Cresus

Cresus

Cresus is a French luxury watch specialist established in 1993, offering authenticated pre-owned Rolex, Omega, Cartier and other prestigious timepieces, backed by expert watchmaking and a two-year warranty.

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Cresus is an established French retailer of authenticated pre-owned luxury watches and jewelry, now operating within the MATY retail group. It combines direct online purchases, physical boutiques, a specialist watchmaking workshop in Lyon, a two-year watch warranty, trade-in services and secure delivery.

About Cresus

Cresus is a French specialist in pre-owned luxury watches and jewelry, founded in Lyon in 1993 by Christian Odin. The company helped establish a specialist retail market for second-hand luxury timepieces in France, combining carefully selected watches with professional authentication and personal customer service.

Cresus entered online watch retail early, launching its first website in 2000. Over time, the business expanded into physical luxury watch boutiques and developed its own watchmaking workshop in Lyon.

The Cresus brand, online store and historic retail locations have since become part of MATY, an established French jewelry company founded in 1951. The Cresus by MATY business continues to specialize in authenticated second-hand watches and jewelry, supported by both dedicated Cresus locations and selected MATY retail corners.

Its catalog includes pre-owned timepieces from prestigious manufacturers such as Rolex, Omega, Cartier, Breitling, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Jaeger-LeCoultre, TAG Heuer and IWC Schaffhausen.

Unlike conventional authorized retailers focused primarily on new watches, Cresus specializes in carefully inspected pre-owned and vintage timepieces. Its watchmaking specialists examine watches for authenticity, technical condition, identifying details and originality.

Qualifying watch purchases include a two-year Cresus warranty covering eligible parts and labor. The company also operates an integrated watchmaking workshop, offering maintenance and repair services.

Customers can shop directly online, reserve selected watches for boutique appointments, arrange secure delivery or use the company’s services for selling, exchanging and valuing luxury watches.

Cresus is particularly relevant to collectors and buyers seeking authenticated luxury watches, discontinued references and specialist support when purchasing watches on the secondary market.

Shipping & Delivery

Cresus offers secure shipping for luxury watches and jewelry within France and to eligible international destinations. Delivery options and charges are displayed during the ordering process.

Shipping Within France

  • Metropolitan France: Complimentary standard delivery.
  • Delivery Provider: UPS secure shipping is specified in the current sales terms.
  • Estimated Delivery: Approximately 6–10 business days for eligible available products, according to the retailer’s published terms.
  • Order Processing: Preparation and dispatch depend on payment confirmation and the availability of the selected product.

European Union Shipping

Cresus currently lists a standard order-processing and delivery charge of €50 for eligible European Union destinations under its published general sales conditions.

Shipping Outside the European Union

The published charge for eligible destinations outside the European Union is €80. Actual eligibility and final charges should be confirmed before purchase, particularly for high-value watches.

Additional customs duties, import VAT and destination-country fees may apply to international shipments outside the European Union. These charges are the responsibility of the recipient.

Secure Delivery of Valuable Goods

Cresus uses secure shipping arrangements appropriate to valuable watches and jewelry. Customers should review the selected transport method, tracking information and delivery requirements when placing an order.

Click & Collect

Customers can choose collection from participating Cresus boutiques or Cresus by MATY retail corners. Collection is free under the current sales terms.

Products already available at the chosen location may be ready relatively quickly, while items transferred from another location can require additional preparation and transport time.

Identification at Collection

Customers collecting a purchased watch may be asked to provide identification matching the recipient information.

Shipping conditions, estimated delivery dates and exact international fees should be confirmed during checkout, as certain older information pages may display different shipping schedules.

Returns & Refunds

Cresus provides a 14-day withdrawal period for eligible consumer distance purchases, subject to its current terms and applicable French consumer protection laws.

14-Day Withdrawal Period

Customers may request a return within 14 days after receiving an eligible online purchase. They should contact Cresus customer service and complete the applicable withdrawal procedure.

Return Procedure

Cresus recommends contacting customer service before returning a watch. Customers should complete the return form and include the relevant purchase documentation.

Returned watches and jewelry should be securely packaged with the originally supplied accessories, certificates, packaging and other documentation.

Return Shipping Costs

Customers are generally responsible for direct return shipping costs. Given the value of luxury watches, the retailer recommends using an appropriately insured transport service.

Refund Processing

Once a return has been received and examined by the quality-control team, eligible refunds are processed using the original payment method, in accordance with applicable consumer law.

Exchanges & Customer Credit

Customers may also discuss exchanging an eligible product for another available watch or jewelry item. Cresus provides options for retaining the applicable amount as customer credit while searching for another suitable product.

Exceptions & Special Transactions

Personalized or custom-made items may be excluded from the statutory right of withdrawal where legally permitted. Cresus also publishes specific return restrictions for certain collection and transaction types.

Customers selecting Click & Collect should verify the current contractual and statutory rules applicable to their particular transaction. Store policies cannot override mandatory consumer rights where those rights apply.

Before returning an expensive pre-owned watch, buyers should obtain instructions from Cresus and confirm the appropriate insurance and shipping arrangements.

Payment Methods

Cresus offers secure online payments and several financing options for pre-owned luxury watches and jewelry purchases.

Available Payment Methods

  • Visa: Secure online card payment using supported 3D Secure authentication.
  • Mastercard: Accepted for eligible online orders.
  • Bank Transfer: Advance payment by bank transfer, with order processing after the funds have been received.
  • Alma Installments: Eligible customers can pay in 2, 3 or 4 interest-free installments, subject to approval and conditions.
  • Extended Alma Financing: Selected purchases qualify for 10- or 12-payment plans with applicable financing charges.
  • In-Store Payment: Cash and other supported payment methods may be used at participating boutiques, subject to legal transaction limits.

Alma Installment Payments

Cresus advertises Alma installment payment arrangements for eligible purchases ranging from €50 to €15,000. Available repayment options depend on transaction value, customer eligibility, location and the payment provider’s approval.

For certain retail corners, lower financing limits may apply.

Bank Transfer

Customers choosing bank transfer can request the retailer’s payment details and complete payment before the watch is dispatched. Transfer processing may require several business days.

Payment Security

Online card transactions use secure authentication and payment processing. Customer details and payment eligibility are checked according to the applicable payment provider’s requirements.

Financing availability may vary by country of residence. Customers should review repayment schedules, financing costs and the final available checkout options before purchasing a luxury watch.

Savings, Cashback & Coupons

Cresus offers several ways to find value in the pre-owned luxury watch market, including discounted watches, special offers, product alerts and trade-in services.

Special Offers on Pre-Owned Watches

The retailer maintains a dedicated special-offers section with selected pre-owned luxury watches offered at reduced prices. Available discounts depend on the brand, reference, condition and current inventory.

Cresus advertises savings of up to 75% compared with new-watch prices on certain selected products. This is not a storewide discount, and collectible watches may cost more than their original retail price.

Pre-Owned Watch Value

Customers can compare pre-owned watches with new models, considering production year, condition, original accessories, documentation and servicing requirements.

Trade-In & Watch Selling

Cresus offers watch purchasing, valuation and trade-in services. Customers considering an upgrade can have their existing watch evaluated and discuss applying its value toward another purchase.

Product Availability Alerts

When a desired watch is unavailable, customers can create an alert for the reference or similar models. Cresus can notify interested buyers when a matching item becomes available.

Newsletter & New Arrivals

Newsletter subscribers can receive updates about newly acquired watches, special offers and selected collections.

Official Cresus Savings Pages

Smart Ways to Save at Cresus

  • Browse the official special-offers section for discounted watches.
  • Compare watches with the same reference and similar conditions.
  • Review the included original box, documents and service history.
  • Consider trade-in opportunities when replacing an existing watch.
  • Set alerts for desired references and monitor new arrivals.
  • Compare premium pre-owned models that still have manufacturer warranty coverage.
  • Consider financing charges and the total delivered cost before purchasing.

Cresus does not prominently advertise a permanent universal coupon or cashback program. Promotions and inventory can change without notice.

Trust & Reviews

Cresus is an established French luxury watch and jewelry retailer with a history dating back to 1993. Its specialization in authenticated pre-owned watches, physical retail locations and integrated watchmaking expertise provides several important trust signals for buyers.

The Cresus brand and online retail operations now form part of MATY, a French jewelry business founded in 1951. Cresus continues to operate through its dedicated retail presence and participating Cresus by MATY locations.

Watch Authentication

Cresus states that every watch it acquires is examined by its watchmaking experts. Authentication checks include the watch case, movement, dial, hands, crown, serial numbers, production information and available documentation.

The company also reviews relevant components and the consistency of identifying details before offering a watch for sale.

Two-Year Cresus Warranty

Cresus offers a two-year warranty on eligible watches, covering qualifying parts and labor under the retailer’s published conditions.

An optional one-year warranty extension is available for selected watches, although certain vintage models and highly complicated mechanical watches are excluded from that extension.

Premium Pre-Owned Watches

Selected recent watches receive Cresus Premium identification. These watches meet additional standards concerning condition, original packaging, documentation and remaining manufacturer warranty coverage.

Integrated Watchmaking Workshop

Cresus maintains its own specialist watchmaking workshop in Lyon. The team performs watch inspections, maintenance and repair work, providing after-sales support beyond basic retail transactions.

Physical Retail Locations

Customers can visit participating Cresus boutiques and Cresus by MATY corners to view selected watches, discuss individual models and arrange eligible collection or purchasing services.

Transparency & Customer Protection

The retailer publishes its consumer withdrawal rules, payment methods, authentication procedures, customer-service contacts and warranty information. Secure payment processing and delivery arrangements offer additional protection for high-value purchases.

Important Buying Considerations

Cresus is not an officially appointed retailer for every luxury watch brand offered through its second-hand inventory. Buyers should distinguish Cresus warranty coverage from any remaining original manufacturer warranty.

For vintage and collectible watches, customers should carefully examine the reported condition, originality, service history and included documentation. Recent independent reviews can provide additional information about customer service and after-sales experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cresus an authorized Rolex retailer? +

No. Cresus specializes in authenticated pre-owned luxury watches and is not an official Rolex retailer for new watches. Its second-hand Rolex inventory is verified through the Cresus authentication process and sold with applicable Cresus warranty coverage rather than automatically including a new Rolex manufacturer warranty.

Who owns Cresus, and is it still the same business founded in 1993? +

Cresus was founded in Lyon in 1993 by Christian Odin. The brand, online store and historic retail operations have since been acquired by the French jewelry company MATY. Cresus continues operating under the Cresus name, with dedicated boutiques, selected MATY retail corners and a focus on authenticated pre-owned watches.

How does Cresus verify the authenticity of pre-owned watches? +

Cresus employs watchmaking specialists who examine the case, movement, serial numbers, dial, hands, crown, documentation and other identifying details. Watches are evaluated for authenticity, condition and consistency before being offered for sale.

What is covered by the Cresus two-year watch warranty? +

Cresus provides a two-year warranty covering eligible watch parts and labor under its published conditions. The warranty is provided by Cresus and should be distinguished from the original manufacturer’s warranty. Certain models may also qualify for a paid additional year of coverage.

What does the Cresus Premium label mean? +

Cresus Premium identifies selected recent pre-owned watches that meet additional standards. These watches are generally less than one year old, in very good or excellent condition, supplied with original boxes and papers, and still covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

Can I buy a Cresus watch without the original box or papers? +

Yes. Some pre-owned watches may be sold without their original box or complete manufacturer documentation. Cresus authenticates watches independently, but the included accessories differ by listing. Buyers should confirm exactly what is supplied, as original papers and packaging can affect future resale value.

Does Cresus buy or trade in luxury watches from customers? +

Yes. Cresus provides luxury watch valuation, purchasing, consignment and exchange services. Customers can request an assessment online or through participating retail locations. The proposed value depends on the brand, reference, condition, originality and current market demand.

How does Cresus compare with Kronos 360? +

Both are French businesses selling authenticated pre-owned luxury watches. Cresus operates as a direct retailer with its own watch inventory, physical boutiques and an integrated watchmaking workshop. Kronos 360 uses a managed marketplace model with digital authentication certificates. Buyers should compare individual watch condition, warranty terms, documentation and pricing.

Can I reserve a Cresus watch online and try it in a boutique? +

Yes. Cresus offers online reservation and boutique viewing options for eligible watches. Customers can select a participating location and arrange to examine a watch before completing the purchase, subject to product availability and the retailer’s reservation procedures.

Can customers outside France purchase watches from Cresus? +

Cresus offers international delivery to eligible destinations. Its current general sales conditions list free delivery within metropolitan France, a €50 charge for eligible European Union destinations and €80 outside the European Union. Buyers should confirm final shipping costs and potential import duties before ordering.