Used gold watches in the UAE typically sell for AED 295 to AED 2,950 (about $81 to $810). There are really two markets here — watches valued as timepieces and watches valued as gold — and knowing which yours belongs to sets the price.
What gold watches are worth in the UAE
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | AED 2,966 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | AED 2,521 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | AED 1,928 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | AED 1,335 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | AED 741 | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Guide ranges converted from sterling at the 2 August 2026 rate, not quotes — sellers set their own price. Grades are seller-declared; WishThrift does not inspect or verify them.
What lifts the price
- Original box, papers and bracelet
- A movement that runs and keeps reasonable time
What pulls it down
- Gold plating worn through at the lugs and bracelet edges
- Replacement bracelets or dials on collectable pieces
Selling a gold watch in the UAE
Bank transfer and cash on collection are both normal. Confirm funds have cleared before handing anything over.
The UAE has an unusually active second-hand market driven by how often people arrive and leave — relocation sales mean good-quality items turn over quickly and often at well below their age.
The Emirates is a pre-launch market, so this is what a seller here should expect when it opens. The population turns over unusually fast, and that shapes the whole market: relocation sales put nearly-new furniture, appliances and cars on the market at heavy discounts, and the best stock appears in concentrated bursts as people leave. Distances are short and courier coverage is quick and cheap, so postage is rarely the obstacle it is elsewhere. Expect buyers to move fast and to expect a reply the same day.
Turnover peaks around the summer, when a large share of relocations happen and whole households are sold at once.
Working out what yours is worth
- Note whether it says solid gold, gold filled or gold plated
- Wind or wear it for a day and check how much time it gains or loses
Getting it ready
- Find the hallmark on the case back or lug and photograph it. Solid gold is hallmarked; plated is usually marked GP, rolled gold or with a micron figure.
- Weigh the watch and note whether the bracelet is also gold, since that can be most of the weight.
Photograph
- The case back with the hallmark or markings, legible
- The watch on a scale with the weight visible
- The bracelet or strap, the clasp, and any scratch or dent
Put in the description
- Whether the case is solid gold or plated, with the hallmark or marking quoted
- Total weight in grams, and whether the bracelet is also gold
- Whether it runs and keeps time, and when it was last serviced
High value in a small parcel. Confirm cleared funds before it leaves you, use tracked and insured postage, and photograph the watch and the sealed packaging.
Steady all year with a lift before Christmas. Solid gold pieces have a metal floor and rarely sit long when priced honestly; plated watches sell on brand alone.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the AED 2,966 a buyer pays is the AED 2,966 you keep. You and the buyer settle up and arrange the handover between yourselves; WishThrift does not hold the money or ship the item.
Where in the UAE
The United Arab Emirates is a big place and what sells well moves with it. These are the parts of the United Arab Emirates with their own page for gold watches.
- Selling a gold watch in Dubai
- Selling a gold watch in Sharjah
- Selling a gold watch in Abu Dhabi
- Selling a gold watch in Al Ain
- Selling a gold watch in Ajman
Common questions
Where can I sell a gold watch in the UAE?
List it free on WishThrift and deal with the buyer direct. There is no selling fee, so the whole amount stays with you. Bank transfer and cash on collection are both normal. Confirm funds have cleared before handing anything over.
What does it weigh?
Weigh it and give grams. Buyers use weight and carat to work out a floor value below which they cannot lose.
How much is an old gold watch worth?
It depends whether it is collectable or simply gold. A watch from a respected maker is worth well above its metal value; an unbranded plated case is worth close to nothing.
Is gold plated the same as solid gold?
No, and the difference is very large. Plated cases carry a thin layer that wears through; only solid gold carries real metal value.
More: how to sell a gold watch, what gold watches are worth, or Jewellery & Watches across the United Arab Emirates.