Heaven forbid you should find yourself in the position of having to sell your watch, but bad fortune can befall the best of us. If you need to liquidise your assets, you need to make sure you are getting as much as you possibly can for your much-loved timepiece. 

Before you embark on the sale of your watch do some research. You should be able to find what the same model is selling for on a number of different platforms. If you can only find one version for sale, call to find if the person claiming to sell it is actually in possession of the watch. Some less scrupulous people can list fictional watches in a bid to drive people to them. Once you have an idea of what your watch is worth, decide on a sum under which you will not go below. Even if someone is waving a large amount of money in front of you. 

There are things you can do in advance to make sure your watch achieves as much as it deserves at resale. Keep every piece of documentation and packaging you have. The original box and travel case add value as do, of course, the papers that prove purchase and authenticity. Even out of date warranty cards can be of value to some collectors. If your watch is on a metal bracelet, make sure you keep any links that may have been removed when you had it fitted. 

Make sure your watch is regularly serviced and keep documentation to prove this has been done. Even if it is not looked after by its manufacturer, a qualified watchmaker will document his work and should give you some kind of repair warranty for the period after he has worked on it. This too will add value. 

When it comes to actually selling your watch, make sure you take the best pictures you can. Anyone serious about watches knows that cameras are now so sophisticated they can make the condition of a watch look much worse than it really is, so don’t be afraid of getting as much detail in as you can. A serious buyer will see past these flaws. If possible, have the back of the watch removed so you can take some pictures of its movement. This will tell an expert more about the condition of the watch than any exterior shot. 

You must also list as much detail as you possibly can. The year of manufacture, model number and calibre number are important and if there are any further details - if the watch was a limited edition or produced to mark an event you should make this known. If you are lucky enough to be able to prove some kind of celebrity connection with the timepiece this could also add value. 

You will have to forgive us our partiality when we recommend you list your watch for sale on Chrono Hunter. We do not follow the same model of large dealerships that do everything they can to widen the distance between buying and selling prices. Our trusted, vetted network of dealers will give you their best possible offers. 

And remember, if you do not like the offer, you do not have to accept it. If you can, bide your time. You never know when someone looking for the precise model you are selling will stumble upon yours. 

Here is the best place to start.