From our pre-owned inventory: Panerai Luminor 1950 3 Days GMT PAM00320. Every consigned watch is inspected, photographed, and priced before it goes live.
Watch consignment works in five steps: you submit your watch details and receive an initial estimate, you ship it insured or drop it off, we authenticate and photograph it, we agree on a price and market it to buyers, and when it sells you are paid by wire transfer or check. You keep ownership until the sale, and your watch is insured from the moment we receive it.
Most people have never consigned anything more valuable than a piece of furniture, so the process can feel like a leap. This is exactly what happens at Pucks & Timepieces, start to finish, and what you should expect from any consignment partner.
Step 1: Submit your watch
Fill out our consignment form with the brand, model, reference number, condition, and what is included. Photos help. We review your submission and respond with an initial consignment estimate within 24 hours.
If you want a number before you talk to anyone, the free Watch Value Estimator gives you a data-based range in about two minutes, drawing on recent sold prices rather than asking prices.
What to have ready: the reference number (usually between the lugs, on the case back, or on the warranty card), any box, papers, or service records, and honest notes on scratches, dents, or anything that does not work.
Step 2: Get your watch to us
Once we agree to move forward, you have two options. We send a prepaid, fully insured shipping label and packing guidance, or you visit us in person in Middleton, Wisconsin, near Madison. On arrival, we log the watch with intake photos and condition notes, so there is a clear record of exactly what we received.
Step 3: Authentication, inspection, and photography
Our watchmakers authenticate the watch and check its condition and function. If a service or light cleaning would meaningfully improve the sale, we discuss it with you first. Then we photograph the watch professionally. The photos buyers see on our site are always of the actual watch for sale, which is one reason buyers trust what they are getting.
Step 4: Pricing and marketing
We set the price together. Our recommendation comes from current demand and comparable completed sales, not wishful listings. Overpricing is the most common reason a consigned watch sits, so we will tell you candidly where we think it will sell.
Then your watch goes live and is marketed to our buyer network and collector community across the channels where serious buyers actually shop. We handle inquiries, negotiation, and buyer vetting, and we keep you updated. If the market shifts, we talk about adjusting the price before we change anything.
Step 5: Sale and payout
When a buyer commits, we secure payment before the watch is released, ship insured with signature confirmation, and then process your payout by wire transfer or check. We confirm your exact payout amount before the transaction is finalized, so there are no surprises when the money arrives.
How long does consignment take?
It depends on the watch and the price. Popular, well-priced references can sell within weeks; rarer or higher-priced pieces may take a few months to find the right buyer. We would rather tell you that honestly than promise a date. If speed matters more than maximizing the price, an outright sale is the better tool; see our sell or trade page.
What consignment costs
Our consignment fees are competitive and vary with the watch’s value. You receive a clear, written breakdown before we list anything, and the fee is deducted from the sale price at payout. Industry-wide, consignment commissions commonly range from 10% to 20%, as our consignment guide explains, and the premium a professional seller achieves often covers much of that difference compared with a private or outright sale.
What to look for in any consignment agreement
Whether you consign with us or someone else, make sure these are in writing:
- The agreed asking price or floor price, and how price changes are approved.
- The commission and any other fees.
- The consignment term and what happens if the watch does not sell.
- Insurance coverage while the watch is in the partner’s possession and in transit.
- How and when you are paid.
Consignment process questions
Do I still own the watch during consignment?
Yes. Ownership transfers to the buyer only when the sale is completed and funds are secured.
What if my watch does not sell?
We revisit the price together. If you prefer to take the watch back, we return it to you insured.
Can I consign a watch that needs service?
Yes. We will tell you whether servicing first is likely to pay for itself. Our service and restoration team can handle it.
Can I use the proceeds toward another watch?
Absolutely. Many clients apply consignment proceeds or trade credit toward their next piece. Our three-watch collection guide is a good place to plan it.
Do you consign all brands?
We focus on luxury brands such as Rolex, OMEGA, Tudor, Breitling, Panerai, IWC, Cartier, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Grand Seiko. If you are unsure, ask; we will tell you quickly whether consignment makes sense.
Start your consignment
Submit your watch here and we will reply within 24 hours. Want to understand why consignment usually beats selling privately? Read why consign instead of selling it yourself. Selling a watch you inherited? Start with our family guide to selling an inherited watch.
