Sell Your Gold Watch

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.