWatch search checks reports held in this database. A no-match result does not certify authenticity, ownership, or an absence of theft elsewhere. Check current pricing before purchasing a search.
Check a watch serial number