Watch Buying
Sell a luxury or pocket watch in Kelowna
Rolex and other luxury watches, and vintage pocket watches, working or not, with or without box and papers. Bring it in and we will give you an honest number.
Watches are the category where sellers are most often talked out of a fair price, usually with one of two lines: that it is not running so it is worth nothing, or that without the box and papers it cannot be valued. Neither is true. A non-running mechanical watch is a serviceable mechanical watch, and missing paperwork affects the number without erasing it.
We assess watches in front of you, explain which factors are moving the figure up and which are moving it down, and pay cash on the spot when you decide to sell.
What we look at
The movement
What is inside matters more than what is on the outside. A mechanical or automatic movement, whether it is currently running or stopped, is a repairable machine with real value. A quartz movement with a dead battery is usually a battery away from working. We open the case back where it is safe to do so, and you are welcome to look with us.
The brand and the reference
Rolex is the name we are asked about most, and demand for particular Rolex references is specific rather than general, which is why two Rolexes of similar age can be worth very different amounts. The same is true across the wider Swiss luxury market. We identify the model and reference and tell you what that particular one is doing.
The condition and originality
Original dials, hands, bezels and bracelets carry more value than replaced ones. Honest wear is expected and is not a problem. A heavy over-polish that has softened the case lines is a bigger issue than a scratched crystal, because a crystal can be replaced and removed metal cannot be put back. Service history helps if you have it.
The box and papers
They help, and we will always pay more with them than without. They are not a requirement. Most vintage watches that come through the door lost their packaging decades ago, and they still sell.
Pocket watches
Pocket watches deserve their own treatment because they are valued differently from wristwatches. Two things drive the number. The first is the case, which on older pieces is often solid gold, and solid gold has a floor price that does not depend on anyone wanting the watch. The second is the movement, where the maker, the jewel count and the grade are what matter to collectors. Cases marked gold filled, rolled gold or GF are not solid, and we will show you the mark and explain the difference rather than leaving you to wonder about it later.
Where a pocket watch is worth more as a complete historical object than as gold, we will say so, because breaking up something collectible for its case weight is not a service to anyone. Where the movement is common and the case is solid gold, the metal calculation from our gold buying page is what applies.
Watches we buy
- Rolex and other Swiss and luxury brand wristwatches
- Vintage and antique pocket watches, key wind and stem wind
- Solid gold cased watches of any age
- Mechanical and automatic watches that have stopped or need service
- Gold watch bracelets and cases, whether or not the watch is complete
If a piece has diamonds set into the bezel, dial or bracelet, those are assessed separately and added to the figure, in the same way described on our page for selling diamonds in Kelowna.
Bring it in rather than describing it
Watches are the hardest category to quote over the phone and the easiest to quote across a counter. A photograph does not show the reference number, the dial originality, the state of the case lugs or whether the movement is correct for the model. We are happy to talk on the phone about whether a piece is worth bringing in, but the number needs the watch in front of us.
Do not have it serviced, polished or repaired first. The same principle applies as with jewellery: any money you spend preparing a watch for sale comes out of your side of the transaction, and a polish can actively cost you value on a collectible piece.
What to expect
The assessment is free and carries no obligation, exactly as described on our free estimates page. We look at the watch with you, tell you what we see, and give you a figure. If the watch is part of a larger inheritance, see selling estate jewellery in Kelowna. You are welcome to take that figure and get other quotes. We guarantee to match or beat any offer in Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley, so getting a second opinion costs you nothing.
We are at Unit 301, 478 Bernard Avenue, ScotiaBank Building, third floor, Downtown Kelowna, BC V1Y 6N7, open Monday to Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Appointments are preferred for watches because assessments take longer than a straight gold weigh-in. Call +1 (250) 860-0096 or +1 866-872-0096 toll free, and bring government-issued photo ID.
What we buy
Running or stopped, boxed or bare.
A stopped mechanical watch is a serviceable machine, not a write-off, and missing paperwork changes the number without erasing it. Do not pay for a service before you sell.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do you buy watches that are not working?
Yes. A mechanical or automatic watch that has stopped is a serviceable machine, not a write-off, and a quartz watch that has stopped is very often just a dead battery. Do not pay for a repair or a service before selling, because that cost comes straight out of your side of the deal. Bring it as it is and we will assess it as it is.
Can I sell a Rolex without the box and papers?
Yes. Original box and papers increase the value and we will always pay more when they are present, but they are not required to sell. Most vintage watches lost their packaging long ago and are sold every day without it. We identify the model and reference from the watch itself.
Is my old pocket watch worth anything?
Often yes, from two directions. Many older pocket watch cases are solid gold, which gives the piece a metal value regardless of the movement. Separately, the movement itself may be collectible depending on the maker, grade and jewel count. Cases marked gold filled or rolled gold are not solid, and we will show you the mark and explain what it means.
Should I get my watch polished or serviced before selling?
No. Servicing costs more than it adds to a sale price in almost every case, and polishing can actively reduce the value of a collectible watch by softening the original case lines and removing metal permanently. Original condition, even with honest wear, is worth more than a freshly refinished case.
Can you give me a price over the phone?
We can tell you whether a piece is worth bringing in, but not a firm number. A real figure depends on the reference, the dial and hands, the originality of the bracelet, the state of the case and the condition of the movement, and none of that can be confirmed from a description or a photograph. The in-person assessment is free and takes only a few minutes.
Bring the watch, running or not
Free assessment, honest number, cash the same day.