What to inspect
Review the watch under clear light and compare it with your service records. Note which functions you have used and which remain untested. Keep photographs that show wear rather than hiding it with reflections or filters.
A practical workflow
Write a short condition paragraph with image references for material marks. Separate cosmetic observations from professional findings. Update the listing if the condition changes before completion and tell the buyer directly.
When to pause or proceed
Do not let a broad phrase such as ‘excellent for its age’ replace disclosure of a known issue. If a buyer needs a technical conclusion, arrange an appropriate examination.
Worked example
Imagine the chronograph sometimes fails to reset correctly. State the observed behavior and whether a workshop assessed it, rather than calling it a minor adjustment without evidence.
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.
The condition record identifies the visible marks and observed behavior listed below. Please compare these with the watch and note any disagreement before completion. Areas described as untested have not received a technical assessment. If you need a conclusion on those points, let us agree an appropriate examination before relying on the description.
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.
- Visible marks and image referencesRecord: __________ · Evidence: __________ · Next action: __________
- Observed functional behaviorRecord: __________ · Evidence: __________ · Next action: __________
- Known repairs or replacementsRecord: __________ · Evidence: __________ · Next action: __________
- Untested areas disclosedRecord: __________ · 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.
Can I say ‘no issues’ if I rarely wear it?
Only describe what you know. Limited use may leave functions untested. State the inspection or observation scope so the buyer understands the basis of the description.
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