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clockoclock
·A few points to help out the OP
- Many watch nerds have a bias against quartz movements, and you're likely to find quite a few folks on this forum that don't think much of them. But that's just their opinion. I, for example, think quartz movements are great. (To be fair, I think all kinds of watches are cool, from Apple Watches - I own three - to pocket watches, which I also own and occasionally "wear.") They're considerably more accurate than mechanical, much less fussy to wear (no need to wind or worry about power reserve), and, as OP noted, significantly less expensive to purchase and to maintain.
- $2000 is pretty much spot on for that watch; it's not overpriced. A quick search of eBay shows that the average selling price of the last ten 39mm (like the watch in question) quartz Aqua Terras sold on that platform was $1956. Note, though, that the lowest sold price among those ten was $1598, so it is possible to find one for quite a bit less. Note 2, though, that the lower prices are often from Japanese sellers, so US purchasers would likely pay additional tariffs.
- Chrono24 does have some buyer protection if the seller agrees to use the escrow service. That's optional, though, and from reports that I've seen, is pretty limited. It will protect you if the watch is never delivered, but not much else. Having said that, I've purchased several watches from private sellers on Chrono24 and have had absolutely no problems. In fact, the only watch purchase I've made that was the least bit problematic was from a private seller on this forum, notwithstanding that many members will tell you it's the safest option. In my opinion the safest place to purchase, honestly, is probably eBay. That may sound strange, but eBay is very protective of buyers and will almost always side with the buyer in the case of any dispute. Of course, regardless of the platform, if you purchase with a credit card in the US, you also have the option of disputing any charges with your card issuer.
- If the first generation Aqua Terra is the watch of choice, it will probably be difficult to find one in truly brand new condition; that's a ~15 year old watch. But honestly, worrying about that is probably a fool's errand anyway. Even were you to find such a watch, you're presumably going to wear it, and that will inevitably lead to scratches and dings. Acquiring a watch with a few existing signs of wear can even be liberating since there's no need to worry about marring its pristine condition.
eBay is always grossly overpriced since the fees are disturbingly high. Do not compare! Check Chrono24 instead but deduct 25-35% of the price and you’re much closer to the real value and truth.
Chrono24 doesn’t give a choice between escrow or not. It is escrow, however for sellers in some countries it’s not possible.
The OP is discussing about buying a too expensive quartz Omega and have it refurbished by Omega. No. Don’t. There’s no point in that. It’s a waste of time and money. Stop what you’re doing.
