Thrift store gold pocket watch find!!

[Turbo21]

I got my usual one bag of jewelry a month. They actually hold it in the back and save it for me


Right on top I spot an old pocket watch. And could tell it was gold right away

Elgin pocket watch. Serial.number indicates it was made in 1926. 9 gram 10k gold chain. And the watch case is 14k. It is not running and the glass is missing. So I might just scrap it

Anyone have an idea on what this thing is worth. I haven't finished searching the bag yet so there may be more gold to find!!

 

[sgtled3533]

Wow, that's sure nice! I wouldn't scrap it! It's beautiful. Scrap value on it for the 9 grams of 10K at about $16/gram is gonna give you about $144 give or take. Probably a lot more than you paid for it at the local Salvation Army store lol.

Honestly, if you're looking to make some good profit, I'd try to get it fixed up and running...then sell that bad boy for $400-$600 possibly. Maybe more. Again, it's a beautiful piece!

 

[against the wind]

Sweet find.
I wish I had a store willing to save jewelry for me.
Congrats

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Congratualtions on the nice watch score!

 

[Turbo21]

Sweet find.
I wish I had a store willing to save jewelry for me.
Congrats

They have been saving the bulk jewelry for me for around 2 1/2 years

If you look back though my posts you will see some of the good stuff I have found. I usually pull about $100 worth of precious metal from every $25 bag

I then unload all the leftovers on letgo or Craigslist. I just sold a Rubbermaid tub that was full and almost 75 pounds for $100. Yes I know costume jewelry is valuable. But I don't have the time to list and sell all the individual pieces for a few dollars profit

Here is the tub I sold. This is about the 10th tub this size that I have sold

 

[Turbo21]

Wow, that's sure nice! I wouldn't scrap it! It's beautiful. Scrap value on it for the 9 grams of 10K at about $16/gram is gonna give you about $144 give or take. Probably a lot more than you paid for it at the local Salvation Army store lol.

Honestly, if you're looking to make some good profit, I'd try to get it fixed up and running...then sell that bad boy for $400-$600 possibly. Maybe more. Again, it's a beautiful piece!

Scrap at about 144 for the chain. But also can catch some scrap value for the case. Thinking it at least has to be 5 grams. So another $115

So. Scrap spot value at 250. And maybe get. 175 from my gold buyer.

Don't know if I want to spend another $100-$200 in repairs to make $100. See what I mean?

 

[luke_00]

Weigh the watch. Calculate 25% of the weight as gold weight for an open face, 30% for a hunter case. Not 100% accurate, but very close.

 

[sgtled3533]

Scrap at about 144 for the chain. But also can catch some scrap value for the case. Thinking it at least has to be 5 grams. So another $115

So. Scrap spot value at 250. And maybe get. 175 from my gold buyer.

Don't know if I want to spend another $100-$200 in repairs to make $100. See what I mean?

Yeah true....I forgot about the other weight. In that case maybe it's better to scrap the thing and get some gas/beer money. Me personally, I'd probably fix it and keep it. It's an amazing find! Wouldn't let it go for enough money to just pay my cell phone bill and buy a burger. That's just me though. To each their own! Either way it's a good profit I'm sure! Nice find [emoji106]🏻

 

[ScubaDetector]

Scrap at about 144 for the chain. But also can catch some scrap value for the case. Thinking it at least has to be 5 grams. So another $115

So. Scrap spot value at 250. And maybe get. 175 from my gold buyer.

Don't know if I want to spend another $100-$200 in repairs to make $100. See what I mean?

You lose that much from your gold buyer? Time for ARA and lose 2%. You are getting robbed. If worth 250.00 ARA would give you 245.00.

 

[Paul in WA]

Don't scrap it.....its a piece of history. A new crystal will run $30 for glass.....$7 for plastic. The movement (the watch it self) most likely need a simple cleaning unless its taken a heavy hit which it doesn't look to have. Even if the movement is shot you can get a functioning replacement for $30. My great grand father was one of the founders of Elgin....so I'm into them naturally.

Paul

 

[gatordog7]

Paul you seem to know your way around watches, question? Family friend has a couple of old pocket watches that her dad left her. Is there a certain website that you would recommend to start some research into values?

Thanks!
Gatordog

 

[trapperart]

Congrats

 

[A2coins]

That is freakin sweet you would be surprised also at some yard sales in jewelary boxes and stuff the gold and silved Keep up the great treasure hunting and Thanks for sharing!!!Tommy

 

[Trezurehunter]

Very nice.

 

[longislanddertfisher]

Never scrap an Elgin....might have a nice find there!

 

[Turbo21]

Weigh the watch. Calculate 25% of the weight as gold weight for an open face, 30% for a hunter case. Not 100% accurate, but very close.

So the watch weighs 55 grams. So you are saying it should be close to 13.75 grams of 14k

I did test the crown and the handle on the watch and they both test good for 14k as well

 

[highnam]

I wonder how many donated things of value never hit the sales floor, because people in the back know what they are looking for and have buyers ready to swoop in. I haven't wasted my time at these stores any more.

 

[Turbo21]

The thrift store where I buy the bags doesn't let the gold ever go to the floor. It immediately goes to the refinery. They do sell all the silver they find

 

[The Urban Prospector]

Congrats!

 

[huntsman53]

Just my thoughts! Most Elgin Pocket Watches that came in 14kt Gold Cases almost always have a higher quality Elgin Pocket Watch Movement inside. Since I can't find my' NAWCC Book, I can't determine which movement is in the Pocket Watch Case you got in the bag at the Thrift Store. However, I believe that it is a fairly common, lower quality and lower value Open Face Movement which replaced the original movement in the case but I could be wrong and there are websites where you can determine what Movement it is and date it was produced by entering the Serial Number. Also, who knows if the Case ever even came with an Elgin Movement as Keystone made a lot of Pocket Watch Cases for a lot of different Makers. My recommendation would be to remove the movement from the case, so that you can the true weight and Gold value out of the case, then sell the movement online or elsewhere to someone who wants the movement for parts or to repair. I believe that in this way, you get an even better win...win situation!


Frank