Old Swatch Watches

Rolex made its mark on the world in 1910, and in the 100-plus years since, the Bienne, Switzerland-based brand has focused on making some of the highest quality watches in the world, with trademark chronometric precision. Find authentic vintage and new Rolex watches on 1stDibs.

Here's how old watches worked. First, the wearer would wind the watch, typically using a special key that fit into a slot on the case. As they turned the key, a mechanism placed tension on a spring called the mainspring. After winding, the spring would gradually release its tension, moving the timekeeping balance wheel and the watch hands. Shop a large collection of antique watches on 1stDibs.

To determine how old your vintage watch is, first do some research using trusted online resources. Start by looking at the back of your watch to see if there are any numbers, such as serial or model numbers. Cross-referencing these numbers with online reference guides can often give you a rough idea of when a watch was produced. If you can't find any type of identifying number, you can learn more about the maker to find out when it crafted similar watches or have a certified appraiser or other knowledgeable expert assist you with the dating process. Shop a wide range of watches on 1stDibs.

To tell how old your watch is, locate its reference or serial number. You can usually find it on the movement, the back of the case or in another inconspicuous area, such as by the lugs. Once you have this number, you can search for it and the maker's name and consult trusted online resources to date your watch. Alternatively, you can have a certified appraiser or knowledgeable dealer assist you with the dating process. Shop a diverse assortment of watches on 1stDibs.

Pulsar watches are more than 50 years old. The Hamilton Watch Company introduced the Pulsar brand in 1972. At the time, Pulsar had the distinction of being the world's first digital watch. Shop a variety of Pulsar watches on 1stDibs.

The American Waltham Watch Company is more than 150 years old. Aaron Lufkin Dennison established it in Waltham, Massachusetts, in 1854. Today, people remember Dennison and his company for introducing the concept of interchangeable parts in watches. This innovation was a landmark in the history of watches, allowing timepieces to be manufactured more quickly. Explore a variety of American Waltham Watch Company watches on 1stDibs.

Helbros watches are more than 110 years old. The Helbein brothers, two Swiss-German immigrants to America, founded the company in 1913. Its name comes from the first three letters of their surname and the abbreviation Bros. for the word brothers. On 1stDibs, explore a selection of Helbros watches.

Wittnauer is more than 135 years old. After immigrating from Switzerland, Albert Wittnauer created his watch company in New York City in 1885. Today, his company is headquartered in New Rochelle, New York. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Wittnauer watches from some of the world's top sellers.

Yes, old Rolex watches can be repaired. The Swiss luxury watchmaker will often restore timepieces for customers, and there are many authorized repair shops that specialize in Rolex restoration. Contact Rolex’s customer service to explore your options. Shop a large collection of Rolex watches from some of the world's top dealers on 1stDibs.

To tell how old your Gruen watch is, turn it over and examine the back of its case. Most timepieces feature two numbers positioned side by side or one above the other. The first, or top, number represents the caliber number, while the second, or bottom, number is the style number. Once you have the style number, you can cross-reference it with trusted online resources to determine its age, and learn more about your timepiece. On 1stDibs, shop a range of Gruen watches.

The value of an old watch depends on a number of factors, including who made it and which style it is. Condition also has a major impact on how much a timepiece is worth. As a result, it's generally best to seek the opinion of an experienced jeweler or certified appraiser. On 1stDibs, find a large selection of watches.

To tell how old your Bulova watch is, look on the back of the case for the date symbol or code. Beginning in 1950, Bulova began adding an alphanumeric code to its timepieces. By cross-referencing the code on your watch to information published on trusted online resources, you can quickly determine the production year of timepieces produced from 1950 onwards. For older watches, you'll need to look for a date symbol. These markings provide clues about the year of production, but Bulova repeated some shapes. For example, squares were the symbol for both 1927 and 1936. As a result of the overlap, you may also need to look at images in catalogues to determine the exact year of production for an older timepiece. Should you have any difficulty dating your watch, seek the help of a certified appraiser or knowledgeable dealer. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Bulova watches.

To find out how old your Elgin watch is, look on its back. Nearly all Elgin watches will have a serial number on their cases. Looking up this number in databases found on trusted online resources will help you determine approximately when your watch was made. If you need further assistance, consider consulting a certified appraiser or experienced dealer. On 1stDibs, shop a wide range of Elgin watches.

To tell how old your pocket watch is, learn about its maker by conducting online research using trustworthy sources. For each maker, there is a set of characteristics used to date its timepieces. You may need to examine the maker's mark, serial number, model number, movement number, dial features or other aspects. If you run into any difficulty, consider having a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer assist you with the dating process. On 1stDibs, shop a wide variety of pocket watches.

Yes, many old watches are worth something. However, values vary greatly based on the maker, the style of the timepiece, how many watches like it were produced and the current level of demand for similar timepieces. Even among watches that generally do have value, the condition of the timepiece will impact the price. A certified appraiser can take a look at your watch and assign an estimated value to it. Shop a collection of watches on 1stDibs.