Antique clocks: the best places to find and buy antique clocks
Are antique watches easy to find and buy in today’s tough economy? The answer to the question is a resounding yes! And you’ll find better deals on more beautiful watches than ever. The problem, for most people, is determining where to buy that antique watch. We will look at some possible places to buy watches and I will give you my recommendation at the end of the article. So if you can’t wait, skip to the last paragraph now.
Are antique watches a good investment? I am not an investment advisor nor do I pretend to be one on the Internet. However, you can get good deals on vintage watches which, in turn, can be sold for a good profit. Buying an antique watch is like any other endeavor you can make for profit. There are good deals and not so good deals. The first rule of thumb for collecting watches is not to buy the watch if you don’t like it. But Kelly, you say, I think I can make a good profit if I resell this watch. If you’ve done your homework and you know the value of the watch you’re buying, as well as the possible resale value, go ahead. However, what if you can’t turn the clock as fast as you think? Wouldn’t it be better to have a clock around that you really like? It’s actually easier to sell something you’re passionate about and if you didn’t like the watch to begin with … well, it may be harder to sell over a longer period of time. Time to move on …
Buying an antique watch through classified ads
You can buy almost anything in classified ads. Antique clocks are no exception. There is Craigslist, which is actually an electronic classified ad on the internet and in your local newspaper or Thrifty Nickel. The thing about classified ads is that you have no way of knowing the reliability or credibility of the person selling you the antique watch. Also, it is often someone who doesn’t really know what they have and may need to spend additional research time just to determine what it is that they are selling.
Another thing to keep in mind when using classifieds as a watch buying source is the driving distance. For local newspapers it may not be that far, but it could be a long way. With rising fuel prices, that needs to be taken into account. One last thing to remember when shopping through the classifieds … make sure the watch the seller is selling is yours to sell before you part with the money. Always get a signed receipt, which should include a description of the watch, clearly stating any identifying marks, particularly the manufacturer’s name on the dial or identifying marks on the movement, the date of purchase, and the amount.
Buying an antique clock at an antique store
Antique stores are often a good place to find old clocks. You can usually examine the watch before you buy it. Also, in some stores, the owner may have some knowledge of the watch and be able to share it with you. Be sure to examine the quality of the watch when shopping at antique stores. Many times these watches come from “junkyard” auctions where they sell everything from cheap shelves to old clothes. This will often lead you to question the quality of the watch.
Local auctions: Can you get a quality watch at a local auction?
If you check your local newspaper or the yellow pages directory, you will find a list of auction houses and auctioneers. You can often find a nice watch at these auctions; however, it is very unpredictable. Do you value your time? Otherwise, you can spend many hours hanging around these types of auctions and you may or may not find an antique watch. Some of the larger firms might have specialty watch sales two or three times a year, some will have some type of antique auction at least once a month.
Buying old watches at garage sales or tag sales
Okay, I know this may sound like a cliché, but you can really find some cool stuff at Garage Sales. I remember buying a malfunctioning Elgin pocket watch for a quarter. I brought it home, cleaned it up a bit, opened the back, jotted down the serial number, and listed it on eBay. A day later, someone bought it with Buy It Now for $ 50. He was ecstatic. However, that was very lucky. I know people who have obtained fantastic pieces at fantastic prices at Yard Sales, however, as well as at the local auction; it takes a lot of time and a lot of patience.
Sale of antique watch properties
You can find them in your local newspaper classifieds or see the signs at neighborhood entrances. They are usually the heirs of someone who has hired a company to go over the possessions of their loved ones to catalog all the items and put them up for sale to the public. Sometimes someone older has decided to downsize or move into a smaller house. In any case, you can find some great items in these sales, including vintage watches. These can be a bit less cumbersome and time consuming than garage sales or local auctions because the service organizing the sale will often publish or provide a list of all the items being sold. This will save you a great deal of time if you are looking for a specific item or a specific watch.
Buy vintage watches online
This is my preference for buying antique or antique watches. It allows me to make the best use of my time and it also allows me to narrow my search very quickly to exactly what I am trying to buy at the moment. A website that specializes in vintage watches provides good information on watches, background on various watches and watchmakers, and of course a good list of watches with lots of images of the watches. Another thing I like about sites like this is that they often have rating systems or reviews that you can read about the sellers. Trust me when I tell you, if you sell someone an antique watch online for $ 500, or whatever the price is, if it’s not as described, the watch seller will get complaints or poor ratings. These rating systems can provide you with a level of convenience that you will not and cannot find at a local auction house or classified ad.
One question I often get about buying watches online is regarding shipping. Remember this: you are buying a watch from a reputable seller who has shipped many watches to many buyers around the world. They know their watches and they know how to pack them. In most cases, you will pay a shipping charge, however the money you save on time, fuel, and research will only more than pay for the cost of shipping. So, as you can imagine, my preference for buying vintage watches is online.