Anyone who has the Patek Caliber 89 stashed in a bureau drawer is set for life. This watch is worth well over $5 million. To put it in context, that’s enough money to buy three Bugatti Veyrons and have a nice chunk of change left over.
There aren’t many items available in such a wide price range as watches. Cheap digital watches are accurate enough for most purposes. What makes some watches so much more valuable than others? Ask an experienced watches buyer in Texas.
Complications
The Patek Caliber 89 is a pocket watch with a plain gold case. It’s not a “bling” watch encrusted with diamonds. What this watch has are “complications.” It’s the most complicated watch in the world. In watch lingo, a complication is a function on a watch that does something other than telling time, such as keeping track of the phases of the moon or dive time.
This watch has 33 complications. Hands twirl around three or four tiny sub-dials on the larger watch face. Needless to say, very few people understand what those 33 functions are or how to make them work, but this extraordinary level of ingenuity and complexity is worth big bucks.
What Adds Value to a Watch?
Being able to evaluate watches takes many years of experience and study. While a well-known name such as Rolex, Patek Philippe or Cartier indicates value, there are also many fakes that look OK but aren’t the real thing.
Some of the factors that a Watches Buyer in Texas would look for in a valuable watch include:
* Identification:
* The make and model
* Age:
* On many American watches, the serial number on the movement (not the case) indicates age
* Quality:
* The jewel count (7-24) is a general indicator of quality and marked on the movement (17J)
* Condition:
* Extremely important – is it working, scratched, flawless
* Appearance:
* Visual appeal
* Materials:
* Solid gold case or plated, silver, jewels etc.
* Authenticity:
* All original condition or not
* Uniqueness:
* Does the watch have unique features
* Rarity:
* How many were made or still exist
* Market trends:
* Is this watch “hot”
The experts at the Franklin Gold and Silver Exchange in Beaumont, TX have been evaluating wrist and pocket watches for generations. If you have a watch to sell, bring it to the shop. You might be surprised at what it’s worth. Browse our website to see more of the many items we buy and sell.
