Welcome to our world! We are the Second Hand Watch Collective — a curated home for quality pre‑owned mechanical watches.
Our journey began with a deep passion for Christopher Ward, which led us to build Ward Hoard: one of the most trusted places online to buy pre‑owned CW watches, with over 100 pieces available at any time. That focus remains and Ward Hoard continues as our dedicated, CW‑only destination.
Second Hand Watch Collective exists alongside it with a different purpose.
Here, mirroring our own watch collecting journey, we bring that same care, experience and attention to detail to a broader selection of pre‑owned watches from respected other brands, including British and Swiss. Every piece is individually chosen, thoroughly inspected and honestly described and photographed as we would want if we were buying it ourselves.
Our goal is simple: to champion excellent watches that you might not have heard of but should have done.
Whether you are new to mechanical watches, searching for a discontinued favourite, upgrading a daily wearer or adding something special to your collection, you’ll find watches here that are accurately described, properly checked and ready to wear.
We release new stock to our mailing list first. Remaining items are added to the site shortly after.
If you’d like to see our full range of Christopher Ward watches, pop over to Ward Hoard.
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Quick facts
Reference: Seaforth 2.
Category: Dive
Size: Medium
Movement: Automatic
Condition: Very good
SHWC warranty: Six months from date of purchase
Buy it if you want: a beautifully proportioned diver with a fabulous dial.
Description
Halios is a Canadian brand and possibly my favourite brand other than Christopher Ward. I certainly have more Halios in my own collection than any other. Jason Lim started the brand in Vancouver, and the name Halios comes from the Greek halios, meaning “of the sea”, which neatly sums up both the focus and character of the brand. From the outset, Jason’s watches were unapologetically functional, stripped back and engineered with intent. Early pieces like the Holotype, Bluering and Laguna built a strong following by doing the fundamentals exceptionally well, but it was the Puck that really differentiated Halios from the pack.
If the Puck established Halios as a brand with confidence, the Seaforth showed that the same confidence could be applied with greater precision and balance. The Seaforth is the high point in the Halios catalogue, taking the brand’s core principles and refining them into a watch that feels considered rather than compromised. The proportions are perfect making it so wearable. It is the Seaforth that continues to drive Halios forward for a very good reason.
What elevates this particular Seaforth II is the dial. Jason Lim consistently nails colour, and Nimbus Grey is one of his most successful executions. Exclusive to the Series II run and never repeated, it is now genuinely rare. The tone sits between silver and slate, changing character depending on the light and angle, sometimes cool, sometimes warmer, always expressive. It works perfectly with the stainless steel case and bezel, giving the watch a presence that relies on design and finish rather than contrast or saturation. The applied indices and lume stand out cleanly and the overall effect is cohesive and confident.
In SHWC terms, the Seaforth II in Nimbus Grey earns its place because it captures exactly why Halios has built such a loyal following. This is independent watchmaking driven by taste and conviction rather than trends or artificial scarcity. The colour was offered once, it landed perfectly and it was never revisited. You do not see many of these and, when you do, there is a reason they rarely linger.
Condition and performance
The watch is in very good condition with light signs of regular wear.
Case: Micro scratches visible
Bezel: Micro scratches visible
Crystal: Clear, no marks
Supplied on its original rubber strap with Halios buckle
Comes boxed (in its brilliant Nunuk case) with warranty card.
Timegrapher: Approximately -7 seconds per day.
Strap options
Please send us a message if you would like any other strap option.
We also offer 10% off our straps and bracelets listed on our sister site, Ward Hoard, in Accessories purchased alongside a watch.
Simply add the accessory to your basket and use STRAP10 or BRAC10 at checkout on Ward Hoard.
Specifications
Case size: 41mm
Lug to lug: 47mm
Lug width: 20mm
Height: 12mm
Movement: ETA 2824-2 automatic
Questions
If you have any questions about this watch or strap options, or would like to reserve it, just get in touch. We’re always happy to help.
Quick facts
Reference: Reef 39.5mm
Category: Dive
Size: Small/ Medium
Movement: Automatic
Condition: Excellent
Formex (manufacturer) warranty: Expires January 2027
Buy it if you want: a premium, refined diver that is something a bit special.
Description
Formex is a Swiss brand with a longer and more complex history than many people realise. The company was originally founded in 1999 in Biel by two brothers Hans‑Peter and Ferdinand Grädel both of whom came from technical watchmaking and component manufacturing backgrounds. From the outset Formex was focused on extreme sports watches with a strong emphasis on engineering solutions rather than classical styling. The brand name comes from forme extrême and early Formex watches leaned heavily into that idea with large cases complex constructions and a patented case suspension system designed to protect the movement from shock and improve comfort.
Despite strong technical credentials the original Formex struggled through the late 2000s. The global financial crisis had a disproportionate impact on small independent brands and by the early 2010s Formex had effectively stalled with limited production and little visibility outside a very narrow niche. The turning point came in 2016 when Raphael Granito took over leadership of the brand. Granito grew up around high‑end Swiss manufacturing through his family’s component business Dexel SA which supplies parts to some of the most respected names in Swiss watchmaking.
Formex moved to a direct‑to‑consumer model, cut its retail overheads and redirected resources into product development finishing and engineering. The Essence collection marked the beginning of this second life for Formex establishing the brand’s reputation for offering unusually high technical quality and finishing at its price point. From there Formex expanded into sport and tool watches that retained the company’s DNA.
The Reef collection is the clearest expression of that modern Formex philosophy. It takes the idea of a professional dive watch and rebuilds it around comfort modularity and precision rather than heritage styling. This watch is referred to informally as the “Baby Reef”. This is not an official model name but a commonly used shorthand within enthusiast circles to differentiate it from the larger 42mm Reef models and the GMT variants.
In its current form the Reef is powered by a COSC‑certified Sellita SW300‑1 and built around a modular case and bezel system that allows tool‑free strap and bezel changes. The watch is engineered to wear slimmer than its specifications suggest and the clasp incorporates a patented on‑the‑fly micro‑adjustment system that is comparable with Christopher Ward and among the best currently available in this category.
Condition and performance
The watch is in excellent condition with only minor signs of careful use.
Case: Clean with light hairlines only
Bezel: Excellent
Crystal: Clear, no marks
Supplied on its CW bracelet with ratchet micro-adjust and quick release lugs showing light marks consistent with wear. Complete with all spare links.
Comes boxed with owner’s handbook, COSC certificate, strap adjustment tool and cleaning cloth.
Timegrapher: Approximately +4 seconds per day.
Strap options
Please send us a message if you would like any other strap option. I’ve got some unworn leather and webbing original Formex suitable for this watch.
We also offer 10% off our straps and bracelets listed on our sister site, Ward Hoard, in Accessories purchased alongside a watch.
Simply add the accessory to your basket and use STRAP10 or BRAC10 at checkout on Ward Hoard.
Specifications
Case size: 39.5mm
Lug to lug: 45.5mm
Lug width: 22mm
Height: 11mm
Movement: Sellita SW300-1 COSC
Questions
If you have any questions about this watch or strap options, or would like to reserve it, just get in touch. We’re always happy to help.
Quick facts
Reference: CWC Quartz
Category: Adventure
Size: Medium
Movement: Quartz
Condition: Very good
SHWC warranty: Six months from date of purchase
Buy it if you want: a military inspired diver with proper heritage.
Description
Cabot Watch Company is a British brand founded in 1972 and best known for producing watches supplied directly to the UK Ministry of Defence. Unlike brands that imitate military styling, CWC has genuine issued provenance, having supplied watches to the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and British Army for decades. Their designs are governed by specification and function rather than fashion, and the SBS divers sit at the sharp end of that history.
This model is the 1987 SBS Quartz Diver Re‑Issue, based on the original black diver commissioned for the Special Boat Service in 1987. The original issued watches are among the rarest British military dive watches, with only a very small number surviving, and this re‑issue stays deliberately close to the original MOD specification. It is an uncompromising watch, built around a black PVD‑coated steel case, fixed bars and a clear, highly legible dial with sword hands and day‑date display.
The SF300‑87 is very much a purpose‑built tool watch. Water resistance is rated to 300 metres, the bezel is unidirectional with luminous markings, and the case construction is robust rather than refined. Power comes from a Swiss Ronda quartz movement chosen for accuracy and reliability rather than novelty.
Condition and performance
The watch is in very good condition with some signs of wear.
Case: Odd pinpricks/ marks
Bezel: No issues of note
Crystal: Clear, no marks
Supplied on a Sigma bracelet with showing light marks consistent with wear. Complete with all spare links boxed and with tools. Also comes with its original NATO in great condition.
Comes boxed with owner’s manual, cleaning cloth and warranty booklet/card. covering letter, original invoice, service documentation.
Strap options
Please send us a message if you would like any other strap option.
We also offer 10% off our straps and bracelets listed on our sister site, Ward Hoard, in Accessories purchased alongside a watch.
Simply add the accessory to your basket and use STRAP10 or BRAC10 at checkout on Ward Hoard.
Specifications
Case size: 41mm
Lug to lug: 47mm
Lug width: 20mm
Height: 11mm
Movement: Ronda quartz 517
Questions
If you have any questions about this watch or strap options, or would like to reserve it, just get in touch. We’re always happy to help.
Contact us
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