"Like new" is one of the most overused phrases in pre-owned luxury. It shows up on listings for pieces with visible corner wear, on jewelry with worn plating, on bags with interior stains that just aren't photographed. The phrase has been used so loosely that it's stopped meaning much of anything — which leaves buyers with no real way to know what will actually arrive.
We don't use it.
Instead, every piece is placed into one of four grades, each tied to specific, checkable criteria rather than a general impression:
Pristine — Little to no visible signs of wear under close inspection. Original hardware finish intact. This grade is reserved for pieces that are genuinely close to new condition, not simply well cared for.
Excellent — Minor signs of gentle use that don't affect structure or appearance at a glance — light corner rub on a bag, faint surface wear on jewelry hardware. Fully functional, no repairs needed.
Very Good — Visible wear consistent with regular use: more noticeable corner wear, minor hardware tarnish, small marks that don't compromise the piece's integrity or wearability.
Good — Clear signs of use, and any condition issue that could affect function or appearance is called out specifically in the listing — not left for you to discover after it arrives.
The standard we hold ourselves to: if a grade or a listing note doesn't match the piece in hand, that's on us, not you. Our full Condition Guide breaks down exactly what's checked for each category — bags, jewelry, and ready-to-wear each have their own specific criteria.
Vague labels are easy to write. Specific ones are the ones you can actually trust.
