Selling a Luxury Watch in Japan: How Kaitori Shops Work

Japan has one of the most competitive second-hand watch markets in the world. Prices for Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe and other major brands are strong, shops are trustworthy, and fakes are aggressively filtered out. If you own a luxury watch, Japan is a genuinely good place to sell it.

Check the market price first

Start with our watch value estimator — pick the brand, model and condition, and you will see an estimated buyback range in yen, with US dollar and RMB conversions for reference.

Where to sell

• Specialist luxury buyers — Komehyo, Daikokuya, Ginza Rasin, Kaitori Okoku and similar chains. Staff are trained appraisers; quotes are free and take 10–20 minutes.
• General reuse chains — 2nd STREET and similar shops buy watches too, but specialist shops usually quote higher for luxury pieces.
• Shops cluster in areas like Ginza, Shinjuku and Osaka's Shinsaibashi — convenient for getting two or three quotes on foot in one afternoon.

What moves the price

• Condition — light surface wear is normal and priced in; deep dents and over-polishing hurt more.
• Box and papers — the warranty card (guarantee) matters a lot. A full set typically sells for noticeably more than a watch alone. Never throw these away.
• Model and demand — sports Rolex models (Submariner, Daytona, GMT-Master II) trade above retail in many cases; see the model-by-model tables on our watch price list.

ID requirements — important for foreigners

Japanese law (the Secondhand Articles Dealer Act) requires shops to verify the seller's identity and address. In practice this means you need photo ID showing a Japanese address — a residence card works. Most shops cannot buy from short-term tourists for this reason. If you are a resident, bring your zairyu card and the process is painless.

Payment

Small amounts are usually paid in cash on the spot; larger amounts (often above a few hundred thousand yen) are paid by bank transfer, so having a Japanese bank account helps. Get a written quote from the first shop and use it to negotiate at the second — this is completely normal and expected.