How To Sell Your Luxury Watch
Looking to sell your watch? Here’s some guidance on how and why to do it safely and reliably.
The second-hand market for luxury watches has never been more lucrative. The demand for pre-owned luxury watches is at an all-time high, with some of the most iconic watches selling for extortionate prices on these platforms. With the resale market booming, you may be considering how to strike while the iron is hot and sell your luxury watch.
As simple as it sounds, there are lots of things to consider before parting with your beloved timepiece. Selling a luxury watch is almost as complex as buying one. In such a saturated market, you’ll need a clear guide on how to begin the process. Luckily for you, we here at Charles Martin Watch Company have compiled this easy guide. It will take you through the necessary steps in selling your luxury watch safely and effectively.
It’s All About Timing…
Studies on consumer trends show that people are spending thousands on pre-owned luxury watches. Over time, high-end timepieces have become a solid investment. You can either hold on to your watch for many years and hand it down the family line, or you can seize an opportunity to sell it and make a considerable amount of money from it. Selling luxury watches is a lucrative business and it’s all about ensuring that you invest in a watch that is set to appreciate or hold its value well. You also need to spy the right chance to sell it. If you’re not planning to sell your watch independently, you’ll want to put your trust in someone to do it for you. You’ll need to seek a reliable company that will either offer you a desirable price for your timepiece or sell it for you, ensuring you get a good return.
If you’re lucky enough to own a Rolex, a Patek Philippe, a Breguet, a TUDOR or a Panerai watch, you couldn’t pick a better time to sell your watch than now. The same goes for other brands like Omega and Jaeger-LeCoultre. Likewise, if you own a particularly popular sports watch or a limited edition model, depending on the model and how desirable it is deemed, selling it to a collector could return quite the investment.
What Are the Most Investment-Worthy Watches?
Many watches hold their value well. Generally speaking, some of the most expensive watches are developed by prestigious names in the industry, such as Patek Philippe, Omega and Rolex. You’ll already be familiar with these if you’ve been collecting watches for some time. Most well-known brands have a popular line or a best-selling model that is sought-after among collectors. These often have a high price tag reflecting aspects like high-end materials, brand provenance and an in-house manufactured movement. On the whole, if you have a watch that is solidly built by a renowned manufacturer, your watch will hold some value, no matter how big or small.
The Popularity of the Steel Sports Watch
During the 1970s, many luxury watch brands succumbed to the crushing effect of the quartz crisis. Some of those that survived had to bend to the demands of their consumer a little. In many circumstances, it meant that manufacturers who were respected in the industry for producing high-quality mechanical timepieces had to consider creating quartz-driven watches to survive. During this time, steel sports watches were the order of the day and many watch brands had a go at developing their own. As a result, many shared similar characteristics. The famous Gerald Genta designed some key models during this time – each one taking on an iconic style. The steel sports watches taking the industry by storm during this time featured metal bracelets, an automatic movement and a legible three-handed time-and-date dial. Watches proving popular during this time included the Rolex Submariner, the Nautilus by Patek Philippe, and the Royal Oak by Audemars Piguet. Today, popular sports watches sell for extortionate prices on the pre-owned market.
Other Watches that Hold Their Value
Putting steel sports watches aside for a moment, there are many luxury timepieces out there that have a timeless appeal and offer exquisite craftsmanship. Rolex, for example, is known for its classic designs and exceptional build quality. For these reasons, the brand is known for creating timepieces that hold their value. The Daytona Cosmograph, famously sported on Paul Newman’s wrist and the timeless Datejust watch are recognised for retaining their value. Aside from the Nautilus, Patek Philippe also offers models like the elegant Calatrava dress watch and the Aquanaut dive watch. Both are still considered good investments today and serve as a reflection of the brand’s commitment to quality craftsmanship. The brand is also known for producing watches in small numbers, keeping consumer demands high and lending the brand a sense of exclusivity and prestige.
Other brands known to produce timepieces that hold their value well include Jaeger-LeCoultre with designs like its popular Reverso watch. The design has a distinctive rectangular-shaped case and was produced for Polo players in the 1930s. In addition to this, there is the Master Collection to choose from. These models hold their value well thanks to their highly complex mechanisms, all produced in-house. Omega is another brand known for producing watches that are solid investments. The watchmaker produced the Speedmaster Professional "Moonwatch" which became the first watch to reach the moon. Additionally, the brand’s ever-growing Seamaster range is full of practical dive watches that hold their value well due to their quality materials and robust architecture.
Cartier is yet another luxury watch brand known for producing timepieces of exceptional quality. The company has had success in designing the famous WWI-inspired Tank watch, the Santos pilot’s watch and the elegant bubble-shaped Ballon Bleu watch. Lastly, IWC Schaffhausen watches are good investments too. While the Pilot’s Watch collection offers a broad variety of instruments for the cockpit, the Portugieser comes in a practical chronograph style that looks classic enough for every eventuality.
Irrespective of these highly sought-after watches, the list is not exhaustive and any timepiece can sell for a favourable price on the pre-owned market. It all depends on the buyer and how well your timepiece has been cared for. Even if the particular model you own doesn’t tend to appreciate in value on the second-hand market, there is still hope that if you’ve looked after your timepiece well, it will have held onto its value.
The Pitfalls of Selling a Second-Hand Watch
Although selling a pre-owned luxury watch is an enjoyable experience for many, there are pitfalls to look out for. Not every business will have your best interests at heart. Some businesses are out to make money quickly and can overlook your wishes to get a sale completed. In doing so, they may offer less than the watch is worth or benefit from a mark-up that you never get to see.
The Advantages of Selling Your Luxury Watch
At one time, doing business on the pre-owned watch market was somewhat frowned upon. Over recent years, however, the perception has shifted on the matter. Pre-owned watches are no longer considered a downgrade. In fact, many are worth more than they were when new. The pre-owned luxury watch market is now a lot safer too. Over the past five years, unique vintage timepieces have been finding their way onto discerning owners’ wrists and you can now be a part of this trading-in sphere by appreciating all the advantages it comes with.
Rarity and Value
The main advantage of selling your watch is that it may be of considerable value. You may want to sell your luxury watch to release some equity or you may want to go on to buy a higher-value watch. Either way, the value of your watch is reflected in its quality, its rarity, the manufacturer and its desirability on the pre-owned market at that particular time.
Affordability
You can enter the watch-collecting community with a smaller financial investment to start with. Doing so enables you to one day own your dream watch if you buy and sell at all the right times. Consider it a little like buying a house on the market. Your first house may not be your forever home, but if you choose a house in good condition, you’re instantly sitting on an investment.
Rotating Your Collection
Selling your current timepiece to make money from it enables you to opt for a higher-value watch next time. The process of working your way up the horological ladder is a rewarding and exciting one. When you get tired of your watch, simply jump back into the market and see what takes your fancy. Here at Charles Martin, our collection is continually evolving with models from some of the industry’s biggest names. Selling and buying a watch on the pre-owned market also gets you a foot in the door of the luxury watch-wearing community.
Tips for Selling Your Luxury Watch
Before selling your luxury watch, follow these few tips that will hopefully guide you through the process easily.
Do Your Homework
Educate yourself about the best features of your watch before you sell it. Know its strong points and why its design may be such an asset to a second-hand buyer’s collection. Here at Charles Martin Watch Company, we already know and appreciate the value of your watch. If you decide to part exchange your watch with us, you’ll see our listings of pre-owned timepieces, all complete with key features outlined and detailed spec lists. We also declare any details you might want to know about the quality of a watch before purchasing it.
Choose the Right Platform
Always opt for a reputable buyer when it comes to trusting someone with the job of selling your pre-owned timepiece or buying it from you. At Charles Martin, the selling process is made seamless and enjoyable for you. Above all, a key platform for selling your watch is vital in ensuring you get the price you want.
Certified Pre-Owned Watches | Elevate Your Style with Charles Martin | Charles Martin Watch Company
Agree on a Competitive Price
Although you should never allow someone to undervalue your watch, it needs to sell for a competitive price. To do this, you’ll need to exhaust the market and research where and how to pitch your watch. At Charles Martin, we buy your watch based on its age, quality and condition. We’ll only offer you the top-end of what we think your watch is worth and will never attempt to undervalue your timepiece unfairly for our own financial gain.
Building the Trust
Just as we build a trust with you as the seller, we ensure that the same transparency continues into our after-sales level of care. It also flows into the selling process afterwards. We know our buyers just like you should know us. You can read up on our terms of conditions and our company ethos here on our website (enter).
The takeaway
Selling your luxury watch can be an enjoyable experience here in the UK. Provided you have taken good care of your watch, you’re sure to get a suitable return on it. Some pre-owned luxury watches are worth far more than others. The more desirable a model is, the better your watch will hold its value and appreciate over time. The key to ensuring you’re selling your watch safely and effectively is to choose a reputable dealer like Charles Martin Watch Company. We know our market and we’re familiar with all the ins and outs of the buying and selling process. It means you don’t need to worry about your watch selling for less than you want. Finally, if you’re looking to part exchange your watch for another pre-owned timepiece, you can check out the pre-owned section of our website here (Sell Your Watch) and call us to speak to one of our experts to begin the process today.