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Help Centre

Frequently Asked Questions

Buying, selling, authentication, returns, payments, shipping: the answers we keep getting asked. If your question isn't here, email us at [email protected].

Buying

How do I know the watch I'm buying is genuine?
Every pre-owned watch listed for ₹20,000 or more is authenticated before it reaches you. Watches under ₹2 lakh are inspected in-house at our Bengaluru hub by Hourmark. Watches at ₹2 lakh and above receive a forensic check by our partner Time and Me. On a successful authentication we issue a Hourmark certificate you can verify at verify.hourmark.in.
Can I see the watch in person before paying?
Not at the moment. Every order ships to you insured, and you get a 72-hour inspection window after delivery: examine the watch at home, and if anything is off you return it and escrow refunds you in full. The seller is only paid after your window passes.
Is COD (Cash on Delivery) available?
No. Dialroom does not offer COD. All orders are paid online up front, with funds held in escrow until the watch passes authentication and is accepted. This is what allows us to guarantee authenticity. Without escrow we cannot intercept fakes before they reach you.
Do prices include GST?
Listed prices include GST where applicable. Pre-owned watches sold by individual private sellers may be exempt under the Margin Scheme; watches sold by GST-registered dealers carry GST. The breakdown is shown on the order summary before checkout.
Will I be charged customs duty?
No. All watches on Dialroom are sold from sellers within India to buyers within India. There is no import, no customs clearance, no surprise duty bill. Watches that are originally imports have already cleared customs at the time of their first sale in India.
Do you offer EMI?
Card-based EMI through Visa, Mastercard, RuPay and major banks (HDFC, Axis, ICICI, SBI, Kotak) is available at checkout for orders above ₹10,000. Cardless EMI options will be added once the platform is live.
How do I track my order?
Once your payment is confirmed, your order page will show real-time status: payment received, ready for authentication, in transit to hub, authenticating, passed, in transit to you, delivered. You receive WhatsApp and email updates at each step. Shipping is via insured courier (Sequel or Bluedart Plus).

Selling

Who can sell on Dialroom?
Two seller types: trusted dealers (vetted businesses with a track record, GST registration and KYC) and private sellers (individuals selling their personal collection, KYC-verified via Aadhaar/PAN). Both list through the seller dashboard.
How much commission do you charge?
It depends on seller type and order flow. Trusted dealers shipping directly: 8 to 10 percent. Private sellers using escrow (you ship to our hub, we authenticate, we ship to buyer): 15 percent. Private sellers on consignment (we hold the watch, photograph it, list it, sell it for you): 18 to 20 percent. The Luxe Certified tier (₹1 lakh and above) carries an additional 3 percent buyer-side fee.
When do I get paid?
For trusted dealers shipping directly: when delivery is confirmed and the buyer's 72-hour inspection window passes. For escrow private sellers: when the watch passes authentication and is accepted by the buyer. Settlement is by NEFT/IMPS to your KYC-verified bank account, typically within 3 working days after release.
What happens if my watch fails authentication?
Three outcomes depending on the reason. (1) Genuine but mis-described condition: we offer to relist with a corrected description, or return to you. (2) Service required: we offer to ship to a watchmaker (your cost) or return as-is. (3) Counterfeit or undisclosed franken: we refund the buyer in full, return the watch to you at our cost, and the listing is permanently banned. Repeat offenders are removed from the platform.
Can I sell a watch without box and papers?
Yes. Box and papers help with valuation and resale, but they aren't required. Mark them as 'not included' in the listing wizard. Watches without papers may be priced lower than market and may take longer to sell, but they are listed with the same authentication standard as papered pieces.
How do I list a watch?
Sign up for a seller account, complete KYC (Aadhaar + PAN), and use the 7-step listing wizard: brand & reference, condition, photos, description, price & service tier, shipping, review. The wizard checks the serial number against our duplicate-listing index and watermarks your photos before they go live.

Authentication

What does authentication actually involve?
We compare the watch in front of us against the listed reference: case shape and finishing, dial printing, hand sets, movement caliber and engraving, serial number depth and font, caseback and crown markings, bracelet links and clasp. For watches at ₹1 lakh and above we add a forensic step: timegrapher, loupe inspection of CNC marks and laser-etched serials, and a check against the brand's known fakery patterns for that reference.
Who authenticates the watches?
Two-tier model. Watches under ₹2 lakh are authenticated in-house by Hourmark at our Bengaluru hub. Watches at ₹2 lakh and above receive a forensic check by our partner Time and Me, the same authentication partner trusted by Amazon India and the Indian Customs department.
How long does authentication take?
Once the watch reaches our Bengaluru hub, authentication is typically 24 to 48 hours for under-₹2 lakh watches and 48 to 96 hours for forensic-tier watches at ₹2 lakh and above. Total order time depends on the seller's shipping speed, which is reflected in the live status on your order page.
What does the Hourmark certificate include?
Cert number, watch summary (brand, reference, year), authenticator name, date of authentication, serial-match verdict, and a small set of authentication photos with captions explaining what each photo demonstrates. The certificate is hosted at verify.hourmark.in/[cert-number] and includes a QR code for offline verification.

Returns & Refunds

What is the return window?
72 hours from delivery, flat, on every tier. Examine the watch during that window; if it does not match the listing or fails your inspection, start the return from your order page and escrow refunds you in full. Read the full Returns & Refunds policy for the precise scope.
Who pays for return shipping?
If the watch is materially different from the listing (wrong reference, undisclosed damage, failed authentication on arrival): we pay return shipping. If you change your mind within the return window for any other reason: you pay return shipping (insured courier required). Worn watches cannot be returned for a 'changed my mind' reason.
How long do refunds take?
Once the watch is received and inspected at our hub, refunds are processed within 3 working days. The actual money landing in your account depends on your bank: UPI / NEFT typically same-day, card refunds 5 to 7 working days.

Hourmark Certification

What is Hourmark?
Hourmark is the authentication and certification brand operated by Chronostop Enterprises Private Limited (the same legal entity that operates Dialroom). Hourmark issues the certificates; Dialroom is the marketplace where watches are bought and sold. Functionally separate brands, single legal entity.
How do I verify a Hourmark certificate?
Visit verify.hourmark.in and enter the cert number printed on the certificate (format HM-YYYY-XXXXXX). Or scan the QR code on the certificate with any smartphone camera. The lookup is public, free, and works without a Dialroom account.
Can I get a Hourmark certificate for a watch I already own?
Yes. This is our standalone authentication service. You ship the watch to our Bengaluru hub (insured), we authenticate it, and we ship it back with a Hourmark certificate. Pricing depends on the watch value: ₹1,500 for under ₹2 lakh, ₹3,500 for forensic tier at ₹2 lakh and above. Standalone authentication does not require selling the watch on Dialroom.
What does it mean if a certificate is shown as revoked?
Revocation means we have evidence that the original authentication should not be relied upon: typically because the watch was modified after authentication (e.g. a movement swap), because new evidence of counterfeit emerged, or because the certificate was mis-issued. The verify page shows the revocation reason. Do not rely on a revoked certificate as proof of authenticity.

Trust & Safety

How do I report a suspicious listing or seller?
Email [email protected] with the listing URL or seller handle and a brief description of your concern. We investigate every report. Confirmed counterfeits or fraudulent listings are removed within 24 hours and the seller is permanently banned.
Is my personal information safe?
Yes. We comply with India's DPDP Act 2023. KYC documents are stored encrypted, accessed only by authorised compliance staff, and never shared with sellers or other buyers. Read the Privacy Policy and DPDP notice for the full list of categories we collect and your data-principal rights.
Do you do KYC?
Yes, for both buyers (order-level KYC for orders above ₹2 lakh) and sellers (account-level KYC for everyone before listing). Sellers upload their PAN, Aadhaar, and a bank document, which our team reviews before approving the account. Repeat dealers also submit GST and shop establishment proof.

Payments

What payment methods are accepted?
UPI (PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, BHIM), Visa/Mastercard/RuPay credit and debit cards, net banking, and select bank EMI plans. International cards are not currently accepted. Razorpay is our integrated payment provider.
How does escrow work?
When you pay, the money is held by our payment provider: neither Dialroom nor the seller can withdraw it. The seller ships the watch to our hub. We authenticate. If the watch passes and you accept it, we release funds to the seller. If it fails, we refund you. The seller never has access to your money before you have the watch in hand.
Are there any hidden charges?
No. The price you see at checkout is the price you pay. The Luxe Certified tier (₹1 lakh and above) shows the 3 percent buyer-side fee separately on the order summary before payment. There are no transaction surcharges, no convenience fees, no shipping insurance up-charges.

Shipping

How are watches shipped?
Sequel Logistics or Bluedart Plus. Every shipment is fully insured for the order value, signature-on-delivery, with photo proof at pickup and drop-off. We do not ship via India Post for watches above ₹20,000.
Which cities do you ship to?
All major Indian cities and most Tier-2 towns. The full launch covers Bengaluru (the hub), Mumbai, Delhi/NCR, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata.
Do you ship internationally?
Not at this time. Our authentication network and escrow flow are India-domestic only. International shipping is on the roadmap.
What if the watch is lost or damaged in transit?
Every shipment is fully insured for the order value. If a watch is lost or damaged in transit, you are refunded in full (if buyer-bound) or the seller is paid the order value out of insurance (if hub-bound or seller-bound). We file the claim. You don't need to deal with the courier.