Yes. Every vintage watch offered by Contre-Temps Paris has been examined and authenticated by our expert watchmakers. We verify the movement, the dial, the hands and the case — this has been the foundation of our craft for nearly 30 years.

That said, it is worth bearing in mind that a watch 50, 60 or 70 years old — or more — has lived a life. It is possible, and indeed common, for certain components to have been replaced or restored over the course of that life. This is less frequently the case for pieces from the past twenty or thirty years, though it remains always possible.

At Contre-Temps, authenticity is not reducible to the hypothetical certainty of an entirely original piece. It lies in coherence of the whole: original intent, quality of execution, state of preservation, and transparency about the history of the piece.

A serviced or restored watch is a piece whose mechanical or aesthetic components have been repaired or replaced by a qualified watchmaker to ensure its proper functioning and to extend its life at the wrist. At Contre-Temps, we place particular importance on the original condition. Patina is not a flaw: it is a trace. A slightly altered lacquer, softened edges, aged tritium — these confer a depth that no
restoration can recreate. Authenticity always prevails over perfection.

However, over a long life often measured in decades, the intervention of a skilled watchmaker or dial specialist may have become necessary. Such work should be limited to targeted operations - stabilising elements, replacing strictly functional parts, regulating — with priority given to preserving original components and ensuring the reversibility of interventions.

The integrity of a vintage watch, like any antique mechanical object, is not judged by the absolute certainty that every part is original, but by the coherence of its care over time and the respect for professional standards.

Our vintage collector watches come primarily from direct purchases from private individuals, either in our Paris boutique or through our online form. We also source from private collections and through exchanges with fellow collectors — a network built over nearly 30 years of presence, from the Marché Malassis to the Louvre des Antiquaires, and then Rue du Bac.

Each piece is carefully assessed before being accepted. It is then fully serviced and maintained in our Paris
workshops before joining our catalogue. We only offer watches that meet our standards of authenticity, coherence and working condition.

Yes. Contre-Temps Paris works with a trusted team of watchmakers, trained to the highest professional
standards and in some of the most prestigious houses in the industry. Our technicians work on both mechanical and quartz movements from the great manufactures.
Their mastery and dexterity have been tested, year after year, by an ever more
demanding clientele.

Jean-Yves Vergara, founder of Contre-Temps and our expert in residence, personally supervises — alongside his team of watchmakers — the authentication and integrity of every piece. Every watch sold by Timeproof online or in the Contre-Temps Paris boutique is serviced, maintained, and where necessary restored before being offered for sale, accompanied by a 2-year warranty (1 year for certain very early pieces).

The boutique's presence and reputation over nearly 30 years in Paris is the guarantee of a lasting
commitment to each client — from the budding collector making their first purchase to the seasoned one in search of their next grail.

Every vintage watch is documented with a comprehensive descriptive sheet and unretouched professional
photographs. We provide the model reference number when it can be clearly established. Our photographs are presented as-is, without digital enhancement: transparency about the true aesthetic condition is part of our commitment to the collector.

We have chosen not to systematically offer views of the movement with the case back open. This is a
deliberate decision: every case opening after servicing carries risks — loss of water resistance, introduction of dust, accidental damage — that would undermine the care taken by our watchmakers. Preserving the integrity of the watch is our priority.

In exceptional circumstances and upon reasoned request, we can nevertheless arrange for a photograph of the movement to be made available

Yes. All watches offered by Contre-Temps Paris are fully serviced by our team of watchmakers before being
put up for sale. For mechanical movements, this includes cleaning, lubrication and regulation. For quartz movements, the battery is systematically replaced. Additional repairs are carried out only when the condition demands it, covering the movement, crystal, dial, hands and crown — in keeping with our philosophy
of respecting the integrity of each piece.

The case and metal bracelet are thoroughly cleaned and lightly polished in keeping with the original finish of
the model. If the watch is delivered on a leather strap, this is replaced with a new strap of the client's choosing

Yes. Every watch sold by Timeproof online or in the Contre-Temps Paris boutique comes with a 2-year
warranty (1 year for certain very early pieces). The applicable duration is indicated on each watch's listing.

This warranty covers the proper functioning of the movement and crown under normal conditions of use. Water resistance is only guaranteed following a specific test carried out at the client's request. Damage resulting from impact, water exposure without prior testing, or careless use is excluded.

The warranty is issued in the form of a Contre-Temps Certificate, handed over at the moment of delivery — whether in boutique or at dispatch. It is personal and non-transferable.

For a mechanical watch from a major manufacture, we recommend a full service every 3 to 5 years. This
interval allows the precision of the movement to be maintained and prevents premature wear of the components.

For quartz watches, we advise replacing the battery every 2 years. It is important not to leave a quartz
watch with its battery installed without wearing or monitoring it for more than 4 to 5 years: a battery at end of life can release acid and irreparably damage the movement.

Contre-Temps Paris has its own servicing and restoration department. We invite our clients to entrust their
watches to us for subsequent services — whether in boutique or by post. This is the best way to ensure continuity of care consistent with the initial service.

This depends on the age and type of watch. The water resistance status is indicated on each piece's listing
according to three clearly defined levels:

Water resistant — Watch serviced, tested and made watertight for full immersion according to its
original specifications. Hot showers are not recommended.

Splash resistant — Watch serviced and made watertight for momentary contact with liquid. Not suitable
for prolonged immersion. Hot showers are strongly to be avoided.

Not water resistant — Watch entirely allergic to contact with liquids. Most commonly the case for watches
over 40 years old. In the event of an accident, bring the piece to a repair workshop as quickly as possible.

As a general rule, diving watches under 20 years old retain their original water resistance. Manual-wind
and dress watches should be kept away from any water exposure. Quartz movements, better sealed by design, generally tolerate everyday splashes such as hand washing.

Contre-Temps offers water resistance testing in the workshop and can, where possible, restore the water
resistance of a watch that is no longer sealed.

Some of our watches are offered with their original box and papers, but this is the exception rather than the
rule — and the reason is quite simple. Until relatively recently, the habit of keeping the case, the warranty certificate, the booklets and the tags was not widespread among private owners. For watches over 20 years old, the full set is found in fewer than 10% of cases.

This expectation of the full set has taken hold in recent years with the rise of speculation on the most
sought-after models. It has migrated from the market for barely-worn recent watches towards that of genuine vintage pieces, where it has a different relevance. An original box adds to the pleasure of the acquisition and may justify the upper end of a price range for a given model — but it cannot be a condition of purchase for a fine antique piece.

What truly matters is the integrity of the watch itself: the coherence of its care, its state of preservation, and its alignment with the collector's desire. Every watch sold by Contre-Temps is accompanied by a Contre-Temps Warranty Certificate, presented at the moment of delivery.

When we know it, we are happy to share it. It sometimes happens that the original owner entrusts us with their
watch directly and passes on its story — the circumstances of the purchase, the years on the wrist, sometimes the occasion that prompted the choice. These are precious moments, but they remain rare.

In the majority of cases, a vintage watch has changed hands at least once before reaching us, and its
personal history has faded with time. We prefer to say so plainly rather than invent a narrative. What we can always document, on the other hand, is the history of the model itself — its place in the manufacture's catalogue, its context of creation, and its horological relevance.

We are always happy to answer this question on request. It is relatively straightforward these days to verify
the current catalogue of the major manufactures online.

The movement type is always indicated in the description and the technical sheet "The Model in Detail" of each watch. Three main families coexist in our catalogue:

Quartz watches run on a battery and require no winding. Automatic watches recharge through the natural movement of the wrist via a power reserve fed by a rotor; they can also be wound manually. Manual-wind watches require daily winding at the crown — a simple gesture that is part of the pleasure of wearing them

Yes. For watches presented on a leather strap, we systematically offer a new strap of the client's choosing —
in calf, ostrich, alligator or NATO, in the colour of their choice. The watch is delivered with this new strap.

For Rolex watches, we can also offer, upon request, a switch from the Oyster steel bracelet to a leather strap (with a price reduction) or conversely, from leather to an Oyster bracelet (with a supplement).

The case material is always indicated in the technical sheet "The Model in Detail", located beneath the photographs of each watch. Our pieces cover a wide variety of materials: steel, 18ct yellow gold, 18ct rose gold, 18ct white gold, 14ct gold, gold filled, vermeil, titanium, ceramic, among others.

The case material is also one of the search filters available on our website, allowing you to target directly
the pieces that match your preferences.

Yes. We ship worldwide, through leading carriers, with declared-value insurance and tracking at every stage. It is the same standard of care we apply to the servicing of our watches — extended through to delivery.

The average transit time is 3 working days within the European Union. For destinations outside the EU, times vary depending on local customs protocols. Shipping and insurance costs are automatically added at the time of order. Any customs duties and local taxes outside the European Union remain the
responsibility of the buyer.

Yes, we are always open to discussion. If you own a piece that might correspond to our world — in terms of
brand and reference as well as authenticity and working condition — we will be happy to enter into a conversation to find a balance satisfactory to both parties.

The watch proposed in part exchange will need to be physically examined in the boutique to confirm its
definitive condition. Please do not hesitate to contact us beforehand to discuss.

We accept payment by credit card, PayPal and bank transfer. All transactions are secured and encrypted via
Shopify Payments. Timeproof retains no banking data.

Shipping costs, including carriage and carrier value insurance, are automatically added to the price of
the watch at the time of order. For deliveries outside the European Union, any customs duties and local taxes remain the responsibility of the buyer.

Yes, and you are always welcome.
The Galerie Contre-Temps is located at 93 Rue du Bac, on the corner of Rue de Varenne, in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. The boutique is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 to 19:00, and Monday from 14:00 to 19:00.

You are welcome to drop in freely, or you may make an appointment for a dedicated online video call. For
any enquiries, do not hesitate to contact us by telephone on +33 (0)1 45 48 61 24 or by email at eshop@contretempsparis.com