What is my wristwatch worth?

Start with the brand name

This is the obvious first step. If you have a vintage Rolex, you already know it has real value, even in poor condition. A name you do not know is no reason to give up on a watch. The name is usually on the dial, and sometimes on the movement or the case back too.

Names to look for include Omega, Longines, TAG Heuer, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Seiko and Breitling, and there are many more. Even lesser-known and fashion brands can have value.

Watch the second hand

Look at how the second hand moves. If it ticks once a second, the watch usually has a battery-powered movement, called quartz. A quartz watch can still have value, but collectors tend to want it less.

If the second hand sweeps round in a smooth, continuous motion, the watch is mechanical. That means it is powered by a spring and gears, and is either automatic or wound by hand. This fine machinery is often a sign of a better-made watch that collectors are keener on.

Look at the materials

Turn the watch over and look closely at the back of the case. Small stamps there are hallmarks, which show the metal. A case marked as solid 9, 14 or 18 carat gold has real value, even if the watch itself does not work.

A watch that has stopped can still be worth something

It is easy to assume that a stopped watch is worthless. That is not true. A watch that does not run may be worth something for its parts or for the metal in its case. Or it may simply need a service to get going again. Many people sell watches that do not run.

How to find out what it is worth

The only real way to know a watch's value is to have an expert look at it.