Sell Luxury Watch | Precious Metals Refinery

Trusted Watch Buyers

Sell Direct. No Middleman, No Waiting, Same-Day Payment

When you sell a luxury watch to PMR, you are selling directly to a buyer who resells to the public, not to a wholesaler or auction house that takes a cut before passing it along. That structure means we can pay more, because there is no intermediary taking a margin between you and the final sale price.

Our buyers are professionally trained to assess the value of pre-owned watches across all major Swiss and luxury brands. We evaluate condition, movement, reference number, and documentation, and we make our offer on the same day — in a private room, with your watch in front of you the entire time.

Brands We Purchase at PMR:

PMR actively buys pre-owned luxury watches from all major Swiss and international makers. The following list covers the brands we purchase most commonly, though we are not limited to it — if your watch is not listed, bring it in.

• Audemars Piguet
• Baume & Mercier
• Bell & Ross
• Blancpain
• Breitling
• Cartier
• Chanel
• Chopard
• Christian Dior
• Concord

• Corum
• De Grisogono
• Ebel
• Geneve
• Girald Perregaux
• Glashutte Original
• Hamilton
• Harry Winston
• Hermès
• Hublot

• IWC Schaffhausen
• Jacob & Co
• Jaeger Le-Coultre
• Longines
• Maurice Lacroix
• Michele
• Mont Blanc
• Omega
• Panerai
• Patek Philippe

• Piaget
• Porsche Design
• Richard Mille
• Rolex
• Tag Heuer
• Tiffany & Co.
• U-Boat
• Ulysse Nardin
• Vacheron Constantin
• Zenith

Selling a Rolex specifically? See our dedicated Rolex buying page for reference-specific information and what to expect from the evaluation.

What Determines the Value of Your Watch

Watch valuation is more nuanced than most categories. Unlike gold, where value comes down to weight and purity, a luxury watch is assessed across several factors. Understanding them helps you know what to expect before you come in.

Brand and reference number

Not all watches from the same brand hold value equally. Within Rolex alone, a stainless steel Daytona and a base-model Datejust from the same year can differ by tens of thousands of dollars. The reference number, typically found on the case between the lugs at the 12 o’clock position, identifies the specific model, material, and dial configuration. Our buyers look up current secondary market data for your exact reference before making an offer.

Condition

The case, bracelet, dial, crystal, and pushers are all assessed. Unpolished watches, meaning those with original brushed and polished surfaces rather than refinished ones, typically command higher offers from serious collectors. Heavy polishing removes metal and softens the sharp lines that define a watch’s original character. If your watch has never been polished, mention that when you come in.

Box and Papers

Original box, warranty card, hang tags, and accompanying paperwork affect value on a brand-by-brand basis. For Rolex, having the original box and papers can meaningfully increase an offer. The collector market places significant weight on complete sets, and certain vintage references with full documentation can be worth considerably more than the watch alone. For many other brands, the premium for box and papers is modest. If you have them, bring them, but do not assume their absence disqualifies your watch.

Service History

A documented service history from an authorized dealer or recognized watchmaker is a positive signal, particularly for complicated movements. It tells us the watch has been maintained properly and that the movement is likely running correctly. A watch with no known service history is not disqualifying, but full documentation helps.

Movement Type

Mechanical movements, both automatic and manual wind, are generally more desirable in the secondary market than quartz. Among mechanical watches, complications such as chronographs, perpetual calendars, and tourbillons can add significant value depending on the brand and execution. See the movement and complication list below.

Originality

Aftermarket modifications, including custom dials, non-original bracelets, or added diamonds and gemstones, typically reduce rather than increase value in the secondary market. Collectors and resellers prefer unmodified watches. If your watch has been modified, let us know upfront.

Materials, Movement, and Complications

Case materials we evaluate: Gold (yellow, white, rose), platinum, stainless steel, titanium, ceramic, and precious metal combinations. Gold and platinum watches carry additional value from their metal content, assessed separately from the watch’s market value.

Movement types: Automatic (self-winding), manual wind, quartz, and bumper movements. Mechanical movements are generally preferred in the collector market. Quartz watches from luxury brands hold value primarily based on brand and condition rather than the movement itself.

Complications that affect value: Chronograph, flyback chronograph, minute repeater, tourbillon, perpetual calendar, annual calendar, power reserve indicator, moonphase, GMT/dual time zone, and world time. More complex movements require greater skill and cost to produce, which is reflected in both original retail price and secondary market demand.

The Big Five Watchmakers

While there are many watch brands around today, five of them are especially renowned for their contributions to luxury watchmaking. Read on to discover the histories behind these five famous makers.

Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe consistently achieves the highest resale values of any watch brand. Their watches are produced in limited quantities, use in-house movements of exceptional quality, and carry retail waiting lists that drive secondary market demand significantly above retail price for many references. Complications such as perpetual calendars, minute repeaters, and split-seconds chronographs are particularly sought after. A Patek Philippe in good condition with papers is among the strongest assets a seller can bring in.

Rolex

The most liquid watch brand in the secondary market. Rolex maintains value and often appreciates because production is tightly controlled relative to global demand. Steel sports references including the Daytona, Submariner, GMT-Master II, and Explorer have historically traded at premiums above retail. Condition, originality, and documentation matter more for Rolex than almost any other brand. Original box and papers, unpolished cases, and original dials all affect the offer meaningfully. If you want to know how to verify your Rolex is genuine before coming in, our Rolex authentication guide covers the key indicators buyers look for

Omega

Omega occupies the accessible end of the luxury spectrum but has a dedicated collector base, particularly around Speedmaster and Seamaster references. Vintage Speedmasters, especially those with NASA association or specific caliber movements, can command significant premiums. Modern Omega trades more modestly but consistently.

Breitling

Breitling appeals primarily to aviator and sport watch collectors. Navitimer references, particularly vintage examples with specific bezel and dial configurations, have an active collector market. Modern Breitling holds value reasonably well but is more dependent on reference and condition than brand recognition alone.

Cartier

Cartier’s value in the secondary market is driven by iconic design as much as mechanical content. The Santos, Tank, and Panthère are among the most recognized watch designs in history and hold consistent resale value. Precious metal versions such as gold, platinum, or diamond-set pieces carry additional value from their metal content, which we assess separately.

Also Selling Gold, Silver, or Platinum?

PMR buys all precious metals. If you have gold, silver, platinum, or coins, bring everything in a single visit. We evaluate and make offers on all of it. You do not need separate appointments for different items.

Learn More About Luxury Watches