In an economic crunch there is always the temptation to sell family heirlooms, hand-me-downs or even just old possessions to try and make money go a little further. With the emotional value that's often attached to old watches often being as high as the monetary value, it's sometimes a difficult decision if you decide to sell off your grandfather's pocket watch. Making an informed decision over whether now is the right time to make the decision to sell your watch depends on having the right information to hand to accurately determine the likely value of the watch and make sure of getting the best price.
While it's true that some premium brands of watch are highly sought after, the same doesn't hold true across the board. Famous names such as Rolex are always in demand and if you have such a branded watch it will likely fetch a good price. Other more standard watches, despite their age, may not be as valuable as you might at first think.
Research is important. Keep an eye on auctions of watches and note their selling price. Note also the brands that attract the most activity and the ones that people seem to shun. Having determined that your watch is one that's likely to be popular, make an honest appraisal of its condition.
Is the case in good condition? Any small dings, dents or scratches will detract from the value. Is the surface decoration (if it has any) in good order? Do any moving parts on the bezel or elsewhere still move and perform the function originally intended for them? Is the face clean and legible? Some very old watches may have been affected by damp, which can seep beneath the glass covering the face and damage the internal appearance.
It goes without saying that to get the best price the watch should be in working order, although there is a limited market for second-hand watches that need repairing or restoring.
If possible, try to determine the date of manufacture. Find a serial number and try to track it down online. There are various databases available that will allow you to search. A reputable watch dealer will be able to help you find the answers to all these questions if you come up empty-handed through your own efforts.
Only you can determine the true value of the watch you're thinking of selling. If the price is right and the emotional tie is not too high, selling a watch could be the answer to helping you through a financially difficult time.
