Not every watch worth selling is a famous luxury brand. A gold dress watch inherited from a grandfather, a vintage piece from the 1960s, a solid steel automatic worn for years, a watch that stopped running and sat in a drawer. Watches like these still carry value, and the question is the same as for any of them: what will a real buyer pay, and who can you trust to handle it. We buy everyday, vintage and gold watches at our Madison Avenue showroom in Midtown Manhattan, read each one in front of you, and pay cash for the pieces we take.
This page is for the general watch, the one that is not a top tier luxury piece. We are an independent buyer, not a dealer for any brand, and we value your watch on its own merits. If your watch is a luxury brand, you will do better on the page written for it: sell a Rolex, sell a Patek Philippe, sell an Audemars Piguet, sell a Richard Mille, or the general luxury watch buyers page for other fine brands.
Call for a free appraisal on your watch, or visit our Madison Avenue showroom.
The everyday and vintage watches we buy
We buy a wide range of watches that are not top tier luxury, as running timepieces, as vintage pieces, or for the gold in the case. A watch does not have to run for us to make an offer.
- Solid gold watches, dress and pocket, valued on the make and the metal both
- Vintage mechanical watches from mid tier and well regarded makers
- Everyday automatics and quartz watches in steel and two-tone
- Pocket watches, including gold and gold-filled cases
- Watches that are scratched, not running, or missing a crown or a strap
- A single watch, a drawer of odd watches, or a lot left in an estate
How a watch appraisal works at our counter
The appraisal is free whether you sell or not, and you watch every step. Nothing happens out of your sight. Here is how a watch moves across the counter.
- You bring the watch in, with anything you have for it. There is no charge and no obligation to sell.
- We identify the watch: the make and model, and whether it is mechanical, automatic or quartz, and we note the case material.
- We look it over in front of you: the case, dial, hands, crystal and strap or bracelet, and whether it runs and winds or sets.
- Where the case is solid gold, we test and weigh the metal on the counter so you can see the reading for yourself.
- We explain how we reached the number and make a cash offer. Take it and you are paid on the spot. Decline it and you leave with your watch.
What to bring
- The watch itself, running or not
- Any box, papers, receipt or service records you still have
- A spare strap, the original clasp or buckle, and any spare links
- For a gold watch, nothing special is needed; we test the metal here
- A government photo ID, because New York requires a buyer to record who it bought from
What decides what your watch is worth
A general watch is valued on two broad things: what it is as a watch, and what it is made of. These are the points that move the number, and a buyer should be able to point to each one rather than quote a single figure from nowhere.
The make, the model and the movement
The make and model tell us where the watch sits, and the movement matters. A mechanical watch is powered by a mainspring and a balance wheel, and an automatic winds itself from the motion of your wrist, while a quartz watch runs on a battery and a quartz crystal. Mechanical pieces from well regarded makers tend to hold more collector value, while a quartz fashion watch is usually worth more for its metal than its movement. We tell you which your watch is and what that means for the offer.
Gold and the metal
Many older watches have solid gold cases, and that metal has a value of its own. Gold trades against a published spot price quoted per troy ounce, and gold purity is measured in karats out of twenty four, so an 18 karat case is 75 percent gold. We test the case to confirm the karat rather than trusting the stamp alone, then weigh it, and the metal gives a floor under the watch even when the make is modest. A gold-filled or plated case is not solid gold, and we explain the difference plainly so there is no confusion.
Condition and completeness
Condition moves the price both ways. A clean case and crystal, a working movement and an original dial earn more, while deep scratches, a cracked crystal, a missing crown or a dial that has been redone pull the offer down. Having a box, papers or old receipts helps a vintage piece, though none are required to sell. We look the watch over in front of you and explain how each point affects the number.
Bring your watch in for a free appraisal, or call first to talk it through.
Why sell to an independent Madison Avenue buyer
Our showroom sits on Madison Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, easy to reach and simple to walk into. We buy watches directly from the public, and we are an independent buyer, not a dealer for any brand. Because we handle watches every day, a modest piece gets a fair reading rather than a brush off, and a gold case is tested and weighed in front of you so the metal value is clear.
Buying directly means there is no middleman standing between you and the offer, which is part of how we can pay fairly even on a smaller watch. You are welcome to take our number away, compare it elsewhere, and come back. We would rather make one fair deal you are glad about than talk you into parting with a watch you want to keep.
How you are paid, and the rules a buyer follows
When you accept an offer we pay you in cash, and the appraisal that got you there is free whether you sell or not. There is no pressure to take the number, and if you came in with several watches you can sell some and keep the rest.
New York City regulates buyers of second-hand watches and jewelry, and the rules protect the person selling. The city requires a buyer to hold a second-hand dealer license, to record each item it buys and who it bought it from, and to hold a purchased item for fifteen days before it can be resold. That record and that waiting period are a safeguard for honest sellers, and one more reason to sell to an established buyer with a storefront rather than by mail.
| Tends to lift an offer | Tends to lower an offer |
|---|---|
| A solid gold case, by weight and purity | A gold-filled or plated case |
| A working mechanical or automatic movement | A broken movement or missing parts |
| An original dial and clean crystal | A redone dial or a cracked crystal |
| A well regarded vintage maker | A generic fashion or quartz piece |
| Box, papers or old receipts | No history at all |
| A complete watch with its crown and strap | A missing crown, strap or crystal |
Vintage watches and what makes them worth more
Not every old watch is vintage in the collector sense, but many are worth more than their owners expect. What lifts a vintage watch is a respected maker, an original dial and hands, an interesting or well made movement, and honest condition that has not been spoiled by a poor repair. A clean original dial on a 1950s or 1960s mechanical watch can matter more than a shiny case, and a watch that has been over polished or had its dial redone usually loses value against one left original.
We look for the maker, the movement and the originality of the dial and hands, and we tell you whether your watch is collected as a vintage piece or valued as a used watch or for its metal. Either way you get a plain explanation rather than a quick brush off, which is what a modest watch too often gets at a shop that only wants the famous brands.
Gold, gold-filled and plated cases
The single biggest confusion with older watches is the metal, because many cases look like gold without being solid gold. A solid gold case is marked with a karat stamp, such as 14K or 18K, and carries the full value of its metal. A gold-filled case, often marked GF or something like 1/20 12K, has only a thin layer of gold bonded over a base metal and is worth far less, and a plated case less again. We test the case rather than trusting the look or the stamp alone, and we explain exactly which kind you have so there is no surprise.
Where the case is solid gold, we weigh it and value the metal against the day’s spot price per troy ounce, and if the watch is also worth something as a watch we weigh that in and offer on whichever is higher. A gold-filled or plated watch is valued as a watch, on its make and condition, since the metal is not worth refining.
Pocket watches
Pocket watches come to us often, from plain nickel cases to solid gold hunter cases and finely made railroad grade movements. As with wristwatches, a pocket watch is valued on the maker and movement, the case metal, the condition and whether it runs. A high grade American or Swiss movement in a solid gold case can carry real value, while a common movement in a gold-filled case is worth mostly what it is as a watch. Bring it in and we will read the movement and test the case in front of you.
What to ask any watch buyer before you sell
You do not have to be an expert to sell well. A few plain questions, and how they are answered, tell you most of what you need to know.
- Is my watch worth more as a watch or as metal? A good buyer tells you which, and why.
- How did you reach this number? The offer should break down into the make, the movement, the condition and any gold.
- Do you buy directly, or are you a broker passing it on? A direct buyer has no middleman to pay out of your price.
- Do you hold the city’s second-hand dealer license and keep the required records? An established buyer answers yes without hesitation.
- Can I think about it and come back? The answer should be yes. Pressure to decide right now is the clearest warning sign.
- Is the appraisal free, with no obligation? It should be.
We are glad to answer every one of these. If your watch turns out to be a luxury brand, the pages written for them go deeper: Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Richard Mille, and luxury watch buyers for other fine brands.
Call for a free appraisal on your watch, or bring it to our Madison Avenue showroom and leave with cash.
Questions people ask
Do you buy watches that are not luxury brands?
Yes. We buy everyday and vintage watches, solid gold dress and pocket watches, and mid tier mechanical and automatic pieces, along with the luxury brands. A general watch is valued as a running timepiece, as a vintage piece, or for the gold in its case, whichever is higher. Bring it in and we will tell you what you have.
Will you buy a watch that does not run?
Yes. A watch does not have to run for us to make an offer. A non-running vintage piece may still have value as a watch, and a non-running gold watch still carries the value of its metal. We look it over in front of you and explain whether the offer rests on the watch or on the gold in the case.
How do you value a gold watch?
We test the case to confirm the karat, since gold purity is measured in parts of 24, then weigh it, and value the metal against the day’s spot price per troy ounce. If the watch is also worth something as a watch, we weigh that in too and offer on whichever is higher. A gold-filled or plated case is not solid gold, and we explain the difference plainly.
Is a quartz watch worth anything?
It depends on the watch. A quartz watch keeps very accurate time, but collector value usually rests with mechanical pieces, so a quartz fashion watch is often worth more for its metal than its movement. A quartz watch from a respected maker, or in a solid gold case, can still carry real value. We tell you which applies to yours.
How are you paid, and is the appraisal really free?
The appraisal is free whether you sell or not, with no obligation and no pressure. If you accept an offer, we pay you in cash on the spot. If you came in with several watches, you can sell some and keep the rest. You are welcome to take the number away, compare it, and come back.
What should I bring to sell a watch?
Bring the watch, running or not, and any box, papers, receipt or service records you have, though none are required. A spare strap, the original clasp and any spare links help. Bring a government photo ID, because New York requires a buyer to record who it bought from at the time of purchase.
Do you buy a whole collection or a lot of odd watches?
Yes. If you have a drawer of odd watches, a parts lot, or a collection left in an estate, bring all of it. We sort and read each watch on its own, so the gold pieces are tested and weighed, the vintage and mechanical pieces are read for their make and condition, and the quartz and fashion watches are valued fairly. You can sell the lot, part of it, or nothing at all.
My watch stopped years ago. Should I fix it before I sell?
Usually no. You do not need to service or repair a watch before selling it to us, and spending on a repair rarely returns its cost at sale. We factor the cost of any needed service into the offer and explain it, so you are not paying twice. Bring the watch as it is, running or not, and we will read it and tell you what it is worth.