01 · Authenticity Promise

Authenticity, condition, and disclosure.

Effective 2026-04-28 · The Watch Alley PH

Why this page exists

Watch Alley sells pre-owned and brand-new watches in the Philippines. The pre-owned market in Manila is full of grey-area listings, recased pieces, and quiet swaps. We do not want to be that. This page is the public version of how we evaluate, photograph, and describe every piece we list.

If we are wrong about a piece, we say so and we make it right. That is our standard.

Sourcing

Owner-direct first. Most of our pieces come straight from collectors we have built rapport with — not from anonymous resellers.
Provenance recorded. Whenever the original owner can confirm purchase location and approximate year, we keep that note in our internal record so we can answer buyer questions.
No anonymous box deals. We do not buy bulk lots from unverified hands.

Authentication checks

For every listing we run a baseline check before posting:

Reference number, caseback engraving, and serial cross-checked against published catalog data.
Movement spot-checked through the caseback or service report when possible.
Bracelet, clasp, end-link, and crown markings checked against the reference's known correct parts.
Dial, hands, and bezel checked against original specification photos.
Box and papers verified when included; absent when not — we never imply they exist if they don't.

We are not a brand-authorized service center. We do not pretend to be. For a formal authenticity certification, we will refer the buyer to the manufacturer's service center or an accredited watchmaker. We will support that process and pause the sale if a buyer wants to verify before payment.

Condition grading

Each listing carries a condition grade visible on the card and on the detail modal. Our grading is conservative on purpose — we want pleasant surprises, not disappointed buyers.

How we grade

9.5–10/10 — Like New. Minimal wear, sharp edges, clean dial, original parts, recent service or unworn.
8.5–9.4/10 — Excellent. Light wear under loupe, original parts, fully functional.
7.5–8.4/10 — Pre-owned, honest wear. Visible micro-marks, expected for the age. Original parts.
6.5–7.4/10 — Worn but cared for. Visible scratches or soft edges from polishing; functions correctly.
Below 6.5 — Project piece. Disclosed as a project, listed only for buyers who want one.

Disclosure

If a piece has been polished, we say so.
If parts have been replaced (crown, bracelet, hands), we say so and we say what was replaced.
If service history is unknown, we say "service history unknown" — not "fully serviced".
If the dial or bezel has been refinished, we say so.
If a piece is sold "as-is" (e.g. not running, missing pusher), the listing leads with that.

Photos

Listing photos are taken under daylight or controlled studio light, with no filter that hides condition. We take supplementary close-ups on request — case sides, lugs, caseback, crown, bracelet links, dial under loupe — before any payment.

If something is wrong

If a piece you bought from us turns out to be misrepresented, message us within 7 days of receipt. We will resolve it — refund, exchange, or repair at our cost — based on what is fair to both sides.

Our goal is to be the dealer collectors message back, not the one they warn each other about.

Questions

For specific authenticity questions on a listing, message us through Viber, IG, or email. We answer faster on Viber.