What does “Cardless” mean?

Cardless, or 'no card', describes a watch sold without its warranty card or certificate. It is common with older pieces, where papers were lost over the years, and with watches that have passed through several owners.

A missing card usually lowers the price compared with the same watch with papers, and it puts more weight on authenticating the watch itself. Some cardless watches come with other evidence, such as the original purchase receipt, a brand service record or an appraisal, which partly makes up for it. For recent watches, ask why the card is missing, as an unexplained gap on a nearly new piece can be a warning sign. Without a card, any remaining manufacturer warranty can also be hard to prove.

Example: 'Cardless, but comes with the brand's service papers from 2022.'