buying from Japan

Ship a Watch with a Battery from Japan (2026): Lithium Rules

Ship a watch with a battery from Japan in 2026? Most quartz watches have no lithium, and the 2026 IATA 30% rule targets big cells, not watches. By type and route.

2026.09.23

Buying from Japan

Date a Vintage Rolex Oyster Case from Photos (Japan, 2026)

Date a vintage Rolex Oyster case from photos when buying from Japan: serial location (lugs vs rehaut), random serials from 2010, plus caseback and crown cues.

2026.09.22

Buying from Japan

Rolex Clasp Codes & End Links: Verify a Bracelet from Japan (2026)

A rolex clasp code dates the bracelet, not the watch. How to read it, match end links to the bracelet reference, and spot a swapped bracelet in a Japanese listing.

2026.09.21

Buying from Japan

Rolex Warranty Card: Verify a Japanese Listing from Photos (2026)

Verify a Rolex warranty card from Japanese listing photos: the 2026 wood-grain redesign, QR-coded tag, and what remote checks can and cannot confirm.

2026.09.19

Buying from Japan

Buy Vintage Tudor from Japan: References to Know (2026)

Buy vintage Tudor from Japan: decode Snowflake, Monte Carlo and Oyster Prince references, spot redials, and estimate 2026 landed cost remotely.

2026.09.17

Buying from Japan

US Import Duty on a Watch from Japan: Part-by-Part (2026)

US watch import duty from Japan, broken down by part (movement, case, bracelet, battery) and the new postal entry rules through January 2027.

2026.09.16

Buying Guide

Grand Seiko Model Numbers: Verify a Japanese Listing (2026)

Decode a Grand Seiko model number (SBGA211, SLGH005) and case-back caliber code before buying from Japan: SB/SL/ST lines, Spring Drive vs Hi-Beat vs quartz.

2026.09.16

Buying from Japan

Watch Caliber Identification: Reading a Japanese Listing (2026)

Watch caliber identification from a Japanese listing: read the movement photo, match it to the reference, and catch a swapped movement.

2026.09.15

Buying from Japan

Pre-Owned Watch Water Resistance from Japan: How to Verify It (2026)

Pre-owned watch water resistance cannot be confirmed from photos. What the dial rating means, how pressure tests work, and what to ask before buying from Japan.

2026.09.14

Buying from Japan

Grand Seiko Japan Store Exclusives 2026: How to Buy Them from Abroad

The 2026 Grand Seiko store exclusives at Wako, Isetan, Daimaru, Hankyu and Kamine: references, prices, and how to buy one from abroad.

2026.09.14

Buying from Japan