Luxury watches are collectible items, and for many, will stay in our families for years to come, being passed down through the generations as precious heirlooms and becoming more and more valuable with each passing year. Nevertheless, not everyone wants to hold onto their watches forever, and some choose to sell them in order to cash in as their worth increases and make use of the money for investments and other opportunities instead.
Selling a luxury watch – no matter how highly sought-after – can be a tricky process if you’re not sure where to start, and if you’re eager to ensure you get what your timepiece is worth and make a return on your investment then it’s important to take the right approach. Even the most collectible of watches is likely to face considerable scrutiny from potential buyers, which means sharing all of the relevant information, right down to the finest details, and showing off yours in the best possible light is crucial if you want to make a speedy and successful sale.
If you’re unsure how to get the ball rolling, then these tips will help ensure that it’s a smooth process from start to finish.
Choose your platform wisely
There are plenty of different platforms you might like to consider if looking to sell your timepiece, but the key is understanding which avenues your potential customers are likely to use. If your watch is particularly valuable, then taking it to auction can be one of the best ways to fetch a good price for it, but classified adverts, eBay and social media platforms are all additional options to consider for lower-end luxury watches.
It’s also worth exploring companies that buy used timepieces as a matter of course. If you’d like to sell your Rolex in London then be sure to check out pre-owned watch and jewellery specialist The Luxury Hut, which will purchase your watch for a fair price.
Create your listing
If you decide to list your timepiece for sale online as opposed to going straight to a dealer, then getting your advert right is crucial. Look to present the key information about your watch in clear and concise, bullet-pointed format so that it’s easily digestible, and be sure to include all the finest details. Serious collectors will want to know everything about it, with a particular emphasis on condition and working order, so ensure that you have all bases covered.
Additional information to consider adding to your listing includes when and where you bought the watch and how many times it has been worn. Clear photos of the watch, taken in natural light, are also essential to show it off in all its glory – dark and gloomy photos that fail to showcase its unique details will likely mean it’ll take much longer to sell.
Have records at the ready
A watch is only as valuable as its records confirm, and much like a car, it’s important to have them ready to present to potential buyers as these will evidence its authenticity. Keeping receipts and its service history is vital, as is being able to provide the original box in which your timepiece came. Being able to show these to prospective buyers will reassure them that you are asking for a fair price and that your watch is not a counterfeit.
Promote it on social media
One of the quickest and easiest ways to sell your preloved timepiece these days is by promoting your listing on social media. Both Facebook and Instagram will allow you, by putting a small amount of budget behind your listing, to promote it to exactly the right people, and you can specifically target luxury watch enthusiasts and collectors in an area of your choosing to ensure that your advert is getting in front of the right people.
Simply placing it on marketplace for free is likely to mean that you’ll garner a lot of attention from those who are less serious about buying your watch or, in some cases, are even looking to scam you – so save yourself the headache by spending a little money to select the relevant demographics and interests, and you’re almost guaranteed a speedier sale.
If your watch is important to you, you’ll no doubt want to ensure that it goes to a good home – and knowing that you’re selling to someone who understands and appreciates the value of your timepiece will make the entire process easier.
