How do I Sell a Swiss Watch?

Swiss watches are famous for their durability.

Authentic Swiss timepieces are a valuable luxury item. They can be bought new and sold used years later. Vintage Swiss watches also have a resale value. Finding the right buyer for your Swiss watch is possible with research. Certain watch companies buy luxury watches but do not specifically mention Swiss watches. Other companies buy only specific models of strictly Swiss timepieces. Swiss watches are so popular they have their own resale niche in the form of Swiss watch dealers.

Things You'll Need

• Digital camera
• Internet

Instructions

Private Dealers

1. Research privately-owned watch companies using the Internet or the business section of your library. Two examples of Swiss watch dealers that can be found online are Swiss Elite Watches (swisselitewatches.com) and Swiss Watch Co. (swisswatchcompany.net).

   Watch companies offer to buy luxury watches, including Swiss watches, provided the watches are in good, working condition. Another criterion is that the Swiss watch you sell must be a desirable model. Certain companies focus only on buying and selling Swiss watches. Some watch companies are only interested in Swiss watches that will bring in a certain amount, $600 for instance.

2. Inform the company of the details of your watch, including the following: material the head of the watch is made of (gold, stainless steel, etc.), the type of strap (leather, gold, etc.), the condition of the strap, the type of buckle and whether it is original, the movement (automatic, wind, etc.), dial features and the crystal type in the watch. You can provide this information via the online form on watch-company websites. The form introduces your Swiss watch to the company and helps it determine if it is interested in buying the watch.

3. Include a photo of the watch. Answer any additional questions on the online form that indicate the wear and tear on the watch. Based on the information you provide, the company will notify you as to whether it will buy your watch.

eBay

1. Photograph your Swiss watch. To help authenticate your watch, take photographs from multiple angles, and take several close-ups of the dial/brand name. If your Swiss watch is new, photograph the box, papers and tag.

2. Write a detailed description of your watch. Include item specifics, such as movement, brand material, features, brand, gender (for male or female) and--most importantly--condition. If it is water resistant, include that information as well.

3. Price your Swiss watch on eBay. You can choose a low starting price and hope for a high selling price, since low starting prices attract bidders. The risk you take is your item may sell at the lowest starting price. If your item is desirable, the likelihood of it selling at a profit is high. However, there are several competing Swiss watches on eBay (almost 30,000 as of August 2010), putting your watch in the midst of stiff competition.

4. Package and ship your Swiss watch if it sells on eBay. Carefully add bubble packaging to shield the watch. Buy insurance to protect the contents of your package in case it gets lost or is damaged.

Tips & Warnings

• Include the Swiss watch box and documents to increase the value of your Swiss watch. Some Swiss watch companies offer a selling service, where they buy and sell your watch for a fee.

References

• Street Directory: Selling Swiss Army Watches

Resources

• Swiss Elite Watches: Buy, Sell, Trade
• Swiss Watch Company