FAQs Archive – The Watch Salon

Q: How accurate is a vintage wristwatch?

WATCH TYPE SECONDS GAIN/LOSS PER DAY WORST TYPICAL BEST Vintage mechanical Swiss watch in good repair +/-60 +/-15 +/-5 Modern mechanical watch non-certified +/-10 +/-5 +/-2 Modern mechanical watch chronometer certified +6/-4 +/-3 +/-1 Modern quartz watch non-certified (normal) +/-2 +/-1 +/-0.1 Modern quartz watch chronometer certified (rare) +/-0.02 +/-0.02 +/-0.0

Q: Should vintage watch dials remain untouched ?

It is true that many ‘old school’ watch collectors express a strong preference for un-restored dials and they will often state that a good original un-restored dial will form a large part of a vintage watch’s value. However, most collectors and dealers will tell you there is much more to this. Dials age at varying rates due to light, humidity and changes in temperature and while most of us would prefer a vintage watch which has been hidden in its box and never seen the light of day, such watches are exceedingly rare and unvaryingly will remain off the market and hidden away. Like vintage cars in museums, there is something a little unfortunate about this. After all, both were made to be used and enjoyed. In the case of watches, used with care of course, but not hidden in away in a draw or safe. Even in normal careful use, a 60 year old wristwatch dial is likely to show significant tell-tale signs of ageing. This may take the form of crazing, pitting, fading, local staining and scratches. A typical collector’s tolerance for such ageing is usually much greater than that of the average wearer and so the market for such watches is smaller and therefore the laws of supply and demand come in to play and this will tend to even out the price and value. It is perhaps sufficient to say that a quick poll of today’s vintage watch dealers will tell you that around 90% of today’s buyers prefer watches with restored dials rather than ones with damage through ageing. Also many of the major watch manufacturer’s service centres, have routinely refinished or replaced aged dials as part of a major service, and so this further complicates the picture.

Q: Is this watch totally authentic?

ALL OF OUR WATCHES ARE GUARANTEED 100% GENUINE All our watches are 100% authentic and original. We have our own highly experienced technician who checks and confirms the authenticity of every watch we sell. We offer a lifetime authenticity guarantee on every watch we sell therefore, if in the unlikely event a watch proves to be anything but totally authentic and as described, we will give you your money back. We take this extremely seriously and so whenever you buy from TheWatchSalon Company, you can be assured that you can buy with safety and confidence. Reputation is everything to us and we make all the necessary checks using databases that are supplied to the trade and ensure the watch has a providence and if in the unlikely event we are unsure about the background of a watch we avoid it. As an extra reassurance, all our watches listed here are also listed on eBay, where we have been trading in vintage watches for over 10 years. During this period we have maintained 100% positive feedback, which gives you more guarantee than your local high street shop, who are unable to provide "real customer feedback" in such an open forum. Please check TheWatchSalon Shop on Ebay to find our 26 pages of 100% positive ebay feedback.

Q: Do you take credit cards or debit cards?

We only accept payment by PayPal, Bank transfer . We prefer PayPal. If you wish to use a credit card, you still can - Select PayPal at check-out and PayPal will give you the option to pay by credit card.

Q: Do you accept returns?

From the day you receive your goods we offer a 14 day money back guarantee. This is in addition to your statutory consumer rights. If you wish to return an item please contact by telephone quoting the reference number provided. Goods must be returned unworn, unused and in the same condition they left our office with the original box, documentation and spares if applicable. The goods must be returned in the same standard of packaging via special delivery or another insured postal / courier service, at your cost.

Q: For overseas and outside the E.U., can the item be sent as a ‘gift’ or ‘declare a lower value’ for customs purposes?

This is of importance to overseas buyers who are outside the European Union:- Customs charges at the point of import are solely the buyer’s responsibility. Please check locally as we will not be able to provide any detailed advice on this. We always provide the correct order value on the customs declaration and insure the item for the full value.

Q: When can I expect my delivery to arrive?

We usually send out orders within 24 hrs day of receiving payment. UK orders are delivered within 24hrs of being sent. In this way you should wait no longer than 2 days for your delivery. Depending where you are, international deliveries can take up to 3 weeks, but they are usually delivered within two weeks, and often much sooner. All funds must be cleared before goods are despatched.

Q: How much do you charge for delivery?

Our UK delivery is FREE and we use Royal Mail Special Delivery, Next Day (signed for) Service including full insurance. For the rest of the world we ask you to contact us directly as we DHL / FEDEX for International deliveries as we find they offer the best service including full insurance and this cost varies from country to country.