In a hard-up situation, you may decide to sell your watch to raise some quick cash. Unlike many other assets, luxury watches of elite brands like Rolex, Omega and Cartier hardly depreciate with age. Indeed, many luxury timepieces possess a ‘collectability’ factor that helps to retain their value. However, watches that are not highly collectable can also fetch a higher price just because they are from a highly coveted brand.
Luxury watches may always tend to hold a high-resale value over the time, but with proper care and attention, their value can increase. Many potential watch buyers also often promise to pay top prices for the luxury pre-owned watches that are serviced timely and in good working condition.
If you understand the factors that play a vital role in determining an accurate value of a luxury watch, you will be able to sell your watch more comfortably for the most competitive price.
For those who are looking to ‘sell my watch’ or ‘sell watches for cash’, read the points below to know the things you should do or take into consideration to increase the value of your watch:
-
Keep your watch in good condition
One of the factors that play a significant role in determining the actual price of a pre-owned watch is the condition. A potential watch buyer always yearns for a good working watch, and an old timepiece in pristine condition can indeed fetch you more money compared to the ones in poor condition.
Thus, before heading out to sell your watch for cash, it is essential for you to ascertain the wear and tear of your luxury asset. While scratches, blemishes, or any damage in any part of your watch can result in a significant cutback in the resale value, it is always recommended to keep your watch in its original box and also, prevent it from getting wet.
-
Avoid polishing the timepiece
Although polishing may keep your used watch in mint condition and retain its shine, it is the nemesis of watch collectors. Polishing a luxury timepiece without taking any general precaution can cause microscopic scratches and also, wear away a watch case’s edges.
For example, the signature lug-twist on your Omega Speedmaster watch can become imperfect and blurred with polishing.
-
Try to sell your watch within five years
Luxury watches may hold a high value in the resale market over the years, but it is relatively difficult to predict the long-term value of these timepieces precisely. Popular models such as the Rolex Paul Newman Daytona or the Rolex Submariner usually demand a decent resale price over the first three to five years of ownership.
Moreover, with limited edition watch models such as the Omega Seamaster 300 ‘SPECTRE’, the chances of securing a higher value is more when selling, especially in the first few years.
-
Keep all the documents safe
While you can sell a watch without the original documents to a professional watch buyer in London or anywhere in the UK, it is true that a pre-owned watch without original papers will not fetch you as much as a second hand watch with its paperwork.
The original box, papers, servicing documents or other relevant paperwork (if any) will ensure your watch’s authenticity and also, ascertain its condition to an experienced watch buyer while enabling you to sell your watch more conveniently and straightforwardly for the highest price possible in the market.
-
Service your watch regularly
Ideally, a luxury watch requires regular servicing to maintain its value over the time. With this in mind, it may be a good idea to spend some time online researching the servicing needs of the major brands as it may vary from one brand to another. While both Audemars Piguet and Rolex have ten significant steps in their complete maintenance service, Omega claims to possess twenty-six servicing stages.
A luxury timepiece is an intricate machine powered by an engine that runs continually. Thus, two years servicing intervals are often recommended for maintaining its value. Servicing on a regular basis will keep your luxury watch in mint-condition and eventually, can get you the best possible price when selling it for cash.
