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7 Rules to Determine the Value of Your Vintage Watch
Since I still get emails and questions about the possible "value" of vintage watches, I'll repeat some remarks I made earlier, this time in the form of some rules of thumb you can use in the majority of cases.
1. There are 3 things that influence the value of an antique or vintage watch: condition, condition and condition.
2. Only prestigious European brand wristwatches and railroad grade American pocket watches can be considered truly valuable. If you have one of these, you already know it's valuable.
3. If your watch is not in good running condition, it's the horological equivalent of a car in a wrecker's yard. Don't even ask what it's worth.
4. If your watch is made of 14K gold or has precious stones on the dial, that adds about $500 to its value, assuming that Rule #3 is met.
5. Familiar American vintage watches with names like Elgin, Waltham, Gruen, Bulova or European ones like Tissot, Oris, Invicta are nice family heirlooms but they cost more to fix and keep running then they are worth. It's up to you to decide if it's worth it.
6. There is an overwhelming probability that your vintage watch is valuable only to you or your family as an heirloom.
7. When in doubt, refer to Rule #6.