Selling expensive watches...?

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fulabeer

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14 Jan 2010
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3,737
Hi
I was left two expensive watches in a close friends will. I've kept them for three years without even opening the boxes to have a look. I'm still grieving for my best mate, and the watches only serve as a reminder.
Because of household insurance issues, I had to have them evaluated. The two watches adds up to about £13,500 for replacement costs.

However, the jewellers Harrington and Hallworths have said they would buy them back (bought from them) for £3000ish.
I'm not bothered about selling as such, but they are adding a £180 premium to my household insurance. So I have decided to sell on and put the money in a trust fund for my boys.

I assume a few on here know their watches, so where is the best/safest place to sell them?
I obviously want the best possible price, and although in no rush, don't want them hanging around for long.

What should I expect to get for them? I understand I will get no where near the new prices. I just hate the thought of getting ripped off on something I know very little about.

Both watches were bought new in 2007. All paperwork cases/boxes certificates present.
One is a IWC Portuguese Chrono-Automatic Stainless steel (I think) body, champagne face and leather strap. Immaculate/as new.




The other one is a Breitling Bentley Chrono with stainless steel (I think) body, champagne face and S-Steel strap. Again immaculate/as new.
 
Are you manchester based?

Take them into watches of Switzerland, ask for stumpy (real name Gerard) - he'll be able to examine them and check the serial numbers for production line (how many were made etc), this has a bearing on valuation, depending on conditions a 50% mark down seems poor, I have a mate on bond street who buys for future investments.... I can pass you his details if you like!!!
 
Zin 'messiah' Zimmer said:
Are you manchester based?

Take them into watches of Switzerland, ask for stumpy (real name Gerard) - he'll be able to examine them and check the serial numbers for production line (how many were made etc), this has a bearing on valuation, depending on conditions a 50% mark down seems poor, I have a mate on bond street who buys for future investments.... I can pass you his details if you like!!!
Click to expand...

Cheers mate. Honestly, any help in this matter would be appreciated. The £3000ish was for both watches!
(edit: yep, I'm in Manchester)
 
fulabeer said:
Zin 'messiah' Zimmer said:
Are you manchester based?

Take them into watches of Switzerland, ask for stumpy (real name Gerard) - he'll be able to examine them and check the serial numbers for production line (how many were made etc), this has a bearing on valuation, depending on conditions a 50% mark down seems poor, I have a mate on bond street who buys for future investments.... I can pass you his details if you like!!!
Click to expand...

Cheers mate. Honestly, any help in this matter would be appreciated.
(edit: yep, I'm in Manchester)
Click to expand...

I'll dig out the details when I'm home and drop you a pm!!!!
 
You could try this website that specialise solely in buying/selling quality watches.

I think you just specify the make/model of the watch and condition and they contact you with a purchase price within 24hrs. It's not a fly by night company (they're based in Royal Exchange, London). It may be worth a try, and I don't there's any cost/obligation involved.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.watchfinder.co.uk/info/Sell-Your-Watch" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.watchfinder.co.uk/info/Sell-Your-Watch</a>
 
fulabeer said:
Zin 'messiah' Zimmer said:
Are you manchester based?

Take them into watches of Switzerland, ask for stumpy (real name Gerard) - he'll be able to examine them and check the serial numbers for production line (how many were made etc), this has a bearing on valuation, depending on conditions a 50% mark down seems poor, I have a mate on bond street who buys for future investments.... I can pass you his details if you like!!!
Click to expand...

Cheers mate. Honestly, any help in this matter would be appreciated. The £3000ish was for both watches!
(edit: yep, I'm in Manchester)
Click to expand...

They offered you £3K for two watches that are worth up to £13K for insurance purposes ? If I read understood that correctly - the cheeky fookers !!

As Zin has said, Watches of Switzerland would be my first place to visit. Or try : http://www.markworthingtonjewellers.co.uk/
 
It doesn't surprise me with regard to low valuations. A quality retailer selling top marque watches would usually pay half of what they expect to retail it for. There are so many variants to the expected price (age, style, potential customers, discontinuation etc.) that you really need to get a few purchase quotes, rather than valuations. Yours already have a fair bit going for them, being boxed and in immaculate condition.
 
Yes, Harrington and Hallworths offered £3000 ish for both watches, and even made out they were doing me a favour as they don't normally buy them back. I fully understand that people are in business and need to make a profit. I also understand that they have overheads and VAT to pay. I just thought valuing them at £13,500 (i assume that is RRP) and then offering £3000 was insulting.

Thanks for the help so far. I'm going to nip into town tomorrow and see "stumpy" and see what he says. I will also give the other places a bell and see what they offer. I'm confident that any prices offered over the phone will be honoured, as the watches look brand new.
 
Stumpy ? Ask him what's behind that nickname while you're there please

Then get back to me
 
The brietling one is an absolute belter mate. Be interesting to know what price they offer you for that.
 
The Breitling is worth £4k. You should be looking £6-7k for the pair. Be very carefull if you are thinking about Ebay.
 
They will retail used at about £5 k a piece so you should expect around 4k each I would think.

Watchfinder are fairly decent, recently bought a watch from them and were very upfront and honest.

Be interested to know how you get on, sorry to hear about your mate but he clearly thought a lot of you.
 
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