How it works

Bidding

• Register and verify your email. Add a card to your account — we place a refundable hold of 5% of your bid so every bid is a real commitment. Holds are released automatically when you're outbid or the auction ends.
• Enter your maximum. We bid for you in increments only as far as needed to keep you in front. Nobody sees your max.
• Reserves. If a listing has a reserve and your max clears it, your bid jumps to the reserve so the watch is guaranteed to sell to you unless someone beats you.
• Snipe protection. Any bid placed in the final 2 minutes extends the auction by 2 minutes. An auction ends only after 2 quiet minutes.
• Buyer's fee. 5% of the hammer price, minimum $100, capped at $5,000. Charged to your card when you win. Not refundable if you back out.
• Comments. Every listing has a thread where you can ask the seller questions. Bids appear in the same thread as they happen.

After you win

1. Upload proof of funds (a statement showing at least the purchase total) and a photo ID, plus your shipping address.
2. We verify it and tell the seller to ship the watch — fully insured — to the authentication center.
3. The center inspects the watch and issues a report. You get it, and have 2 business days to ask questions and wire the seller.
4. The seller confirms the wire. The center releases the watch and ships it to you, insured for full value.
5. If the watch fails authentication, the sale is void, your buyer's fee is refunded, and the seller pays return shipping.

Selling

1. Submit your watch — brand, model, reference, condition, what's included, your photos, and whether you want a reserve.
2. We review it within a business day. If it's a fit, we schedule a 7-day auction and tell you when it goes live.
3. Answer questions in the comment thread. Sellers who engage get more bids. You can lower your reserve while the auction is live.
4. When it sells, we send you shipping instructions for the authentication center. Once the watch checks out and the buyer wires you, the watch is released.
5. Your only fee is $49, charged when the watch sells. No listing fee, no commission.

Authentication & escrow

The authentication center is an independent third party. They verify that the case, movement, dial, hands, bracelet and clasp are genuine and consistent with the reference, check that the condition matches the listing, and note any service parts or aftermarket components. Their written report goes to the buyer before payment is due. The watch stays in their vault until the seller confirms payment — so the buyer never pays for a watch that hasn't been inspected, and the seller never ships a watch to a stranger.

Shipping & insurance

• Ship only with the label and carrier we specify, insured for full value.
• Double-box: the watch box goes inside a new inner box, which goes inside a new outer box. Padded envelopes don't qualify for coverage.
• Adult signature required. Shipping to a commercial address or carrier hold-at-location is safer for high-value pieces.
• Seller pays shipping to the authentication center; buyer pays shipping from it.

Photo guide for sellers

Wipe the watch, shoot in soft light with no reflections on the crystal, and take more than you think you need:

• Straight-on dial shot (this becomes your cover photo)
• Close-up of dial and hands
• Both sides of the case and both sets of lugs — this is where wear shows
• Crystal at an angle to show any scratches
• Caseback, and the movement if it's exhibition
• Clasp, bracelet or strap, with enough of the bracelet to count links
• Box, papers, warranty card, service receipts, extra links
• Any scratches, dings or damage — honest photos build bidder confidence
• A short video, if you can

Photograph the serial number on the watch next to the card or papers. We keep it private and use it to verify ownership.