Tips to Tell a Watch’s Value

Watches are universally admired for their versatility and fashionable functionality. Several designer brands offer a myriad of timepieces in all styles. Likewise, they vary highly in value and expense. It can be hard to gauge a piece’s value if you inherit it, purchase it at an estate sale, or receive one as a gift. However, you may be able to get an idea of its value at home. Learn how with Hing Wa Lee.

Metals and Materials

Watches can be made of many materials. Some can exhibit an array of dazzling diamonds and gemstones, while others feature cheap plastics and inexpensive polymers. Check the watch’s materials to gauge whether the timepiece exhibits a luxurious, collector-worthy quality or a disposable chic. Plastic watches are generally less valuable, although some lines of plastic watches are desirable to collectors. Timepieces with precious metals can be more challenging to appraise at home, as gold plating and other treatments complicate things. There are some tests to take at home, such as the vinegar test, but generally, you should take it to a professional.

What’s in a Name’

When it comes to watch value, a brand name means a lot. They carry a reputation for quality, fame, and beauty that can make some brands more valuable than others. If you buy a watch with a clear name, look it up online. There are many watch enthusiast websites out there that have helpful guides and indexes on brand value. However, be aware that counterfeits and imitations exist. Moreover, just because a piece has a well-known name does not make it inherently valuable.

Smooth Movements

This common trick is an easy and well-known technique to figure out the authenticity of a piece. There are three types of watch movements: manual, automatic, and quartz. The first two are used in high-end timepieces valued by collectors, while the third is affordable and used in most watches. Even if a quartz timepiece is disguised to resemble a manual or automatic timepiece, there is one crucial difference: hand movement. If the watch has quartz movement, it always jumps forward every second. Meanwhile, automatic and manual watches’ hands move at a gradual and steady pace.

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Pick a Professional

While a precursory online search is good, it is always better to have a professional look at it. There is more to a watch’s value than the brand and model. Many things that affect the timepiece’s market price are found underneath the case, including the health of the machinery, the integrity of the case, and the authenticity of the parts. Moreover, it can be challenging to discern a genuine watch from a fake counterfeit. If you aren’t completely sure that a watch is real, always take it to an expert for an appraisal.

Head to Hing Wa Lee Jewelers for Fantastic, Valuable Timepieces

Find the best, most beautiful watches at Hing Wa Lee. Our San Gabriel and Walnut showrooms are staffed by the brightest watch experts in Los Angeles, well-versed in our selection of dozens of today’s top designer brands. We have everything from household names to small microbrands. No matter what you need, we have it in our two magnificent showrooms. Want to know more? Email us at Info@HWLJewelers.com or browse in-store today.