The short version
- Typical range: £50 – £500 — see the full vintage watch value guide
- What decides your price: condition, and how well you evidence it in photographs
- Cost to sell here: nothing, at any price
- Category: Jewellery & Watches
Before you photograph it
Ten minutes here is worth more than anything else you will do. Buyers are deciding between your listing and someone else’s, and preparation is what visibly separates the two.
- Photograph the dial, the case back, the movement if you can open it safely, and any serial numbers.
- Establish what is original: dial, hands, crown, bracelet. Replaced parts are common and must be disclosed.
- Wind it and check it runs, and time it over 24 hours to report the daily rate.
The photographs that sell a vintage watch
Four photographs do almost all the work. Shoot in daylight, near a window, with the item against something plain — and do not use the flash, which flattens texture and hides exactly what buyers are trying to see.
- The dial straight on in daylight, sharp enough to read the text
- The case back with serials and markings
- The movement, if the case opens safely
- The bracelet or strap, the clasp, and any dial blemish or case wear
Photograph the flaws too. It feels counterproductive, but a listing that shows the worst of an item gets fewer questions, fewer withdrawn offers and fewer arguments at handover. Buyers who can see the damage stop imagining something worse.
Writing the title and description
Brand, model, era and movement: “Omega Seamaster, c.1965, Manual Wind, Original Dial”. “Original dial” is a phrase collectors search for and it carries real weight — only use it if true. Say if the dial has been refinished, because experienced buyers will spot it.
Then state these in the description, because a buyer who has to ask is a buyer who might not bother:
- Brand, model, reference number and approximate year
- Movement type and caliber if known, and its daily rate
- Which parts are original and which are replacements or service parts
- Whether it comes with box, papers or service history
What buyers will actually ask
You will receive the same three messages about a vintage watch. Answering them in the listing itself removes the back-and-forth, and answering them well when they do arrive is what turns an enquiry into a sale.
Answer honestly. A refinished dial can halve the value of a collectable watch, and collectors detect it easily, so disclosure protects both the sale and your rating.
Time it for 24 hours and give the gain or loss in seconds. Vintage movements drift and buyers expect that; they want the number.
Say when, and by whom if you know. Recent service history is worth real money on a vintage mechanical watch.
Pricing it so it actually sells
Start from the honest condition grade rather than the price you hope for. WishThrift listings use five grades — New with Tags, Like New, Good, Fair and For Parts — and what each grade means is worth reading before you choose, because grading up is the most expensive mistake sellers make. It does not raise the price; it produces a buyer who arrives expecting something else.
The vintage watch value guide prices all five grades for this item. Pick your grade, take the figure, and if you sit between two grades price toward the lower one. Items priced honestly sell faster than items priced hopefully, and on a free platform there is no fee eating the difference anyway.
What you keep, compared
On a £275 sale — roughly the middle of the range for a vintage watch — here is what the commission-charging platforms would take, and what you would keep on each:
| Where you sell it | Fee | You keep |
|---|---|---|
| WishThrift | £0 | £275 |
| Poshmark | −£55 | £220 |
| eBay | −£37 | £238 |
| Mercari | −£28 | £247 |
| Etsy | −£18 | £257 |
Seller-side rates verified 26 Jul 2026 — Poshmark: 20% commission on sales of $15 and above; eBay: 13.6% final value fee, plus a per-order fee; Mercari: flat 10% selling fee; Etsy: 6.5% transaction fee, plus a listing fee and payment processing. Percentages are applied to the sterling figure above; the fixed per-order and processing charges those platforms add are quoted in their own currency and are not included here, so the real deductions are slightly larger. Full breakdown: marketplace selling fees compared.
Timing and getting it to the buyer
Steady with an active collector base. Well-documented, honestly described pieces sell quickly; vague listings on valuable watches sit because buyers assume the worst.
High value and easily disputed. Use fully tracked and insured postage, photograph everything before sealing, and welcome an independent inspection if the buyer wants one.
WishThrift does not process payments or arrange delivery — you and the buyer agree both directly — so confirm payment has cleared before the item leaves your hands, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed.
Ready to list it? It takes about two minutes, costs nothing, and there is no commission when it sells — create a free account or see how selling works.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a vintage watch valuable?
Originality above all — original dial, hands and crown — then brand, reference, condition and whether the box and papers survive. A serviced, all-original watch is worth substantially more than a smartened-up one.
Does WishThrift verify that a watch is genuine?
No. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade any item. Photograph the dial, case back, serials and movement clearly, describe exactly what you know, and welcome the buyer arranging their own inspection.
What is a used vintage watch worth?
Typically £50 to £500, with sought-after references far above. See the vintage watch value guide for the condition breakdown.
See also: what a used vintage watch is worth · browse live jewellery & watches listings · condition grades explained.