posted on September 30, 2005 07:41:40 AM new
Our daughters mother-in-law is an elderly widow who needs money to get her roof repaired. She has a Waltham watch that my daughter took to get valued, and they valued it at $2,650. They are wondering if I could sell it on eBay for them. I have checked out the auctions, and there is nothing even close to that figure.
I am hoping that someone on this board knows something about them.
It is a 1866 ladies hand assembled hunter style Waltham case pocket watch. Serial # 234816. Electronically tested 14K gold, no plating. 15 jewel movement, white lance type hands. Condition G-8 mint. Weight 58-60 grams. It is in the original case.
I am wondering if eBay is even the best place to sell it.
posted on September 30, 2005 08:28:13 AM new
how much would the appraiser willing to pay for this watch?
appraisal means nothing if no one step up to the plate!!
-sig file -------
Eat grass,kick ass,never go belly up!
posted on September 30, 2005 08:31:54 AM new
amber... I'm certainly not a watch expert... but I do know there's a big difference between a valuation figure and what an item will actually sell for. A valuation figure is typically used as a replacement value for insurance purposes. It is almost always going to be higher than one the item could actually be sold for.
That said... it doesn't mean you might not get lucky on eBay. Why don't you start it out maybe around $2500 and see if you get any takers? You can always relist and drop the price if you need to. I would imagine having the original case would have to be a plus for a 100+ year old watch. Good luck!
From this link... if the serial number is correct, it looks like your watch only has 7-11 jewel movement... not 15. You might want to double-check before listing. Hope that helps!
posted on September 30, 2005 09:44:45 AM new
Hi Amber, I know nothing on your watch but you might want to check your local churches and/or Habitat for Humanity (if you have one in the area) for help on the roof repair. We just had a little old lady around the corner from us who had her whole house painted and roof replaced by one of the local churches.
posted on September 30, 2005 09:55:17 AM new
duh - why didn't I think of that? Yes - Habitat replaced all my grandmother's wiring, roof & painted her 1800 2 story house because of her age/income.
posted on September 30, 2005 10:57:35 AM new
I really appreciate all the help. I forgot to point out that we live in Canada, so the appraisal is in Canadian dollars. She did take it to a very renown jeweller. I will mention the habitat idea, that may work for her. Thank you all! I have forwarded the links because I have not actually seen the watch, they just sent me the appraisal.
posted on September 30, 2005 12:18:02 PM new
Amber - I'm no expert either but I have sold watches before. I know the lower the serial number the more desirable and this is a low number!
Ebay is a hard place to sell fine jewelry but watches and Victorian jewelry is a bit different.
Try the higher first and if it doesn't sell and if she must sell it - she needs to determine the rock bottom price she will take for it first and start again there.
posted on September 30, 2005 05:18:38 PM new
Amber, I had a similar issue - the consignor had a $5,500 appraisal for an early Swiss watch. Ebay probably wouldn't have gotten him more than $2,500 tops.
Actual market value is usually 40% - 70% of the appraisal, based on my experience.
The best thing to do with it may be to put it in a higher end jewelry auction with a nationally known auction house.
I'm not very familiar with Canadian auction houses, so I'm afraid I can't direct you to one.
I referred my consignor to Weschler's in DC who does a jewelry specialty auction.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Caroline
posted on September 30, 2005 06:16:52 PM new
Ebay is a hunting ground for many dealers of antiques-watches,coins,porcelain,glass,prints ,you name it.They are not going to pay retail price for your stuff!
-sig file -------
Eat grass,kick ass,never go belly up!
posted on June 28, 2006 08:49:07 PM new
I have sold alot of watches on Ebay and some things you are going to have to include in your decription are the size of the movement in millimeters, measuring the diameter of the dial will be sufficient. The condition of the case, crystal, dial, movement and hands. You should specify if it has a glass or plastic crystal and what the dial is made of, porcelain or something else. Include the serial number and whatever it has stamped on the movement and the case along with whatever it says printed on the dial. Bidders will want to see a clear picture of the gold marks and it's important to say if it works or not. I seriously doubt that it will bring anything over about three to four hundred dollars but I could be wrong.
If you can post some pictures of the dial and movement, I may be able to tell you something about it. I have books on watches and I may be able to tell you what movement model number it is.
Good luck!
About this time last year I sold an M.J. Tobias 18k gold keywind, keyset pocket watch in perfect condition that had a five digit serial number made about 1850. It was the sixth time I had listed it and I kept lowering my reserve. It finally sold for $400.00 and when it was all said and done I about broke even on it.
posted on June 29, 2006 08:08:14 AM new
About $500 tops would be the fair market value from how you've described it. It's nothing special apart from the original case. That's unusual for an 1866 watch, in fact, that's something I've never seen on an American watch of this type from that time. Hopefuly that serial number is the one on the movement, not the one on the case. If it's the one on the case then the watch is from a later time and the value would be about 30-40% less. If you could post some pics then I and others could give a more definite price. Maybe there's something you're overlooking. There must be some type of fancy design work on the case, maybe even some gemstones encrusted in the case. A picture is worth 1000 words.
[ edited by longtime1 on Jun 29, 2006 08:11 AM ]
posted on June 29, 2006 10:05:32 AM new
Thanks for the help. My husband has taken the watch to a jeweler, we can find out how to open it, and I need to find the # on the movement. I will post pictures when I get it back.
Caroline 
1 out of 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Take a look at your 3 closest friends. If they seem alright, you're the one! - Kyle Stubbins, CMS