Guides for independent watch dealers
Practical, honest advice on sourcing, selling, compliance and the watches themselves — written for the trade.
Watch Knowledge
A dealer's checklist for authenticating luxury watches before purchase — reference and serial verification, movement inspection, papers and box, weight and finishing checks, and when to use a professional.
Watch Knowledge
What a watch reference number is, how it differs from a serial number, how to read a Rolex or Patek Philippe reference, and why references are the foundation of valuation and authentication.
Watch Knowledge
What the grey market really is, why it exists, whether it's legal, how pricing and warranties differ from authorized dealers, and what it means for independent watch dealers in 2026.
Selling & Marketplaces
How to list watches that sell on Chrono24 — understanding the 2026 fee structure, building listings that convert, pricing against the market, and protecting your margin after commission.
Compliance & Tax
How VAT and sales tax work on second-hand luxury watches for dealers — the UK and EU margin schemes, US sales tax, Swiss VAT, and the Brexit effect. Educational overview, not tax advice.
Operations
WhatsApp and Telegram groups are where the professional watch trade actually happens. Here's how dealer groups work, how to get access, the fragmentation problem, and how to turn the firehose into structured inventory.
Starting Out
A practical, honest guide to starting a luxury watch dealing business in 2026 — business model, registration and compliance, sourcing channels, where to sell, real margins, and the mistakes that sink new dealers.