Is a watch without its papers worth the wrist?

Love the look of a pre-owned watch but aren’t sure about the fact it comes without papers? Worry not, says our Watch Specialist Luke Stafford. Missing some original elements really  doesn’t mean you should be put off buying it. Read on to find out why…
 
In a digital world where people love the supposed security that comes when you buy an item (especially luxury) complete with hard copy documents, warranties and tags, it’s easy to see why people might think twice about spending big on a second-hand watch that doesn’t come with all its original certificates and papers. “People have something of an obsession for ‘complete sets’ today,” says Luke. “So a second-hand watch that comes with everything it had when it was first sold will generally command a higher value than one that doesn’t.”
 
So if you’re looking to buy an heirloom/investment piece but keen to save on the initial outgoing cost if you possibly can, going for a paper-less watch could be a sensible option as it means you’ll save some cash upfront. Luke advises: “With watch listings and other information so easily available online – just a few taps away on your phone – it’s virtually impossible for an amateur or nefarious jeweller to get away with overcharging an informed buyer for a watch without all those other bits and bobs in tact, so you’ll almost certainly get one missing those things at a lower price.”
 
Luke also believes there’s an element of misplaced confidence in watch papers. It's easy to assume that if a watch comes with all the original “trimmings” firstly, that it’s genuine, and secondly, that it hasn’t been stolen. But, he says, the papers prove neither.
 
Some of the most exquisite watches in the world can be copied to the point of being barely distinguishable from the genuine article, so think how much easier it is for those crafty forgers to make a professional-looking warranty card/receipt or whatever else. And as for proving the watch isn’t stolen – no such luck. Many watches get taken with the box and documents that go with it, so you can’t assume that because it arrives with all the extras it’s come from a legitimate source.”
 
With all this said, Luke advises that  no one should be put off purchasing a pre-owned watch without papers. “If you're buying it to wear or pass down, lack of official documents shouldn't be an issue at all because it’s simply a model you love. And even if you’ve chosen it essentially as an investment piece, the fact your initial layout has been reduced due to its paper-less status means it (hopefully) won’t be a shock when you’re offered a lower price if you ever want to sell it.”
 
If you’re thinking about buying a watch with us, rest assured you’ll find detailed information about what it does (or doesn’t) come with (such as box, warranty, hang tags and more) in the product listing on our website. But if there’s anything else you need to know, feel free to contact us directly at info@charlesfish.co.uk or call us on 020 8509 4884 and our watch specialists will do their best to help.