Good evening everyone!
This week, we would like to bring you the "You're too embarrassed to ask now series." In this project, we will explain basic information in an easy-to-understand way for those who are not very familiar with luxury watches and those who want to learn more about them.
This is the 30th time
[ Introduction to luxury watches ]:
The difference between " new " and " unused "
"New" and "unused" are words you often hear on the second-hand market.
The way they are displayed and their definitions vary depending on the store, and few people actually have a clear understanding of how they are different. However, if you make a mistake, the price will change not only when you purchase but also when you buy it back, so it is important to understand it clearly.
So this time, we would like to explain the difference between "new" and "unused" based on our definition. This is a must-read for anyone considering buying or selling a watch on the second-hand market, so please read to the end.
Definition of "new" and "unused"
Definition of "new" and "unused"
| Brand new | A watch in the same condition as when it was shipped from the manufacturer (with protective sticker, links not adjusted) and has never been worn. |
| Unused item | A watch that has never been used since purchase |
What is the difference between the condition of "new" and "unused"?
Now, let me tell you the specific condition of each of the "new" and "unused" items.
"Brand new"
As mentioned above, "new" refers to a watch that has all of the protective stickers from the manufacturer attached, has unadjusted links, and has never been worn.
If you purchase from a domestic authorized store, all protective stickers are generally removed and the links are adjusted to fit your wrist, so it is almost always treated as an "unused item." On the other hand, if you purchase from a parallel store , the stickers may not be removed and the links may not be adjusted, as they are procured without going through the domestic authorized stores of each brand. Only in this case can it be treated as a "new item."
And, although it goes without saying, the accessories must be "complete." If any of the accessories, such as the warranty card and box, are missing, such as booklets, tags, or other accessories, the item will not be considered "new," so be careful.
"Unused item"
An "unused item" refers to an item that has only been tried on when purchased in the store and has never been used since, and the sticker has been removed (it doesn't matter whether the links have been adjusted or not).
When purchasing from a domestic authorized store, you will almost always try on the watch, so that is not an issue, and the condition is that the watch has not been used since purchase. One thing to note here is that even if the watch has not been worn on the wrist, it may not be treated as an "unused item." For example, it is common for a watch to get scratches or scuffs just by taking it out of the box. If a watch has many such scuffs or scratches during the appraisal, it will not be treated as an "unused item" and will be evaluated as a "used item," so care must be taken when purchasing and storing the watch.
There are certain conditions that must be met for an item to be considered "new" or "unused," and if those conditions are not met, the item becomes a "used item," so please be careful when handling it.
Difference in purchase price between "new" and "unused" items
In the past, there was a big difference between "new" and "unused" items, but recently, there are fewer "new" items to begin with, so the difference is not so big. Depending on the model, the difference is about 50,000 to 100,000 yen, and since we rarely receive inquiries about "new" items or have the opportunity to actually purchase them, we only display the prices of "unused" and "used" items on the purchase list.
Should I buy a new or unused item?
If you plan on using it, there is absolutely no problem in purchasing "unused" items. Once worn, everything becomes "used" so we recommend "unused" items with as low a price as possible. On the other hand, if you plan on storing it for a long time without using it and want to find value in it as "dead stock", you should buy "new" items.
summary
What did you think.
Recently, there are very few "new" watches, and most of the watches you own are "unused." This is related to the manufacturers' measures to prevent resale, and the number of watches in the same condition as when they were shipped will continue to decrease in the future.
Also, the definition of "new" and "unused" may differ depending on the store, so if you are unsure about the purchase, we recommend that you check in advance. This time, we will only use our store's definition, so we appreciate your understanding.
Once again , I hope that by reading this column, even one more person will become interested in luxury watches!
see you!