Today’s busy world has left us with very little time to enjoy such pleasures as strolling around a shop just browsing at the numerous product choices that are put at our finger tips on a daily basis. When you find yourself in the position of wanting to buy yourself or a loved one a new watch, it seems that the time needed to shop wisely is just not there. This is where the option of shopping online has become so important to today’s society.
It is so nice to wander around a jewelry store taking in the beauty of some of the outstanding timepieces that are available to us all, but the practicalities of such a leisurely activity are just not there for the most part, so this makes it extremely difficult to make a choice based on the specific requirements that you may have.
What we have done here is give you a short list of the best online watch stores. These stores range from the top-of-the-pile superstores to family-owned budget sites that will cater to any shopper’s needs. The world of online shopping is only going to get bigger and better, so why not start the journey now on your search for the ultimate timepiece, the thoughtful gift, or just spoil yourself with a little self-indulgence that has been a long time coming.
World of Watches
This Brooklyn-based company has a simple outlook on what they have conceived as a business plan. Let’s eliminate the middle man so that the consumer can get the best possible product at the best possible price. Their team, which consists of passionate horologists, are also avid watch collectors themselves and understand what it is that the individual is looking for in a time-piece that suits their personalities.
As the name would suggest, World of Watches is exactly that. With a multitude of watches in their catalog, they can offer you a varied choice when the time comes for you to purchase that one very special piece of jewelry. The price range that World of Watches covers is anywhere from $100 to $13,000, so whatever your budget, they are bound to have the piece that you are looking for. Brand names like Invicta, Gucci, Breitling, Montblanc, and Swiss Legend, just to name a few, are always on hand for the discerning buyer, but if it is a daily run-around piece you want, then there are the budget brands on hand as well.
With well over 15,000 watches to choose from, and advertised “New Styles Added Daily/Weekly,” you are going to have a lot of fun just browsing through the catalog, looking for the ultimate timepiece. This is a great place to shop should you be looking for a gift for that special someone, or even for just spoiling yourself.
World of Watches has also thought about their clientele with a degree of care that they are extremely proud of. The offer of same-day-shipping is extremely attractive, as is their promise of guaranteed lower prices. There is a 30-day return policy with a guaranteed full refund, but should the watch be valued at over $4,000, there will be an 8% restocking charge unless you opt for an exchange product with the same or higher value. Refer to https://help.worldofwatches.com/articles/8252-satisfaction-guarantee for further information on their return policies.
World of Watches states that shipping times will vary from between 1 and 7 business days, but there have been cases where it has taken 7–10 business days for receipt of goods. The fees for shipping range from $5.99 for normal weekdays up to $49.99 should you require the piece on a Saturday. To their credit, World of Watches offers free economy shipping for orders over $100, and if you are anything like me, then spending more than $100 on a watch shouldn’t prove to be too difficult. Refer to their website for the full range of shipping options.
There are obviously several pros and cons for choosing World of Watches as your online watch shop, but in general, they have the best range of any online service, and the after-sales service is quite good, a hard thing to find these days. The return policy is a little steep in price, and the shipping can take a little longer than preferred, but all in all, you will find it hard to beat World of Watches when choosing your next timely investment.
The Watchery
The Watchery boasts in their advertising pitch that they can offer watches at a considerable discount to the manufactures suggested retail prices, and when you visit their site, this becomes quite obvious. But unlike some of their online competitors, you’re probably not going be able to find any timepieces under $100. As with all online retailers, they can keep the prices low because of their buying power and business model; they buy in large numbers, keep their mark-up low, and operate solely as online company to keep their overhead costs extremely low. They must be doing something right as they have been around since 1997 and have received online awards for their customer sales and service record.
When visiting The Watchery website, your first impression will be the professionalism of their presentation. They have an impressive range of watches available, with pricing reaching well into 5 figures. Their website is slick and extremely easy to navigate, which will make your online shopping experience a pleasurable one. Some of the very well-thought-out search options include case shape and type of internal movement that suits the individual’s preferences. If you are a regular to the site, just for the interest of browsing and seeing what is available, then you will be aware of the regular promotions sometimes offering wholesale prices.
The Watchery is exclusively dealing in top-end luxury watch brand names, so their selection is not as varied as some other online stores. Should you be budget-shopping, then this may not be the site that is preferable to your needs. Having pointed that out though, the Watchery will have the brand name pieces that you have probably always wanted, so if you are tempted to spend just a little extra than your budget would normally allow, take a look at the range that they have to offer.
The Watchery has a very strict 30-day return policy, so it is important to make the right selection before ordering your new watch. There is also the obligatory restocking fee for anything over $4,000, which, in their case, is 6%, a littler lower than some of their competitors. For further information regarding their return and exchange policies, head to https://thewatchery.helpsite.com/articles/16991-return-policy.
The brand selection on offer is extremely impressive. Such names as Audemars Piguet, Baume Et Mercier, Cartier, and Hublot, to name just a small selection, will already give you an inkling into what you should expect when visiting their online store. Their shipping times are quite reasonable; they state that you will receive your purchase within 1-7 business days, and in most cases, they have achieved this. There are other shipping options available to the customer who may want to speed up the process, and they do offer free shipping in certain circumstances.
The customer service representatives are quite good, though they are not available on a 24/7 schedule. Once you have made contact with them, you will be happily impressed with their helpful and pleasant demeanor and their knowledge and response times; it seems that no question is too difficult to answer. Even though The Watchery specializes in purely luxury brands, you should not bypass them when hunting for your next personal piece or that extra special gift for that extra special person in your life.
Authentic Watches
Los Angelis is home to many online shopping stores, and this is where Authentic Watches have their corporate headquarters. This family-owned business specializes in Swiss-made watches and offer what they describe as unbeatable prices. They started life as “McPherson Jewelers” in 1979 but soon realized that online retailing was the way of the future, so they set about expanding their business through the medium of the internet. As the name reflects, they only deal in authentic Swiss-made timepieces.
Tag Heuer, Breitling, Omega, Rolex, Cartier, Ulysse Nardin are all brands that you will find online at Authentic Watches. Of course, the names don’t stop there, as almost any Swiss-made timepiece product will be found on their site. Because of their penchant for selling Swiss only watches, their product range is not as large as some other online stores in the marketplace, though it does make things a lot easier if you know that it is a Swiss timepiece that you want. Remember, just because it is Swiss-made, it doesn’t mean that it is at the top-end of the price range.
The other extremely special feature that they offer on their website is the “rare and unique” search option that most other online retailers have seemed to overlook, so if it is an unusual piece or even a collector’s item you’re looking for, then Authentic Watches should be your first stop.
You will be extremely happy with the shipping policies that they offer to the customer. If your order is placed before 12pm (Pacific time), then you are guaranteed same-day-shipping, but don’t get too excited, as it may still take a day or two before your receive the purchased item depending on where it has to be shipped to. The news does get better, though; if you spend $500 or more, then the good people at Authentic Watches will ship it to you overnight, free of charge.
One thing to note is that the return policy does not have a restocking charge but is a little longwinded to actually use. There is the standard 30-day maximum, but there are some extra hurdles you have to jump through to process your claim. This involves filling out and returning a form known as a “Return Merchandise Authorization,” which can be found on the website. From there, it gets more complicated, so I would suggest visiting www.authenticwatches.com/authenticwatches-return-policy.html to understand the complexities of their policy.
Because they are a family business, you would expect a good customer service department, but sadly, they can only be reached via phone or email, and at very limited hours. It will probably take some time to get connected with a customer service representative, but once you have, they are helpful enough. There are a few downfalls with dealing with Authentic Watches, but if you want something a little different or hard to get, then they should probably be the first stop on your online journey.
Ashford
With a Fifth Avenue address in the Big Apple and a pedigree that dates back to 1997, Ashford is a very impressive company indeed. They are extremely proud of their customer service, stating that since their inception, they have serviced with satisfaction over 1,000,000 customers across the globe. Accredited by the Better Business Bureau and with the strictest privacy policies on their website, they are extremely confident that your online shopping experience with them will be an exceedingly pleasant one.
Ashford offers the shopper a good selection of watches, with nearly 3,000 choices to ponder over while visiting their website. Their range covers the price spectrum, so any budget will be catered to. They also offer a selection of pre-owned watches, something that not a lot of other sites like to do. These near-new and pre-loved pieces are certified in-house and come with a 1-year guarantee and warranty, giving the consumer the confidence needed when procuring a second-hand item.
As with most online retailers, you will receive the obligatory 30-day return option on all new watches, but only a 14-day return on any pre-owned pieces. Their one stipulation is that the watch must not have been worn to receive a full refund on your purchase. This makes things a little difficult for the consumer, but it also makes a hard case to prove for Ashford themselves, as policing such a policy would certainly be extremely difficult. The page www.ashford.com/us/info/returns.jsp will give you the full explanation of their policy.
For purchases within the United States, Ashford offers free shipping, ground only, and should get to you no later than 7-10 days after placing your order. Should you want to receive your order in a timelier manner, then there are options in place you to achieve this, at a price, of course. One of the things that set Ashford apart from some of their competitors is the ease of international customer service. If you are Stateside, then you can contact their service departments through email, web chat, or phone, but note that this is not a 24/7 service.
Ashford is certainly worth taking a look at when you are searching for your next watch, and their option of pre-owned pieces will give even the most budget-driven customer the option of owning a top-brand timepiece without the over-the-top price tag.
Overstock.com
When online shopping for a watch, there seem to be a plethora of products available, and Overstock.com will definitely not disappoint you. This impressive website has over 80 pages of products for you to browse through and includes your tradition style pieces as well as the latest in smartwatches. The job of sorting through this endless range of products has been made easier by the clever search and filtering options that the site has made available at the click of a cursor. What sets Overstock apart from their higher-end competitors is that they not only deal in most of the major brands, but they also have a range of pre-loved Rolex watches for sale at prices that may pleasantly surprise you.
They also have an interesting return policy in place. Should the item that you have purchased be inferior or faulty in any way, they will give you a full refund as long as it is returned within 30 days. If the item is returned after this period, they will not refund the full amount but will refund a partial amount based on the depreciation of the piece in that time period. Follow the prompts from here to find out more about their return options: www.overstock.com/myaccount?myacckey=order_info.
Being a US-based company, Overstock.com will ship your purchase for free within the states as long as it is over $45. You can expect delivery in 5-10 business days, as they tend to take 1–2 days to actually fill the order. They have an impressive customer service department that can be contacted 24/7 via online chat or email. If you are purchasing from outside the US, then the service is not quite up-to-scratch, so there could be the chance of a little frustration should you need to utilize their assistance.
When it is all said and done, Overstock.com may not be the biggest or the best, but they do offer a great range of products and iseasy to use when searching for the watch that best suits you. Their discounts are good, and the brand names available are quite impressive. Overstock.com is well worth a visit when you are on the hunt for a new watch.