February 2012


With gadgets becoming ever smaller, the watch market has taken an interesting turn: A large number of used luxury wristwatches are available at a fraction of the original cost. This purchase, however, is not without its pitfalls. So before you run out and buy one of those pre owned watches, consider these following tips:

Research: Do your homework. Know what functions you want and which watches have them. If you just buy on a name, like Rolex, you’ll likely pay too much, and end up with a watch that doesn’t suit you as well as it should.

Reputable Dealer: The lowest price isn’t always the best purchase. A reputable dealer will likely cost a little more, but it’ll come with confidence. Reputable dealers don’t sell fakes, and they replace or refund broken watches.

Warranty or Guarantee: Avoid watches that do not include a guarantee or warranty. Even reputable dealers sell watches “as is,” but the consumer that can afford this kind of risk is better off buying a new watch anyway.

Documentation: Pre-owned luxury watches typically come with documents that detail the ownership history, the servicing history and any relevant historical documentation. Be wary of any luxury watches that do not.

Extra Benefits: Many jewelers and watch vendors include free benefits when they sell their most valuable pre-owned watches. These benefits often include lifetime care, maintenance and polishing, but not repair or batteries.

Fake Watches: If you have any doubt at all that the watch you’re buying is the real deal, stop. Bring in an expert assessor if need be. Counterfeit luxury watches are prevalent, and extremely difficult for the non-expert to detect.

Oris has revamped the Diver line with new Ceramic Bezels and updated cases. The new Aquis line features Stainless Steel Cases and Sapphire crystal and water resistances to 300m. They have added screwed-in crown guards for an extra touch of sophistication and a bit of faceting on the lugs as well. Nice looking pieces that update the look while still remaining quintessentially Oris in design.

There are two sizes available, a full size mens model at 43mm and a women’s sized model at 36mm. They are also available in two colors: Black and Blue. The photos appear to make the ceramic bezel insert on the blue model look glossy, while the ceramic bezel insert on the black model looks to have a brushed finish. Nice distinguishing features I think.

The watches continue with the integral style bracelets with an option for rubber as well. I like that they don’t have the rounded cushion sides that the older TT1 style had. I think that was my biggest dislike of the previous case. While I owned a couple and did really like them, the rounded case sides eventually started to bother me. Retail on the 43mm model is about $1,900US and $1,850 for the 36mm.

Specs:
Case Size: 43mm or 36mm
Dial Colors: Blue or Black
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Strap: Stainless or Rubber
Movement: Selitta SW-200

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