Contact us using our contact us link if you are unable to find the answer to your questions here. All questions relating to products or the site will be answered betweeen 24 to 48 hours.

Q. Who are The Designer Time Piece Store and what do you do?
A. We are online retailers for customers who want to purchase speciality Swiss watches and chronographs. We have built relationships with featured designers and obtained their full authorization to provide quality and specialiaty watches at a fair price for purchase online.

Q. What is full authorization?
A. Full authorization means that the designer or manufacturer has seen and approved the products and methods used by the retailer and will, in some cases, refer customers to such retailer.

Q. How do I know the difference between a fake watch and the real designer?
A. Most fake watches are made in Asia, using considerably cheaper and lower quality components and materials. The optional extras are usually not available and they will not have been approved by the designer. The prices will undercut the designer but way above the real value of the product. This means that the buyer pays a high price for the fake rather than a good price for a genuine well made designer watch. They are usually found on Ebay and other auction and low price comparison sites. Beware of fake or under priced watches that have not been authorized by the designer.

Q. What about buying watches from online Jewelry Stores?
A. Additional options are not usually available as the watches are often pre-purchased in lots or bulk to the retailers specification. A few may offer the option for customization with the designer. The designer can confirm whether the online retailer is approved or not.

Q. Why do the designers tend not sell directly to the public?
A. Usually because the designer is going about the business of being a designer. The top designers are artists, exclusive and often much copied. The more exclusive designers are not necessarily household names but are known only by a select few. The designer's creations tend to do the selling amongst an elite group who buy the watches.

Q. How can I decide on the right size watch?
A. The size of the watch face is measured in mm and is usually the diameter of the watch face. Wrist bands are a standard size usually 6.75 to 7 inches for women 7.5 to 8 inches for men. The best way to determine your wrist size is to use a tailor's tape measure and measure your wrist. Alternatively, using a tape measure, measure the inside of the bracelet of a watch that you already have that fits. Do this with the watch clasp closed as if it was being worn. Make sure that you measure the entire wrist circumference. Once you have taken the measurement keep a note of it. If you need to have a smaller or larger watch band, contact us with your measurement and we will make arrangements for you to have the size you require. The designers and manufacturers normally make a charge for this service but it will be free of charge on our special order watches above $2,000.

Q. What does mechanical movement mean?
A. This means that the watch is not driven by any additional power source such as a battery or crystal but by the means of traditional gears and springs. Mechanical movements require winding and the period between each watch winding varies from model to model but usually starts at around two days. Always check the manufacturer's instructions on the frequency of winding a mechanical watch.

Q. What does automatic mean?
A. An automatic watch is a self-winding watch with mechanical movement that does not have any additional power source. So no watch winding and no batteries to replace. They are usually extremely accurate when properly cared for and given a tune up every two or three years.

Q. How do I care for my watch?
A. Most automatic-mechanical watches are shock absorbent and waterproofed well enough to withstand normal wear and use. Diving and speciality watches are usually designed to withstand specific conditions and are often even more robust. But as a rule, avoid dropping your watch on hard surfaces, immersing it in water for long periods of time or during sports that may result in severe jolts to the mechanisms. It is recommended to all customers that the manufacturer's instructions be observed to ensure any applicable warranty remains valid. To obtain the best performance from your watch wear it regularly.

Q. When can I expect my order to arrive?
A. Depending on how you have chosen to pay, the receipt of clear funds from you by us initiates the order. If there are no customizations to the model, it should arrive at the shipping address provided by you within 21 days. You will be notified of your order number straightaway, we will send you confirmation of the time we expect to ship the order to you. We aim to make sure that all orders are despatched to the customer within 21 days but if you have a special order with numerous special customize options it may take up to 4 weeks. We would also ask that you add a period of two further weeks for orders prior to Christmas.

Q. Do the prices shown provide value for money and are they the cheapest on the internet?
A. All prices are shown at an on-line discount of 20% less than the recommended retail price. The prices are approved and agreed with all designers and any agents used in supplying the product to the buyer. If you find any cheaper prices for the exact same product or notice a price discrepancy between our prices and those anywhere else on the internet please contact the Designer Timepiece Store and let us know. You can tell us where you saw the item and its advertised price and we will contact the designer and/or agent querying the price. However, it should be noted that there are quite a few, replica, second hand and unauthorized watch sellers advertising.

Q. As the Designer Timepiece Store does not charge tax or shipping will they have to be paid?
A. No shipping is charged by us but tax may apply in some countries and states due to local tax laws, where the buyer must pay tax directly to the shipper who then ensures it is paid at the port of entry. All of the shippers used by The Designer Timepiece Store will send an invoice directly to the buyer's shipping address for tax where it applies. Use our site map or links pages to find out more about shipping and tax.