Five things you need to know before buying a vintage watch

In an age where a smartwatch can send a text, control your TV and book you in for spin class, Australia's old fashioned luxury watch market is surprisingly still going strong, if official reports are anything to go by - evident in the fact brands like Hublot, IWC, Piaget and Vacheron Constantin continue to open glitzy showrooms in a bid to capitalise on local demand In the style of As a watch seller himself, Hacko recommends being wary of any watch advertised as "Rolex style", "Italian made", "Aftermarket", "Non-genuine" or "Enhanced" and make it clear to the sales person that you are only interested in 100 per cent genuine watches.

"Only buy a watch if it has been recently serviced by an authorised service centre or a reputable watchmaker who guarantees his work and the watch's performance, in writing, for a full calendar year." Chris Essery, founder and brain behind watch forum Horology House says buyers best educate themselves if they're to get a sale they're going to be happy with and offers five guidelines to buy by.1 Understand the variables of vintage watches such as casings, finishes and aftermarket parts Much like cars, some watches are put back together using many different watches of the same or similar models.

Buying second-hand can be a great way to nab a bargain on hard to find models but when you're not buying direct from the brand you must realise that you are not afforded all the security you may be used to. . Source