Do diamond watches have poor resale value like diamond rings?

[Buena Girl]

My relative has 2 daughters, but only one diamond watch that she inherited from her mother. She would like to buy a comparable watch so that she could have 2 watches to pass on to her kids. The girls are grown and it has been decided who will inherit the family watch and who will inherit the newer watch. Aside from sentimental value (both watches will be sentimental and special family heirlooms), what should she base her budget for the new watch on?

Should she use the appraisal value of the old watch? Should she consider what value the watch actually has if it were sold? The metal is platinum and shows wear. Do diamond watches have a poor resale value like that of diamond rings? Should she base her budget on the replacement value?

Any helpful advice that I could pass along would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

 

[baltneu]

Buena Girl
It depends on what kind of watch you have and want to buy. All watches depreciate, except Rolex. Can't understand why, but a Rolex holds its values. I have never known diamonds in watches to be high quality, like having a choice to buy loose diamonds and picking your color and clarity, etc. What kind of watch do you have and what do you want to duplicate?

 

[Buena Girl]

It's kind of hard to explain. She has always believed in treating her daughters as equally as possible and she wants to be able to give each daughter a watch. She does not want to give one daughter a watch that is "worth" a lot more than the other watch. We are all confused as to what to base that "worth" on. Both watches will be equally sentimental, so it's strictly a monetary number she is trying figure out.

The one watch is platinum and diamonds. I have probably only seen it about twice in my life. I think it had diamonds around the face of the watch and diamonds on the band (as if it were a tennis bracelet with a watch head in it). It's at least 30 years old, and I remember the platinum metal showing some wear.

The one daughter prefers gold, so that is what the new watch will be. It is not going to be an exact copy.

Any advice on how to compare 2 different watches? She would like to spend as much money on the new watch as what the old watch is "worth". Should it be:
1. The original price paid for the watch.
2. The current appraisal value of the watch.
3. The resale value of the watch.
4. The replacement value of the watch.
5. or something else ???????

 

[baltneu]

As I asked in my first post, in order to compare, what is the brand of watch???????? Is it a rolex, breitling, etc

 

[valeria101]

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On 4/14/2004 8:10:37 AM Buena Girl wrote:



Should it be:
1. The original price paid for the watch.
2. The current appraisal value of the watch.
3. The resale value of the watch.
4. The replacement value of the watch.
5. or something else ???????
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I vote for #5. Only no-name watches are valued according to the materials or gems set into them.

The mark and type of watch makes their value. Only when these are irrelevant, watches may be judged as other pieces of jewelry.

I would go for a piece with simmilar style and characteristics (mark, or material and quality of gems).

For example, a 1850's silver pocket watch with an interesting mechanism will surely not be valued on the weight of the sterling. But an obscure brand from 50 years ago studded with larger diamonds would be priced for the materials and the execution of the piece (like jewelry). In each case, I would try to match the main value factor, whichever it is.

 

[fire&ice]

As a frame of reference, I would start w/ the appraisal value.