Question 1

How do I sell my luxury watch in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Submit your watch once on The Watch Platform. Our vetted panel of UK watch dealers review your submission privately and return sealed bids within 48 hours. You choose the offer you like, or walk away, no obligation.

Question 2

Are the watch dealers verified and UK based?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every dealer on our panel is an established, vetted UK business. We do not allow anonymous private buyers.

Question 3

What brands of luxury watch can I sell?

Accepted Answer

We accept all major Swiss luxury brands including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Omega, Cartier, Vacheron Constantin, Richard Mille, A. Lange & Söhne and more.

Question 4

How much does it cost to sell my watch?

Accepted Answer

Submitting your watch and seeing bid amounts is free. To reveal dealer identities and contact details, you pay a one-off unlock fee of 1.5% of the average bid on your submission, with a minimum of £25 and a maximum of £200 (each plus VAT).

Question 5

What exactly is the 1.5% fee for?

Accepted Answer

The 1.5% fee is a one-time unlock charge. It lets you see every dealer's full identity, company details, rating and exact bid on your watch. You only pay it once you are ready to review your offers. Submitting your watch and seeing how many bids you have received is completely free.

Question 6

Are there minimum or maximum fees?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The unlock fee is always between £25 and £200, plus VAT. So even if 1.5% of your average bid works out to less than £25, you pay £25. And if it works out to more than £200, you pay £200. Most watches fall comfortably within that range.

Question 7

Is VAT included in the 1.5%?

Accepted Answer

No. VAT is charged on top of the unlock fee at the standard UK rate of 20%. The pricing calculator shows the fee, the VAT and the total so you know exactly what you will pay before checkout.

Question 8

What if I do not accept any bid?

Accepted Answer

You can walk away at any time with zero obligation. The unlock fee is only for revealing the bids. If none of the offers suit you, simply decline them. Your watch stays with you and your listing is archived. There are no further charges.

Question 9

When do I actually pay?

Accepted Answer

Only when you choose to unlock your bids. You submit your watch for free, receive bids for free, and only pay the unlock fee at the moment you decide you want to see who has bid and what they have offered.

Question 10

How do I pay?

Accepted Answer

Our secure checkout accepts all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), Apple Pay, Google Pay and Link by Stripe. You will be taken to a safe, encrypted payment page.

Question 11

Are there any exceptions or hidden charges?

Accepted Answer

No. There is no commission on the sale, no listing fee, no photography fee, no insurance fee and no payment-processing fee. The only charge is the single unlock fee of 1.5% (min £25, max £200) plus VAT. If you do not unlock, you pay nothing.

Question 12

Do I have to accept a bid after I unlock?

Accepted Answer

No. Unlocking just reveals each dealer's identity, rating and full offer. You're under no obligation to accept any bid, ever. If none of the offers work for you, simply walk away - there's nothing more to pay.

Question 13

Is the unlock fee refundable?

Accepted Answer

The unlock fee is non-refundable once the bidders have been revealed, because the information can't be 'un-seen'. If payment fails or no bids were placed on your submission, you won't be charged.

Question 14

How long do I have to accept a bid?

Accepted Answer

Bids remain valid for 7 days from the moment they're placed. We'll remind you before any offer is about to expire so you don't miss out.

Question 15

What happens straight after I accept a bid?

Accepted Answer

The winning dealer is notified immediately - by email and via an in-app alert - with your contact details. They'll reach out to arrange courier collection (fully insured) or an in-person handover, and to confirm payment by bank transfer on receipt.

Question 16

What about the other dealers who didn't win?

Accepted Answer

Losing dealers are automatically notified that the submission has closed. Their offers are withdrawn and your contact details are never shared with them.

Question 17

When do I rate the dealer?

Accepted Answer

Once the watch has been handed over and you've received payment, head back to 'My submissions' and tap 'Mark sold & review'. Your 1-5 star rating is published on the dealer's profile and helps future sellers choose with confidence.

Question 18

How much does it cost to be a dealer on the platform?

Accepted Answer

Nothing. Dealers pay no subscription, no listing fees, no commission, and no payment on winning a bid. The seller covers the small unlock fee and you keep 100% of your margin.

Question 19

How do I join the dealer panel?

Accepted Answer

Apply via the dealer signup form. We verify your trading history and references. Most applications are reviewed and approved within 2-3 working days.

Question 20

How does sealed bidding work?

Accepted Answer

You submit your best offer privately. No other dealer can see your bid, and you can't see theirs. This protects margins and eliminates race-to-the-bottom pricing.

Question 21

When does the seller see my bid?

Accepted Answer

Bid amounts are visible to the seller for free, but your identity, company details and rating stay hidden until the seller pays the one-off unlock fee to reveal all offers.

Question 22

What happens if my bid is accepted?

Accepted Answer

You and the seller are introduced by email immediately, with full contact details. You arrange collection, payment and paperwork directly. We step back and let you handle the relationship.

Question 23

What happens if my bid loses?

Accepted Answer

You're notified automatically. Your bid is archived and the seller's details are never shared with you.

Question 24

How long is a bidding window?

Accepted Answer

Sellers choose a window of 3, 7 or 14 days. You can place or adjust your bid at any point until the window closes.

Question 25

How are seller ratings used?

Accepted Answer

After each completed deal the seller rates you 1-5 stars. Strong ratings push you higher in future bid summaries and help win you more business over time.

Question 26

Are sellers verified?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We collect photos, condition notes, box and papers status, and provenance up front so you spend time pricing, not chasing information.

Question 27

Can I bid on every submission?

Accepted Answer

Yes - browse all submissions on your dashboard and filter by brand, model, price bracket or condition. Bid only on the pieces that suit your stock.

Your questions, answered.

Selling your watch

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