Wristwatches have been around since the early 1900 and continue to be one of the staple accessories for both men and women. These timepieces are timeless in the luxury market and have significant value in today’s market. For example, if you want to sell a Rolex watch that was handed down to you from a grandfather, we buy often buy unique vintage pieces like that.
If you have a watch to sell and need an antique watch buyer near you, we are here to get you the best possible price. Here are some of the factors considered in determining the value of your timepiece.
The Condition
As with many types of luxury or vintage items, such as cars and real estate, the condition of the watch will directly impact the value of the item. When we evaluate watches, we aren’t just looking at how the timepiece “looks,” but we also how it functions. We can determine if the watch has seen repairs or had additional items added to it. A poorly cared for watch may see some functioning issues.
Watch Repairs
Most manufacturers suggest that you have your timepieces serviced or repaired every 5-7-years. When a watch doesn’t go through this process, the timepiece can start showing its age and get dust and debris build-up on the internal functions of the watch. This can impact how the watch keeps time. While these repairs or services can be costly, not doing them may actually have a more significant impact on the value if they fail completely. If servicing the watch will be needed to sell the piece, that will impact the watches’ value.
Why Luxury Watches Are so Expensive
Watchmaking is still considered one of the last arts in the luxury market. Just one timepiece can take a maker countless hours to produce ensuring every moving part is working in precision. Luxury watch buyers demand this sort of attention to detail which no robot has yet been able to produce.
The materials used to make the watch, as you might imagine, are partly why these accessories are so valuable. While precious metals like gold and platinum were once choice materials, now high tech materials like titanium, carbide, ceramic, palladium, and tungsten are being used. These material details are also in the inner workings of the dials which some watchmakers will produce dozens of just to get the right dial pieces working together.
Are you looking to sell your luxury watch in Chicago? We would be happy to evaluate your timepiece, so you know what to expect from the value of your watch. If you have any of the original boxes and paperwork, we urge you to bring that with you to your consultation with us. You have no obligation to sell us the piece, so getting an evaluation is of no risk to you.
Please call or contact us today and let us know what kind of timepiece we will be evaluating, and when you’d like to schedule your evaluation.