Buying decision without trying it on??

All the time if you use eBay. You can just use a sharpie and ruler if you have dimensions.

most of the time I buy without trying them on…i can usually send them back without any issues if I don’t like them.

I have 21 watches in my collection and have never tried one on in the shop before buying it - they’ve all been bought offline and none needed to go back, except the odd faulty one. I suppose I’m pretty lucky because with a 7” wrist pretty much anything will fit. If you’ve got small wrists I guess it could be a problem. 
Most online retailers do accept returns, so although a pain the arse, find retailers that you have that ability with…..though you may get stung with paying the postage back.

For vintage same as @chronotriggered almost always. For new watches I will try them on in advance. Of course there are exception when there is no possibility to try them on. Then you can do some homework by reading the spec, read reviews and watching Youtube.

I think the last dozen watches I've bought have been online, without trying them first. I know what size is my minimum; I have a feel for what lug-to-lugs are like; I note whether the lugs are straight or have some curve; and I try and look at videos where it's on a variety of wrists. Can't say I've ever felt that I stuffed up, to be honest. So I'm very comfortable with buying a watch without trying it on.

I have never tried on any watch prior to purchasing. 🫣 Luckily, I’ve only had to sell longer lug-to-lug watches as I lost a 100lbs of weight (intentional!). I actually miss my grey dial Steinhart OVM 42mm, but the flat 50mm lug-to-lug doesn’t work on a 6.3” wrist like it did on my previously 7.55” wrist. The 39mm case just isn’t as good. 

I've bought the majority of my watches without trying them on.  Don't peel off the stickers or tags till you're sure you want the watch - most online stores (eg Joma) will take returns of watches without much fuss if they're unworn.

Christopher Ward has a 90 day return policy, assuming, of course, you don't peel off the stickers and use the watch. 

I buy plenty without trying them on. In fact I've only ever tried on about 3 before buying. Some sites have a "try it on" facility which gives you some idea of how it would look but, of course, no idea on how it will feel. 

Here's me "wearing" an Aqua Terra

I've seen watches that I drooled over online that did nothing for me in person. I've bought some online that I still love, but if it's a more expensive purchase like something in the luxury category, I wanna know how it feels in person first.

Except a few ones, actually only a couple, all the watches I have I bought them without trying first. Guess the worst case scenario is to sell the ones I finally don't like. 

On the other hand trying a watch in a shop is not the same experience as having it for a while.

Of course it's best to try first but if not possible, as said, you can always sell later and at least you will have had another learning experience.

I really try to put them on first at a store, what happens then is I say, "I'll take it!" Luckily I try to stick to under $100 :) i did successfully navigate a watch event, Microlux, without buying anything. Great stuff there, saw some watches I've had my eye on for a while. And yesterday I successfully resisted the watch section at walmart.

The lug to lug is a better indication of fit to me than crown to side

i buy all of my entire collection via online 😂. coz im lazy to go to the store, and choose to use my own imagination. its not recommended btw, sometimes it wont suitable with your wrist

I actually bought a watch in person at that store in your picture.  It is The Watch Company in Nakano, Japan.  Japan is paradise if you want to hunt for used and gray market watches.

These days I buy affordable watches online, so no trying on. I have a few watch stores near where I live, so for certain brands and certain models I could do the store - would not mind if that makes the watch a bit more expensive. Use them or lose them.

Frankly, the "is this watch the right size for me?" is an issue I don't really need the store for, though it would be very convenient if they adjusted a bracelet to my wrist size. However, there is a difference between how a watch looks in the catalogue (especially rendered), and how it looks in real life. I have kicked myself on several occasions for missing something about a watch's spec, which became glaringly obvious when seeing the thing in metal and glass.

All the time.  In fact,I believe everyone of my purchases has been online. Maybe that explains how I went from 0 to 60 in 18 months.  Ahhh, the world of the non-luxury buyer.  I do look back at my journey and realize I could have bought one bad ass luxury watch, but I'm letting the hobby take me and not the other way around. My entire adult life has been involved with investing which I do have a passion and talent for, so it's refreshing to have a hobby where I'm not concerned with the future worth of something and strictly doing it for the passion.

I think you just need to make sure the seller has a good rating and return policy. I find that maybe 1/4 of the time I don’t like the watch once I’ve tried it on. If it’s an interesting older watch I might keep it, but mostly it’s a return. Good luck

Wow, I am the odd one out. All of my watches I have tried on.

Hard to tell.. I buy pretty much all of my watches online. Usually not a big difference in what I expected ☺️ As for the Baby Alpinist, it has a beefy case and may look weird of you got a very flat wrists. The caseback sinks a bit in to my wrist and it looks fine. A bracelet makes it rest better on the wrist aswell. Almost sold mine before trying it on a bracelet 😁

I commented earlier, but on a side note, the picture of the watch boutique is awesome. I am turning my man cave into a antique watch boutique and that would be my ultimate room.  The reality is, only in my mind would it look like that, but it's coming along.

I always try to buy from places online that have good/easy return policies. Sometimes you just have to consider the cost of ordering online to be the $20 it would take to send back the watch insured to the seller. you may not need to pay it, but it’s always worth it to send it back (insured) if you’re unsure and get something you like. Some places offer free returns too! 
one watch I ended up not getting online is an Archimede pilot watch. I loved it and it would probably have fit me well, but I didn’t like the idea of having to ship it back to Germany and deal with delays/customs if I didn’t like the way it fit.  

To begin with, I generally know all the dimensions/shapes that work for me. So I start with that. Then, I make sure I know exactly what the return policy is (and I mean EXACTLY. Some won’t take back the watch if the stickers are off. Read the fine print!). If I’m comfortable with all that, I would order a watch without hesitation.

The problem sometimes is that you don’t really know about a watch until you’ve lived with it for a while, and your opinion could change. But that’s true if you try it on or not. That’s only happened to me once. 

I try hard to try on as many watches as possible whenever I get the chance in a major city.  I make a list of watches that fit well and suit my style.  When I have the money, I know these are models that I could buy used or online.

I have developed a system based on a combination of specs and photos that should tell me whether a watch will fit me.  I use lug length, height, depth of the case back below the mid case and the downturn angle of the lugs.  A careful examination of these elements will generally tell me if a watch will fit me well.  But I still prefer a test fitting to be sure. 

After wearing a couple of watches you will figure out some sweet sizes for you. For me it’s 36-39mm, depending on the design and lugs etc, and my experience with the brand. If I’m going beyond my threshold level then I wld have to try it. 

I got two watches without trying them on. One had a ton of reviews and pictures already (Orient Mako II) so I kinda knew what to expect when I got it, and was over the moon with how great it looked.

The Hamilton was more a blind buy, and while I am happy enough with it, I probably would not have gotten it (at least, not on the bracelet) if I tried it on first. The male end links are way too long.

Oh I guess I should add I never considered the Tag Heuer Aquaracer before but was pleasantly surprised when I tried it on.

I have to try it on before I buy. Several times. Sometimes it takes me a few months to make up my mind.🤔

I don’t think you can go wrong with SRB, it’s very forgiving on most wrist sizes and a joy to stare at. I got mine site unseen and loved it for a long while, but have since sold. They usually have pretty solid return policies as well if you purchase from the right online dealers. Teddy Balthazar has a good e-commerce site with a lot of inventory. And Hodinkee is an obvious solid choice to purchase through as well. Good luck with your next purchase!

I do this all the time. Especially during covid. Most companies have a 14 day returns policy just do not remove the tags on the watch. But most of the time you will be happy and you will keep your watch. It is important to ask them what their returns policy is before you buy your watch.Good luck. I hope you purchase your perfect watch. Wear it in good health.

It's cool of and when you can try a watch on but I have purchased many watches without trying them on. Just make sure there is a return option 

I don't think it's massively important to try on a watch before buying. As others have said, once you have a good appreciation of how certain dimensions wear on your wrist (lug to lug being by far the most important measurement imo), you can buy online with a pretty good degree of confidence.

Also, trying on a watch for 5 minutes in a shop has no relation to how you're going to feel about it long term. It's like when you're in a pub and the barman offers you to try a beer before buying a pint. I always say no, because you can't get a feel for a pint with one small sip. You have to ease into it.