I am wondering whether you guys just buy the watch on display or ask for a 'new' one from stock? Understand some expensive pieces may have only 1 on display.
For me, I’m indifferent. After all, sealed items can easily be re-sealed.
There are times when I would like something which is ‘fresh’ from the store-room and would like to believe that the last person who has handled the watch was the watchmaker, but in reality, it had survived and sustained much abuse from freight, mishandling of staff and many occasion of wrist-test from other potential customers before reaching your hands. Watches of higher price range and upper echelon of brands are not spared from this.
Purchasing a timepiece should be done in a calm and composed manner, allowing as much time as you can to inspect the article before committing to the transaction, regardless from display or from the store-room. Ask lots of question on how they conduct their business and it’ll give you an idea on how they take care of the watches.
In the case something is wrong, that’s what warranty is for.
Once I noticed something was wrong with one of the watches that I bought (which was was kept in the store and sealed) , soon after I walked out from the AD. But because it was the only known piece left, and the fact that I loved it so much, I had to endure 3 months without it, being sent back to the manufacturer for warranty repair. It came back working well and looks better than before.
There are some watch brands which has policy of ensuring all watches being displayed are wound up and running displaying the correct time. It gives me the confidence that if I had to pick up that one and only piece which is being displayed, it is working fine and well.
