How to Grade the Condition of Antique Pocket Watches

The condition of a pocket watch affects its value.

Antique pocket watches are fun to collect and a joy to own. The older watches are especially beautiful and many people admire the excellent workmanship that was required to make these wonderful machines. If you are going to collect antique pocket watches, you must know how to grade their condition to determine their value.

Things You'll Need

• Jeweler's loupe
• Bright light
• Piece of paper
• Pen

Instructions

1. Write the number "10" at the top of a piece of paper. This is the watch's starting grade. You will write down all defects, whether major of minor, as points to be subtracted from this starting grade.

2. Determine if you have a top-grade watch. The top three grades -- Pristine Mint (G10), Mint Plus (G9) and Mint (G8) -- are assigned to antique pocket watches that are still in their original boxes and wrappings and have either never been used or used few times and then stored away. If the antique pocket watch is not in absolutely new condition in its original box and wrappings, immediately subtract 3 points from the starting grade.

3. Inspect the casing with a jeweler's loupe under a bright light. Look for scratches, especially around the stem and latch where the case opens. Look for dents or any disfigurement, and whether the hinges or latches work properly. Look for wear of the gold on gold-filled or rolled gold watches.

   If the watch has any of these defects, subtract 1, 2 or 3 points from its grade, as follows. If it has a minor defect, such as a scratch or dent, that can only be seen with a loupe, subtract 1 point. Subtract 2 points if it has minor defects that can be seen with the naked eye. Subtract 3 points it it has any major wear, scratches, dents or non-working hinges or latches.

4. Inspect the watch face and crystal with the loupe. Look for chips, cracks, scratches and discoloring, and determine if the hands and face are original. If everything is original and in pristine condition, don't deduct any points from the watch's grade. Subtract 1 point if the watch has light signs of wear, discoloring or scratches, but still has all of its original parts. Subtract 2 points if there is obvious wear, small chips, hairline cracks and replacement parts. Subtract 3 points if there is major wear, chips, a cracked or missing crystal or if parts are missing.

5. Inspect the mechanics. Wind the watch and see if it ticks steadily. Listen for irregular rhythms in the ticking; pauses; hiccuping; some strong ticks and some hesitant or weak ticks. If the watch ticks strongly and seems to keep good time, deduct no points from its grade. Subtract 1 point if it ticks but stops; has a weak tick; the stem won't wind or is missing; or if it won't tick at all.

6. Tally up all of your deductions and subtract them from 10. If it results in a score from 10 to 5, you have a good antique pocket watch that is worth the cost of restoring it, if needed. If its score is 4 or 3, you have a decent watch, but it may only be useful as a display piece and may not be worth fixing. A watch that scores 2 or 1 is basically scrap, although it could be harvested for parts.

Tips & Warnings

• Always be careful when opening a pocket watch, so that you don't scratch the case.

• Always be careful when opening a pocket watch so that you don't scratch the case.

References

• 2-Clicks Pocket Watches: Pocket Watch Grades