Message us
Know who is buying
Check the legal entity, physical address, phone number and relevant dealer credentials. A polished social account is not the same as an accountable business. Call through a number published on the business’s own website if an enquiry begins through social media.
For private buyers, consider whether the extra price justifies managing identity, inspection, payment and personal-safety risk yourself.
Agree the handover before the watch moves
Document who is responsible for delivery, insurance, inspection and return if a transaction does not proceed. Do not improvise a high-value handover because a buyer is pressuring you to act quickly.
Lost Watches confirms the appropriate next step directly with each seller before the watch is sent or brought in. The online form is an enquiry, not an instruction to ship.
Confirm payment properly
A payment screenshot or pending transfer is not the same as cleared funds. Confirm the payer’s name, amount and agreed transaction reference, and check the receiving account directly. Be cautious if a buyer overpays, asks you to refund a third party or changes accounts at the last moment.
For a professional direct sale, the paperwork, verification and payment process should be explained before ownership transfers.
Warning signs
Step back if the other party refuses normal identity checks, rushes the transaction, proposes unusual payment arrangements or asks you to misstate the value of a shipment. A legitimate buyer should be able to explain the process clearly.
- Unsolicited links or login requests
- Pressure to meet at an unsafe location
- Courier instructions that change repeatedly
- Third-party or overpayment schemes
- Requests to conceal the item or transaction value
Guide content is general information. A direct-purchase quote is based on the details and photographs you provide. If a material difference is found, we contact you before any change is made.