Get the best price for your Gold Watches. Compare trusted UK buyers, check live values, and sell with confidence.
Selling a gold watch requires careful thought about whether it is worth more as a timepiece or as scrap gold. Brand is the decisive factor: a vintage Rolex, Patek Philippe, Omega, or Cartier gold watch is almost always worth far more sold intact to a specialist watch dealer than melted down. However, a generic or unbranded gold watch — or one with a broken movement — may be best sold for its gold content. Remember that only the case and bracelet are gold; the movement, glass, crown, springs, and steel components inside are not, so the actual gold weight is often much less than the total watch weight.
| Dealer | Item | They Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Hatton Garden Metals | 18ct Gold | £63.24per gram |
| Hatton Garden Metals | 9ct Gold | £31.62per gram |
Prices updated daily from dealer websites. Last checked: 2026-10-08.
Enter weight and purity to get an instant estimate
Identify the brand, model, and material. Check the case back for hallmarks (375, 750, 916) and brand engravings. Note the serial number if visible.
If the watch is a recognised luxury brand (Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe, Cartier, Breitling, IWC), get a specialist watch dealer valuation BEFORE approaching scrap buyers.
Gather any original box, papers, receipts, or service records. For luxury watches, these accessories can add 20-50% to the resale value.
Do NOT attempt to open the case back yourself. This can damage the watch and reduce both its resale and scrap value.
💡 Never sell a luxury brand watch to a 'scrap gold' buyer without getting a specialist valuation first.
💡 If selling as scrap, remember that the movement, glass, and steel springs inside the strap are not gold. The 'gold weight' is often much less than the total watch weight.
💡 Vintage gold watches, even from lesser-known brands, can sometimes have collector value.
💡 If you have box and papers for a luxury watch, this can add 20-50% to the resale value.
Check the case back or the inside of the clasp. '18k', '750', or a hallmark indicates solid gold. 'Stainless Steel Back', 'Base Metal', or 'Gold Plated' means it is not solid gold and has little scrap value. Some watches are 'gold capped' or 'gold filled' — these have a thick layer of gold but are not solid and are worth significantly less. A dealer can test the metal to confirm.
If it is a luxury brand (Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe, Cartier, etc.) or a working vintage mechanical watch, always sell it as a timepiece to a watch specialist — you will typically receive many times the scrap gold value. If it is a broken quartz watch from a generic or unknown brand, it is likely best sold as scrap gold. When in doubt, get both valuations and compare.
The gold weight of a watch is typically 40-60% of the total weight. The movement, glass, crown, springs, pins, and any steel components are not gold and must be deducted. A watch that weighs 80 grams total may contain only 35-50 grams of actual gold. An 18ct gold watch case alone might weigh 15-30 grams. Dealers will disassemble or estimate the gold content before making an offer.
Often yes, even for lesser-known brands. Vintage mechanical watches have a growing collector market. Art Deco styles, military watches, and pieces from makers like Longines, Zenith, and Jaeger-LeCoultre can command premiums. Before scrapping any vintage gold watch, check with a specialist watch dealer or auction house. A quick online search of the brand and model can reveal whether there is collector interest.
A broken luxury brand watch (Rolex, Omega, etc.) is still usually worth more as a timepiece than as scrap — these brands can be repaired and the parts alone have value. For non-luxury broken watches, scrap gold value is usually the best option. If only the strap is gold and the case is steel, the scrap value will be lower than you might expect based on the watch's original retail price.
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Taro has been actively investing in precious metals and financial markets for over 15 years. Frustrated by the lack of transparent, accurate gold pricing information in the UK, he built London Gold Exchange as a data-driven resource for fellow investors. The site combines real-time market data, verified dealer information from 190+ UK businesses, and insights drawn from years of hands-on experience in the gold market.
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