Careful - Don't Strip That Watch Case Back!

Many of our pawnbroker accounts have been leery of opening high end watches coming across the counter for loan or sale. Inspecting the inside of a watch is an absolute necessity when verifying authenticity. It's a necessary evil and damage of the customer's product can easily be avoided with the right policy.

First, verify that there are no external red flags that indicate a fraud i.e. bad printing on the dial, filed edges on the bracelet clasp, poor case back stamping etc. Things look good, then approach the deal within the following guidelines:


A) Establish and agree on a price for loan or purchase with the client.

B) Once the terms of the deal are confirmed, then and only then agree to opening the watch case.

C) Indicate that you will not be liable for the re-sealing or waterproofing of the item.


This last element of your policy is critical as most watches are not damaged on the opening of the timepiece. Rather, the damage occurs when an untrained evaluator does not gently line up the case threads of the case back with the case itself, and cranks it home....never to be opened in one piece ever again! Many Rolex watches have gone to the parts graveyard for such an event and its cost the store owner thousands. Don't be that guy!

Case opening is a simple process:

1) Purchase a good case opener from Casker.com. Spend the money for a nice Bergeon with a variety of opener rings....it will pay for itself over and over.

2) Run a line with a sharpie from the case back across to the case. This is your reference point when closing.

3) With the case opener evenly leveled with the case back threads of the watch, firmly apply downward pressure and turn counter clockwise.

4) After internal verification of the watch, make sure the case gasket is in place and with two fingers, gently line up the case & case back threads. Close until finger tight. At this point, you pass the liability for water resistance testing to the client if they return to claim the item (as agreed) and the case is undamaged. All pawnbrokers take a sigh of relief!

5) Now, for whatever reason, if you choose to close that case back tightly with the case tool (that was finger tightened), you need to reference that Sharpie line you marked prior to opening. Tighten the case back evenly until those guidelines match up.

These are processes that will make do when you have:

No experience / No watchmaker / No manager on the floor / No pressure tester

You can make the deal, avoid liabilities while verifying the watch, and pass the end responsibility on to a list of local watchmakers assuming your client returns to claim the product and needs it sealed. This process (not allowing your staff to tighly close product) will protect you from damaging those expensive pieces.