How to buy from L’Ora del Tempo (and why there is no price)
Anyone who lands on a watch page at L’Ora del Tempo looks for the price and does not find it. This is not an oversight: it is a choice, and in this article I explain why, and how to buy a watch from my collection.
Why there is no price
A vintage watch is not a mass-produced item. Two examples of the same reference can be worth very different sums: what counts is the condition of the dial, the originality of the hands and crown, the calibre, the history of the piece. A figure next to the photograph would say little, and might well say the wrong thing.
I prefer to talk about it. Every enquiry is an opportunity to tell the watch’s story, to answer questions and to understand whether it really is the right piece for the person looking for it.
Collectors, not dealers
L’Ora del Tempo is not a shop. I am a collector: the watches you see on the website are pieces from my collection, and I sell some of them in order to renew it. That is why there is no shopfront to walk into, and why every sale goes through direct contact.
Not everything is on the website. I have many other watches that are not published: if you are looking for a particular brand or model, just ask.
How to ask about a watch
- From the watch page. Every watch page has a ‘Product enquiry’ form: the name of the watch is already filled in, so all you need to do is leave your contact details.
- On WhatsApp. The green button opens a chat with a ready-written message that names the watch.
- By telephone or email. The contact details are on the Contact page.
I reply personally. Every watch in the collection is selected individually, through a careful process of verification and historical research: on request I can send further photographs, of the movement, the caseback or a particular detail.
Confidentiality
Enquiries remain between me and the person writing. Many collectors prefer discretion, and dealing directly makes it possible.
If a watch in the collection has caught your eye, write to me: it is the best way to get to know it properly.
Frequently asked questions
Why are there no prices on the website?
Because the value of a vintage watch depends on the individual piece: its condition, the originality of its components, its calibre and its history. The price is given on request, together with all the information about the piece.
How do I ask about a watch?
Through the ‘Product enquiry’ form on the watch’s page, with the WhatsApp button, or by telephone or email using the details on the Contact page.
Do you have a physical shop?
No. L’Ora del Tempo is a collector’s collection, not a commercial business: sales take place through direct contact.
Are the watches on the website all those available?
No. There are many other watches that are not published: if you are looking for a particular brand or model, just ask.
Can I have more photographs of a watch?
Yes. Additional photographs are available on request, for example of the movement, the caseback or a particular detail.
Are enquiries confidential?
Yes. Every enquiry stays between the owner and the person writing.