* Value of Old Pocket Watches *

[happychick]

I have a friend who has inherited a massive collection of old mens pocket watches - I'm talking probably 500-1,000 of them. These are antique, multiple faces, some are silver, etc. I'm trying to help him sell them, but with neither of us being watch collectors, it's difficult to know where to start, especially because many don't have names on them to go by. He took one to a nearby city and got it sold by someone on eBay for $300 but it took the guy several months. He want's to clear out faster then that, and I would love to help him as I sell on eBay as a part time job myself and am selling some of his other items. He lives on a farm and wants to raise some money to pay for the storage unit he has to keep everything in.
BUT, I don't know the first thing on knowing what to call them or how to go about selling them, can anyone help me here? Thank you SO much!

[blufford]

Your best teacher is to look at the other ebayers that are selling the same item as you.

[unregistered41671]

http://www.oldwatch.com/hamilton.html
http://www.oldwatch.com/Illinoisdate.html
http://www.pocketwatchsite.com/illinoisserials.html
http://www.antique-pocket-watch.com/

[katlupe]

He could sell them as a lot, for a fast sale on eBay. But selling separately would probably bring more money. I looked at completed sales for pocket watches and pocket watch lots. There were many sales for both, and some did quite well. I don't know the value of such items either, but it would be best to learn something about them first. If he would take the time to research, it would be worth his while.

[happychick]

Originally Posted by Possum Belly

http://www.oldwatch.com/hamilton.html
http://www.oldwatch.com/Illinoisdate.html
http://www.pocketwatchsite.com/illinoisserials.html
http://www.antique-pocket-watch.com/

Oh! Thank you so much for these! They look great!

Using eBays completed listings to look at value is helpful, however there are more then 11,800 vintage pocket watches on there under completed listings right now. So I've got to learn some basic watch lingo to describe what I've got so buyers will find my watches, like brand, type, style etc. Maybe I can use these websites and eBay and pull it off...

[unregistered41671]

You are welcome HC

[YuccaFlatsRanch]

If he has a 21 jewel railroad watch by Howard with a pristine face in working condition that keeps good time I am interested. Has to be a Howard because it is a present for my wife to eventually give to her son. Her maiden name is Howard.

[Chixarecute]

http://www.pbs.org/cgi-registry/wgbh...x=0&submit.y=0

Antiques Roadshow has a searchable archive - link above for pocket watches. Some are extremely valuable!

[Shadow]

With out seeing the watches and getting some history no one can give usful infromation about them or the value. Selling with out knowing what you are doing is a sure way to get taken. Pocket watches are worth $25 to upwards of $100,000. Hope the one you sold for three hundred was not the $100,000 one. Locate a expert pay him for an appraisal. or sell me the whole collection. not kidding You can PM me. David

[tinknal]

I would search for an auction company that specializes in this sort of thing. A collection this large might even interest someone like Sothebys

[happychick]

I realize that some could be quite valuable. Sotheby's looks pretty fancy, they probably take a HUGE cut...But you all have given me food for thought.

If/when he gives me some to sell, I could post pictures of them here for your guys to see if you want?

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by happychick

I realize that some could be quite valuable. Sotheby's looks pretty fancy, they probably take a HUGE cut...But you all have given me food for thought.

If/when he gives me some to sell, I could post pictures of them here for your guys to see if you want?

They get a HUGE cut because they bring the best buyers.

[sidepasser]

Get a legitimate appraisal done by a certified horologist.

Use Sothebys or someone other equally legitimate appraiser. Sotheby's does bring the best buyers but also Christie's. Use Google and search for antique watch auctions, etc.

I paid quite a large amount for a pocket watch that is antique - they can be rather pricey if in working condition. Just to recondition one can cost upwards of 400.

I love my pocketwatch!

[happychick]

Originally Posted by sidepasser

I paid quite a large amount for a pocket watch that is antique - they can be rather pricey if in working condition.

I know some of them work, still ticking and keeping time. But only a few, most aren't working. On top of all the watches, he also has boxes of lids, glass fronts, hands, the paper faces, chains and other misc. old watch parts. I think those must be worth something too...
The man inherited all this from his brother, who was a collector/hoarder of just about everything. They had to sell his house after he died just to pay off his spending debts. So there is TONS of stuff, they had a storage unit full, but to stop spending the rent money they moved it all into their own house. So it's taking up loads of room and he's wanting to get rid of anything that's junk and recoupe whatever money he can...So he doesn't feel like he can just drive down to Salvation Army and get rid of it, because there is some valuables in there. He just doesn't know what he's looking at, but with the internet and eBay I'm helping him sort it into 'donate' and 'sell'. He said if he had $5 for every watch he had, he'd be a rich man. I'm hoping to get him quite a bit more then that...
It's really like a big treasure hunt!

[texican]

Originally Posted by happychick

I have a friend who has inherited a massive collection of old mens pocket watches - I'm talking probably 500-1,000 of them. These are antique, multiple faces, some are silver, etc. I'm trying to help him sell them, but with neither of us being watch collectors, it's difficult to know where to start, especially because many don't have names on them to go by. He took one to a nearby city and got it sold by someone on eBay for $300 but it took the guy several months. He want's to clear out faster then that, and I would love to help him as I sell on eBay as a part time job myself and am selling some of his other items. He lives on a farm and wants to raise some money to pay for the storage unit he has to keep everything in.
BUT, I don't know the first thing on knowing what to call them or how to go about selling them, can anyone help me here? Thank you SO much!

When you figure it all out, let me know... I haven't worn a wrist watch since the 70's... have had a couple of pocket watches, but the quality was low, and they didn't work for more than a year... would like to have one meant to last forever, that actually worked...

[nancy237]

With that many watches I would do my homework and learn more about pricing.
They don't take up that much space and trying to get rid of them fast could cost him
tons of money. If he sets a low price on a collectable the buyer will not tell him that it is worth 100x's what you are asking.

[hotzcatz]

These folks can give you a lot of information about them, however they aren't allowed to give appraisals online. http://mb.nawcc.org/ Some of these folks would know which watches should be fixed and could probably point you in the direction of some reputable watch folks in your area as well.

[mountainwmn]

I had a box lot of them from an auction once. I listed each complete one on ebay for .99 starting bid, and the same with small lots of broken ones. I didn't know anything about them, don't think any worked, just listed what I could see, and listed 5 a day so that people that came across them could watch for what else I put on. I think I cleared $3000 on the shoebox full I got for $5. Of course that was 5 years ago, I don't know how ebay is now.

[happychick]

Thanks guys!

Originally Posted by mountainwmn

I had a box lot of them from an auction once. I listed each complete one on ebay for .99 starting bid, and the same with small lots of broken ones. I didn't know anything about them, don't think any worked, just listed what I could see, and listed 5 a day so that people that came across them could watch for what else I put on. I think I cleared $3000 on the shoebox full I got for $5. Of course that was 5 years ago, I don't know how ebay is now.

I'm sure you got that much because you took really good pictures, described your items accurately and knew somewhat what to put in the listing title. I know I've got to say more them 'vintage pocket watch', or I'll be in with thousands of results. I would think I've got to at least know if it's a Hamilton vs. a Waltham so the right buyer/collector can find it and then they can decide how high to bid it up? Is there a certain place on these old watches to see what make they are? Do they have serial numbers somewhere?

[Heritagefarm]

Originally Posted by mountainwmn

Of course that was 5 years ago, I don't know how ebay is now.

Right now ebay sucks, in my opinion. Butter churns, normally around $140, can barely be sold for $40 each. It's also very pricey to make an effective listing; they charge you per picture on the ads!