FAQs

If you are unable to find the answer to your enquiry below, please do not hesitate to contact us.

    Delivery & Returns

    When will my order be delivered?

    Please note our office is closed between December 23rd 2022 and January 9th 2023, any orders placed during this time will be sent out January 9th.

    We offer complimentary worldwide delivery on our watches. If ordering from overseas, delivery will depend on the value of the timepiece and the destination. All import taxes and duties are the responsibility of the buyer.

    If ordering from the UK before 1 PM, your watch will be sent the same working day. The courier will depend on the value of the watch, with all watches delivered the next working day.

    What happens after I purchase a watch?

    If you have purchased a watch from us, we will contact you once the order is complete to provide further information on the delivery process.

    Can I cancel my order?

    You can cancel your order without giving any reason, within 14 days from the day the watch has been delivered to you.

    How do I return my order?

    You can cancel your order without giving any reason, within 14 days from the day the watch has been delivered to you.

    Please contact us at enquiries@acollectedman.com to begin the returns process.

    Sell With Us

    Why do you charge 15%? Some online only auction platforms charge a lot less.

    We feel we add as much value as any leading auction houses (if not more) to the sale prospects of your watch. Over eight years, we’ve developed a market-leading position and have a significant reputation in the rare watch space, as well as an exceptional, global network of top collectors. Thanks to being an online-only platform, we’re able to offer a commission that is 10 to 15% less than our bricks-and-mortar competitors. As far as online-only platforms that charge less, we think it’s a question of curation and expertise. If you have something special, sell it through the experts.

    Aren’t seller’s commissions usually lower at auction?

    We feel that separating buyer and seller commissions, is entirely misleading. Ultimately as the seller, you’re losing at least 25 to 30% of the economic value of a sale, in favour of the auction house, just because that’s the way it’s always been. We have a flat 15% commission. As a seller you actually keep more of the total value of the sale and as a buyer, you just focus on the hammer price. Nice and easy.

    What kinds of watches do you accept?

    We accept a wide range of pieces, and while our particular focus is on independent watchmakers and high-end brands, above all we look for quality within a piece, and a sense of rich history. If you believe that a piece may be of interest to us, please get in touch, and we will be happy to assess it.

    How long would it take to sell my watch? 

    Depending on the watch, the time taken to sell a piece can rely on a wide range of variables. The average sale time for one of our watches is 29 days, and thanks to our established credibility within the community and our wide reach, the turnaround time for a watch can often be faster than expected.

    How do you value a watch? 

    We take a data-driven approach to our valuations, relying on a wide range of benchmarks in addition to current market dynamics to narrow down the appropriate price for a piece. Several other factors are also taken into consideration, such as historical sales prices, the age and condition of the piece.

    How do you decide between fixed price or auction?

    Since auctions are a medium that typically motivates bidders to determine the ultimate sales price, we often recommend that watches put up for auction have certain striking qualities that will help appeal to collectors and make the piece more desirable as a whole.

    What countries do you consider watches from? 

    We source and sell watches globally. Our operations team can organise for your watch to reach us safely through insured shipping from all corners of the world.

    How does consignment work?

    If you choose to consign your watch with us, we will essentially sell the watch on your behalf and take a 15% commission from the final sale price.

    How do I get paid? 

    Following the sale of a watch, we will then receive the funds from the buyer, and make a payment to you via wire transfer in a previously agreed upon currency.

    Is there a limit on the number of watches I can sell at one time? 

    There is no limit on the number of watches you can sell at one time.

    How do I send my watch to you once I accept your offer? 

    Once you have accepted our offer, our operations team will arrange for the watch to be sent to us via insured shipping.

    When does my offer expire? 

    Generally, our offers are valid for a 30-day interval. All offers take current market conditions into consideration, which can be more stable in some cases and move more rapidly under other circumstances.

    What happens if I don’t like your offer? 

    Our offers are always based on historical data as well as current market analysis. However, valuation is not purely an internal exercise, and we are happy to have open conversations with collectors so that we can come to a mutual understanding.

    Auctions

    When does the bidding close?

    A countdown clock is displayed on both the main auction page and bidding page. Individual lot pages will have their own countdown clocks, indicating the specific closing time for that lot.

    Is there a Buyer’s Premium?

    Our auctions do not have a buyer’s premium. The winning bid is the final price, so you can bid as much as you would like to purchase the watch for.

    How do I register to bid online?

    To bid in our auctions, you will first need to sign-in to your A Collected Man account. After you have completed a simple ID verification process, you will then be able to place your bids.

    Once you are registered, you will be able to bid in all future auctions without re-registering.

    How do I place bids?

    First, ensure that you are signed into your account and have completed the registration process. To place a bid, visit the individual page for the watch you intend to bid on, then click 'Bid Now' in order to place a bid. Bidding will increase by set increments and you will only be able to a place a bid of the next increment value.

    You will receive an email confirmation to confirm that you have the highest bid, as well as an email notification if you are subsequently outbid.

    What is the difference between a bid an an automatic bid?

    A regular bid will instantly place a bid for the next bidding increment value. So, if the current highest bid is £10,000 you will only be able to place a bid of £11,000. The set increments will increase in-line with the value of the highest bid.

    Meanwhile, by setting up an automatic bid, our system will automatically place new bids on your behalf each time you are outbid. Use the (+) and (-) buttons to increase your automatic bid. Our system will then keep on bidding for you, by the smallest possible increase each time, until your maximum price is reached.

    What happens if I am outbid?

    If you are outbid during the auction, you will receive an email notification. If you are on the product page, you will receive an alert.

    Can I cancel or reduce my bid if I change my mind?

    No. All bids placed in our auctions are final and cannot be removed or reduced once placed.

    What happens if I win the item I’m bidding on?

    If you have won the lot you were bidding on, you will receive an email confirmation immediately following the end of the auction. Our Accounts department will send you an invoice, in addition to payment and shipping instructions.

    How much does it cost to register?

    There is no cost to register for our auctions.

    Buying watches in the UK

    Please note that some watches may be subject to an additional VAT charge of 20% if sold within the United Kingdom, and this will be included in the lot description.

    Buying watches internationally

    Watches sold internationally will be subject to local import taxes and duties. Buyers should familiarise themselves with any charges or restriction relevant to their country before placing a bid.

    Warranty

    Do you offer warranty on the watches you sell?

    We stand by the quality of all of our pre-owned watches and mechanical objects. If something goes wrong, we’ll always strive to remedy the situation in a timely manner and to the best of our ability. The satisfaction and trust of our clients is of the highest importance, to everyone at A Collected Man.

    All of our pre-owned watches have undergone thorough, non-invasive mechanical inspections and have been serviced, if appropriate, to ensure that they meet our highest standards of timekeeping and functionality.

    Our pre-owned watches, unless stated otherwise, are covered by either a full or a limited twenty-four month warranty. This excludes any damage sustained due to improper use or accident. Due to their age, some pre-owned watches should not be subjected to the same conditions as when new.

    Is there a manufacturer’s servicing guarantee?

    Any of our pre-owned watches which have been serviced by their respective manufacturer, will carry the manufacturer’s servicing guarantee. This is separate and supersedes, the standard warranty offered by A Collected Man. Please see our Terms & Conditions for further information. You can write to us directly at enquiries@acollectedman.com, for further clarification.

    A Collected Man is also an authorised retailer for a number of watchmaking brands. These watches are covered by the warranty from the original manufacturer.

    Baltic for A Collected Man

    How can I be notified when the MR01 Blue Roulette is available? Is it possible to pre-order it?

    The watch will be available from 14:00 BST on Wednesday, 21st September, 2022. It is not possible to order it in advance.
    You can sign-up to our newsletter, if you would like to be notified as soon as the watch is released.

    Is the MR01 Blue Roulette by Baltic for A Collected Man available anywhere else? How can I buy it?

    The MR01 Blue Roulette is exclusively available through A Collected Man.
    Please note that the watch is not reserved in your bag, until the checkout process is completed.

    Will UK sales tax be applied? Can this be reimbursed if shipped internationally?

    Buyers from the UK will have 20% VAT added at the checkout.
    International purchases will be subject to local import duties and taxes. Please note that these charges are the responsibility of the buyer.

    What payment methods do you accept?

    At this time, we are only able to accept payment by Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards, thourgh the online checkout process.

    When will the watch be shipped? Can I collect the watch in person?

    All orders will be shipped at the beginning of October, and will require a shipping address. We offer fully insured, complimentary shipping worldwide. Please note that local import duties and customs charges are the responsibility of the buyer.

    Can I choose the individual case number of my watch?

    Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate requests for case numbers.

    Can I choose a different strap?

    The watch comes on a taupe Baltic strap. It is not possible to choose a different strap.

    However, other compatible straps are available through Baltic directly and you can see our collection of  20 x 16 mm straps, for additional options. 

    Can I return the watch?

    Yes you can cancel your order without giving any reason, within 14 days from the day the watch has been delivered to you. To find out more about the steps you need to take if you wish to return a watch to us, visit our FAQ page here.

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