When I was looking online through multiple watch sellers, I scrolled down to watch conditions and I saw “new/unworn”. In the beginning, I thought they meant the same thing since a brand new watch is unworn, but it turns out “new” and “unworn” are two different watch conditions and I think you should know the difference between them.
An unworn watch shows no sign of wear and is properly stored for several years, which may cause minor deterioration and discoloration over time. A new watch also shows no sign of wear but has no deterioration or discoloration. Generally, new watches are more expensive than unworn watches.
| Difference Between New and Unworn Watch Condition | New Watch Condition | Unworn Watch Condition |
| Signs of Wear or Blemishes/Deterioration? | -No signs of wear -No deterioration | -No signs of wear -May incur minor blemishes over time |
| Cost? | -Highest priced watch condition | -Slightly cheaper than new watches (on average) |
In the rest of the article, I am going to explain why knowing the difference between the two is important, go more in-depth about new and unworn watches, and explain why new watches are generally more expensive than unworn watches.
Why Is Knowing The Difference Between “Unworn” and “New” Important?
When I was just starting to get my feet wet in the luxury watch industry, I totally thought that “unworn” and “new” meant the same thing, and I can’t really blame myself since a new watch is unworn. However, as I started learning more about watches and the different types of conditions, I finally learned the difference between them: how long they’re stored and deterioration.
A new watch is any watch that shows no sign of wear, has no deterioration or discoloring, and has been stored for a short period of time, while unworn watches are older watch models that also show no signs of wear, but are stored over a longer period of time which may cause minor discoloring and deterioration. Because new watches have no signs of deterioration at all, they are generally priced higher.
You may be wondering, “Why is knowing the difference between “unworn” and “new” even important?” If you buy an unworn watch thinking it’s a brand new watch, you may be upset if you see some minor deterioration on the watch since unworn watches are stored over a longer period of time. Knowing the difference between them is good to understand so you know exactly what kind of watch you’re getting and what kind of condition it’s in.
What Is A New Watch Condition?
A new watch condition is a timepiece that shows no sign of wear and has no deterioration or blemishes. New watches are the best condition a watch can be in, which explains why they’re the highest-priced timepieces.
When I was looking online through multiple sellers for watches in new condition, I realized that they were the highest-priced watches. The new watches I was looking at like TAG Heuer and Grand Seiko look as if they came right out of the shop. I really could not find anything wrong with them.
If you are looking to get a timepiece that will last you years and has no signs of wear or deterioration, then looking into getting a new watch would be the best way to go in my opinion. While new watches may have a higher price point, you get a timepiece in its peak condition along with all of the benefits a luxury watch can provide.
If you want to check out a post I created about 9 different benefits a luxury watch can bring you, click here.
What Is An Unworn Watch Condition?
An unworn watch condition is a timepiece that shows no sign of wear but has been stored over a longer period of time, which can cause minor deterioration or discoloration. In general, unworn watches are slightly cheaper than new watches.
If you’re looking to get a luxury watch that is very close to new and wants to save some money at the same time, then looking into buying an unworn watch would be a fantastic decision. In my opinion, most unworn watches look just as if they’re new, and you can get one at a slightly cheaper price than a new watch.
Even though they may have some very slight imperfections, they’re a great way to buy a watch that looks practically brand new for a lower price.
For example, I was looking through unworn and new Rolex Datejust models on Chrono 24, and I found that unworn watches of the same model to their new watch counterpart are usually a couple of hundred dollars less. This shows that getting an unworn watch is a viable way to save some money while buying a watch that looks basically new.
New vs. Unworn: Which Is More Expensive?
On average, new watches are more expensive than unworn watches. Since new watches have no deterioration and may feature more details and new designs, they’re generally priced higher compared to unworn watches.
Recently, I was looking through the Chrono24 website (a well-known and respected website where you can buy and see watches) and I was looking through new and unworn Grand Seiko watches, which have really been on my radar for a while now. I love the Grand Seiko watch model because of its spring drive mechanism that gets that perfect sweep every time, and it’s a watch that I will eventually get.
Nonetheless, when I was looking through the “new” and “unworn” watch conditions, I found that unworn watches were cheaper than new watches the majority of the time. I decided to look into this more even with watch models like the Tudor Black Bay and Rolex Oyster Perpetuals (other watch models that I love) and I found that unworn watches were priced slightly lower on average.
You can think of unworn and new watch conditions like cars. A brand new car will have absolutely no deterioration at all and may even have new features that can improve its utility which increases its value, while a car that has been sitting in a dealership for several years may see some minor deterioration, which can lower its overall value.
This example is the same with luxury watches: a new watch with no blemishes will be valued and priced higher than a watch that may incur minor deterioration over time.
New vs. Unworn Watch Condition: Which One Would I Buy?
If I had to personally choose between an unworn and a new watch, I would look toward buying an unworn watch first. Since unworn watches show no signs of wear and are slightly cheaper than new watches, I would be totally content buying one and I would have no issue with seeing very minor blemishes over its storage.
However, I can definitely see other watch enthusiasts not being okay with the minor blemishes, and to those people, I would recommend looking into new watches. Even though it may be a higher price tag, getting a watch in new condition guarantees that the watch is in the best condition possible.
What to Take Away With Unworn and New Watches
New luxury watches have no deterioration, while unworn watches may develop minor deterioration due to the passage of time. If you are looking to get a luxury watch in the best condition possible, buying a new watch is the most optimal way to go. But if you want to save a little bit of money and are fine with some very minor deterioration, then looking at unworn watches is the best route to go.