Buying a Used Clock: What to Check

A fair price for a clock in good condition is around £5 to £39 (approximately $7 to $52), against £8 to £60 across the full condition range. Mechanical and quartz clocks sit in entirely different markets, and mechanical movements are what collectors want.

What a fair price looks like

Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects it on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.

Condition	Typical	What it means
New with Tags	£60 (~$80)	Unused, tags or seals intact
Like New	£51 (~$68)	Barely used, no visible wear
Good	£39 (~$52)	Light signs of use, complete and working
Fair	£27 (~$36)	Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part
For Parts	£15 (~$20)	Not working or incomplete, sold as seen

Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.

The checklist before you pay

On garden machinery, whether it starts from cold rather than warm. On glass and ceramics, chips and hairline cracks that do not show in a photograph.

Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether a clock is worth what is being asked:

Non-running movements needing servicing
Replaced dials and hands on collectable clocks
Missing keys, pendulums and weights
Battery quartz clocks, worth very little

And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:

Working mechanical movements with keys
Recognised makers with a following
Original dials, hands and pendulums
Complete cases with intact glass

Common faults and fakes

Reproduction and ‘in the style of’ pieces sold as originals, particularly in glassware and lighting.

Ask for a video of machinery starting from cold. On glass, ask the seller to photograph the piece against a bright window, which reveals cracks.

WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.

Questions to ask the seller

These are the three that get asked most often about a clock, and the answers tell you most of what you need:

“Does it keep time?”

Run it for a day or two and say how much it gains or loses. It is the only functional claim worth making and it is easily tested.

“Is the key or pendulum included?”

For mechanical clocks, say clearly. A clock without its key or pendulum is very hard for a buyer to get running and both are model specific.

“Has it been serviced?”

Say what you know. A recently serviced mechanical movement is worth considerably more, and an unserviced one is not a fault, just a fact.

Also worth establishing before you commit:

Note whether it is mechanical or quartz
Check the movement runs and keeps reasonable time
Confirm keys, pendulum and weights are present

Photographs to ask for

If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:

The clock face on, whole, showing the dial clearly
The back or the movement, including any maker’s mark
The case from the side
The dial close up, plus any crack, foxing, missing hand or damage

Details to confirm before you commit

Type of movement, and whether it strikes or chimes
Maker and any marks on dial or movement
Dimensions, and whether it is wall, mantel or freestanding
Whether it has been run and keeps time, and whether the key or pendulum is included

Live clock listings

There is 1 live on WishThrift right now:

Vintage Twin-Bell Alarm Clock — Wind-Up

When to buy

Steady year round with a Christmas lift. Mechanical and antique clocks sell to a patient specialist audience; modern wall clocks compete on style and price.

Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.

Paying and collecting safely

WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.

Selling one instead?

If you already have a clock sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell clock for what to photograph and how to price, or what clock is worth at each condition grade.

Frequently asked questions

What should I pay for a used clock?

Around £5 to £39 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.

How do I check a clock before buying?

Ask for a video of machinery starting from cold. On glass, ask the seller to photograph the piece against a bright window, which reveals cracks.

Is buying a clock second hand safe?

Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. On garden machinery, whether it starts from cold rather than warm. On glass and ceramics, chips and hairline cracks that do not show in a photograph.