Buying a Watch
By placing an order for any goods offered for sale by Split-second Watches, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. All goods displayed on our website are offered subject to availability. Where a watch is no longer available, we will notify you as soon as reasonably practicable and refund any sums paid within five working days.
Certain watches may require servicing, testing, or other preparatory work prior to dispatch. Where this applies, we will notify you within three working days of your order being placed. Whilst we will use reasonable endeavours to complete such work promptly and to provide indicative timelines, you acknowledge that we may rely on third-party service providers and that completion may take up to two months. You are entitled to cancel your order and receive a full refund at any time prior to dispatch during this period.
Boxes, paperwork, and other accessories supplied with a watch may not be original to the watch unless expressly stated. Aftermarket or replacement packaging may differ from that shown in listing images, and no representation is made that any packaging supplied is original or contemporaneous with the watch.
All watches are offered for sale in the condition they are in at the time of sale. You acknowledge that many of the watches we sell are pre-owned, vintage, or neo-vintage, and accordingly may show signs of age, wear, restoration, or repair. Listing descriptions, condition reports, and images are provided for guidance only and may not identify every imperfection or fault. Images are for identification purposes and may not fully reflect the true condition of the watch.
You accept responsibility for carrying out your own inspection and assessment of any watch prior to and following purchase. Although all watches are inspected by our workshop team, any descriptions, opinions, or statements made by us or our staff—whether on the website, in writing, or verbally—are expressions of opinion only and shall not be treated as guarantees or representations of condition, originality, authenticity, or correctness of any watch or its component parts. You are expected to inspect the watch within the statutory return period to satisfy yourself as to its condition, size, description, and suitability. Orders are accepted on this basis. After the expiry of the return period, it shall be assumed that you have completed all necessary inspections and accepted the watch, and no return will be accepted except as required by law.
Our knowledge of each watch is necessarily dependent, in part, on information provided by previous owners, sellers, manufacturers, or publicly available sources. We do not carry out exhaustive forensic or historical due diligence on every watch. Any information provided to you, including descriptions, condition reports, or communications from our staff, reflects our opinion at the time and is dependent on the condition of the watch, the level of examination reasonably possible, and prevailing expert understanding. Such information does not constitute a representation of fact.
Payment
All prices quoted on our website are in Pounds Sterling. Payment must be made in Pounds Sterling, and any refunds issued will be made in Pounds Sterling. We do not accept liability for exchange rate fluctuations or any losses incurred as a result if you are based outside the United Kingdom.
Whilst we take reasonable care to ensure pricing accuracy, errors may occur. Where a pricing error is identified, we will contact you as soon as reasonably practicable. If the correct price is lower than the price paid, we will refund the difference and proceed with the order. If the correct price is higher, you will be given the option to pay the balance or cancel the order. If we do not receive a response within three working days, the order will be treated as cancelled and a full refund issued.
Where we reasonably suspect fraudulent payment activity, we reserve the right to withhold dispatch and suspend any refund pending authorisation or investigation by our payment provider or bank.
Shipping and Delivery
Goods are dispatched using a courier of our choosing, typically Royal Mail Special Delivery or DHL Express. We shall not be liable for delays caused by events outside our reasonable control or by your failure to provide accurate delivery information.
Delivery requires a signature by an adult aged eighteen years or over at the delivery address. If delivery cannot be completed, the carrier may attempt redelivery or require collection from a local depot upon presentation of suitable identification. Any parcel that appears damaged or tampered with must not be signed for and delivery should be refused.
Goods will be delivered to the address specified in your order. Where payment is made by debit or credit card, delivery must ordinarily be made to the billing address of the cardholder, although we may, at our discretion, deliver to a work address where reasonable verification requirements are met.
Collection from our premises is available strictly by appointment only for security reasons.
Customs
If you are based outside the United Kingdom, you may be required to pay import duties, taxes, or other charges imposed by customs or local authorities in the destination country. You are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations. Any such charges are your responsibility, and we have no control over, nor responsibility for, their assessment or amount.
Warranty and Guarantee
Unless otherwise stated, all watches sold by Split Second Watches are supplied with a six-month mechanical warranty commencing from the date of delivery. This warranty applies to the internal mechanical movement of the watch only and covers mechanical defects that were present at the time of sale. The warranty applies to both mechanical and quartz watches where relevant, subject always to the terms, limitations, and exclusions set out below.
This warranty is provided in addition to, and does not affect, your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. In particular, you retain the right to reject faulty goods within 30 days of delivery and to seek repair, replacement, or refund thereafter in accordance with the Act.
For the purposes of this warranty, watches are categorised by age. A watch manufactured in 1990 or earlier is considered a Vintage Watch. A watch manufactured after 1990 is considered a Neo-Vintage or Modern Watch. The stated year of manufacture may be derived from manufacturer documentation, serial number data, or informed estimation where definitive records are unavailable. You are responsible for clarifying any uncertainty regarding the stated year prior to purchase, and no refund will be due solely on the basis of misunderstanding the stated year.
Subject to the exclusions below, the warranty covers complete mechanical failure where the movement ceases to function entirely, deterioration of mechanical performance beyond the acceptable tolerance limits defined by this policy, and, in the case of quartz watches, battery failure where the battery has fully depleted during the warranty period. All other issues fall outside the scope of the warranty. Any remedy provided under the warranty, whether repair, replacement, or refund, shall be at our sole discretion, and time shall not be of the essence for completion of any repair work.
Due to differences in age, originality, and intended use, acceptable performance tolerances vary between Vintage Watches and Neo-Vintage or Modern Watches.
Neo-Vintage and Modern Watches (>1990) are expected to maintain timekeeping accuracy within:
- +/- 60 seconds per day
- Amplitude >180°
- Minimum power reserve of 24 hours.
Vintage Watches (<1990) are expected to maintain timekeeping accuracy within:
- +/- 120 seconds per day
- Amplitude >180°
- Minimum power reserve of 18 hours.
Performance that remains within these tolerance limits does not constitute a defect and is not covered by the warranty.
The warranty does not cover external or cosmetic components, including but not limited to the case, bezel, dial, hands, bracelet, strap, clasp, crown, pushers, crystal, glass, or plexiglass. It also excludes normal wear and tear, cosmetic aging, patina, scratches, or marks consistent with the age and use of the watch. Accidental damage, impact damage, dropping, mishandling, negligence, or operation outside manufacturer or seller guidance are excluded. Water damage of any kind is excluded unless the watch was expressly sold as waterproof and accompanied by a recent pressure-test certificate issued by us. Water resistance is never guaranteed on vintage watches unless explicitly stated. The warranty further excludes any characteristics, defects, or limitations clearly described in the product listing or visible in the product photographs.
This warranty shall be rendered void if the watch case is opened, serviced, adjusted, repaired, or tested by you or any third party without our prior written consent, if parts or components are replaced, removed, or modified, if the watch shows evidence of misuse or negligence, or if the watch is lost or stolen.
To make a warranty claim, you must contact us prior to returning the watch by emailing sales@splitsecondwatches.com. All warranty claims are subject to inspection. We reserve the right to determine whether a claim qualifies under the warranty and, where necessary, to instruct an independent watchmaker of our choosing to assess the watch. Any findings from such an assessment shall be binding between the parties.
For valid warranty claims within the United Kingdom, we will cover the cost of return shipping. For invalid claims, we reserve the right to charge return postage and inspection costs. International customers are responsible for all shipping costs, customs duties, taxes, and associated fees, and we may retain the watch until such charges are paid in full. Risk in the watch passes to you upon delivery or collection.
This warranty is personal to the original purchaser and is non-transferable. Where a watch remains covered by a valid manufacturer’s warranty, we reserve the right to process any claim through the manufacturer in the first instance. You are responsible for notifying us promptly of any changes to your contact details to ensure effective communication regarding warranty matters.
Returns, Cancellations and Refunds
Under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, you have the right to cancel your order within fourteen days of receiving the Goods, without giving any reason. To exercise this right, you must notify us of your decision to cancel by email to sales@splitsecondwatches.com. The cancellation period expires fourteen days after the day on which you, or a third party nominated by you, receive the Goods.
Where an order is cancelled, you must return the Goods to us without undue delay and no later than fourteen days after the date on which you notified us of your cancellation. Returns received outside this period may be refused.
You are entitled to handle the Goods only to the extent necessary to establish their nature, characteristics, and functioning, as would be permitted in a retail environment. You must take reasonable care of the Goods while they are in your possession. We reserve the right to make a deduction from any refund where the value of the watch has been diminished as a result of unnecessary handling, including but not limited to visible scratches, marks, dents, wear, bracelet resizing, strap adjustment, removal of protective films or tamper-proof stickers, or damage to or loss of accessories, boxes, papers, manuals, or spare links. Where original paperwork or accessories are missing or damaged, we may make a reasonable deduction of up to twenty-five per cent of the purchase price to reflect the reduction in resale value.
The right to cancel does not apply to personalised, bespoke, or specially sourced watches, nor to watches that have been modified or altered at your request, including resizing, prior to dispatch, unless the Goods are faulty or misdescribed.
All returned Goods are subject to inspection upon receipt. If the Goods are returned in a condition that does not comply with these terms, we reserve the right to refuse the return, apply a reasonable deduction to the refund, or charge for any work required to restore the watch to its original condition.
Where a return is made due to a change of mind, you are responsible for the cost, insurance, and safe return of the Goods. We strongly recommend using a tracked and fully insured delivery service. The Goods remain your responsibility until received by us, and we are not liable for items lost or damaged in transit.
Where Goods are faulty or significantly not as described, and this is confirmed upon inspection, we will provide a prepaid return label or reimburse reasonable return postage costs. Faulty Goods must be returned with all original contents, including box, paperwork, manuals, and accessories where supplied.
Provided the return complies with these terms, refunds will be processed within fourteen days of our receipt of the returned Goods. Refunds will be made using the same payment method used for the original transaction unless otherwise agreed, and will include the standard delivery cost paid at the time of purchase where applicable. Any deductions applied will be explained in writing.
If you are based outside the United Kingdom, you are responsible for any customs duties, taxes, or fees applied by customs or other authorities. Returned watches must be correctly declared, for example as a “return for refund” or “return for repair” where applicable. We are not responsible for delays, charges, or losses arising from incorrect or incomplete customs declarations, and any costs incurred may be deducted from your refund.
If a watch is faulty at the point of delivery, you may be entitled to a refund, repair, or replacement in accordance with your statutory rights and our warranty terms. You must notify us of any fault as soon as reasonably possible after delivery.
We reserve the right to cancel an order prior to dispatch in circumstances including, but not limited to, stock unavailability, pricing errors, events outside our reasonable control, or reasonable suspicion of fraudulent activity. Where an order is cancelled by us after payment has been made, any sums paid will be refunded in full within seven working days.
Delivery is deemed complete when the Goods are delivered to the address provided in your order or collected by you or your nominated courier. From that point, the Goods are at your risk.
Selling Your Watch
Any valuation provided by us is given on a subject to contract basis and is non-binding. We reserve the right to amend or withdraw a valuation at any time prior to completion of a sale, without liability.
Upon receipt of your watch, purchase is subject to due diligence checks, including searches conducted through The Watch Register, as well as physical inspection. Where a watch is identified as lost or stolen, we are legally obliged to secure the item and notify the relevant authorities. In such circumstances, no payment will be made and you will be required to liaise directly with The Watch Register. Once a clear check is received, inspection will be completed and a final valuation confirmed.
A revised valuation may be offered where the watch does not correspond with the information you provided, where its condition materially affects its value, where relevant information was not disclosed, or for any other legitimate reason affecting valuation.
Where a transaction involves a part-exchange, the sale of your watch to us and the purchase of a watch from us are treated as separate contracts, each governed by their respective terms.
Payment to Sellers
All valuations and payments are made in Pounds Sterling and are net of VAT under the VAT Margin Scheme where applicable. Payment will be made to the bank account nominated by you, and you are solely responsible for ensuring the accuracy of your bank details. Payments are ordinarily made by BACS transfer and may take up to seven working days to clear once due.
We reserve the right to deduct from any payment any outstanding sums owed to us, including agreed servicing costs. Payment to third parties is generally not permitted. International sellers may be subject to additional bank charges.
Where a watch is discovered to be counterfeit, stolen, damaged, or not legally owned by you, or where any undertaking given by you is breached, we may rescind the contract. If payment has already been made, you must refund the full amount within seven days of notification.
Delivery to Us
You may arrange shipment of your watch to us at your own cost and risk, in which case responsibility remains with you until receipt is confirmed by us in writing. Alternatively, UK sellers may be eligible for free courier collection, insured from the point of handover.
You must ensure that the watch is securely packaged to withstand normal transit. Where issues affecting value are identified on receipt, we may offer a revised valuation. If declined, the watch will be returned at our cost only where such issues could not reasonably have been identified by you. Where we determine that misdescription or negligence occurred, you will be responsible for return costs.
Your Undertakings and Remedies
You warrant that all information provided is accurate and complete; that you have full legal title to the watch free from any claims; that the watch is not lost, stolen, financed, altered, or counterfeit; and that all serial numbers and documentation are genuine. Any breach of these undertakings entitles us to reject the watch, rescind the contract, recover costs, or claim damages.
We retain a lien over any items in our possession to secure payment of all sums owed to us.
Loss, Liability, and Force Majeure
If a watch is lost or damaged while in our possession, compensation will be limited to the lower of the most recent valuation or trade price, less applicable costs. Payment will be made upon settlement by our insurers.
Our total liability shall not exceed the price paid for the relevant goods, save where liability cannot lawfully be excluded, including for fraud, death or personal injury, or statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
We shall not be liable for failure or delay caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including acts of God, industrial disputes, system failures, or courier disruption.