A high-quality wristwatch might make a sizeable investment. In some cases, it might be worth more than everything else you’re wearing at any given time, put together. As such, it’s a good idea to know exactly how much wealth you’re carrying around. Since the value of any item of jewellery can fluctuate over time, you might also look to regularly revise this valuation.

But why, exactly, might you do this? Let’s take a look at watch valuation and why it matters.

Why get your watch valued in the first place?

Who cares how much your wristwatch is worth, anyway? Well, the short answer is that you should. If you should decide to sell the piece, you’ll need to know how much to expect.

More important, perhaps, is the need to get your watch insured. If you don’t have the valuation, then your insurer might seek to guess at the item’s value through a process called ‘post-loss’ valuation. This typically means a lower payout. After all, it’s in the interest of the insurer to benefit from any uncertainty.

Why do some watches appreciate and others don’t?

A quality wristwatch is an investment that will appreciate over time – in some cases. This is the case for several reasons.

First, we should consider simple supply and demand. Rare watches are, by definition, in shorter supply. Reputable brands and lines are, conversely, in high demand. Other factors might be more difficult to predict. Certain styles might come in and out of fashion, or be endorsed by big-name celebrities.

Looking for an established brand like Rolex will tend to be the wiser bet in the long-term, since these names are likely to be able to weather downturns in the industry, which might wipe more value off small-name devices, or gimmicky tech-oriented ones. You can be sure that in ten years’ time, our modern ECG-equipped smartwatches will have been superseded. But a quality mechanical timepiece probably won’t have.

Why is it important to get it revalued

So, if you’ve already gotten a valuation, why does it make sense to go and get another one? You might already have guessed at the answer: certain timepieces will have gotten more valuable over time. The effects of inflation, year-on-year, might be enough to make a revaluation advisable, even if the real value of the watch has actually declined.

If you have a preferred jeweller, then use them to get the valuation. If there’s any uncertainty, find a local valuer with a good reputation and plenty of experience. Make sure that the watch is properly cleaned and cared for, and stored in an appropriate, secure location when it’s not being worn. This will protect it against wear and tear.