Thanks for your interest in the Watch Hunter blog…
Update: Due to an overwhelming amount of inquiries, I am no longer answering requests… Thank you for your understanding.
I appreciate every single reader and person who finds me on the internet. If you write to me, I will eventually get back in touch with you, but it may take days, weeks or in some cases months. I get a large volume of daily emails and some of the questions take a long time to research. Also, I hold several jobs as a graphic designer and photographer, which are deadline-driven fields. Unfortunately, passion projectย sites like Watch Hunter must take a back seat to my career and my clients’ needs. Please be patient, and thank you!
Watch Identification
If you are looking for the identification of a Swiss Army watch, start with the Victorinox Swiss Army Watch Identifier. While at times overwhelming, this can be the best place to find your answer. Granted, some watch styles changed significantly over the lifespan of the model. I am always happy to help as time allows. You can also contact Victorinox Swiss Army Customer Service directlyย to have them identify a watch by your uploaded images. Lately, they have been responding quickly.
Watch Valuation
I often get asked what a watch is worth. The truth is that most Swiss Army watches are not worth what you think they are. The company made many quartz watches over the decades and some are simply great cheap watches. They could be worth $50-100 depending on condition, boxes, and papers how rare the model is. Don’t expect every watch you find at a garage sale to fund your next rent check. That seldom occurs, but it can happen if you find a rarity in fantastic shape that has high collector value… these will be 10% of the watches.
Unless the watch is something very rare, I generally give the same answer: “It is worth whatever someone else is willing to pay for it.” This can be difficult to determine a watch’s value without cold, hard sales data. eBay’s “completed sales” are often the best way to determine the current “street value” of a watch. The final selling cost is determined by the eBay buyers and represents a snapshot of a particular watch, at a particular time, with a particular set of buyers competing for the item. It is one opinion, but not the final opinion.
My own opinion is biased as well. There are several types of watches that hold practically no value for me, and my valuation can be biased towards the low end of the spectrum. That does not mean that somebody else may really want the watch and be willing to pay more than what I think it is worth.ย I urge everyone to set their own price as high as they feel like the watch is worth, and lower it over time if it does not sell. At some point, you will find the right price for the right buyer.
Family Heirlooms
If a family member leaves you a watch, please consider the sentimental value of the watch over the monetary value. Most watches I am asked to evaluate in this regard are not worth much on paper. Many are beat to hell or were simply cheap watches, to begin with. However, the watch’s value as a keepsake reminder or the previous owner is worth more than a few bucks gained on eBay. Furthermore, consider sharing family watches with extended family members such as grandchildren or cousins who might value the item (maybe). Not every heirloom has to be a Patek.
