Buy Safely
Buy with confidence.
First Dials helps you find the deal, and this guide helps you close it safely.
Before you commit
Check the dealer's Trust Profile on First Dials: licence status, ABN and reviews.
In NSW, anyone running a business that buys or sells second-hand watches must hold a second-hand dealer licence. Look for the licence number on the dealer's website, invoice and shop signage.
Search the licence on the state register where one exists (Queensland, Victoria), or confirm it with NSW Fair Trading or Service NSW.
Check the ABN on ABN Lookup and confirm the business name matches.
Read reviews on Google and other independent platforms. Be wary of a new profile, a handful of reviews all posted at once, or a seller account that only recently started selling expensive items.
Benchmark the price against the Market Value. If it looks too good to be true, treat it as a red flag.
Verify the watch, not just the seller
Agree the reference and serial number in writing before you pay.
Ask for a live video call with the watch in hand, showing the case-back or serial area and the dial under good light.
Ask about box, papers, service history and warranty, and check that the paper serial matches the watch.
For high-value pieces, consider an independent watchmaker inspection or pressure test, and a PPSR search for any finance owing.
Meeting in person
Best: at the dealer's licensed premises. Next best: a bank branch or a police station foyer during business hours.
Go in daylight, bring someone with you, and tell a friend where you're going.
Inspect the watch fully before any money moves.
Don't flash the watch or cash on the way out, and don't head straight home with a high-value piece.
Never invite a stranger to your home or go to theirs.
Paying safely
| Risk | Method | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lower | Card or bank transfer to a licensed dealer, at their premises, into an account in the business's name, with a tax invoice | A credit card also gives you chargeback rights. |
| Lower | A reputable escrow service you navigate to yourself | You control which service holds the money. |
| Higher | Transferring money before you've seen the watch | If the watch doesn't exist or isn't as described, the money is hard to recover. |
| Higher | Paying an account name that doesn't match the business | A mismatch is a common sign of a scam or a diverted payment. |
| Avoid | Gift cards or crypto to a stranger | These payments are almost impossible to reverse. |
| Avoid | An “escrow” link the seller sends you | Fake escrow sites are a common scam. |
| Avoid | Fake PayID “upgrade” emails | Banks never ask buyers to pay extra fees to receive PayID money. |
Always get a receipt or tax invoice showing the business name, ABN, licence number, the watch reference and serial, the price and the date.
Red flags
- Pressure or urgency to pay now
- Requests to move the conversation to WhatsApp or Telegram
- Refusing a video call or an in-person viewing
- Stock photos or photos lifted from another listing
- Mismatched names or bank details
- Overpayment followed by a “refund the difference” request
- A watch that “ships separately” from its box and papers
If something goes wrong
Contact your bank immediately, then report it to Scamwatch and ReportCyber.
First Dials is a discovery platform and isn't a party to transactions. Trust indicators are informational, are checked on the date shown, and aren't a guarantee.