How To Pawn, Buy, & Sell Watches
If you live in NYC or the surrounding are and you are looking to get some quick cash selling a video game console, laptop, computer, or smartphone, the team at Paradise Pawn can help you. With our two locations in the Bronx, we would be happy to take a look at your electronics, evaluate them, and provide with quick cash you can use right away. If you want to know specifically what we buy or want to just ask a few questions about either the selling or pawning process before you come to our location, feel free to give us a call or send some messages to a member of our team.
Valuation/Offers
There is a lot that goes into selling or pawning a watch. First and foremost, watches need to be evaluated based on their brand, their condition, and their authenticity. Here at Paradise Pawn, we can divide watch brands into three main categories: In-House, Out-Of-House, and vintage. The In-House brands are watch brands that we can authenticate and provide offers for in our shops, thanks to our equipment and expertise. This means you will likely get an offer after a brief valuation. Out-of-house brands require us to work with third-party authenticators. This either means that the watch owner will need to set up time with us as an authenticator, or they will need to leave the watch with us so we can set up that time. Vintage watches, including pocket watches that are gold or gold-filled, can be authenticated in-house.
How Much Do You Get When You Sell Or Pawn A Luxury Watch in NYC?
A pawn shop in NYC is likely to reference a variety of prices from dealers in order to establish a fair offer to either buy your watch or provide a loan that uses your watch as collateral. First and foremost, a pawn shop will always offer more to outright buy an item than what they would be willing to offer as a loan that uses the same item as collateral.
Prices for luxury watches are constantly changing are are determined based on a network of dealers that pawn shops work closely with. That said, the biggest factors that impact the offer a pawn shop will provide are the condition of the watch, the brand of the watch, and what the watch comes with (original box, warranty/authenticity card/booklet, etc).
What Should I Do Before Pawning/Selling a Luxury WAtch
First and foremost, you will want to bring the original box and any booklets or cards that came with the watch if you still have them. An original dated card from Rolex can increase the value by hundreds or even thousands of dollars depending on the watch model. If you still have the original box and the dated authenticity cards or booklets that came with your watch, make sure you bring them with you.
Scratches, scuffs, or an inoperable watch will either significantly decrease the value of your watch or even cause some pawn shops to pass entirely. The value of a watch is extremely linked to its condition, brand, and model.
Make sure you check our lists below on our in-house, out-of-house, and vintage watches. In-house brands will be valued and offers will be provided by our team while you are at our pawn shop. If you have an out-of-house brand/model, we will need to set up a time with a third-party authenticator. This process can take about an hour and either we can set up a meeting with you and the authenticator, or you can leave your watch with us.
In-House Watch Brands
- Rolex
- Cartier
- Omega
- Tudor
- Breguet
- Raymond Weil
- Baurne & Mercier
- Tag Heuer
- IWC
- Tissot
- Grand Seiko
Authentication of these watches can take anywhere from 10-30 minutes and is down at our shops in the Bronx.
How Does Our Pawn SHop Authenticate Watch Models/Brands?
During an in-house authentication we will remove the bracelet and caseback for inspection of serial numbers, reference numbers, and movement. We use a digital microscope to inspect parts and check movements. We compare the watch to examples provided to us through our partnership with Watch Certification Services of America. Finally, we use an Elvatech XRF spectrometer, which tells us the exact metal composition of a watch. Brands like Rolex have proprietary metal compositions that knock-off watches do not match.
Out of House Watch Brands
- Audemars Piguet
- Patek Philippe
- Richard Mille
- Vacheron Constantin
- A Lange & Sohne
- Blancpain
In order to authenticate these watch brands, we will need to set up time with a thirdparty authenticator. This can be done in one of two ways. First, we can set up a time where a member of our team, the authenticator, and the seller meet. These appointments tend to be about one hour long. Alternatively, a seller can leave a watch with us, and we will provide an estimate on when we will reach out with the valuation and offer after we meet with our third-party authenticator.
Can You Sell Vintage Watches and Pocket Watches to A Pawn Shop?
- Longines
- Juvenia
- Universal Geneve
- Angelus
- Omega
- Jaeger-LeCoultre
- Zenith
- Corum
- & More
Our team welcomes all types of vintage and antique watches at our pawn shops including pocket watches. The authentication process is in-house and fairly quick. Our team will utilize existing data on resale value to provide valuation and an offer. For gold watches and gold pocket watches, the valuation and offer are dependent on the current gold market. For more information, please give us a call.
Learn More About Pawning & Selling Watches & Jewelry
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Common Questions About Selling Watches in NYC
Yes, many pawn shops buy both luxury watches and smartwatches. That said, the value of a smart device is very dependent on the generation it is a part of, the brand, and the condition of the watch. Typically, buyers are looking for newer watches, in great condition, from well-known brands like Apple. It is also important to provide any additional accessories, including the box it came in and the receipt, if possible. You can always call ahead to a pawn shop and discuss the specific item you are thinking about selling. Our team will answer your questions and let you know whether or not we would buy the watch you are thinking about selling.
Technically, it is possible to sell a digital watch that has a dead battery; it really depends on where you are selling the item. Typically, pawn shops and other resellers are going to want to check that the item you are selling is in good condition. This includes making sure that it functions properly. If you have a digital watch or smartwatch that cannot power on because of a dead battery, the pawn shop might not be willing to take it. Always recharge the battery, and bring the charger with you, when selling a smart watch.
Yes, unfortunately, engravings on watches or jewelry can hurt their resale value. While pawn shops may still accept jewelry and watches that have engraved messages, names, or dates on them, there is a decreased demand for personalized pre-owned jewelry and watches. That said, it is still worth talking to a pawn shop about the item. In the case of jewelry, some pawn shops buy broken, damaged, or engraved jewelry since they plan on buying it for the precious metal or stones. In the case of watches, this is less common, but pawn shops might still be willing to take a look at a watch if it is highly valuable.
Pawn shops rarely take items that they cannot accurately appraise and verify themselves. That said, it is always good for buyers to understand what to look for when shopping for used items. The first thing you should look for when shopping for used watches is signs of authenticity. You can talk to the seller about this, and they can show you serial numbers or other markings that prove the authenticity of the watch. You should also check for movement and the condition of the watch. You should test the crown operation and make sure the watch is functioning properly. Likewise, you should look for any scratches or signs of damage.