The wristwatch has been a finishing touch on American fashion for over 100 years. The first wristwatch was invented in 1812. By 1916 The New York Times covered the then-growing wristwatch fashion trend. What had outfitted mainly soldiers and aviators was finally popular. To this day, adding a high-end wristwatch can complete many an outfit.
Luxury vintage wristwatches are an unusual auction category in the range of collectors they attract. Timepiece collectors focus exclusively on antique wristwatches. But, like jewelry, luxury wristwatches also are sought-after by those who simply want to wear a unique and valuable piece, even if they have no intention of creating a display collection.
A Rolex Oyster Perpetual Wristwatch – sold for $3,000 at our December 2021 auction from a Lexington, MA estate.
Which luxury wrist watch brands sell best at auction?
Though there are no hard and fast rules, we keep our eyes on a few brands in particular:
- Rolex watches. For many Rolex is the name people associate with luxury wrist watches.
- Patek Phillippe watches. Patek Phillippe produces some of the most iconic luxury watches in the world, and only 50,000 of them are produced in any given year.
- Vulcain watches. Vulcain has been the brand of choice for American Presidents since 1953, and Presidents now receive a Vulcain Cricket as a matter of tradition.
- Omega watches. Omega has a long history of producing iconic timepieces.
- Breitling, which is particularly popular with celebrities.
- Universal Geneve, especially Polerouters, which have historical significance.
- Enicar, known for producing gorgeous watches with incredible designs. Enicar watches are no longer in production.
- Zenith, which is a premium luxury brand.
That is not an exhaustive list, of course. Other brands may be considered “luxury” watches.
What determines the value of a luxury wristwatch?
A watch may be “vintage,” but that won’t guarantee it is valuable. When evaluating your wristwatch we might look at several factors, including:
- The brand. How prestigious is it?
- The age of the watch.
- The condition of the watch.
- The quality of the materials used
- The craftsmanship.
- Market demand. As with any collectible, your watch can fluctuate in value based on collectors’ interest and on market demand.
- The rarity of the watch.
- The history of the watch.
A luxury watch can be valuable even if it isn’t particularly old and even if it does not have any particular historical pedigree or connotations. The calculations can be complex, and it is best to avoid making assumptions as to how much bidders might pay.
How much can a luxury wristwatch sell for?
Some luxury watches sell for around $800. Some sell for over $10,000. At the high extreme of the pricing scale, one particular Patek Phillipe watch, the Grand Complications watch, is selling for $7,600,000. This watch was handcrafted by skilled watchmakers from high-quality materials, using an intricate process that is difficult to reproduce. The Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication pocket watch sold for $11 million, making it the world’s most expensive wristwatch.
Of course, we won’t know how much your watch will sell for until we have a chance to evaluate it. Once we’ve done that, you can feel confident knowing that we will help you get the best price for your wristwatch.
Why sell your luxury wristwatch at auction?
You won’t find the kinds of exclusive buyers who are willing to pay thousands of dollars for a watch by attempting to sell it on Craigslist or eBay. These are not garage sale items. You need enthusiasts with deep pockets – people who recognize the apex of quality and are willing to pay for it.
Selling these watches at auction is the best way to reach these potential buyers, while communicating the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity a truly valuable watch might offer to an interested buyer. It’s impossible to buy these watches from even the most high-end retail stores. Often a determined buyer can only secure them at auctions like ours. Contact Central Mass Auctions to get started. You can call us at 508-612-6111 or email us.
