How does SASOM define "Pre-owned" Watch?

SASOM defines a Pre-owned Watch as a watch that has been previously owned, stored, tried on, or used, and may show signs of wear consistent with its age, model, materials, and usage history.

A Pre-owned watch:

• May show signs of normal wear and tear resulting from age and use.
• May or may not include the original box, warranty card, receipt, manual, extra bracelet links, dust bag, or other factory-issued accessories, depending on what the seller has specified in the product listing.
• May have undergone servicing, repair, polishing, or replacement of genuine manufacturer parts throughout its lifetime.
• Must not have severe damage that affects the structural integrity, safety, or primary functionality of the watch, such as a cracked crystal, damaged crown, broken clasp, broken strap, non-functioning movement, or other major defects that prevent normal use.

 

Pre-owned Condition Levels
Every pre-owned watch has its caseback opened to inspect the movement and authenticity. Inspection points: case, crystal, bezel, strap/bracelet, clasp, markings, and movement.

✳ Very Good

• Lightly used with care; only minor signs of wear.
• Case: faint hairlines that are hard to notice; edges remain sharp.
• Strap/clasp: minor stretch with age; clasp secure and functional.
• Markings: crisp and fully legible; may have been polished without affecting the shape.

✳ Good

• Used; with clearly visible and tangible wear.
• Case: visible scratches, scuffs, or small dents.
• Strap/clasp: noticeable stretch or wear, but still functional.
• Markings: worn but identifiable.

✳ Fair

• Heavily used; major visible wear, but still functional for its primary purpose.
• Case: pronounced scratches, dents, or wear.
• Strap / clasp: stretched, worn, or degraded from long use.
• History: may have been serviced or polished multiple times.

 

Notes Regarding Pre-owned Watches

• Watches in any Pre-owned grade may exhibit signs of wear such as hairline scratches, surface scratches, bracelet stretch, material fading, servicing marks, or other age-related characteristics. These are considered normal characteristics of pre-owned watches and shall not be considered defects unless they fall within SASOM’s Fail criteria.
• Condition levels (Very Good / Good / Fair) represent an overall assessment of the watch and may vary depending on the model, material, age, usage history, and service history of each individual watch.
• All products are evaluated based on the product photos, product description, condition level, equipment, documents, and information disclosed by the seller in the listing.
• Buyers are responsible for carefully reviewing all product photographs, descriptions, condition levels, equipment, documents, and seller disclosures before placing an order.
• By confirming a purchase, the buyer acknowledges and accepts the product description, condition level, equipment, documents, and disclosures provided in the listing.

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SASOM Watch Inspection Standard

• SASOM continuously updates its inspection standards to facilitate transparent and fair transactions while maintaining an appropriate inspection framework for the pre-owned watch market. Please refer to the latest inspection standards before proceeding with any transaction.
• All watches traded through SASOM are subject to inspection and will only be shipped after successfully passing SASOM’s inspection process.
• Inspections are performed by SASOM’s inspection team and/or watch specialists appointed by SASOM, based on product information, model specifications, materials, serial numbers, equipment, documents, and other relevant details.
• The purpose of the inspection is to verify authenticity, listing accuracy, product condition, accessories, documents, and other material information in order to reduce the risk of counterfeit products, modified watches, or products that differ from their listings.
• The inspection primarily focuses on product authenticity and consistency with the information disclosed by the seller.
• Where such information has already been clearly disclosed before purchase, SASOM may consider the buyer to have acknowledged and accepted such information.

 

Precautions Regarding Watches

• SASOM performs an initial quality and authenticity verification as a marketplace intermediary. SASOM does not provide manufacturer warranties and cannot guarantee future servicing, water resistance, timekeeping accuracy, or future repair costs.
• Even after inspection, certain aspects of a pre-owned watch may be subject to limitations arising from age, usage history, servicing history, replacement parts, modifications, or repairs performed before the watch entered the marketplace.
• For inquiries regarding operation, warranty coverage, servicing, maintenance, or brand-specific information, buyers should contact the brand’s official service center directly.
• Genuine replacement parts installed during authorized servicing may be accepted under SASOM’s inspection standards.
• If non-genuine parts are detected or if replacement parts affect the authenticity of the watch, the watch will automatically fail inspection.
• Conditions arising from manufacturing processes, distribution, aging, materials, usage history, polishing, servicing, or replacement of genuine manufacturer parts shall not constitute grounds for transaction cancellation unless they fall under SASOM’s Fail criteria.
• For product conditions, model-specific characteristics, or circumstances that cannot be clearly determined under SASOM’s inspection standards, the final decision shall be made at the sole discretion of SASOM’s inspection team or appointed watch specialist.

 

Detailed Inspection Criteria

Note:
✳ Severe damage refers to damage affecting structural integrity, safety, primary functionality, or value, including cracked crystals, deformed cases, broken crowns, missing components, or severe corrosion.
✳ Equipment and documents for pre-owned items are assessed against the seller’s listing. If the seller declared an item as included but it is missing or incorrect on delivery, the result is Fail; items not declared by the seller are not used as criteria.
✳ Hairline, Micro Scratch, are considered normal characteristics of pre-owned watches.
✳ Time deviation within the expected range of a movement is not a defect.
✳ “Visible under normal viewing conditions” means visible under normal indoor lighting and viewing distance, without magnification.
✳ Boxes still functional for storage and presentation are not considered severely damaged.
✳ Dealer stamps, retailer signatures, or warranty activation info are not inspection criteria.