Frequently Asked Questions

At Tidal Wave Watches, your trust means everything to us. We believe buying a watch online should be easy, transparent, and stress-free. That’s why we guarantee every watch we sell is 100% genuine and authentic, unless clearly noted otherwise (for example, an aftermarket strap or a custom diamond bezel).

Our goal is to be a trusted online destination for buying and selling both new and pre-owned watches. We stand firmly behind our authenticity guarantee and offer a full money-back refund on any watch that is found not to be completely authentic.

Please note that Tidal Wave Watches is not an authorized dealer for the brands we carry. Every watch we sell is carefully inspected by our in-house buyer and professionally serviced or restored as needed by our dedicated service center.

Brand Names / Trademarks: Tidal Wave Watches is an independent dealer and is not affiliated with Rolex USA or any other brand, nor are we an authorized reseller. Rolex and all other brand names are registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Every watch we sell typically ships within one (1) business day once your order is placed and payment has been received and verified. All U.S. orders are shipped via FedEx Two-Day shipping and are fully insured at no additional cost, unless otherwise discussed in advance.

We currently accept the following payment methods:
– Bank wire
– Zelle
– Cash (for in-person deals only)

If you’d prefer to pay by credit card or PayPal, you’re welcome to purchase through our eBay or Chrono24 store. Please note that prices on those platforms are higher to account for their processing fees.

We’re actively exploring credit card options for direct purchases, but haven’t yet found a solution that protects our business without passing significant costs on to our clients. The payment methods above allow us to keep our pricing as competitive as possible.

Yes, we do ship internationally to many countries. We use FedEx along with a third-party insurance provider, so if we’re able to ship fully insured to your country, we’re happy to do so. Please note that any VAT, duties, or import taxes are the responsibility of the buyer. Tidal Wave Watches is not responsible for any VAT or import fees that may be incurred. International shipments will also include an additional shipping fee, as international shipping costs more than domestic shipping.

Yes, we do accept trade-ins on most luxury watch brands. To get started, we’ll ask for photos of your watch and a few details about its condition, including whether it comes with the box, papers, or any accessories. From there, we’ll provide an estimated trade-in value.

If you decide to move forward, we’ll send you a fully insured shipping label so you can safely send your watch to us. Once received, your watch will be authenticated and inspected to confirm it’s functioning properly and matches the condition described. If a watch arrives in a condition different from what was represented, Tidal Wave Watches reserves the right to adjust the trade-in value.

Once everything is finalized, we’ll settle the remaining balance—whether that means you’re adding cash on top of your trade-in or we’re adding cash to yours.

Selling Your Watch

Selling your watch to Tidal Wave Watches is a great option if you have a piece you’re no longer wearing or simply need cash. We’ll make you a fair market offer based on current values and the condition of your watch.

Most watches we buy are considered “pre-loved” or pre-owned, which means we often need to service them, sometimes polish them, cover shipping costs, and still leave room for resale. Once we agree on a purchase price, we’ll send you a fully insured shipping label. After your watch arrives, it goes through our thorough authentication and inspection process to ensure everything matches what was described. If all checks out, payment is sent within 24–48 hours using your preferred payment method.

If any issues come up during inspection—such as authenticity concerns, mechanical problems, or condition that differs significantly from what was described—Tidal Wave Watches reserves the right to adjust the purchase offer.

Trading Your Watch

Trading is a great option if you want to use a watch you already own to partially or fully pay for another piece. We accept trade-ins on most luxury watch brands. To get started, we’ll ask for photos and details about the watch’s condition, along with whether it includes box, papers, or accessories. Based on that, we’ll provide an estimated trade-in value.

If you move forward, we’ll send a fully insured shipping label. Once the watch arrives, it will be authenticated and inspected to confirm it’s functioning properly and matches the condition described. If the watch is not as represented, Tidal Wave Watches reserves the right to adjust the trade-in value. Once finalized, we’ll settle any remaining balance—whether you’re adding cash or we’re adding cash to the trade.

Consignment

Consigning your watch typically yields the highest return, but payment isn’t issued until the watch sells. We’ll work to list and sell your watch for the best possible price and charge a small percentage of the final sale.

The process starts with you sending us photos and details of your watch. We’ll discuss and agree on a competitive listing price, then provide a fully insured FedEx shipping label along with a consignment agreement outlining the terms. Once received, we’ll take professional photos, list the watch, and actively market it. If an offer comes in below the listing price, we’ll contact you to approve or decline it.

Once your watch sells, you’ll receive your net payment after the consignment fee. For full details on our consignment fees, please see the next FAQ.

Consignment Fee Structure

  • Sale price under $2,500: $300 consignment fee

  • $2,500 – $5,000: $500 consignment fee

  • $5,000 – $15,000: 10% consignment fee

  • $15,000 – $20,000: 9% consignment fee

  • $20,000 – $25,000: 8% consignment fee

  • $25,000 – $30,000: 7% consignment fee

  • $30,000 – $40,000: 6% consignment fee

  • $40,000 – $60,000: 5% consignment fee

  • $60,000 – $100,000: 4% consignment fee

  • Over $100,000: 3% consignment fee

The consignment fee includes shipping, inspection, and authentication costs. It does not include any servicing or polishing that may be needed to sell the watch. If required, those costs would be deducted from the net sale proceeds after the consignment fee.

Example:
If a watch sells for $5,000:
$5,000 sale price
– $500 consignment fee
– $150 polishing fee
= $4,350 net to the watch owner

Important: We will never service or polish a watch without the consignor’s approval.

Scroll to Top