Antique Watches

Buyer's guide to antique watches

When it comes to buying antique watches, you can NEVER be over informed. There are hundreds of thousands of antique watches out there that all have their own rarity, desirability, and model.

Here are the rules that must be considered when you look at these valuable and decorative pieces:

1. Know the watch you want to buy. If you are, for example, looking to buy a "Railroad watch", what do you define as a railroad watch? Is your definition a watch used on a railroad, or is it a watch that meets or exceeds the standards set by the railroad companies that would issue these valuable time pieces?
2. Find the value of the piece. If you want to buy a valuable watch, I would suggest you purchase a Watch Price Guide.
3. Condition is everything. First things first, inspect the watch "plates". When I refer to "plates", I refer to the metal plates that hold the train, jewels, and balance staff, or the gears and the other parts, in the watch and allow it to function. I will explain some of the terminology used for watches so that even if you are a novice, you will sound like you actually know something when you go to buy your new antique watch.

Second, did a price check, where I looked in my price guide book to find it's value (Note: In a price book, watches are listed by company first alphabetically, then by the size of the watch, then the model for the size is listed in alphabetical order) so that I wouldn't over pay for the item.

Balance Staff: The brain of a watch, without it there would be no way of it to function. Case: The case of a watch, or what encases the movement of a watch, in order to protect the mechanisms from damage. The 3 main types of cases that you will encounter are swing out cases, 'open face' cases, and hunter cases.

• Crown: The thing on top that you wind the watch with.
• Crystal: The glass that protects the face on a watch.
• Dial: The face of a watch.
• Plates: The plates are things in the back of the watch that you see holding in the train, mainspring, and balance staff.
• Train: The gears of a watch.

Check out my other articles on Women's Watch
Source: helium.com