« What old wristwatches can really be worth »
Whether while decluttering, moving house, or purely by chance: many people come across old watches in the depths of their attic that raise hopes of a valuable find. But the spectrum ranges widely, from completely worthless to exclusive rarity. We explain which criteria determine the value of an antique timepiece, why a reputable appraisal is indispensable, and which mistakes you should avoid.
Brand and reference: only a rough indication
Almost every lucky finder starts researching on their own after discovering the treasure. Information source number one: Google. The search engine promises endless knowledge and is a good starting point for getting initial, vague clues about the value of the timepiece. The manufacturer and reference can usually be identified without difficulty and show the finder what potential old watches have. Models from luxury brands such as Patek Philippe, Breguet, and Blancpain stand a better chance of high values compared with what old Junghans watches can be worth. But what if the Patek Philippe is in miserable condition and the Junghans is a rare collector's reference? This example is meant to illustrate how imprecise and misleading general information can be. What old pocket watches and wristwatches are worth is a highly individual matter.
Don't wind it before it's been oiled!
Should you carry out this assessment yourself? Yes, but only if you are a watch specialist or an experienced antiques dealer. Ordinary mortals have no chance of making a professional assessment. Most finders know this and rightly decide to make an appointment with an expert. Still, the temptation is great to turn the winding crown beforehand and test whether the watch works. Our request: don't. Antique watches that haven't been oiled for decades are dry and can suffer irreversible damage from the friction of their mechanical components. All too often, people have found a truly valuable watch treasure and destroyed much of its value within the first ten minutes because of this mistake.
A reputable appraisal pays off
To avoid such losses, we recommend as a first step a professional cleaning and oiling by a trustworthy watchmaker. This doesn't cost a fortune, but it creates a solid basis for the later valuation. The latter usually requires an expert, because countless factors go into determining the right selling price. Which model from which year is it? Have parts been replaced, a new strap fitted, polishing carried out, and the service intervals observed? And above all: how original is the timepiece? Years of experience are needed to fit all the pieces of the puzzle together into a coherent overall picture. Anyone wondering what old Junghans watches are worth, for example, should consult a specialist familiar with the Black Forest manufacturer.
What are old pocket watches worth? Original condition is what counts
Whether pocket watches or wristwatches: old watches derive their value from rarity, not from aesthetic perfection. The vintage watch market pays no premium for beauty; instead, it rewards original condition with individual signs of wear. This is a principle that runs counter to our society's intuition. From the car or electronics market, for example, we are used to the price of used items rising the closer their condition is to new. That logic doesn't apply to old watches. Faded dials and diminished luminous coatings are good examples. Many finders think the "defective" components must be replaced with new parts to increase the value. Often a fatal mistake: when models lose their uniqueness through an overhaul, the result is a loss of value on the collector's market. Enthusiasts want to buy an authentic story, not a hybrid of old and new.
Repairing old watches: when it makes sense
The lesson: don't have your attic find hastily "improved" to correct supposed cosmetic flaws. That doesn't mean, however, that antique watches are untouchable. In some cases, intervention is worthwhile, for instance when a moldy or rusty dial is replaced with an as-new spare part from the manufacturer. That is admittedly worse than a well-preserved original dial with an attractive patina, but certainly better than the decayed alternative.
The most common reason for an overhaul is mechanical problems. Old wristwatches can be incredibly complex and don't match the reliability of modern timepieces, which makes it necessary to replace movement components. Anyone who wants to repair old watches, however, often runs into a central problem: the spare parts are no longer available. In such cases, the only option is custom fabrication or milling of special components, whose installation, however, reduces the vintage value - the originality is missing. Certain manufacturers, such as Patek Philippe, are able to fit all of their old watches with original spare parts. As you would expect, this is expensive, but it can contribute to a considerable increase in value.
Only a few old watches are real treasures
In general, it must be stressed that most ticking attic finds have no significant value. Too many were made, and their condition is too poor, to achieve a noteworthy selling price. In other words: there's a reason these timepieces lie gathering dust in a corner rather than being auctioned off for millions at Sotheby's in London. The chance of finding old wristwatches such as a historic Rolex Daytona worth as much as a house is about the same as winning the lottery. Regardless of the monetary aspect, however, it can be a great pleasure to embark on the "adventure" of the find and trace its origins like a detective. And who knows, perhaps a small fortune is slumbering in your house after all.
