FAQ about watches

I got a Swiss watch from an internet auction can you give me an estimate of the value?
• Yes, yet ONLY at physically inspecting the watch. You need to come to me in Antwerp with the watch.
  From a picture or description by email I can not see if the watch and its movement is genuine and appraise the condition of the watch.
• TIP: As with all internet purchases, auction or private: take care, I have seen offers of many fakes, replica's, stolen or modified watches from removed serials to replaced movements to non-manufacturer customized diamond bezels to watch-cases gold-plated and fake branded wrist-bands.

Rob can you explain these huge price differences for the same watch offered on the internet?
• Only to some extent to be honest ...
• First of all, make sure it is the same watch. Mistakes with case sizes, pictures, descriptions and reference numbers are frequently made (some on purpose if helps to publish a bargain price).
• Import duties and local taxes applied or not can make a huge difference, in Belgium for example we have to add 21% VAT (sales-tax) to a watch [sold to a citizen within the EU]
• So does the following influence the price too:
  • Supplied with manufacturer's guarantee or with a warranty -for what it's worth- of the supplier?
  • Previous years model or recent? Note: if the watch is 'too old' the O-ring seals may have dried out.
  • New, almost new, second hand, original serial number present or not?
  • With box or without the original box? Some brands even supply exclusively an expensive winding box.
  
  Note: I supply to my clients only new watches, with the original manufacturer's warranty and with the box and papers.

My Franck Muller watch needs maintenance, I bought it cheap from a non-official dealer, where could I have it serviced?
• My advice: find yourself locally an official dealer who may want to service your watch, yet be prepared he may charge a price substantially higher than if you would have bought the watch via that dealer.
• If you are 100% sure your watch is genuine you may also send your watch to me for maintenance, please note: transport and often costly insurance are at your expense and risk. By the way: I think it is fair to charge some extra as you are not my customer.

TIP: Watches importing and exporting? Warnings
• Watch out for copies or fakes. This may happen again: 'On returning from a trip to the Far-East a man was asked by customs for the proof of purchase of his copy/fake Blancpain watch he bought there. He had to present the bill that would state he already paid the obliged local Value Added Tax (VAT). Obviously, the man could not. He got fined for double the full VAT on the original Blancpain (several thousand Euro).'
• Replica watches are trademark infringements and illegal in the EU. In particular in France you run the risk of having your watch confiscated plus being fined for illegal import by custom officials.
• If a EU citizen imports a watch from a non EU country (like Switzerland for example) yet he/she has to pay the local VAT. If you do not declare such a purchase at customs and you get caught, your fine is usually double the payable VAT.
• Often customs in Europe work together: a fax from Swiss customs to your local custom officials surely may arrive quicker than your flight.
• Non EU residents only get a tax refund of the VAT by exporting to a non EU country and by presenting the export papers to the watch selling dealer.