If you’re getting into antique clocks, you might find yourself overwhelmed with how much history is involved.
As with anything antique, there are fakes, fads, and hagglers. We will help you identify your wall clock, find the right place to sell it, and what you might expect for the brand.
Methods To Understand The Clock’s Value
When you research a wall clock, you’ll find each model has a list of values that can dramatically change. The model itself is worth one price, but the item’s condition can vastly change its value. Where you are buying or selling the clock can hinder its price tag too.
Location Of Sale
Surprisingly a very common location to sell antique wall clocks is online. Specifically, eBay has become a booming place to sell all types of antiques. This is because you can be anywhere around the world when the time goes on sale, and the buyers can search for the exact item they desire.
You are more likely to move the item due to the constant demand from online buyers; however, there is a catch. As there will be others online selling the same or similar item, you will have more people to battle against. The competitive marketplace will force you to drive your prices down. This is great if you are hoping to find good deals on a wall clock, but it means you’ll lose out on money if you’re selling.
However, if you go to an auction house to sell your wall clock, the opposite is true. Yes, auction houses have website and phone bids, but you will receive less of an audience for your item. With fewer people watching the sale, you might not be able to shift the goods. However, if someone does strike a deal, it will be priced higher than online, as there is less competition.
The buyer will be able to see the item and take it home that day too, which is enough of an incentive for them to place a higher bid.
Identification
Knowing how much your wall clock is worth is essential. You don’t want to waste time and effort getting an item appraised when a quick glance could tell you it’s worthless.
The first thing you should look for is evidence that the clock was handmade. Anything made through automation might be of high value to the right seller, but it won’t be classed as antique.
For example, the clock below would be of high value to a snoopy fan. They would pay more than the retail value to receive the well-made clock with their character officially included – https://bestwallclock.com/product/omega-wall-clock-speedmaster-snoopy-style-om6-free-shipping/. However, finding the fanbase in question might be difficult.
To see if the clock was handmade, you should look for decorative carvings or sculptures.
The second thing you should look for is the maker’s label or signature. This can narrow down the timeframe of the piece as well as the popularity of the work.
Collectables
Popular clocks can come into fashion for a number of reasons. Sometimes it’s their rarity; other times, it’s their beauty. In the antique world, styles stay for longer than modern-day expectations. This means you can rely on a collectible item to remain popular for a decade or so at least.
E.Howard & Company
Authentic E. Howard & Company wall clocks can sell for as little as $200 or as much as $5,000.
They were an American company created in the 19th century that boosted into popularity as soon as they started. The common clocks will give you a low $200 price tag, but there are rare E. Howard & Company clocks around that can sell for thousands.
Seth Thomas Clocks
Seth Thomas created mantle clocks more often than wall clocks; however, that doesn’t mean a wall clock can’t be found. Seth Thomas was known for following many styles and never sticking to one design for too long.
Because of this, the 19th-century creator can be hard to pin down. His designs were clean and delicate, which proved very popular.
You can sell these clocks for as low as $50 and as high as $400
Ansonia
If you’re looking at an older and more classic aesthetic in your wall clock, then you might be holding onto an Ansonia. The Ansonia clock company is from the Victorian era. They put lots of decorations into the artwork, painting bright finishes for a distinct appearance.
These clocks have been known to sell for as little as $200 and as much as $1,000.
Summary
You shouldn’t bother getting your wall clock appraised unless you can see that it was handmade. After that, you should look for the signature or logo to give you a ballpark figure of possible worth.
Only then go to an appraiser. When you know its potential value, you need to choose between quick but cheaper online selling or fewer customers but higher prices in the auction houses.
