HELP: How would you value this watch for resale?
So a while back, someone reach out to me on Instagram asking if I would consider selling my Stowa 1938 Chronograph. (That’s just the name, the watch isn’t from 1938.)
I hadn’t put it up for sale but with some other watches on my shopping list, the offer made me think about selling. The problem now is that I have no idea how to set an asking price for it. Yes there is some emotional and sentimental value but I’m not factoring that into the price of course. I just need help knowing how much to set the asking price based on market value.
Some info to help with setting the price:
I have the watch, with its original brown leather strap and an additional Stowa croc strap on a Stowa deployment buckle. The watch is in perfect condition. No dings or scratches. It still has all the same lustre and shine from day 1.
I also have the original box (both paper outer box and metal storage box) and papers (hand written back then!) And I have the email thread with Joerg Schauer and his wife Regine when I was emailing with them about the purchase back in 2011.
The watch is now discontinued.
I’ve tried to do some research on what this watch has sold for but I can’t find anything recent. The last sale I found was 5 years ago and it was listed at $1,500 USD with box and papers, and that was before it was discontinued.
I don't do much watch selling. I've mostly kept my collection. And I've always struggled with pricing watches from smaller micro brands such as this, because there is so little market data out there about their value, unlike bigger name watches like Rolex.
So…what do you think? How would you go about setting the selling price for this watch?
Lifelong watch lover. Learning more every day about this hobby. See more photos on IG @morebillablehours
I have no idea except to say that it is a gorgeous chronograph that is discontinued and likely sellable for quite a bit.
It’s a beautiful piece and the movement finishing is very nice. But yes, find a reputable and trusted reseller for valuation. They’ll lowball you a number in case you end up selling to them though so be wary of that.
Something I usually do as an eBay seller to help me determine value, profit margin, etc is looking up your exact model on eBay & then selecting the filter that shows 'Items sold" in the search menu. It will show a transaction list of watches like yours that have been completed/ shipped. Some may be more than others depending on condition or if they were sold new/used. It'll help you figure out a ball park estimate of what you should be asking.
Thirty second eBay search….
Thirty second eBay search….
So, I also found some listings on eBay. But they weren't quite exactly the same. I mean...minor difference, but the ones on eBay all show a brushed finish, whereas mine is a mirror polished finish. I think the brushed finish was a later model.
Also - how do you factor in wear / condition of the watch? All the ones I found on eBay were in much poorer condition with scratches and dings, whereas mine is in excellent condition.
Lastly - mine also comes with the original strap + additional OEM croco strap and deployment buckle. How does that factor into the price?
Something I usually do as an eBay seller to help me determine value, profit margin, etc is looking up your exact model on eBay & then selecting the filter that shows 'Items sold" in the search menu. It will show a transaction list of watches like yours that have been completed/ shipped. Some may be more than others depending on condition or if they were sold new/used. It'll help you figure out a ball park estimate of what you should be asking.
oh yes. good tip. the eBay sold filter helps find any sales of the same item. the challenge I'm finding with smaller micro brands is that it's almost impossible to find a list of the same item, because these watches are in such small productions and it's so hard to find a comparable listing. but good tip nonetheless! thank you.
As with anything involving value, it’s worth what someone is willing to pay. Can you reach out to the person originally interested to get the conversation going? Otherwise, I’d come up with a range that includes your bottom number, using the purchased price as the baseline and list the Stowa accordingly. Good luck🤙
So, I also found some listings on eBay. But they weren't quite exactly the same. I mean...minor difference, but the ones on eBay all show a brushed finish, whereas mine is a mirror polished finish. I think the brushed finish was a later model.
Also - how do you factor in wear / condition of the watch? All the ones I found on eBay were in much poorer condition with scratches and dings, whereas mine is in excellent condition.
Lastly - mine also comes with the original strap + additional OEM croco strap and deployment buckle. How does that factor into the price?
Honestly some listings are a bit pie in the sky anyway… I believe you can search ‘sold for’ and that will give you a ball park.
Ultimately…it’s down to, are you in a hurry to sell it, does it ‘owe’ you anything, do you have a price in mind?
Perhaps an option would be to go to a jewellers/watch dealer see if you can trade it for something you would wear… just a thought.
Something I usually do as an eBay seller to help me determine value, profit margin, etc is looking up your exact model on eBay & then selecting the filter that shows 'Items sold" in the search menu. It will show a transaction list of watches like yours that have been completed/ shipped. Some may be more than others depending on condition or if they were sold new/used. It'll help you figure out a ball park estimate of what you should be asking.
This is the way.