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How to Get an Antique Watch Appraised

Watches fall into two broad categories -- pocket watches, which thanks to industrialized methods and streamlined movements became available to most workingmen by the second half of the 19th century, and wristwatches, which became popular around the time of World War I. In either category, the watch is appraised on the basis of its condition, its maker, the quality of its case and movement and whether it has any intriguing extra features.

Instructions

- 1
  Take your watch to a local dealer who offers appraisals. You should be able to locate an expert of this kind by typing "watch appraisals" plus your ZIP code or region into your computer's search engine. Go to well-established businesses or ones that are affiliated with bodies such as the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC). Alternatively, check the NAWCC website for a list of dealers offering appraisals. Most dealers won't charge for a few minutes of their time; however, if there is a technical issue with the watch, they may quote you a price of $40 or so for an in-depth probing of the movement.
- 2
  Go online and type "watch appraisals + forums" into your search engine. Horology has an enthusiastic collecting base, with the result that there are many forums offering free appraisals and advice. You'll need to submit a high-resolution image to the forum, but it will cost you nothing. The resulting comments can be illuminating, so long as you don't mind anyone who logs onto the forum being able to read them.
- 3
  Type "online watch appraisals" into your search engine to bring up a number of professional online appraisal services. Once again, you must submit a photograph, but this time expect to pay a fee in the region of $10. This has the advantage over Step 2 of offering some privacy. (For the potential pitfalls, see Warnings.)

Antiques