Factors That Affect the Resale Value of a Watch

Exclusivity

• Watches that are rare or exclusive tend to maintain a higher value than a similar caliber watch which is easily attainable. Manufacturers may produce only a limited amount of a certain style or release a special edition in the hopes of keeping the value of the watch high. In an inverse manner, watches produced in large numbers and are readily available have a lower resale value because the saturated market.

Special Ownership or Use

• When purchasing a watch, some people look for watches that were previously owned by celebrities, sports stars or political figures. This also has a positive effect on the resale value because there is now a "story" behind the watch. In the same manner, a watch used or worn in a movie, television show or music video may also retain a higher resale value because of the special manner the watch was originally used.

Entry-Level Watches

• Some high-end manufacturers produce watches at a lower price-point so more consumers can afford to purchase a watch from their brand. However, over time these entry-level watches are usually not as desirable in the second-hand market and therefore have a greater depreciation rate than higher priced watches from the same manufacturer.

Removed Serial Numbers

• A watch with removed serial numbers is thought to be a stolen watch. Therefore, it has a negative effect on the resale value because many second-hand dealers won't take the risk of purchasing it, only to face legal action or have the watch reclaimed by authorities later on. If you have a watch without serial numbers that you obtained in a legitimate manner, you may need to find a private buyer in order to sell the watch.

Condition

• Watch condition also greatly dictates the potential resale value. Like purchasing other second-hand items such as cars, clothing or other jewelry, the better the condition the higher the value. Damage such as scratched bands or glass, or watches that need repair will have a lower value than watches of the same brand and style that do not require fixing or have been negatively impacted. If you are considering selling your watch, have it professionally cleaned or repaired before selling it.