patek philippe - Leo Hamel

What Affects the Resale Value of Your Watch?

2023-08-292023-12-09 by Rylee Kahan

Highly collectible and stylish, mechanical watches are fine pieces of engineering, often made in small or limited editions. And buying one can be a good investment. Keep in mind, though, that the price of pre-owned watches fluctuates with fashion, trends, and market demand. If you’re interested in how to sell pre-owned watches, you should know that the resell price is almost always lower than the current retail price for a new watch.

Brand & Model

The finest luxury watches hold greater value than watches from non-luxury brands. The pre-owned watch market is dominated by Rolex and other fine brands such as Patek Philippe, Cartier, and Panerai. It’s the prestige as well as the high level of quality and workmanship that add value to a high-end timepiece.

Certain models are in more demand than others, regardless of the original retail price. And it’s sometimes the case that the more complications a pre-owned watch has, the better. A complication is any function that a watch has in addition to telling the time, such as date, moon phase, or 2^nd time zone.

Age and materials used affect the price, as well. It doesn’t necessarily hold that the older your watch, the higher the value. Regular maintenance of any watch will help to preserve resale value as much as possible.

High-quality materials can add significantly to the value of a watch. Most fine Swiss and German watches are made of stainless steel, gold, platinum, titanium, or a combination of those metals.

Box & Papers

A high-end watch bought new always comes with a box and papers that confirm its authenticity. Anyone who collects watches should not throw the original packaging away because buyers appreciate having the original box and papers, although plenty of pre-owned watches are purchased without them.

If a watch is a true antique (over 100 years old), then the original papers and box in good condition could add significantly more value to the watch. In modern watches, the added value is much less but still there.

Serial Number

These numbers are one of the first things that an expert looks at when determining the price. Every timepiece has a unique serial number and it can reveal the age of the timepiece. There is also a reference or model number which applies to all watches of that specific model, while the serial number is exclusive to your watch only.

If you have the accompanying documentation of your watch, finding the numbers will be easy. If, however, you no longer have it, a professional can look for the serial number on the watch. Serial numbers can often be found on the side of the watch case underneath where the bracelet/strap attaches.

Condition

Not every watch is worn daily, and some owners are more careful than others. Nevertheless, a watch that is worn will get some tiny and maybe even a few deep scratches over time. The condition and working order of a watch can be a factor in resale value for the end user. Every buyer would like a luxurious timepiece that looks and works as new.

However, it is not necessary to restore a pre-owned watch in order to sell it to Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers. In fact, you may not recoup the money that you paid for the service, so it’s best to just sell your watch as-is. Our expert watchmaker will restore the watch before we offer it to a new owner. However, if you are not quite ready to sell, and want to restore your watch to its original condition, it’s imperative to take it to a professional watchmaker. This ensures that any worn parts will be replaced with genuine parts appropriate for the brand.

Beware that polishing a watch in the wrong way can devalue it. Only let a professional restoration and repair service restore the original factory finish on your watch. Otherwise, your watch might return from a restoration with a worse finish than when it started.

Service

A regular service and proper maintenance record is important proof that you have taken good care of your timepiece. This particularly matters if you’re looking to sell an older watch. If you’ve had it serviced by a trusted watchmaker every 3-5 years and have proper documentation to back this up, you may get a higher price.

Market Value

There is always a market for those who want to sell and buy pre-owned watches. There are collectors who just love the nostalgia of a vintage watch and its history, and collectible watches are highly appreciated among them. Therefore, if you’re selling a watch that is a rare or limited edition, you can expect to get a much higher price. However, the top brands will always be valued even if not particularly rare. Pre-owned watches from brands like Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, and Omega are consistently popular and have remained desirable for years.

Safety and Security

You may have had the notion to try and sell your watch on your own. There are some serious issues to consider before embarking on that journey. Trying to sell in an online marketplace leaves you competing with thousands of other sellers and paying sales fees out of your profit. But selling locally is fraught with danger.

Let’s face it, there are a lot of criminals out there today, just waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting citizen who has an item of value for sale. There are horror stories of people responding to “for sale” ads turning out to be less than honest. A seller can face fake cashier’s checks, counterfeit money, and in worst case scenarios, actual robbery. Even meeting someone in a bank is no guarantee of your safety after you leave the bank. The only truly safe way to sell your valuable watch is to bring it to a reputable jewelry and watch store and let them sell it for you.

If you’re considering selling your pre-owned watch, bring it to one of our jewelry and watch buying locations, including our flagship buying office on San Diego Avenue. At Leo Hamel Jewelry & Gold Buyers, we’ve been buying and selling pre-owned watches for over 44 years and are able to offer you top dollar for your treasured timepiece. Our Swiss factory trained watchmaker and polite and experienced buying experts have the skills and knowledge to accurately price your watch. You can even trade in your watch for a new purchase.

We know that selling your valuables can be an emotional experience and we ensure that all our buying offices are safe, secure, and private. Find your nearest Leo Hamel Jewelry & Gold Buyers and visit us today! No appointment is necessary.

Watches with Historic Ties

2023-08-222023-12-09 by Rylee Kahan

The vintage look is having a moment in the watch world. Many luxury watch brands boast models that were inspired by retro and vintage styles. If you’d like to spruce up your watch collection, there are plenty of models to choose from.

Here are some outstanding examples of retro style timepieces, some of which may still be located. These watches come from powerhouse watch designers like Omega, Patek Philippe, Breitling, and Longines. But there are many more that are readily available from new brands and from pre-owned brands.

Omega Globemaster

The Omega Globemaster is the world’s first Master Chronometer which was certified by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology. The watch set new standards of watchmaking, while boasting the design inspired by the past. Well known for beautiful “Pie Pan” dials, Omega embellishes their watch with this famous dial that echoes the 1952 Constellation.

The fluted bezel of the Globemaster is like the bezel of the Constellation model from 1968. The 39mm case with a brushed finish is available in stainless steel, two-town steel and gold combination, yellow gold, and in Sedna gold, an alloy that Omega introduced in 2013.

Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time Ref. 5524

This impressive timepiece stands out among the traditional watches of the world’s possibly most conservative watch brand. Few Patek Philippe aficionados expected the unconventional 42mm-wide model. Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time Ref. 5524 takes on various design characteristics of pilot watches of the past 100 years, traced back to the 1920s and 1930s.

Rather than being based on any specific pilot watch, the aesthetic is vintage-inspired and adjusted to the brand’s unique style. The design of the hands, dial and numerals have the look of the pilot watches of the early 20^th century. The navy-blue dial is inspired by the body paint of the U.S. fighter aircraft. The brown leather strap with the contrast topstitching evokes the leather belts worn by pilots in the 1930s.

Oris Divers 65

With several subtle modifications, the Oris Divers 65 pays homage to the brand’s timepiece released in 1965. Half a century later, Oris gives it a makeover, achieving a classic and attractive design. While the Oris Divers 65 has a larger 40-mm case made of stainless steel, the case is only 12.8mm thick. Though the narrow PVD bezel makes it appear larger than it is, the slim profile of the case contributes to the overall simple design.

The case back is engraved with the same Oris emblem found on the 1965 watch. On the other hand, the Oris Divers 65 has a unidirectional bezel. This is safer for diving than the bidirectional rotating bezel of the 1965 model. The dial of the Oris Divers 65 is what makes this timepiece unique and funky without looking overly designed. Oris made some visible changes like moving the date window from 3 o’clock to 6 o’clock on the dial. They also put it on a black wheel instead of the original white.

Today’s dive watches have varying degrees of water-resistance from none to 30 meters, to 300 meters or more. With a water resistance of 100 meters, the Oris Divers 65 honors the heritage of its predecessor.

Breitling Transocean Chronograph 1915

To celebrate a hundred years from creating the first independent chronograph push piece, Breitling introduced the Transocean Chronograph 1915 in a limited edition of 1,915 pieces. In the early 20^th century, chronographs were monopushers, meaning that the controls for starting, stopping, and returning the timer to zero were all placed in the crown. Then the timepiece with a major design innovation was created. The separate pusher placed on the side of the case at 2 o’clock would soon become standard.

Though Transocean waters are usually automatic, the Transocean Chronograph 1915 has a hand-wound movement which runs 33 jewels and has a 70-hour power reserve. The vintage-inspired dial, numerals, and the hands give the watch an antique and refined look. There’s also an engraving “100e anniversaire 1915-2015” displayed on the back of a 43mm stainless steel case.

Longines Pulsometer Chronograph

The brand found its inspiration in the 1920s Longines watch used by medical personnel to calculate a patient’s heart rate. The Longines Pulsometer Chronograph 2015 is indeed an incredible vintage revival. It is a functional tool that is smart and simple, with retro elements like the Breguet-style hour and minute hands.

The eye-catching white dial is surrounded by a red pulsometer scale, the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock markers have been removed and the sapphire crystal has the anti-reflective coating, so the watch is legible and easy to use. The self-winding movement is contained in a 40mm steel case with a column-wheel monopusher chronograph mechanism and holds a 54-hour power reserve.

Grand Seiko Historical Collection 62GS

Released in 1960, the Grand Seiko has become an iconic watch known for its accuracy and precision. All the timepieces of the Seiko Historical Collection honor the heritage of this Japanese brand. To mark the 55^th anniversary of Grand Seiko, the brand introduced a series inspired by the very first Grand Seiko watch with automatic movement.

There are eight models in the collection, and all are limited editions. Four are faithful remakes, while the other four are modern reinterpretations featuring the Grand Seiko’s most advanced movements. The traditional-looking models look like the original but are a bit larger in size. They are available in stainless steel, white gold, and rose gold.

The 62GS released in 1967 had the crown positioned at 4 o’clock, emphasizing the fact that hand winding was no longer required. Though not all models of the Grand Seiko collection for 2015 have the off-centered crown, they do share some design elements with the original 62GS.

Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers is the largest full-service jewelry and watch store in San Diego. Visit our deluxe showroom on San Diego Avenue and browse through the always-changing selection of luxury pre-owned watches, as well as new watches from Hamilton and Tissot.

Whether you’re looking for a new watch or a pre-owned watch in mint condition, our helpful and knowledgeable staff will help you find your ideal match. And our guarantee and warranty keeps you covered. If there’s a particular pre-owned timepiece you admire and we don’t have it on hand, we’ll do our best to find it for you from our global network! With Leo Hamel’s, time is on your side!