Is it cheaper to buy a pre-owned watch in Switzerland?

Not automatically. Swiss prices include Swiss VAT, and once you add import duty and tax in your own country the gap often closes. The real advantages are supply and provenance rather than headline price.

Do I pay customs duty on a watch shipped from Switzerland?

If you are outside Switzerland, yes: import duty and VAT are charged by your own country on arrival and are the buyer's responsibility. They are not included in the price shown at checkout.

What return rights do I have when buying at distance in Switzerland?

None by statute. Swiss law gives no general cooling-off period for distance sales, so any return window is a voluntary promise by the dealer. Montreva's is 30 days from purchase with a full refund and return carriage paid.

Buying a pre-owned luxury watch in Switzerland

What to check before buying a pre-owned watch from a Swiss dealer: authentication, papers, VAT, import duty and delivery.

Switzerland is where most of these watches were made, and where a large share of the second-hand trade still clears. Buying from a Swiss dealer is straightforward, but the things worth checking are not always the things buyers ask about.

Check the dealer, not just the watch

An independent dealer is not an authorised dealer, and should not imply otherwise. What matters is whether they inspect what they sell, state the condition honestly, and stand behind it in writing. Ask what the warranty covers and who pays return carriage if the watch is not as described.

Authentication is a process, not a certificate

A certificate means little on its own. Ask what was actually checked: case and dial against factory references, movement and serial numbers, components for unmarked aftermarket parts, timing on a timegrapher, and water resistance. At Montreva every watch goes through those four stages in Zürich before it is listed.

VAT, import duty and who pays

Swiss prices include Swiss VAT. If the watch leaves Switzerland, import duty and tax in the destination country are the buyer's responsibility, and they are charged on arrival, not at checkout. Budget for them before you compare a Swiss price with a domestic one.

Delivery and what happens if you change your mind

A watch should travel fully insured and tracked, with a signature on delivery. Swiss law provides no statutory cooling-off period for distance sales, so any return window is the dealer's own promise: check that it is written down. Montreva gives 30 days from purchase, a full refund, and pays return carriage.

Common questions

Is it cheaper to buy a pre-owned watch in Switzerland?: Not automatically. Swiss prices include Swiss VAT, and once you add import duty and tax in your own country the gap often closes. The real advantages are supply and provenance rather than headline price.
Do I pay customs duty on a watch shipped from Switzerland?: If you are outside Switzerland, yes: import duty and VAT are charged by your own country on arrival and are the buyer's responsibility. They are not included in the price shown at checkout.
What return rights do I have when buying at distance in Switzerland?: None by statute. Swiss law gives no general cooling-off period for distance sales, so any return window is a voluntary promise by the dealer. Montreva's is 30 days from purchase with a full refund and return carriage paid.