Antique dealers are not very fond of accepting watches on commission, except for those that have at least some artistic or historical value. However, you need to be very careful in determining the value and year of issue of the watch that you found in your grandmother's chest so as not to sell a really worthwhile thing for a pittance.
Instructions
Step 1
Try to determine the year of the watch yourself first. Examine the watch carefully from the dial side. See if there are any other marks on it, in addition to the name of the manufacturer, including information about the year of issue. If the watch is Soviet-made, but the manufacturer's name is written in Latin letters, then, most likely, they were made for export, that is, starting from about the 60s. XX century (previously, watches were practically not supplied abroad, with the exception of the watches of the Uglichsky plant "Chaika").
Step 2
Examine the back of the watch. Rewrite the serial number. It will be possible to inquire about your brand's watches by contacting one of the hourly Internet forums (for example, on the website www.watch.ru). The serial number will allow you to communicate with master watchmakers without showing the thing itself for the time being. On the back cover of watches of some Japanese companies, either the month and year (1-2 digits each) or the day, month and year are indicated in full.
Step 3
If you have an antique watch with a hinged lid in your hands, then sometimes numbers or letters may also be inscribed on its inner side, which will help you determine the year of issue.
Step 4
If the watch is quartz, gently open the back cover and remove the batteries. If mechanical, wait until they stand up to avoid damaging the internal structure with an awkward movement. And only then open the lid.
Step 5
Look for any marks or brands on the inner surface of the back cover. Equip yourself with a magnifying glass and carefully examine the clockwork, being careful not to touch anything. If you didn’t find the serial number on the back of the watch, it probably was stamped on the movement. In addition, many craftsmen of past years, making custom-made watches, always put a personal stamp inside. This can also help you in determining the year of manufacture of the product.
Step 6
If it was not possible to determine the year of manufacture of the watch yourself, contact the antique dealers and watchmakers for advice. Be careful and, in order to avoid deception, take a few photos of watches from all sides (including the mechanism) and show them to specialists.
