Buying IWC3706 without any known history?

Dear IWC enthusiasts,

My name is Marcus and I am completely new here. I am hoping to get some
guidance from you experienced IWC owners/enthusiasts. I am considering to buy
a pre-owned IW3706 on the original steel bracelet. There is no documentation
coming with the watch regarding past service, year of production etc.

1. What should I think about just from inspecting the watch (as the seller
does not have any detailed information on its history)? Can I tell from what
year it was produced? It has the SWISS MADE (not T swiss made T) at 6, and the
probus scafusia logo on the crown (not the fish). The bracelet has 3 bigger
rows and 2 smaller. Is this particular model "good" in your opinion? How can I
tell?

2. Do I have to send it for service right after the purchase (assuming it was
never serviced), even though it appears fully functional?

I appreciate any help! :-) Thanks.

Marcus

The quickest way to check is to take it into a 3rd party watch dealer who can
(for a small fee) and knows how to inspect IWC watches, to open the back and
check the movement.

You would need to tell the seller to meet you there and ONLY when it is
confirmed by the watch dealer that it is indeed authentic, then give the money
to them

If you take it to IWC to inspect, they need 4 weeks and will cost a lot lot
more.

As this watch has no documentation, box, history and the seller is cannot be
called "trustworthy" that is your only choice.

DO NOT buy it and THEN take it to the watch dealer for authentication.

Thanks for your reply!

Actually, I don't doubt the authenticy of the watch. The seller has sold over
30 watches on a highly respected Swedish watch forum, with very good remarks.
Unfortunately, we don't live in the same country so I cannot see it in real
life before buying it. But I totally agree with you; your suggestion is the
optimal way of doing it.

I am just a bit concerned about buying a 15 year old watch without knowing if
it has to be serviced immediately. Well, we will see how it goes. Thanks.

If he is respected dealer and you believe authenticity is not an issue, you
ask him to go 50/50 with IWC's service price.

General servicing costs 580 Euros.

So you ask him to deduct 290 euros from total cost to support this service.

Most sellers will find this more than reasonable an offer.

Great suggestion. Will try with that. Thanks.

Forgot to add questiosn to ask the owner. Some you already know/asked but just
in case FYI:

1. How old is the watch? *Age for me of watch doesn't matter as long as it
has been serviced properly)

2. Are all parts of the watch original? (ie. has anything been replaced
before?) Original parts maintain value of watch.

3. Has the watch ever been polished before? (Polishes remove metals from the
watch making it more fragile. Never been polished watches retain better value)

4. Last service history? (Just fyi)

5. Box and papers and warranty card all included? (Just fyi) If a watch is
being sold without any box or paperwork, I usually take off 10-15% off the
value. <-- now u know how important box/paperwork are for future resale
value. (Vintage watches are an exception to this rule.)

6. Request high-resolution photos of dial, case, crown, back and INSIDE
movement <-- ask him to get a watch maker to open the back and take several
hi-res shots, this u can use to send
for authentication.

7. Look out for scratches and dents on the watch. Anything under 90% new for
me is a no no. (Vintage watches are an exception. A watch to be considered
vintage watch is usually 30 years and older.

In a perfect world, your questions will be met with sincere, knowledgeable
answers. However, in many situations the watch offered for sale was not the
property of the seller during the watch's entire existence. For this reason, I
consider the purchase of used watches bearing in mind it will need service.
The best I can usually hope for is, first of all, that the seller is
trustworthy (from feedback, experience, reputation in the community, etc.).
Then I examine photos as critically as my computer screen will allow. Look for
clues like damage to the case, especially the back of the case. Clearly avoid
watches which appear as if some amateur attempted to unscrew the back of the
case with a pair of scissors, or a hammer and a punch!

If the watch appears in fine condition, and the seller is reputable, I will
assume the movement is original, intact, and approximately the same condition
as the case. It can be a risky assumption, but as I say, I only purchase the
watch with the understanding the movement will need service. If the price is
agreeable considering the need for service, I will likely buy the watch. If
the price would be more agreeable with a discount to allow for part or all of
the cost of a service, even better. But sellers often price their watch "as
is" with the burden of service (if needed) left to the buyer.

As it relates to the particular watch you are considering for purchase, I
would budget for service just based on the age of the watch. Fortunately, the
ETA Valjoux 7750 movement inside this watch has a sterling reputation for
durability, and parts (if needed) are available and typically less expensive
than most "in-house" movements. In the U.S.A., IWC's price list for service on
the current version of the watch (featuring the same ETA Valjoux 7750-base
movement) is $655 US, which seems very reasonable to me. Independent
watchmakers will likely charge about the same.

I think the price the seller is asking seems fair for the watch (and
bracelet!) if all appears in fine condition. Perhaps you could ask the seller
if he could adjust the price down to accommodate a service for your own peace
of mind. The seller may or may not agree, but you should have decided at this
point in the negotiation whether or not you are willing to purchase the watch
at the asking price.

Good luck, and please let us know how it goes (and if you get it, share some
photos!).

Thank you very much for the inputs. I highly appreciate it. I hereby share a
couple of photos of the actual watch. Thoughts?

Hard to tell from photos, but it looks like the bezel has several nicks at
5-6, and it looks dented at 9 (like it took a big hit to the case and the
bezel). Could be the light and reflections? I am not (yet!) familiar with the
bracelet to know if you have enough links to fit your wrist.

If you like what you see, find out more about the nicks and dent, then ask for
an adjustment to help pay for service. Personally, if those nicks and dents
are truly there and not just a factor of photography, I would pass.

Yes, the dent and the nicks are there, unfortunately. However, for a very fair
price I think this could be accepted. The overall condition seems quite good
to me. Glad to hear your opinion. I will decide tomorrow.

Some scratches I can accept (not on crystal) but dents on a watch are a big no
no for me.

But at the end of the day it is up to you.

Good luck.

I would ask the seller why there's no box and papers. At least he could tell
you where and when he got or bought it.

So you have at least a part of its history.

Always keep in mind that the watch might be all orignal and in good shape for
a good price but it was stolen from somebody else. That would be an
explanation for the missing documentation.

Thanks to all of you. I decided to not buy it. Felt too insecure with the lack
of any sort of history, plus the scratches and dents. I will will try to find
a better version of it later on. :-)

Best regards

Marcus

Always "buy" the seller

cheers