Buying a watch or a piece of estate jewelry sight-unseen asks a lot of a buyer. You are trusting that the piece is genuine, that it is in the condition described, and that someone will make it right if it is not. This page sets out exactly how we handle all three, so you can judge us on the specifics rather than on adjectives.
Everything here applies to watches and jewelry. Bullion and coins work differently, and that difference is explained further down.
How we authenticate a watch
No watch reaches the site on one person's opinion. It clears two independent checks first.
Inspected in-house first
Every watch is examined by our own jewelers before it goes anywhere else. One of them has been doing this for forty years; across the bench we have more than a century of combined experience. We check the reference and serial against the model, then work through the case, dial, hands, bracelet, clasp, and crystal looking for parts that do not belong together.
Verified again by an outside watchmaker
Our eyes are not the last word. Every watch also goes to a local authorized watch repair shop or an independent watchmaker, who opens it up and confirms the movement is correct for the reference and running as it should. A watch that does not clear both stages does not get listed.
Described exactly as it is
Photographs are of the actual watch, not a stock image of the model. If a part has been replaced, the case has been refinished, or a service is coming due, we say so in the listing rather than leaving you to discover it.
If a piece ever fails to authenticate, bring us the finding from any qualified watchmaker, jeweler, or manufacturer service center and we refund the full purchase price and the shipping both ways. There is no time limit on this and no restocking fee.
How we grade condition
Pre-owned means worn, and words like “mint” get stretched until they stop meaning anything. Every watch and every piece of jewelry we list carries one of these five grades, plus notes on anything specific to that item.
- Unworn
- Never worn on the wrist. No marks under magnification, factory finish intact throughout, and protective stickers still in place where they were applied at the factory.
- Excellent
- Worn lightly and looked after. Any marks take close inspection to find. Case edges and bracelet links hold their original lines, and the factory finish is unbroken.
- Very Good
- Worn regularly and cared for. Light surface scratches and slight bracelet stretch show up on close inspection but are not noticeable at arm’s length.
- Good
- Honest everyday wear. Scratches you can see without looking for them, possibly small dings to the case or clasp, and bracelet stretch. Everything works as it should.
- Fair
- Heavy wear or a specific flaw we name in the listing — deep scratches, a refinished case, replaced parts, or a service that is due. Priced to reflect it.
Photographs are always of the actual item. A grade tells you the general standard; the notes tell you what the grade cannot. If a case has been refinished, a part replaced, or a service is due, it is written on the listing.
Returns on watches and jewelry
You have 30 days from delivery to decide. Call (210) 735-7131 and we will issue an RMA number and shipping instructions. Send the piece back insured for its full value, with everything it arrived with — box, papers, spare links, and tags. Once it reaches us in the condition it left in, we refund the purchase price to your original payment method.
A change-of-mind return carries a 15% restocking fee and you cover return shipping. That fee does not apply if the piece arrives damaged, does not match its listing, or fails to authenticate — in those cases you get the full purchase price back and we pay the shipping.
12-month movement warranty
Every watch we sell carries a 12-month warranty on its movement from the date it is delivered. If it stops running or stops keeping proper time through no fault of your own, bring it in and we will have our watchmakers put it right at no charge to you.
What it covers
- Mechanical or automatic movement failure
- Timekeeping outside the tolerance for the calibre
- Winding, setting, and complication faults
What it does not
- Water damage and accidental damage
- Everyday wear to case, bracelet, and crystal
- Batteries and straps
- Any watch opened by someone other than our watchmakers
Jewelry is not sold with a movement warranty for the obvious reason, but the same return window and the same authenticity commitment apply to every piece.
Why bullion and coins are different
Bullion and coins are final sale. That is not us being difficult — their price is locked to a metal market that keeps moving after your order is confirmed. If we offered a return window on metal, a buyer could keep the gains when spot rose and hand us the losses when it fell, and everyone else would pay for that in wider premiums.
Watches and jewelry are not priced off spot. They are individual pieces at a fixed price, so a normal return window costs no one anything and lets you buy with confidence. The full legal terms for both are in Section 6 of our Terms.
Common questions
Do watches and jewelry come with the same return policy as bullion?+
No. Watches and jewelry can be returned within 30 days of delivery, subject to a 15% restocking fee. Bullion and coins remain final sale because their price is tied to a live metal market that moves after your order is confirmed. A return window on metal would let a buyer hand us the market's losses and keep the gains.
Is there a restocking fee if the watch is not what you described?+
No. The restocking fee only applies when you change your mind. If a piece arrives damaged, does not match its listing, or fails to authenticate anywhere else, we refund the full purchase price and cover return shipping.
Do you issue a certificate of authenticity?+
We do not. A certificate is only worth the reputation of whoever signed it, and we would rather tell you exactly who inspected the watch and what they checked. Every watch is verified by our jewelers and again by an outside watchmaker before it is listed, and we stand behind that with a full refund if a piece ever fails to authenticate.
What does the 12-month warranty actually cover?+
It covers the movement — the mechanical heart of the watch — for 12 months from delivery. If it stops keeping proper time or stops running through no fault of your own, bring it in and we will have it put right. It does not cover water damage, accidental damage, batteries, straps, or ordinary wear to the case, bracelet, and crystal, and it ends early if someone other than our watchmakers opens the watch.
Can I see the piece before I commit?+
Yes, and we would rather you did. Everything listed online is physically in our San Antonio showroom at 2622 Northwest Loop 410. Call ahead and we will have it out of the case and ready when you arrive. Walk-ins are welcome and there is no obligation.
How do I start a return?+
Call us at (210) 735-7131 within 30 days of delivery. We will issue an RMA number and shipping instructions. Ship the piece back insured for its full value with everything it came with — box, papers, extra links, and tags. Once it arrives and we confirm it is in the condition it left in, we refund the purchase price less the restocking fee to your original payment method.
Or skip all of this and come see it
Every watch and every piece of jewelry listed online is physically here at 2622 Northwest Loop 410 in San Antonio. Call ahead and we will have it out of the case when you arrive. No appointment, no obligation, and no return policy to think about.