How to Send a Watch: The Ultimate Guide (2026)
Written by Valentin Scemama, Shipping Insurance & Watch Expert at Secursus.
At Secursus, our main activity is to insure watches during shipping, and we insure thousands of watches every year. If you need to send a watch through a courier, by post or any other parcel carrier, you should check this complete guide that will help you send, pack and insure your watch so you're fully covered if the watch gets lost or stolen during the mail journey.
More than 1,000 watch sellers trust Secursus to insure their timepieces. Below is a quick comparison of why choosing a specialized provider is vital for your high-value shipments.
| Criteria | Royal Mail / DHL | Secursus |
|---|---|---|
| Max Liability (Watches) | Often Capped (£50-£2.5k) | Up to £100,000+ |
| Vintage Coverage | Often Excluded | Fully Covered |
| Cost (Rate) | ~1.0% - 2.0% + Fees | ~0.60% (Fixed) |
| Claim Speed | 30 - 90 Days | Under 30 Days |
Watch Insurance Checklist
The most important guideline is to prevent burglars from targeting your parcels. To do this, make sure the exterior packaging has no marks or labelling that may indicate the presence of a watch within.
If you own a watch firm, your company name or email address may include a sensitive term like "watch," "Rolex," "Omega," "luxury watch," "jewellery," and so on. Remove or shorten these words. For example, rename "Vintage Watch Company" to "VW Co". Always examine parcel labels for any sensitive language.
At Secursus, watch insurance is necessary. This is referred to as a risk mitigation approach, and it reduces the danger of theft while also lowering the cost of watch sending insurance.
Packing a Watch for Shipping
- Wrap your watch (or watch box) with bubble wrap.
- Place the first packing in a small box.
- Place this smaller box inside a larger box (also called a pizza box).
- Attach an additional mailing label to the smaller parcel. If the primary label slips off, the carrier will at least open it to discover another label within.
- Ensure that the primary sending label is affixed to a sturdy surface.
⌚ Watch Insurance Calculator (UK)
Special rate for Horology: 0.6%
Sending a Watch: Select the Best Carrier and Delivery Service
Even if you have sending insurance, you don't want to send a watch via the wrong carrier. Bad carriers lose parcels, and if they do, they often refuse to admit it.
Consider speedy and dependable carriers for local or international mailings, such as priority mail international or express carriers like DHL, FedEx, or UPS, when sending your watches.
Include the signature option to ensure your parcel is delivered to the correct recipient.
Shipstation provides competitive pricing depending on parcel destination, weight, and size, allowing you to choose the best option for sending your watch.
Check receipts for necessary signatures and ensure the courier does not deliver the parcel to someone else or a collection point (e.g., grocery store, supermarket).
Selling Watches Online? Double-Check Your Buyer
Scammers target valuable items, such as watches. This is why we strongly advise against sending a watch without receiving payment first.
Beware of buyers that prioritise a rapid transaction over the watch itself. Conduct a Google search on the buyer's name to check for any fraud history. The most common fraud comes from private customers, who will claim that they never received the parcel, despite the fact that they are currently wearing your watch! They will attempt to swindle both you and the insurance company.
To prevent fraud, utilise your parcel's tracking information and number to monitor its progress.
How Do I Insure a Watch During Transit?
At Secursus, we specialize in watch shipping insurance with more than 1,000 watch sellers using our parcel insurance.
If you're sending watches and require parcel insurance to protect them during transit, Secursus will offer you the appropriate coverage and guide you on how to properly send a watch. You can quickly sign up and get immediate coverage for your watch while in transit.
If you are buying or selling a watch and need help with the watch sending insurance process, please do not hesitate to contact us.
