Think of the last time you had to recall a specific date or event. Chances are, you did some research and consulted the notes in your phone, calendar app, or text message reminder service. But when was that specific moment? You might not have given it much thought before now, but with a little deeper research and understanding of your watch heritage, this could be the key to unlocking your watch’s true value.
Let’s take an example from us here at Oh! Kick! It’s simple really: we wear watches for style and design purposes first and foremost. Although we do appreciate their functionality as well (if not a bit better), our connection to an object is often secondary in its purpose—a means rather than an end. As such, we only look at brands that offer styles we enjoy wearing (and which we can reasonably resell for a profit later) without any emotional attachment – meaning vintage pieces barely register as anything other than potential income opportunities.
What’s so special about your watch’s heritage?
Now, this is the big one. With a little digging and research, you can uncover the story behind your own watch’s heritage. We’re not talking about brand origins, or even the watch’s model number here—we’re talking about the watch’s history at the time it was made.
For example, if your watch’s history references the 1960s, you can expect to find it is one of the many Swiss-made watch models released during this period. In contrast, if your watch’s history references the 1980s, you can expect to find it is from a watch-making era when Japanese watch companies began producing mechanical timepieces in large quantities.
There are several ways to uncover your watch’s history; the most common is to simply search for the watch’s serial number on an online database. If your watch is a vintage piece, be sure to also search with keywords such as “watch brand” and “watch style.” This will help narrow down the results to relevant items. Alternatively, you can search the watch’s name and the words “watch history” or “watch heritage” to help you gain a better understanding of your watch’s origins.
How to calculate the value of your watch
Now, you might be wondering how to calculate the value of your watch. The truth is, it is easy to do. All you need to do is estimate how much you could sell your watch for online and offline, and deduct the amount you would be paying for the watch as a whole.
This is a quick and easy way to find the value of your watch; however, it does have some caveats. First and foremost, the price you come up with is likely to be a bit higher than the actual price you would receive. This is because you will be including the cost of your watch, which often exceeds the actual purchase price by a considerable amount.
Watch brands with a long history of production
Who would have thought that the Swiss watch industry is no longer the leader in this market? Well, it is, but that title now belongs to Japan. Except for limited Swiss production in the 1960s and 1970s, Japanese watch brands have been the majority force in the industry ever since the country first began producing mechanical timepieces in the early 1800s.
It is important to note that long-term watch production history is only one factor in calculating the value of your watch. If you want to know how to measure the value of your watch, you will also need to look at the brand, model number, and condition of the watch. The brand and model number can be found on the watch’s case back or bracelet. If these details are not marked on the watch itself, you can easily find them using an online database. This will help you gauge the watch’s heritage and value.
Watch brands with a short history of production
While long watch production history has always been important, it wasn’t always a guarantee that a watch was Swiss-made. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Japanese watch companies began producing mechanical timepieces in mass quantities.
Except for a brief Japanese-Swiss cooperation in the 1980s, Japanese watch brands have heavily focused on short-term watch production history ever since. While long watch production history is important in calculating the value of your watch, it is not the only factor.
If you want to know how to measure the value of your watch, you will also need to look at the brand, model number, and condition of the watch. This information can be found on the watch’s case back or bracelet. If these details are not marked on the watch itself, you can easily find them using an online database. This will help you gauge the watch’s heritage and value.
Watch brands with no known history of production
The last factor to consider when calculating the value of your watch is the brand. As with Swiss watch brands and short-term Japanese watch companies, it is possible to find brands that produce watches only in the current century. It is also important to note that there are brands that produce watches with no known watch production history.
As with long and short watch production history, the brand is the most important factor in determining the value of your watch. If you want to know how to measure the value of your watch, you will also need to look at the brand, model number, and condition of the watch. This information can be found on the watch’s case back or bracelet. If these details are not marked on the watch itself, you can easily find them using an online database. This will help you gauge the watch’s heritage and value.
Conclusion
There are many factors to consider when calculating the value of your watch. We hope this article helped you understand how to calculate the value of your watch, and what factors to consider when doing so. Now that you know how to measure the value of your watch, you can get ready to start pricing your watches.
Finally, it is important to remember that you should never buy a watch that you are not willing to sell for at least the amount you would pay for it. This is the only way you can be certain of the watch’s value, and protect yourself against buying a sub-standard piece.
