Frequently Asked Questions
Great question! We have original/period-correct boxes and instruction booklets for all our Rolex watches, and if they came with their original papers or cards, they are noted on the item page. Regarding our non-Rolex offerings, some may not have box or papers, and it will be noted on the item page. A watch having box and papers does not guarantee the authenticity of the watch, so we do not turn away watches based on them not having those things.
Not necessarily. While box and papers can add value and appeal, they do not guarantee authenticity, as both can be lost, replaced, or counterfeited.
At Watches Etc, we emphasize condition, service history, and expert authentication as the most important factors—especially for older watches no longer under factory warranty.
All of our pre-owned Rolex watches come with a 12-month warranty covering mechanical defects not caused by misuse, water damage, or normal wear. Our non-Rolex offerings come with a 90-day warranty covering mechanical defects not caused by misuse, water damage, or normal wear. Some of our newer watches may also retain their original manufacturer’s warranty if still valid.
Should you decide to return your watch, you have three (3) business days from your purchase date to request a return from us. Please refer to our refund policy for more details.
We do! You are welcome to either reach out to us through the site with your inquiry, or come by our store and we will inspect the watch you'd like to sell or trade, and make you an offer on the spot.
Our watches are typically shipped within one business day of purchase through the website. If possible, we even get them out the same day! All packages are shipped fully insured with a signature required for delivery, using either FedEx Priority Overnight or UPS Next Day Air (your choice). Due to the signature requirement, please be sure you have your most up-to-date shipping address, and there will be someone available to sign for the package!
Proper sizing is a great place to start! Wearing the watch too loose will increase the likelihood you'll knock it into things accidentally, and it can cause unnecessary wear/stretch in the bracelet.
Keeping your self-winding watch in a winder is a great option if you're not constantly wearing it and do not want to wind it up or reset the time/date every time you put it on. That said, it does not hurt these watches to sit and run to a stop; just remember to manually wind it back up to give the movement a full power reserve so it will keep good time. Shaking it to get it going is not helpful for accurate time keeping.
We recommend cleaning the case and bracelet of your watch at least once a month with dish soap (not hand soap), warm water, and a soft toothbrush to get rid of any built up lotion, gunk, dead skin cells, etc. This will not only help your watch look really nice, but it will also keep the bracelet in better shape, as build up can cause wear in the links.
Mechanical or self-winding watches should be serviced regularly (we recommend every 5 years or so) in order to keep the movement running well and to minimize wear on internal parts. Quartz (battery-operated) watches should have their batteries changed as soon as possible after they go out, in order to minimize the risk of a dead battery leaking and damaging internal parts.