BNIB vs LNIB vs Mint: watch condition grades

The grades, from new to well worn

These are the condition words buyers and dealers use in watch listings, in order from the newest to the most worn. Each links to its glossary entry.

Fresh

Only a few days old. Unworn, just picked up from the AD or dealer, and as new as it gets on the secondary market.

Unworn / BNIB (brand new in box)

Brand new and never worn. It may still have its factory stickers, tags and protective plastics.

NIB (new in box)

A new watch in its original packaging, never worn.

NOS (new old stock)

A vintage or discontinued watch that was never sold or worn, so it is essentially factory new despite its age.

LNIB (like new in box)

Worn very briefly but still in near-new condition, with its original box.

Mint

Preowned but in near-perfect condition with minimal signs of wear. It has been worn enough to lose its factory plastics, and a close look under bright light may show light desk-diving marks.

Slider

A preowned watch in such good condition it could pass as brand new. Sometimes the only tell is a warranty date more than a few weeks old.

Excellent

Light wear consistent with careful occasional use. No deep scratches, dings or significant marks.

Honest

Clearly worn and lived in rather than babied. Not abused, but it shows its history.

Beater

Worn hard and used daily without babying it. Expect scratches, scuffs and character.

BNIB, LNIB and Mint side by side

The three get mixed up because they sit next to each other at the top of the scale. The line that matters is whether the watch has been worn. BNIB (and NIB) means it never has. LNIB means it has, very briefly, and it still comes with its original box. Mint means it has been worn enough to lose its factory plastics while showing no meaningful marks, and it is the most common condition word on the secondary market for Rolex and other heavy-resale brands.

Dealers often write Mint / LNIB as one grade. If a seller's photos show any dings or scratches, the listing should not call the watch Mint; Excellent, one step down, allows light wear from careful occasional use.

Grading a post in a Moda watch group

A watch sold by anyone other than the brand's authorized dealer is legally preowned, even if it has never been worn. That is why the Moda watch groups keep certain condition words on their auto-decline lists on purpose: Moda Watch Club declines new, unworn and custom, and Moda Watch Club: 10K & Under declines unworn and custom.

So a listing says preowned and lets the facts carry the condition: the year, whether it comes with box and papers, and a grade such as mint or excellent. The Post Checker checks a draft against the list for the group you pick before you post.

Related glossary terms

• Unworn / BNIB

  Brand new, never worn, sometimes with factory stickers still on.

• LNIB (Like New In Box)

  Worn very briefly, near new, with its original box.

• Mint / LNIB

  Preowned and near perfect, with minimal signs of wear.

• NIB (New In Box)

  A new watch in its original packaging, never worn.

• Fresh

  Only a few days old, just picked up from the AD or dealer.

• NOS (New Old Stock)

  A vintage or discontinued watch that was never sold or worn.

• Beater

  Worn hard every day, with the scratches to show it.