Market

Help Center

Everything you need to know about buying and selling on WatchProSite.

Getting Started

How do I create a listing?

Click the + Sell button in the top navigation. You'll have three ways to get started:

Option 1: WatchProSite AI (Recommended) — The fastest way to list. Have a clear photo of your watch ready, select the brand, and enter the model or reference number (e.g. Submariner, 5711/1A, Speedmaster 3861). Our AI analyzes your photo and automatically fills in the specs, materials, and details — building your listing in just a few steps.

Option 2: Find by Photo — Browse or search for a watch that matches yours. When you find the closest match, select it and the system will clone the reference details (brand, model, specs) into your new listing. You then customize the details to match your specific watch.

Option 3: Build from Scratch — Start with a blank listing and enter the brand, model, and details yourself step by step.

All paths then walk you through the same steps:

  1. Add photos — Upload clear images of the dial, case back, bracelet, and box/papers. You can also use the QR code to upload directly from your phone.
  2. Set your price — Choose your currency and asking price. A Price Guide shows recent market data for reference.
  3. Configure payment — Add your PayPal email to enable Buy Now, and optionally set up the deposit system.
  4. Write a description — Describe your watch's condition, history, and what's included. You can also use AI to generate a detailed reference description.
  5. Review & submit — Preview your listing, then submit. A verification email will be sent to activate it.
What makes a great listing?

Listings that sell fastest share these qualities:

  • Multiple clear photos — At minimum: dial, case back, bracelet, and any included accessories. Natural lighting works best.
  • Accurate reference number — Buyers search by reference. Include it if you have it.
  • Honest condition description — Note any marks, service history, or replaced parts. Transparency builds trust.
  • Competitive pricing — Use the Price Guide during listing creation to see recent market activity.
  • Complete details — Year, box, papers, case size, dial color, and case material help buyers filter and find your watch.
Why do I need to verify my email?

After creating a listing, we send a confirmation email to the address on your account. Clicking the verification link activates your listing and makes it visible in the marketplace.

This step helps prevent spam and ensures every seller can be contacted. If you don't see the email, check your spam or junk folder. You can also resend it from your Dashboard by clicking Resend Email on the pending listing.

Can I save a draft and finish later?

The listing wizard must be completed in one session — there is no mid-flow save. However, the wizard is quick (most listings take just a few minutes), and only the watch selection, at least one photo, and a price are required to submit.

Once submitted and verified, you can always return to the Edit page from your Dashboard to add more photos, update the description, adjust pricing, or configure payment settings.

Listing Status Guide

What do the different listing statuses mean?

Your listing's status controls its visibility and available actions:

  • For Sale — Active and visible in the marketplace. Buyers can view, make offers, and purchase.
  • For Sale / Trade — Active, visible, and open to trade offers in addition to purchases.
  • Pending Verification — Waiting for email verification. Not visible to buyers. Check your email and click the confirmation link.
  • Paused — Temporarily hidden from search results. You can still receive offers from users who previously viewed it. Restart anytime from your Dashboard.
  • Reserved — A buyer has placed a deposit. The listing is marked as reserved until the balance is paid or the deposit is released.
  • Sold — Transaction complete. The listing moves to your sold history.
My listing says Pending Verification — what do I do?

A verification email was sent when you created the listing. Click the link in that email to activate it. If you can't find it:

  1. Check your spam/junk folder
  2. Go to your Dashboard, find the listing, and click Resend Email
  3. Make sure the email address on your account is correct (check Account settings in your Dashboard)
What does the cycle day counter mean?

Active listings show a day counter like 14/30 days. This tracks how long the listing has been live in its current cycle. After 30 days, you can relist (bump to the top of search results) to refresh visibility.

Photos

How do I add or edit photos?

From your listing's Edit page, click Edit next to the Photos section. On the photo management page you can:

  • Add photos — Click "Add More Photos" to upload additional images. You can also use the QR code to upload from your phone.
  • Rotate — Use the rotate buttons to fix orientation.
  • Reorder — Use the up/down arrows to change the display order. The first photo becomes the primary thumbnail shown in search results.
  • Delete — Remove unwanted photos (the primary photo cannot be deleted).
What photo tips will help my listing stand out?
  • Use natural light — avoid harsh flash or heavy shadows
  • Include the dial straight-on, case back, bracelet/strap, and a wrist shot or size reference
  • Show the box and papers if included
  • Photograph any marks or blemishes for transparency
  • Keep backgrounds clean and uncluttered
Can I upload photos from my phone?

Yes. During the photo upload step, a QR code is displayed. Scan it with your phone's camera to open the upload page directly on your mobile device. Photos taken or selected on your phone will be added to your listing.

Pricing & Payments

What currencies are supported?

You can list in USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, SGD, HKD, or AUD. Your chosen currency is displayed on your listing card and detail page.

How do I change my price?

Go to your Dashboard, find the listing, and click Price (or Edit and open the Price section). Your original listing price is always preserved for reference — the new price is shown alongside it.

How do payments work?

WatchProSite supports two integrated payment methods:

Stripe (Credit/Debit Card): Connect your Stripe account from your Dashboard > Funds section. Once connected, buyers can pay directly with credit or debit card on your listings. Stripe handles all card processing securely — funds are deposited to your connected bank account.

PayPal: Add your PayPal email to a listing to enable PayPal checkout. When a buyer clicks Buy Now, they complete the purchase through PayPal (or the deposit, if you've enabled the deposit system).

You can configure both payment methods in the Payment & Shipping section of your listing's Edit page.

What payment methods can I accept?

You can configure your listing to accept:

  • Stripe (Credit/Debit Card) — Accept Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and more directly on your listing. Connect your Stripe account from Dashboard > Funds.
  • PayPal — Enables the Buy Now button via PayPal checkout
  • Bank Wire — Direct bank transfer
  • Face-to-Face — In-person transaction
  • Cryptocurrency — Bitcoin or other digital currencies

Select your accepted methods during listing creation or on the Edit page under Payment & Shipping.

How do I set up Stripe to accept card payments?

Setting up Stripe takes just a few minutes:

  1. Go to your Dashboard > Funds section
  2. Click Connect with Stripe
  3. Follow the Stripe onboarding flow — you'll verify your identity, add your bank account, and agree to Stripe's terms
  4. Once connected, your listings will automatically offer card payment to buyers

Stripe processes payments securely and deposits funds directly to your bank account. You can manage your Stripe connection and view payouts from the Funds section of your Dashboard.

Deposit System

How does the deposit system work?

The deposit system lets buyers reserve a watch with a small PayPal payment while arranging a bank wire for the balance:

  1. Buyer pays a deposit (typically 15% of the price) via PayPal
  2. Listing is marked as Reserved — other buyers can see it's spoken for
  3. Buyer wires the balance within the deadline you set (3, 7, 14, or 21 days)
  4. Seller confirms receipt and marks the listing as Sold

This combines the security of PayPal for the initial commitment with the lower fees of bank wire for the majority of the payment.

How do I enable deposits on my listing?

In the Payment & Shipping section (during listing creation or on the Edit page), toggle the "Accept deposit + wire for balance" option. You can configure:

  • Deposit percentage — 10%, 15%, 20%, or 25%
  • Wire deadline — 3, 7, 14, or 21 days

A live calculator shows the deposit and balance amounts based on your listing price.

What happens if the buyer doesn't send the wire?

The deposit is non-refundable if the wire is not received within the deadline. As the seller, you can:

  • Release the reservation from your Dashboard, which returns the listing to For Sale status. Note: you must refund the buyer's PayPal deposit separately if you choose to.
  • Contact the buyer to arrange an extension if needed
How do I confirm a wire payment was received?

When the wire arrives, go to your Dashboard, find the Reserved listing, and click Wire Received (or Mark as Sold). This completes the transaction and moves the listing to your Sold history.

Managing Your Listings

How do I edit my listing?

From your Dashboard, click Edit on the listing you want to modify. You can update photos, price, details, description, and payment settings. Changes take effect immediately.

Note: Your original description is preserved. As the seller, you can add notes to your listing but cannot modify or remove the original description text.

How do I pause my listing?

From your Dashboard, click Pause on the listing. Paused listings are hidden from search results but can still receive offers from users who previously viewed them. You can restart a paused listing at any time.

What is relisting and how does the cooldown work?

Relisting bumps your listing to the top of search results, increasing its visibility. There is a 7-day cooldown between relists to keep the marketplace fair for all sellers.

Your Dashboard shows when a listing is eligible to relist: look for "Ready to relist" or a countdown showing how many days remain.

How do I mark a listing as sold?

From your Dashboard, click Sold on the listing. If a deposit was received, you'll be asked to confirm the wire balance was received. This action moves the listing to your sold history and it cannot be reversed.

Can I delete a listing?

Listing deletion is available to administrators. If you need a listing removed, please pause it from your Dashboard and contact support. For pending listings that were created in error, you can Withdraw them from the Dashboard.

Buying a Watch

How do I make an offer?

On a listing's detail page, use the messaging or offer feature to contact the seller. You can propose a price, ask questions about the watch, or request additional photos.

How do I purchase using Buy Now?

If the seller has enabled PayPal, the listing will show a Buy Now button. Clicking it takes you to PayPal to complete the purchase at the listed price.

If the seller has enabled the deposit system, Buy Now will process the deposit amount (e.g., 15% of the price). You'll then need to wire the remaining balance within the specified deadline.

What does "Reserved" mean on a listing?

A Reserved listing means a buyer has placed a deposit and the watch is spoken for. The seller is waiting for the wire balance to be received. If the wire deadline passes without payment, the seller may release the reservation and return the listing to active status.

How do references work?

The references system lets buyers and sellers build trust through confirmed transactions. After a successful purchase, both parties can leave a reference confirming the transaction went smoothly. References appear on user profiles and help the community identify reliable traders.

You can view and manage your references in the References section of your Dashboard.

Safety & Trust

How can I protect myself from fraud?

Luxury watches are high-value items. Follow these guidelines:

  • Verify the seller's references — Check their transaction history on their profile
  • Use PayPal for deposits — PayPal offers buyer protection for the deposit portion
  • Be cautious with wire transfers — Wire transfers are irreversible. Only wire to sellers you've verified
  • Ask for additional photos — Request specific angles, timestamps, or video if needed
  • Meet in person when possible — For local transactions, meet in a safe public place
  • Trust your instincts — If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is
What are common red flags?
  • Prices significantly below market value
  • Pressure to complete the transaction quickly
  • Requests to communicate outside the platform
  • Reluctance to provide additional photos or information
  • New accounts with no references or forum history
  • Requests for unusual payment methods
How do I report a suspicious listing or user?

If you encounter a suspicious listing or user, please contact the site administrators through the forum messaging system. Include the listing URL and a description of your concern. Our team reviews all reports promptly.

Account & Settings

How do I set up watch alerts?

In your Dashboard > Alerts, you can create alerts for specific brands, models, or listing types (For Sale, Want to Buy). When a matching listing is created, you'll receive a notification.

How do I update my profile or email?

Go to your Dashboard > Account to update your profile information, email address, and other settings.

Can I have multiple active listings?

Yes. There is no limit to the number of active listings you can have. Each listing goes through the same creation and verification process.

Disclaimer

WatchProSite provides a platform for buyers and sellers to connect. All transactions are conducted directly between the parties involved. WatchProSite does not inspect, authenticate, appraise, or take possession of any items listed on the marketplace. Buyers and sellers are solely responsible for conducting their own due diligence, including verifying the authenticity, condition, and value of any watch or accessory. WatchProSite makes no warranties or representations regarding any listing, seller, buyer, or transaction, and assumes no liability for disputes, losses, or damages arising from marketplace activity. By using the marketplace, you acknowledge and accept these terms.