FAQ’s
How do I sell my watch?
You’ve come to the right place! If it is one of the brands we trade in you can send images through of your watch via our “sell my watch” tab or send us a message on our website LiveChat or give us a call or pop through a Whatsapp to: 064 907 0700
How do I get paid?
We will instantly EFT or pay you in cash, whichever you prefer on site during your appointment.
What is required from me to sell my watch?
Images of the watch in question and to be one of the brands we trade in, and, of course, it will need to be authentic.
What is the process for buying a watch?
Just give us a shout or if you prefer, add to cart and we will contact you immediately to arrange delivery to your door. If you would like to view a piece first, you are welcome to come through for an appointment.
What are the payment options available to me?
EFT, Credit Card, Cash or even Crypto Currency. Unfortunately not Diners Club.
Do your watches come with box and papers?
As we are preowned traders, we sometimes do not have a full set for each piece depending on the previous owner. In each listing we will specify which piece has it’s original box or paperwork. Please note, we can provide our own in-house watch box and paperwork upon request and even free gift-wrapping!
Do you offer appraisals?
Most definitely, just give us a shout, best bet is to send through some images of the watch in question and we will offer or best advice.
How often should I take my watch for a service?
We recommend having your automatic time piece serviced at least every 2 -3 years. Much like a car with mechanical components, you should service it regularly to avoid expensive repairs.
How long will the battery in my watch last?
We replace each of our incoming quartz time pieces with a new battery which should last up to 2 years.
I am not in Johannesburg, South Africa; How does shipping work?
We are able to ship internationally and locally. If you are looking to view a watch locally, we have a representative and office based in Cape Town, we will need a R1000 deposit upfront to cover shipping and insurance costs, if you decide to take the piece post-viewing we then deduct the R1000 from the overall price. For international shipments, we use DHL Express which includes insurance, we have a shipments team actively monitoring each piece and keeping a close eye on its movement. We will also be in active communication with you to ensure a smooth transit.
How much are import duties going to cost me?
That will depend on the country or region being shipped to, we will advise you upon query.
Are the watches serviced?
Yes, if not under warranty we will refurbish each piece and service as necessary in-house. If the service is beyond the capabilities of our technician it is sent through to an authorised brand retailer.
What brands do you trade in?
Swiss made Luxury watches such as: Rolex, Oris, Breitling, Cartier, Hublot, Frederique Contant, TAG Heuer, MontBlanc, Franck Muller Audemars Piaget, Chopard, Bucherer, Breguet, IWC, BlancPain, Bell & Ross, Girard-Perregaux, Glashütte, Grand Seiko, Hamilton, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Jaquet-Droz, Longines, Omega, Panerai, Patek-Philippe, Perrelet, Piaget, Roger-Dubuis, Tudor, U-Boat, Ulysse-Nardin, Vacheron Constantin, Zenith.
How do I know a watch is authentic when it doesn’t have a box or paperwork?
We are extremely stringent with our quality control checks, we will verify each piece’s serial number and thoroughly inspect the watch inside and out to ensure authenticity. We will advertise with our listings any non-original or after-market components.
Can I trade my watch in?
Yes of course, we welcome trades. Please refer to the brands we trade in and reach out to us to discuss and negotiate one on one with our head of sales, Solly.
What if the watch I purchased from you is giving issues?
Notify us immediately. If you are within our 12-month warranty we will cover the repair costs.
What is the difference between a Quartz watch and an Automatic watch?
An automatic watch refers to a self-winding movement which relies on a pendulum weight to keep the power reserve of the piece charged. This moves as you wear your watch. A quartz piece refers to a battery-operated watch with a quartz movement. Typically, automatic pieces use more complicated engineering movements and are therefore more expensive than their quartz counterparts.
Are all of our timepieces pre-owned?
Yes, we are pre-owned / pre-loved traders. Each piece is bought from an individual, inspected, refurbished if necessary and serviced. However, some of our stock is very new and received in mint condition such as our latest Rolex stock.
Is The Watch Channel an online business only?
No, we are an office based business that operates from the 1st Floor of the Bowman’s building in Sandton central just a skip away from Sandton City mall. Please note we do work by appointment. Feel free to contact us to make an appointment.
Are you open to negotiation and offers?
Most definitely but only in person with our sales team during an appointment.
Do you offer services or replacement parts?
Only to watches purchase with us, if you are within your 12 month warranty with us, we will cover the costs. Best bet if not purchased with us is to take your time piece to the respective authorised dealer.
How does an automatic watch work?
An automatic watch is a self-winding watch. This means that the motion of the wearer’s wrist provides energy to allow the watch to keep time. The watch needs to be worn daily to retain its energy to continue working.
To work, automatic watches do not utilize any kind of battery power, instead they have a heavy rotor which swings around and charges the watch from the movement on the wrist.
Some watches have a longer power reserve than others. This power reserve indicates how long a watch will retain its energy for, before needing to be re-wound. If the watch has stopped, it could mean there is no more charge left and its needs to be hand wound to start up again.
Automatic watches require a service every 2 -3 years to keep working fluidly. This is best done by official brand agents or trusted workshops.
To wind your automatic watch, unscrew the crown and twist/wind it away from you about 30-40 times. Pull the crown out further to set the time/date/any other applicable function. Once done, screw the crown in tightly to ensure water resistance is upheld and the watch is sealed. Give the watch a small shake and you will see the watch hands start to sweep, keeping time.
Are your watches authentic/real?
Most definitely, we will never sell a non-authentic time piece.
Are you able to source specific watches?
No, unfortunately not. We are classified as traders and rely on our extensive client base for incoming stock.
Do you offer a warranty?
Yes of course, a 12 month warranty is included with each purchase.
Do you offer lay-byes?
Yes. You are able to place a 50% deposit down on any piece and thereafter have 3 months to pay the remainder.
Do you offer authenticity paperwork?
Yes, we do offer an authenticity certificate as well as a Valuation certificate with each of our pieces for insurance purposes.
What is your return policy?
You may return your watch for a full refund within 7 days of purchase.
What if my watch purchased from you is lost or stolen?
We are able to provide you with a Valuation certificate for insurance purposes which will be the retail value of your time piece.
Do you buy from overseas?
No, unfortunately not.
