Selling Your Patek Philippe Watch: Watch Dealer vs. Private Sale

Patek Philippe is one of the oldest Swiss watch manufacturers in the world. If you own this luxury watch, there may come a time that you may want to sell Patek Philippe watch.

For almost 200 years, Patek Philippe has remained a private-owned company. This timepiece is known as one of the most prestigious brands in luxury watchmaking. Patek Philippe has set the gold standard of modern watchmaking. 

Patek Philippe designs and manufactures luxury watches including movements and some of the most complex mechanical watch components.  

If you own a Patek Philippe luxury watch, you have the best in design, craftsmanship, and heritage sitting on your wrist. This very exclusive luxury watch has sold less than one million pieces since it was first manufactured in 1839. 

Although most Patek Philippe owners intend to pass their timepieces to the next generation, you may however come to the conclusion it is time to sell my Patek Philippe watch. You may choose to sell, consign or trade your used timepiece. 

A Patek Philippe watch is one of the most coveted timepieces in the secondary market. Aside from the limited number of Patek Philippe watches manufactured per year, the demand for the Patek Phillipe remains high. 

The secondary market of used Patek Philippe watches is smaller than other luxury watches, such as Rolex. Add to that, few establishments that have watch experts who are knowledgeable about the intricacies of this highly-complex timepiece. 

When you are looking at selling your Patek Philippe, you need to decide between working with a used watch dealer and doing a private sale to an end buyer. 

Your choice will dictate the ease of the selling process and how much money you will get from the sale. 

Your choice boils down to which selling method will give you a quicker  selling process with less risk or one that requires more time, effort, and patience but with a possible higher return.   

If you are debating  on which route to take when you want to sell Patek Philippe watch, read on so you can make an informed decision on which selling method is right for you. 

Used Watch Dealers

Selling used Patek Philippe watches is not a stressful task when you are dealing with a used watch buyer. If the buyer offers online services all you need to do is fill up a quote form and you will get a free quote. 

Used watch dealers are in the business of buying and selling pre-owned Patek Philippe watches. They have watch experts who are knowledgeable about this luxury brand and the second-hand market. This expertise allows them to accurately appraise your luxury watch. Obviously all used watch dealers are not created equal. You should always search for a used watch buyer with excellent Better Business Bureau rating and high star customer reviews. 

Selling your timepiece to a Professional Patek Philippe buyer comes with a lot of benefits: 

A used watch dealer knows what you are selling and the current market price for it. The watch dealer has luxury watch experts to receive your watch, inspect it, and determine how much it is worth.  

On the other hand, selling your watch to a professional Patek Philippe buyer has some drawbacks:  

Used watch dealers will buy your Patek Philippe watch at a lower price because:

Private Watch Sales

You can opt to sell Patek Philippe watch via private sale. This selling method allows you to sell your luxury watch directly to the end user who could be a relative, friend, or colleague.

You can also sell your watch via an advertisement in social media, forums, marketplaces, or an online auction. 

Benefits of a private sale include:

Drawbacks of a private sale include: 

Private sales are best done amongst friends and relatives to ensure it is a safe transaction. Relying on your inner circle as prospective buyers will give you limited options.

Factors to Consider in Choosing Between a Used Watch Dealers vs. Private Sale

Choosing between a used watch dealer and a private sale to sell Patek Philippe should be given much thought.

Consider these factors that go with selling our Patek Philippe before choosing which route to take. 

Your choice boils down to choosing between a quicker  selling process with less risk or a selling process that requires more time, effort, and patience but with a potential for a  higher return.