Whether you have five watches or five hundred, Fair Vintage buys whole collections in a single transaction. Every watch receives its own written valuation from a horological specialist. You choose which offers to accept. No auctions, no timewasters, no fees.
You have built a collection over years or decades and want to sell all or part of it to one buyer who will value each piece properly.
You have inherited a watch collection — perhaps a large one — and want expert assessment and a fair offer without the complexity of auction or marketplace selling.
You are a watch dealer, jeweller, or retailer clearing watch stock — whether closing down, restructuring, or liquidating part of your inventory.
You are an executor or solicitor dealing with a watch collection as part of a deceased estate and need professional, discreet valuation and purchase.
Your collection includes watches alongside other items — jewellery, coins, medals, silver, cameras. We assess everything in a single submission.
A focused collection — all Omega, all Rolex, all military-issue, all pocket watches. Our specialists assess collections of every focus and configuration.
Selling one watch individually is straightforward. Selling twenty is a completely different undertaking — and most routes to market are not designed for it.
Auction houses want items in individual lots, require transport, charge 15–25% sellers' commission, and operate on timescales of weeks to months. You may also find that a smaller auction house lacks the watch expertise to catalogue your collection accurately — resulting in generic descriptions that fail to attract the specialist buyers your pieces deserve.
eBay means listing every watch individually, managing queries, packing and posting each piece separately, absorbing eBay fees of 12–15%, and facing chargeback risk on every transaction. For a collection of twenty watches, this is a months-long project.
General dealers and cash-for-watches shops lack the depth of knowledge to value a specialist collection accurately — and their business model depends on low purchase prices to compensate for their own resale risk.
Fair Vintage is built specifically for collection submissions. You send everything in one or more secure boxes using a free insured label we email to you. Your parcel is opened live on YouTube — an independent record of condition on arrival.
Each watch is assessed individually by our horological specialists — not bundled, not averaged, not priced as a job lot. You receive a written valuation for every piece, explaining what it is, what we are offering, and why.
You decide item by item — accept one, decline ten, sell the whole collection. Whatever you decline is returned free, fully insured, within five working days.
See the full process →Upload a photograph or list of your watches. Our specialists provide a preliminary estimate range so you know what to expect before sending anything.
We email you a free, insured shipping label. Pack your watches securely in any box — no special packaging required. Drop off at your nearest post office.
Your collection is opened on camera. Every watch's condition is recorded before any offer is made — an independent record that protects you as the seller.
You receive individual written valuations for each watch. Accept what you want, decline the rest. Payment is made within 72 hours of your acceptance.
There is no brand or category we will decline without assessment. From a collection of pocket watches inherited from a great-grandfather to a modern dealer's unsold stock of Swiss sports watches, we assess everything on its individual merits.
For a collection of 10+ watches, here is how the main routes to market compare in practice.
| Factor | Fair Vintage | Auction house | eBay (self-listed) | General dealer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One submission for whole collection | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Individual valuation per watch | ✓ | ✓ | You research yourself | ✗ — job lot pricing |
| Specialist watch knowledge | ✓ — horological specialists | Varies by saleroom | Buyer dependent | ✗ — generalist |
| Commission or selling fees | None | 15–25% of hammer | 12–15% eBay fees | Built into offer |
| Time from posting to payment | 5–10 days | 4–12 weeks | Weeks to months | Days — but lower offers |
| Condition recorded on arrival | ✓ — live YouTube | Rarely | ✗ | ✗ |
| Can decline individual items | ✓ — item by item | ✓ — but with reserve | ✓ — but you've listed | ✗ — all or nothing |
| Written explanation of each offer | ✓ | In catalogue | ✗ | ✗ |
| Free return if you decline | ✓ | ✗ — unsold fees | Relisted or held | ✗ |
If you are selling a large collection — inherited dealer stock, a watch shop's closing-down inventory, a collector's lifetime accumulation of 50 or more pieces — we recommend contacting us directly before sending anything. This allows us to:
All large collection enquiries are handled directly by senior specialists. We understand that selling a significant collection — whether from a shop closure, an estate, or a lifetime of collecting — requires care, discretion, and expert knowledge.
Contact us about a large collection →Yes. Fair Vintage is set up specifically to buy whole collections in a single transaction. You pack all your watches in one or more secure boxes, attach your free insured shipping labels, and post. Each watch is assessed individually by a horological specialist and receives its own written valuation. You then decide — item by item — which offers to accept. You are never required to sell the whole collection.
There is no minimum or maximum quantity. We buy collections of 5 watches or 500 watches with equal care. For very large collections — particularly dealer stock or inherited collections of 50 or more pieces — we recommend contacting us first via email or phone so we can arrange appropriate insurance coverage and discuss the submission in advance.
No. We assess watches in all conditions — working, non-working, requiring service, or sold for parts. Non-working vintage watches often retain significant value for parts, case originality, or restoration potential. Please describe the condition of each watch as accurately as you can so our specialists can prepare appropriately.
We buy all types: personal collector collections, inherited watch collections, deceased estate watch groups, pocket watch collections, military watch collections, dealer stock clearances, watch shop closing-down stock, micro-brand collections, Swiss vintage watch groups, and mixed collections containing watches alongside other valuables. No collection is too specialist or too eclectic.
For some individual watches, eBay may achieve a higher gross price — but it involves substantial time, risk, packaging costs, eBay fees of 12–15%, PayPal chargeback risk, postage costs, and dealing with queries and returns. For a collection, the total net return from Fair Vintage is very often comparable or better — and takes days rather than months. We also charge no commission or fees.
We provide free insured shipping labels for all submissions. For large or high-value collections, please contact us before posting so we can discuss appropriate insurance arrangements and ensure your collection is covered for its full value in transit.
Upload a photograph or list of your watches for a free preliminary estimate. No obligation, no pressure. If you are happy with the range, we send a free insured label and the rest follows.