Bucherer Certified Pre-Owned
Sotheby’s has partnered with Bucherer to present a selection of certified pre-owned luxury watches, available for immediate purchase. Each watch is authenticated by Bucherer’s certified watch experts and backed by a two-year Bucherer warranty.
Founded in Switzerland in 1888, Bucherer is a world-renowned retailer of luxury watches and jewelry with more than 30 stores in Europe. Its extensive watchmaking expertise, along with long-established relationships with the world’s most acclaimed watch brands, explain why Bucherer is also one of the leading retailers for certified pre-owned watches from Cartier, Audemars Piguet and IWC Schaffhausen, among others.
Bucherer’s Certified Pre-Owned Process
Whether it’s a modern icon from 2017 or a collectible classic from the 1970s, pre-owned and vintage watches are in high demand. The Bucherer Certified Pre-Owned Shop at Sotheby’s offers an exclusive, curated and constantly updated certified pre-owned collection to explore. Each watch is authenticated by Bucherer watch experts, who are certified by the respective watch brands, and each watch is supplied with a two-year internationally valid warranty.
The Certification Process
- Full assessment confirming authenticity
- Full case and bracelet ultrasonic cleaning
- Diagnostic test of all watch functions including date change, chronograph operation and self-winding mechanism
- Authentication of movement, including original components and service replacements
- Time regulation and full test of power reserve
- Water-resistance test on crystal, crown and gaskets
Breguet
One of the oldest established brands, Breguet was founded in 1775 by Abraham-Louis Breguet who started his workshop on the island Île de la Cité in the middle of the Parisian Seine. As he was introduced to the French court, Breguet found an early champion in Marie Antoinette who was enthralled by his first-ever automatic watch (the Perpétuelle). The brand introduced the tourbillon (1801) as well as the world’s first wristwatch (1810), and became known as the “watch of kings”, having attracted some of history’s most notable leaders over the past 200 years. Breguet was acquired by Swatch Group in 1999, and continues to create luxury timepieces recognizable for their coin-edge cases, guilloché dials and blue Breguet hands.
IWC Schaffhausen
As a premium brand in the international luxury watch segment, IWC has dedicated itself to the manufacture of sophisticated products in Haute Horlogerie. IWC’s watch collections – the Pilot’s Watches, Portugieser, Ingenieur, Aquatimer, Da Vinci and Portofino – look back on a long tradition of manufactural excellence. IWC’s timepieces attest to the innovation of the engineers in Schaffhausen through four generations and embrace the broad range of the company’s watchmaking expertise: from robust watches for everyday use to professional sports watches and the emblems of Haute Horlogerie such as the Grande Complication and the Sidérale Scafusia.
Omega
Since 1848, Omega has been synonymous with excellence, innovation, design and precision in the world of watchmaking. Thanks to its pioneering spirit, Omega was the first watch worn on the moon, and it has been part of many explorations in the ocean and in space and other accomplishments. Among the most recent ones are Omega’s achievements in anti-magnetic watchmaking and its Master Chronometer certified watches, the industry’s highest standard for precision and performance watchmaking.
Breitling
The creator of the Chronomat, the Navitimer and the Superocean, Breitling is internationally renowned for producing timepieces trusted for their precision and functionality. Léon Breitling founded the brand in Switzerland in 1884, which became successful through the three following Breitling generations who perfected their chronometers for aviators. Its best-selling Chronomat was released in 1942, which included a circular side rule for calculations. Among its many contributions to aviation, Breitling collaborated on a 24-hour watch dial with astronaut Scott Carpenter and sponsored the Orbiter 3 project. An independently run brand, Breitling preserves its place in Haute Horlogerie by always staying one step ahead of the industry.
