Photograph by Martin via Adobe Stock
THE SELECTION of preowned watches these days is vast. You might spot a Vietnam War–era military watch, like the Seiko 6105, or a Cartier Tank, popularized by Jackie Kennedy Onassis, could catch your eye. “That’s the best part about it,” says Cole Hale, watch director at Reis-Nichols Jewelers. “You get to see the history behind some of these watches and enjoy it on your wrist as well.”
When purchasing a quality preowned watch, above all, you need to ensure it’s authentic. The simplest way to do that is to buy from an authorized dealer of the brand you’re interested in. The watch should be serviced pre-sale, which can include replacing worn pieces with authentic replacement parts, testing for water tightness, and refinishing to remove scratches.
The line between men’s and women’s watches has blurred. For the past five years, large watches have been popular, but smaller ones are gaining ground. Rolex and Breitling are always in demand. Regardless of what’s on trend, though, and beyond your personal taste, choose based on the size of your wrist and your lifestyle, advises Hale.
Do you wear a watch as jewelry, stacked with bracelets? Are you a runner? Maybe you want a traditional timepiece as a professional accessory, or perhaps you’re an avid diver and need a high-tech specialty watch? Or do you collect watches with an affinity for the pedigrees attached to certain brands, like the auto racing history behind TAG Heuer? Watches are still beloved, despite our phones technically being able to replace them. Hale is hardly surprised. “Throughout history, there’s all different reasons why people love watches.”
