A pre-owned watch may be sold without its original box or papers for ordinary reasons. The absence of documents also makes the watch's history harder to confirm, so ask for other records before you buy.
Get the individual serial
Ask the seller for the watch's serial and inspect it on the actual piece. A model reference is not enough for an individual stolen-status search. If the engraving is hidden or difficult to read, use a qualified watchmaker rather than guessing or opening the case yourself.
Look for alternative records
A dated service receipt, insurance schedule, estate inventory, or prior invoice may identify the watch even when the original set is gone. Check that the number on the record matches the watch. Ask the seller to put the serial, price, condition, and return terms on the bill of sale.
Search and inspect separately
Run a stolen-status check with the verified serial and save the result. Then arrange an independent physical inspection if you also need to assess authenticity or condition. These checks answer different questions, so one cannot replace the other.
If the seller refuses a serial, won't allow inspection, or cannot explain a mismatch, pause the sale. A no-match result cannot make missing evidence appear or prove the watch's ownership history.
Check Before You Commit
Use the serial on the physical watch and keep the result with the written sale record.