Expert: Melvin Mills - 10/31/2010

Question
Here is a list of the watches.
I have several pocket watches and wrist watches that my husband had collected. He was a watch maker and Technical Director for Bulova Watch for many years.   
None are working but in good condition with all the original movements. How can I find out the value of them to sell.

I have checked the numbers and listed what I can see inside.

Some are gold 9C, 10kt and 14kt.

MJ Tobis Liverpool - cilinder escapment, key wind, silver #37567

RECORD - engraved on the back. L.P.T.B. 546, pure nickel, Swiss movement, #1134972

No name on dial- Waranted Trade Mark 512, Coin Silver, eagle marking, Metropolitan Watch Co. 213 D 27- *20 4, key wind

Illinois Springfield Watch Co- silveroid #1096757, key wind, movement Bates Patent Pinion $Co 43520

No name on dial - 25092 (4 dots in a diamond shape) 4, Cylindre 10 Rubis

Lonville - Empress A.W.C. Co 1045585, 15 jewels, American Watch Case Co of Toronto
on paper insert inside, Empress Case

American Waltham - 833999, Tahys 10Kt, movement 5706212, safety barrel

E. Harris & Co Liverpool - Swiss made, .955 Silver #75530, key wind, enamel dial

Small Silver one-  K & M .0800 with a peacock mark, #01786, Swiss 51878

No name on dial - small gold with 9c original chain, Omega with trade mark, 328577, 418c or 41%c, missing ring & crown

small Hampden - gold  (did not want to pry the back off)

small silver with copper coloured birds on case - The Gen_l, original pic of gentleman  inside, S&F 0.935, #58, #148658

14kt Cuivre Swiss #11376 6 , enamel dial

Wya Swiss - gold,  #444255, Paskar W Co 7 jewel, one adjustment

Milady- warranteed rolled gold plate, Swiss made, #1120

lighter watch- Ronsom rodium plate with black enamel, Ingersoll Areo on dial, made in USA

Gents gold plated Lord Elgin with waranty

Lady Elgin, Ladies Bulova, Ladies Gruen   and more  

Answer
Ms. Sharon,

There are several ways to find out the value.

If this is for insurance, you will need to have them professionally
appraised. You can have that done at a jewelry store.

If you want it done for personal reasons, you don't need to go
to that expense.  A wonderful free resource is to look for similar items selling on ebay.  What the watch sells for is the actual market value.

Next, you can get a book written by Cooksey Shugart:  "The Complete Price Guide to Watches".  It is updated every year so you should wait until the 2011 edition comes out before doing the research (unless you want to sell the watches quickly and can't wait).

How did your husband come to work for Bulova?

Kind regards,

Melvin