Selling a watch — or any fine jewelry, for that matter — can be intimidating.
Traditionally, there’s the process of finding a qualified appraiser and figuring out where to sell it.
And then there is the question about whether you trust the quote your local jeweler or watchmaker gave you.
Are you getting ripped off?
Fortunately, there are options today that make it easier and safer than ever, without ever having to leave the house.
You can even get cash for your watch without selling it by using it as collateral to secure a personal loan from a company like Diamond Banc.
Get a jewelry loan through Diamond Banc in 24 hours or less >>
Bottom line: Best place to sell a watch?
There are ways to get the most money for your timepiece, quickly and safely. My No. 1 recommendation is Worthy.com, an online auction platform rated A- by the Better Business Bureau.
Read about Worthy in this review.
Where to sell watches? Worthy
Worthy is an online marketplace, and each watch auction attracts bids from hundreds of qualified buyers all around the country — if not world. Worthy works with leading watch experts to accurately value each timepiece, takes professional, 3-D photographs using specialized digital equipment, and merchandises each watch. You control the reserve price, and are paid within a few days of the sale.
Most of Worthy’s buyers prefer brands whose watches retail for tens of thousands of dollars (and sometimes more).
Though Worthy.com is my top choice, there are other places to sell a watch to consider.
Where to sell watches
Today, you have a few choices to sell your watch:
1. Sell watches online
Sites including Worthy, WPDiamonds, and other online marketplaces and jewelry auctions can help you get a fair price for your watch. Benefits of selling online include ease of use, transparency and privacy — you don't have to be embarrassed walking into a local jeweler or pawn shop.
Online platforms also typically have lower overhead than brick-and-mortar jewelers or other businesses, so they have the margins to offer you higher prices — and are incentivized to do since the competition online is higher than in local markets.
Other places that buy watches include:
2. Search for “sell watches near me” or “watch buyers near me”
You may find reputable jewelers, pawn shops, watch buyers and retailers in your area via Yelp, Google or other listings. One way is to use “near me” in your searches to find local watch buyers. You might also want to ask around for a recommendation.
3. Scrap metal buyers
If you have a gold watch that can be melted for scrap, send it to CashforGoldUSA.com, which has an A+ with the Better Business Bureau, pays within 24 hours and pays a 10% bonus.
CashforGoldUSA buys all kinds of watches, gold and silver jewelry, coins and silverware as well as diamond rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and other jewelry — and they pay within 24 hours of receiving your item.
4. Pawn shops
You may consider pawning your watch to a pawn shop near you, although it may be better to sell your jewelry online. Online gold buyers may pay more, as pawn shops typically pay 25% to 60% of the retail value of your item.
5. Consignment shops
Jewelry stores and antique shops both may purchase your estate and vintage jewelry and watches — either for a flat rate or on a consignment agreement.
Consignment shops typically accept an item for consignment and then pay the original seller a percentage of the sales price if and when the item sells. Online consignment sites like TheRealReal deal in fine jewelry and higher-end watches.
Expect consigning your watch to take longer than pawning and direct sales or online sales.
6. Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace has become a bonanza of buying and selling any number of goods and services, including timepieces. Simply post your watch with a few pics, a thorough description and suggested price — and then try to figure out which responders are scammers, crazy or potential buyers!
7. Give it away
You may want to give your watch to a family member or close friend, leave it to them in a will or your estate plan, or donate it to a charity thrift store.
Watch buyers near me and online
Top watch buyer: Worthy.com
Worthy is a leading marketplace that will do the heavy lifting of marketing your watch or fine jewelry to its network of professional buyers. Worthy.com will also have your watch authenticated by Watch Central, a partners specializing in timepieces.
Worthy.com chooses which brands to buy based on their buyers’ preferences.
Here’s a list of watch brands that are in demand by Worthy’s buyers:
- Alain Silberstein
- Breitling
- Glashütte
- Lange
- Patek Philippe
- TAG Heuer
- Audemars Piguet
- Bulgari
- Harry Winston
- MB&F
- Piaget
- Tudor
- Bell & Ross
- Cartier
- Hublot
- Montblanc
- Richard Mille
- Ulysse Nardin
- Blancpain
- Chopard
- IWC
- Omega
- Roger Dubuis
- Vacheron Constantin
- Breguet
- Franck Muller
- Jaeger
- Panerai
- Rolex
- Zenith
In fact, unlike retailers who carry these brands, many of whom sell only newer watches, Worthy’s buyers actually prefer vintage or antique versions of these big names – particularly ones in excellent condition.
The rarity ups the value, which increases the amount you’ll be paid. So, that watch of your grandfather’s … ?
Once you decide you want to part with your watch, go to Worthy.com.
- Go to Worthy.com
- Get an online quote from a site like Worthy to understand if their estimate is in line with a price you feel comfortable with.
- If they and you are interested in proceeding, Worthy sends you a free FedEx mailer overnight.
- Send in your watch, 100% insured up to $100,000 by Lloyds of London.
- Your timepiece is authenticated by Central Watch, a New York City watch repair, appraiser and buyer founded in 1952.
- Worthy will professionally clean and digitally photograph your watch in special, high-definition images. You set the minimum price you are willing to sell.
- Your auction goes live to hundreds of vetted buyers globally.
- Get paid within as little as 24 hours by Paypal, or by check mailed to your home. Total sale time from sending in your timepiece to getting paid is about two weeks.
Worthy has an A rating with the Better Business Bureau.
When your watch or other jewelry sells, Worthy.com takes a fee of up to 22 percent of the sale price.
That’s something to keep in mind, but remember that anyone selling anything for you is going to take a cut.
Worthy scores points with its transparency.
If your jewelry doesn’t get sold for at least your reserve price, Worthy will return it for free, and you don’t wind up paying anything before the sale.
Second best watch buyer: WP Diamonds
WPDiamonds specializes in diamond jewelry, as well as luxury timepieces and handbags. Their model is straight-forwar purchases, especially if you already have receipts or lab reports from your item.
Scrap gold watch buyer: CashforGoldUSA
CashforGoldUSA specializes in buying all things gold, silver, diamond, jewelry and coins. Watches that are best sold for scrap gold are a good fit.
Read our CashforGoldUSA review.
Where to sell watches FAQs
Can you sell a watch to a jeweler?
Jewelers often appraise and buy fine and luxury watches of all kinds — it really depends on the jeweler and the market. A jeweler can be a good place to start to learn about your timepiece and get an initial offer. A jeweler is also helpful in providing an appraisal for insurance purposes.
Where is the best place to sell a watch?
Many people chose to sell their watch locally to a jeweler or watch collector who they know and trust, or who comes recommended.
There are many benefits to using one of the reputable online watch buyers. Online buyers tend to work in large volume with connections globally — which is really the scope of the international watch market.
Watch sellers find it useful to easily check sites like Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot for online businesses since the established ones can have hundreds or thousands of reviews and ratings.
Online businesses potentially can work on smaller margins, and pass those savings on to the seller, given they are not beholden to expensive retail real estate.
Further, many watch and jewelry sellers prefer the privacy and anonymity of selling their watch for cash, from home where there is no chance of running into a neighbor during the transaction!
Where can I sell my Apple watch?
Apple and other digital watches fall into another category entirely, though you can certainly resell your Apple watch for cash. eBay, Gazelle or even locally on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplaces are good places to sell watches. Pawn shops and consignment stores are also places to sell electronic watches.
23 sites like Craigslist to buy or sell stuff in 2023
Many local jewelers will buy your timepiece. First, do your best to understand your watch's value, and then make an appointment with a few local jewelers, to see who offers you the best choice. Many people prefer to sell jewelry and watches locally to businesses they know and trust, and negotiate face-to-face.
Selling your watch online is our No. 1 recommendation. Online buyers can reach an international market, have less overhead since they do not rely on expensive retail rent, and have the capacity to do large volumes of deals, allowing for smaller margins — which are passed along to sellers.
Apple and other digital watches fall into another category entirely, though you can certainly resell your Apple watch for cash. eBay, Gazelle or even locally on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplaces are good places to sell watches. Pawn shops and consignment stores are also places to sell electronic watches.
