The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi guys...only been here one day and learning alot, so very much appreciated. I wanted to get thoughts on buying via online with seller not having papers. Has anyone purchased w/o papers? Is there a true benefit of having papers? Other than having the piece of mind?

thanks
JD

I can only speak for me, but I would be hesitant of buying one with no box or papers. I know a lot of pawn shops sell this way, most likely due to how they buy the piece from the seller. If you ever have to sell, box and papers are almost a required item to complete a good transaction. The papers should have the matching documentation to show serial numbers, and if a COSC certified watch, the certificate showing COSC attestation. Most buyers will want all of that to have a complete kit.

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Breitling Old Navitimer II
Breitling Emergency
Breitling Superocean Steelfish

Quite a few topics on this and opinions are split. If the watch is still under warranty then the papers have a practical purpose but beyond that it is peace of mind. There are some models that are so well faked the matching papers are a must have but for most I view the absence of papers as a chance to get the watch at a lower price. It will affect reaale down the road if you plan to sell, but that's a wash with a lower purchase price.

Some people find the full set of box, papers, bezel protector, hang tag, etc as part of the experience, but I've never strapped any of those on my wrist

I'm with roff on this one. If the watch isn't under warranty anymore, I don't care about the boxes and papers because they just take up space and I never look at or use them. And also as stated, anytime I have sold a watch with no papers the lower sales price was a wash since I also paid less. One thing to keep in mind is that some people love the full set so it may limit the market as to who would buy it.

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 2

Well, if we set aside the main issue - that of proving the provenance of a watch, ie that is is not a fake - I think the main problem is that it says a lot about the previous owner. To me, buying an item like a watch for £big I think the owner really should keep the box and papers; it is sort of saying that they don't care less about this. With b & p it sort of shows the owner has been careful enough to keep this, so it is a sort of proof of sympathetic ownership. Also without papers you can't check the service history.

Although it is a different thing altogether, but a Ferrari for example without service history is worth thousands less than one with this.

Ultimately if you are going to go for one without b & p you really should be looking at a very good discount, at the very least.

All my opinion anyway - all mine have the original boxes and papers, the boxes are really too nice to dispose of anyway!

Depends on how old the watch is... I wouldn't expect a 15 yr old Breitling to still have the papers (my 15 yr old Cossie certainly didn't) but say a 2-5 yr old watch I would definitely expect the owner to have kept them.

Between 5 and say 15 yrs? Well like Roff said... use it to your advantage when it comes to price. Also mkae sure it is legit first

Papers docs and box are a must for me.

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Breitling Chronomat 44 Evolution C13356 Rose Gold/SS
Breitling Chronomat 44 B01 LE Black Pearl Rose Gold/SS
Breitling Chronomat 44 B01 White Pearl Rose Gold/SS
Rolex Daytona TT White Face

I'm told when buying pre-owned to buy the seller. I have only bought 1 pre-owned, but I would have a very difficult time buying the seller without the box and papers.

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Chronomat Vitesse
Navitimer
Montbrilliant Olympus
Crosswind

Paperwork and boxes doesn't matter at all if I like a piece and the price is right.

Agreed.

There are some sellers I'm more than happy buying from (either on ebay/forums/dealers) that I trust, have bought from before and I'd happily buy from again even if there are no papers. Particularly for anything older than a few years as the papers often go missing.

I'd prefer papers if I can get the watch I want with them, but it isn't a deal breaker.

Buying from an unknown seller? Then I'd be keener on the papers.

My opinion for modern pieces, dont.

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Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"