Terms and conditions.
These terms and conditions (T&C) govern the services of ORBIS Auctions Sàrl, holder of the registered Swiss trade mark ORBIS (figurative mark), whose registered office is at Avenue de Rumine 11, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland (hereinafter "ORBIS").
1. Scope
The T&C apply to any diagnostic, overhaul, repair or restoration service for watches and horological objects entrusted to ORBIS, at the workshop or by shipping. The handover of a piece at the workshop or by shipping and the acceptance of a quotation each entail acceptance of these T&C. Any diverging condition is valid only with the written agreement of ORBIS.
2. Online estimate and quotation
The price range displayed by the online estimate tool is indicative and does not constitute an offer; it covers the service (labour), excluding spare parts. The parts to be replaced are priced separately in the quotation, which is subject to the client's approval. After receipt and examination of the piece, ORBIS issues a free quotation, as a rule within 7 working days. The quotation constitutes a firm offer for 3 months. Acceptance may be given in writing, by email or by online approval in the Client Area; online approval, with a time stamp, constitutes firm acceptance of the quotation and of these T&C.
3. Pieces accepted for service
The watch must have all of its internal and external parts in order to be accepted for service. The following are not accepted: watches that have suffered water ingress, watches that have been disassembled, or manifest counterfeits. The client warrants the lawful provenance of the piece entrusted; any suspicion of theft or of counterfeiting leads to refusal of the service and, where applicable, to notification of the competent authorities. The services are carried out in the ORBIS workshops, which may call upon qualified subcontractors under its own responsibility. On receipt, each piece is the subject of a photographic condition report; this documentation is authoritative in the event of a dispute concerning the external condition of the piece.
4. Shipping and handover of the piece
The client may drop their piece off at one of the ORBIS workshops, send it by their own means, or order a home collection on the website by our partner courier (Colixo), at the rate displayed at the time of the order. In the case of a collection, packaging is carried out by the client, under their own responsibility, in a rigid box with padding; the piece is covered during transport up to the amount of the insurance chosen at the time of the order (2'000 or 5'000 CHF). The courier makes contact by telephone before calling. For any shipment by their own means, ORBIS recommends mail against signature, in rigid packaging with padding, and provides its packaging instructions on request. Until the piece is received at the ORBIS premises, the risks and the costs of the outward transport are borne entirely by the client; most carriers cover no more than 5'000 francs per parcel, subject to a surcharge and a prior declaration of value. If the piece is worth more, the client requests higher cover from their carrier or agrees with ORBIS on a suitable method of handover (collection at the workshop or specialised transport). To minimise the risks, the client refrains from indicating the value or the contents on the packaging; on request, the client substantiates the market value of the piece (purchase invoice, appraisal, photographs). Before any shipment, the client documents the condition of the watch with dated photographs and keeps proof that it was inside the parcel, in particular the weight certified at drop-off (the carrier's receipt); these items are necessary in the event of a loss in order to bring claims against the carrier or the insurer.
Drop-off at the workshop remains possible at any time and is still the safest method of handover. For shipments from or to abroad, ORBIS arranges secure transport on request by a specialised carrier, with no insurance ceiling; the conditions and the cost are stated before shipping.
On return, the handover of the parcel to the carrier is documented by a tracking number and a drop-off confirmation. The client examines the piece upon receipt; any visible transport damage is reported to the carrier and to ORBIS within 24 hours, so as to allow claims to be brought against the carrier or the insurer, with the assistance of ORBIS. For pieces of high value, a specific method of return may be agreed (collection at the workshop or dedicated transport).
5. Rejection of the quotation
If the quotation is rejected, the piece is returned to the client or held at their disposal at the workshop, with no diagnostic charge. Any return shipping costs may be invoiced to the client.
6. Prices and payment
The prices displayed on the website are indicative, in Swiss francs. Only the accepted quotation is authoritative. Unless otherwise agreed, payment is made on collection or before the piece is returned. The accepted means of payment are stated at the time of invoicing.
7. Turnaround times
The turnaround times stated (as a rule 6 weeks from acceptance of the quotation) are indicative. They may be extended in particular where supplies or spare parts are awaited, in the event of remaking work, or because of technical constraints revealed in the course of the intervention. ORBIS informs the client of any significant postponement. A delay gives rise to no right to a price reduction or to damages.
8. Additional work
If work not provided for in the quotation proves indispensable to the proper performance of the service in the course of the intervention, the client agrees that the amount of the quotation may be exceeded by 10% at most without a further approval; any excess is itemised on the invoice. Beyond this tolerance, ORBIS submits a supplementary quotation and no additional chargeable work is carried out without the client's agreement.
9. Warranty
ORBIS warrants its interventions for 12 months from the return of the piece, 24 months for Platinum services or where an extension has been agreed. The warranty covers malfunctions attributable to the intervention carried out. Excluded are: wear parts (in particular batteries, bracelets, gaskets) and components whose service life depends on use, save for an obvious technical defect in the part or in the work performed; normal wear, impacts and improper use; any intervention carried out by a third party after the return of the piece. Water resistance is not warranted: it is tested at the time of return where the intervention provides for this, but its persistence over time depends on the gaskets, the wear parts and the conditions of use. The warranty confers a right to have the intervention brought into conformity, to the exclusion of any other claim. Any defect is to be reported in writing as soon as it is discovered, apparent defects no later than within 14 days following the return of the piece.
10. Replaced parts and original parts
Replaced components are returned to the client on request made no later than acceptance of the quotation. The replacement of main components (dial, hands, crown, case, bezel, crystal, movement) is always declared in the quotation and subject to the client's express agreement; the routine replacement of wear parts (gaskets, springs, screws) forms part of the usual overhaul. ORBIS gives preference to original supplies or supplies of equivalent quality; where the part is no longer available from the manufacture, ORBIS may propose remaking it at the bench, as stated in the quotation.
11. Liability
ORBIS is liable for damage caused to the piece by defective performance of its services, where a breach of its contractual obligations is attributable to it, within the limits of the law. Liability for slight negligence is excluded to the extent permitted by art. 100 CO; wilful intent and gross negligence remain reserved, as do mandatory statutory provisions.
For any damage, loss or theft occurring during transport, claims are brought first against the carrier and its insurer, with the assistance of ORBIS in assembling the claim file. The professional liability insurance of ORBIS applies only on a subsidiary basis, once the claims against the carrier and its insurer have been exhausted, and only for the part of the damage for which ORBIS is liable under the preceding paragraph. No direct claim by the client against the insurer of ORBIS is founded on these T&C.
The client declares that they are the owner of the piece entrusted or that they hold the right to order its repair.
12. Retention and unclaimed pieces
By approving these T&C at the time of the order, the client expressly agrees that ORBIS may retain the piece until the invoice has been paid in full, within the limits of Swiss law (art. 895 et seq. CC).
In the absence of payment in full within 3 months following the issue of the invoice, ORBIS sends the client a written formal notice granting them a payment period of at least 30 days and advising them of the consequences provided for in this article. If the formal notice remains without effect, the client already now authorises ORBIS to realise the retained piece or pieces by private sale, at a price in line with the market, without further formality. The net proceeds of the realisation are applied to the claims of ORBIS (invoice, interest, costs of safekeeping, of estimation and of realisation); any surplus is held at the client's disposal. Reasonable safekeeping costs may be invoiced as from the formal notice. The same rule applies to pieces not claimed within 12 months following notification that the work has been completed.
13. Data protection
The processing of personal data is described in the privacy policy.
14. Applicable law and place of jurisdiction
These T&C are subject to Swiss law. The place of jurisdiction is the registered office of ORBIS Auctions Sàrl, subject to the mandatory places of jurisdiction provided for by law, in particular in favour of consumers.