# On-line Resources for collectible watches?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-line-resources-for-collectible-watches/707895>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 22, 2014, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-line-resources-for-collectible-watches/707895 "2014-12-22T07:08:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-line-resources-for-collectible-watches/707895/1 "2014-12-22T07:08:01Z")

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Not sure on the correct forum for this question; my apologies if I guessed wrong.

My father is getting up there in years, and is giving away many of his treasures. Knowing that I appreciate mechanical things, he has given me his collection of fine watches. I’m curious about on-line resources to try to find out more about these ingenious devices; what are they worth, how can they be restored, how best to care for them. (Or, for that matter, resources that are NOT on-line.) I have no intention of selling these items, but I would like to know if they have significant value. They include Bulova, Elgin, Omega, and Waltham timepieces, both wrist and pocket varieties. Most of them date to the seventies or earlier.

If anyone knows of a good on-line or off-line resource for info about such items, I would appreciate a link or referral. My own Googling has turned up very little. Thanks, gang!

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**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-line-resources-for-collectible-watches/707895/2 "2014-12-22T08:19:22Z")

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For values you can search eBay (click on completed items). Virtually all areas of antiques have price guides to them; for example you can go to Amazon and search for  
price guide watches

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**Author:** ![justanothermike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@justanothermike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justanothermike)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-line-resources-for-collectible-watches/707895/3 "2014-12-22T12:28:38Z")

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I would go to [watchuseek.com](http://watchuseek.com) and start poking around in their forums. That site is massive and full of knowledgeable people.

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**Author:** ![CGav8r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@CGav8r](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CGav8r)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-line-resources-for-collectible-watches/707895/4 "2014-12-22T15:05:25Z")

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I’d look at Watchuseek, as previously suggested and [Timezone.com](http://Timezone.com); both of these forums have places to talk to other smart forum members who can point you to the best place to get these watches service. You can also do a search on the sales areas to see how much previous examples of your watches sold for.

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**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-line-resources-for-collectible-watches/707895/5 "2014-12-22T18:43:25Z")

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Thanks! I knew you guys would come through…