How to Start an Antique Watch Collection

From the pocket watch to the wristwatch, the types of antique watches are very diverse. They differ from clocks in that they have no striking mechanism, such as a bell or a chime. And, of course, they are portable, designed to be carried with you at all times. They also carry a distinct sense of personal history. If you like to engage with the past and enjoy caring for precious objects, you might want to start an antique watch collection.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Know the difference between mechanical and quartz crystal watches. Mechanical watches have about 130 parts that are powered by regular winding. Some mechanical watches must be wound by hand, while others are designed to wind automatically by the movement of the wearer's wrist. Quartz crystal watches are electronic and powered by a small battery. Antique watches are more likely to be mechanical, though there are some antique quartz watches as well.

2. Lay out a budget for your collection. Watches can range in price from only a few dollars to several thousand or more.

3. Research Swiss watches and watch companies. For many years, Swiss watches have had a reputation for being beautiful and finely crafted.

4. Be familiar with different watch manufacturers, how long they have been in business and what kind of watches they make. Rolex, Timex, Buren and Omega are just a few timepiece manufacturers that have been manufacturing watches for many years, and many of their older models have become antiques.

5. Shop around at various local antique stores to see if they have any antique or vintage watches. Tell the people who work at the stores that you plan to start an antique watch collection and ask if they have any advice.

6. Learn how to care for your watches. Even if you do not wish to restore them yourself, proper maintenance is key. Especially if they are older, watches will start to fall into disrepair if they are neglected.

Tips & Warnings

• It might be advantageous to buy rundown, broken antique watches for cheaper and learn to fix and restore them yourself. It is cheaper than buying working watches and can increase their value dramatically after they are restored.

Resources

• Antique Vintage Watches Website for More Information on Antique Watches
• Ozdoba Website for Information on Swiss Watches

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