Watch Almanac

Pre-owned dealer

Is Watchfinder & Co. legit?

Yes. Watchfinder & Co. is a real business, selling since 2002. Watchfinder & Co. buys and resells pre-owned watches, so the watch is used and the brand's original warranty has usually run out. Watchfinder & Co. inspects, often services, and warranties the watches itself.

Owned by Richemont (Cartier, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Vacheron Constantin, Panerai). Some US listings come from Certified Sellers and are sent to Watchfinder for authentication before delivery.

Watchfinder & Co. at a glance

Sells
Pre-owned luxury watches from more than 50 brands, including Rolex, Omega, Cartier, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet, plus watch buying, part-exchange and servicing.
Founded
2002
Ownership
Compagnie Financière Richemont SA, which agreed to buy 100% of Watchfinder.co.uk Limited in June 2018. US sales are made by Watchfinder North America, Inc. (Delaware), 645 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY.
Authorized dealer
Not an authorized dealer for the brands it sells
Warranty
24-month Watchfinder Limited Warranty from the day you receive the watch, covering manufacturing and mechanical defects; Watchfinder will refund, repair or replace at its discretion. It is in addition to any remaining manufacturer warranty, and applies only to the original buyer or gift recipient. Excludes theft or loss, normal wear (strap, glass, clasp, cosmetic), accident or mishandling, minor timekeeping deviations, water resistance and gaskets, strap/bracelet/clasp failure, and damage from third-party work.(watchfinder.com)
Returns
14 days. Online purchases can be exchanged or refunded within 14 days if unused; the About page describes 14 days to send a watch back for a full refund. On a cancelled online sale, return postage, packaging and insurance are the buyer's responsibility. In-store purchases can be exchanged, but not refunded, within 14 days in unused condition.(watchfinder.com)
Payment
Payment methods are listed on the checkout's Payment Details page. Bank wire is accepted at Watchfinder's discretion with no Watchfinder fee, but not for Certified Seller orders. 0% APR finance is advertised. Full cleared funds are required before dispatch.(watchfinder.com)
Trustpilot
4.6/5 from 1,719 reviews (2026-10)(trustpilot.com)
BBB
F, not accredited (2026-10)(bbb.org)

How Watchfinder & Co. authenticates watches

Every watch is inspected at Watchfinder's own service centre before sale. The company says this centre is accredited by many watch manufacturers. FashionUnited describes a 60-step authentication and preparation process carried out by accredited watchmakers. Certified Seller watches are sent to Watchfinder for authentication and due diligence before delivery.(watchfinder.com)

What to know before you buy

  • The BBB profile for Watchfinder & Co. (New York) shows an F rating. The reasons BBB lists are 18 complaints filed and failure to respond to 3 complaints.(bbb.org)
  • In-store purchases can only be exchanged, not refunded, and buyers pay return postage and insurance on cancelled online orders.(watchfinder.com)

More about Watchfinder & Co.

  • Richemont announced on 1 June 2018 that it had agreed to acquire 100% of Watchfinder.co.uk Limited. At the time, Watchfinder had seven boutiques and about 200 employees.(richemont.com)
  • Watchfinder was founded in the UK in 2002 and entered the US in 2020. In 2025 it opened its first US boutique on Spring Street in SoHo, New York, with more than 600 watches. It reports 17 showrooms and boutiques across eight markets.(fashionunited.com)
  • Watchfinder runs its own manufacturer-certified service centre, offering servicing, repairs and refurbishment. Full-service work comes with a separate 24-month Services Warranty.(watchfinder.com)
  • Watchfinder offers a Buy Back Guarantee: for two years after purchase, it will take the watch back for at least the value stated in the buy-back letter. That value is paid only as credit toward another watch, after deductions for missing items.(watchfinder.com)

Check the price first

Whoever you buy from, compare the asking price with the list price and the going rate. Our brand price lists give current list prices, and the market tracker shows what the same references are listed for on eBay today. A price far below both is the clearest sign of a fake or a scam. Before buying, check the size on your wrist with the fit finder.

Questions

Is Watchfinder & Co. legit?
Yes, Watchfinder & Co. is a real pre-owned dealer that has been in business since 2002. Watchfinder & Co. buys and resells pre-owned watches, so the watch is used and the brand's original warranty has usually run out. Watchfinder & Co. inspects, often services, and warranties the watches itself.
What warranty does Watchfinder & Co. give?
24-month Watchfinder Limited Warranty from the day you receive the watch, covering manufacturing and mechanical defects; Watchfinder will refund, repair or replace at its discretion. It is in addition to any remaining manufacturer warranty, and applies only to the original buyer or gift recipient. Excludes theft or loss, normal wear (strap, glass, clasp, cosmetic), accident or mishandling, minor timekeeping deviations, water resistance and gaskets, strap/bracelet/clasp failure, and damage from third-party work.
What is Watchfinder & Co.'s return policy?
14 days. Online purchases can be exchanged or refunded within 14 days if unused; the About page describes 14 days to send a watch back for a full refund. On a cancelled online sale, return postage, packaging and insurance are the buyer's responsibility. In-store purchases can be exchanged, but not refunded, within 14 days in unused condition.
Does Watchfinder & Co. sell real watches?
Every watch is inspected at Watchfinder's own service centre before sale. The company says this centre is accredited by many watch manufacturers. FashionUnited describes a 60-step authentication and preparation process carried out by accredited watchmakers. Certified Seller watches are sent to Watchfinder for authentication and due diligence before delivery.

Sources