My Dumb First Steps
Okay, so I got totally hooked on this fancy thin watch called the JLC Ultra Thin Moonphase. Pictures online? Stunning. But actually buying one? Yeah, that was a whole different story. Dived right in like a kid wanting candy. Big mistake number one.
Started just browsing random watch sites and forums. Saw one pop up that looked like a great deal. Way cheaper than the main stores. Got super excited, almost pulled the trigger right then. Thank god I hesitated for like, two seconds. Did a quick extra search on that seller – boom, buried under bad reviews. People got ripped off bad. Dodged that bullet. Realized you gotta know where you’re looking.
The Hard Part: Figuring Out What I Was Actually Buying
Thought buying was the hard part. Nope. Understanding what the heck I was buying was way worse.
- Got told ‘like new’ by one seller, only to find out later it meant polished aggressively. Like, too much. Thinner than it should be.
- Asked “Is it real?” like a hundred times. Turns out, a stupid question. Photos lie. Certificates can be faked. Realized I needed proof from JLC themselves on the movement’s origin.
- Freaked out about scratches. My first instinct? Buy the newest-looking one possible. Learned later some slight marks mean it probably wasn’t polished much and kept its original thickness – actually a good thing! Felt dumb for obsessing over perfection.
- The thinness is the point, right? Found out some models are way thinner than others, even though they look the same online. You need the right model number. Who knew?
- Thought “waterproof” meant I could swim with it. Almost had a heart attack later reading how sensitive these ultra thin pieces are. Pro tip: Waterproof ≠ Swim-proof. Don’t be an idiot like me.
Spent weeks crawling forums, messaging people who actually owned one, reading old sales listings to spot patterns. Felt like homework I never signed up for.
Finally Talking Money (Ouch)
Alright, so after feeling like I vaguely understood what I should be buying, got smacked by reality: price tags.
Main store prices? Yeah, nope. Not happening. Went looking at second-hand dealers. Saw prices all over the place. Saw one crazy cheap – red flag number two. Too good? Probably fake, broken, or stolen. Learned the hard way – prices have a normal low range. Anything below is trouble.
Bargaining? Tried it with a few dealers. Some were cool, helped explain why their price was what it was (had the box, proof of service, barely worn). Others? Ghosted me fast. Realized if a price feels fair compared to my research, and the seller seems legit, just do it. Over-haggling costs you time and sanity.
The Actual Handing Over Cash Part
So, found one. Seller seemed solid after weeks of my paranoid digging. Got the proof papers from JLC directly – that sealed it. Price was realistic.
Didn’t trust a wire transfer. Nope. Used my credit card. The extra fee sucked, but if something went south? Chargeback is my friend.
Made sure the seller agreed that I could send it off to a watchmaker I trusted ASAP after getting it. Made it crystal clear: If the watchmaker finds something major wrong, the deal is off, no arguments. Got this in writing. Wasn’t being a jerk, just protecting myself after all that work.
And then… waited. Hit refresh on the tracking like a crazy person.
It Arrived. And?
Got the box. Heart pounding. Looked good on the outside. Opened it up. Beautiful. BUT – didn’t wear it just yet. Nope. Packed it right back up and drove straight to the watchmaker. Told them to check everything, especially the movement authenticity and if any parts were replaced with the wrong ones.
Another two days of sweating. Phone rings. Watchmaker says it’s genuine, clean, matches the paperwork, original thickness looks good. Only minor wear. That was it. Finally felt like I could breathe.
Wrapping Up This Adventure
So yeah. Wanted a fancy thin moon watch. Got a masterclass in anxiety instead.
Don’t be like me and jump in blind. Figure out where to look safely first. Absolutely nail down exactly what model you want and what condition signs are good or bad. Understand you’re buying something delicate. Use protection – proof of authenticity, payment safety, inspection rights. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Oh, and prepare your wallet. And maybe your stress ball. Good luck.