The definitive Audemars Piguet Sellers Guide

So you want to sell your Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.  The time has come where you’ve decided that there are other timepieces you would like to incorporate into your growing collection, and besides, you had a good, long run with it.  My friend and fellow watch fanatic – you are not alone.  In fact, you are like many here who reward themselves with a nice timepiece for good, hard work;

However, there will come a time for many of us that selling a watch to make room for another is a reality.

So where does someone sell such a timepiece?  I will discuss that in a moment, but firstly, lets briefly look at what Audemars Piguet is:  one of the finest brands in watchmaking.  The company was founded in 1875 by two individuals who wanted to take luxury watchmaking to the next level, by combining their expertise in haute Horlogerie, or more simply, high-end and complicated watchmaking.

Flash forward 100 years through the company’s venerable history, and the Royal Oak is conceived – 1972, which was designed by a venerable watchmaker himself, Gerald Genta.

Initially, the watch became a huge success, and voila, the “luxury sport” watch is segment of the Swiss watch industry is born.

In other words, the Royal Oak, whether it’s an ‘Offshore’ model, or a ‘Jumbo’, has some industry cred, and you’ll want to ensure that you get all your ‘ducks in a row’ before we set out to sell your piece.

Now…getting our watch prepared to sell, and get max value, is going to take a few key components:

• Retrieve all your original packaging from the original purchase.  Boxes, both the inside and out, are essential.

• Papers and Documents – such as the original instruction manual, warranty cards, certificates of limitation, original sales invoices – all essential.

• Watch Accessories – like extra straps, bracelets, EXTRA LINKS, in the event your watch was sized, strap tools, loupes, cleaning cloths – all will help to preserve the value of your watch at time of sale – in other words, good to save!

• Watch condition will always vary.  Make sure watch is clean, and free from all coffee stains, and french fry grease…yes, clean it if necessary, using a soft cloth and water. Use care, your watch may no longer be water resistant – especially if it has not been serviced with the last 3 years. Also note the condition of the crystal – are there nicks at the edges where it meets the watch bezel?  Is it scratched – although made of sapphire, they are not idestructible and will oft need replacing.  Sending it to AP for service, while costing over a thousand dollars, will not include replacement crytals, rubber coated bezels, or pushers and crowns…especially of note in the Royal Oak Offshore series.  The geometric bezel screws are white gold and can exhibit great signs of wear – something that is replaceable, but only at the service center, at a modest cost.

• Service records.  These are very important because like anything else mechanical, like cars, watches need to be services periodically in order to maintain function, and to prevent damage to the movement components.

If a watch has been serviced, proof thereof is evidenced by the accompanying paperwork from the factory after said services are done.  In most instances, the work on the watch will be warrantied by AP for a period of one year.

So, now you’ve dusted off that box, after you dug it out of your attic where it was buried underneath the old Lego sets you saved from grade school, you found all the service records, and everything else you could find related to the watch.  You should be happy with the knowledge you have as a purveyor of fine pre-owned timepieces, and you are ready to do it –  where do we go?

If you have a lot of free time, and you love to drive in heavy rush hour type traffic, in the middle of a 100 degree day, while missing valuable opportunities in your own life and business, AND missing out on that team lunch at Capital Grille, I could suggest taking your timepiece to some of your local watch dealers.  If missing a free lunch at the Grille is not enough to deter you from spending countless hours in your car ( because we all love to inflict needless wear and tear on our cars).  Perhaps you will be fortunate enough to negotiate a deal with reputable dealer in your area.  If you are fortunate enough to live in a major metropolitan area, like here in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale/Palm Beach area, then you’ll have a few choices.  And you will inevitably get a swing in what you are offered.

If you prefer sitting in the comfort of your own home, or office, in your undies, making key financial transactions on your Ipad, and developing a new wonder medicine in your basement laboratory, or whatever…then there’s a place for you; the Internet.  Yes, that means posting an ad on Craigslist, or Ebay. And then answering questions.  Lots and Lots and LOTS of questions.  You will also get an occasion ‘comment’…I’ll leave said ‘comments’ to your fertile imaginations.