Buying a watch that someone else owned
A watch is one of the few things people buy for both use and keeping. In India, second hand watches range from everyday quartz pieces and office wear to automatic watches people collected, and smartwatches replaced after a year or two when a newer model came out. Buying used can get you a better-made watch for the same money as a basic new one, but only if you check the working parts and not just the dial.
Unlike clothes, a watch can look perfect in photos and still have a fault, a movement that loses time, a crown that slips, or a smartwatch battery that lasts half a day. The checks below are the ones that actually decide whether a used watch is worth your offer.
How it works on Trega for watches
Find the watch in the Trega app, read the full description, and make an offer at your price. Negotiation on Trega is through structured offers only, no chat, only offers, so your offer is the full conversation. If the seller accepts, you pay the accepted price through Cashfree in the app. After payment, handover is arranged between buyer and seller directly, which for a watch usually means meeting in person so you can see it on your wrist before you take it.
Every seller on Trega is KYC verified, and sellers are Aadhaar-verified before they can list. That does not check the watch for you, but it does mean the seller is a verified person. Zero fees for the first month also applies to watch sellers, so listed prices in that period are not loaded with extra charges.
What to check before you buy a watch
- Movement type: Note whether it is quartz (battery), manual, automatic or smart. Quartz is simple and cheap to maintain. Automatic and manual watches need servicing every few years and cost more to repair.
- Service and battery history: Look for when it was last serviced or when the battery was changed, and whether any parts were replaced. No history is common, but then your offer should reflect that a service may be due.
- Box and papers: Original box, bill and warranty card add confidence and value. Check that the model details on the papers match the watch in the photos.
- Water resistance, be cautious: Old seals lose strength. Do not assume a used watch marked water resistant can still be worn in water unless a recent service is clearly mentioned.
- For smartwatches: Check battery backup in hours, whether the charger is included, screen scratches, and most importantly whether the seller has unpaired it and removed their account and reset it. Without that step, you cannot use it.
- Case, glass and strap: Look for deep dents, cracked glass, loose links, and a worn-out leather strap. A strap can be changed cheaply; a damaged case cannot.
What should a second hand watch cost?
Prices vary by brand, movement, age, condition and whether the box and papers are included, so use these figures only as a rough guide. As a rough guide, basic quartz fashion watches in working order often sell for a few hundred to a couple of thousand rupees, mid-range automatics from known makers commonly run into several thousand rupees depending on service history, and used smartwatches vary a lot with battery health, a one-year-old piece with strong battery backup is worth much more than the same model that needs daily charging twice over. When in doubt, price in the cost of a service or a new battery before making your offer.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if a second hand watch is keeping time well?
Ask through the listing details, not by chat, there is no chat on Trega. A careful seller notes whether the watch is running, when the battery was last changed for a quartz watch, and whether the hands and date change correctly. Photos of the watch showing the current time, and a short note on accuracy, are more useful than a polished photo of the dial alone.
Does the box and papers matter for a used watch?
Yes, they help. The original box, bill and warranty card support the watch's history and usually support a better price. Their absence does not mean a watch is bad, but you should pay less for it and look more carefully at the case, dial and movement details in the photos.
Can I wear a used watch in water?
Be careful here. Water resistance falls with age as seals dry out, and most used watches have not been pressure tested recently. Unless the listing clearly states a recent service with seal change, treat a second hand watch as splash-proof at best and keep it away from swimming and showers.
What extra checks apply to a used smartwatch?
Check battery health, how long it lasts on one charge, and confirm the previous owner's account has been removed and the watch has been reset and unpaired. A smartwatch still linked to someone else's account cannot be set up by you. Also check the charger is included and the screen and crown or buttons work properly.
How do offers and payment work for watches on Trega?
You make an offer in the app and the seller can accept it or let it pass. There is no chat, only offers. If your offer is accepted, you pay the accepted price through Cashfree in the app, and then you and the seller arrange the handover between yourselves.
Have a watch sitting in a drawer?
List it on Trega with clear photos and an honest note on service history, receive offers, and hand it over in person once you are paid. Zero fees for the first month.
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