Should you Sell Watches on Consignment?

“Number Ten: a strong word called 'consignment' Strictly for live men, not for freshmen.” - 10 Crack Commandments, Notorious B.I.G

When it comes to selling watches, there’s something poetic about that line. Consignment isn’t for everyone. It takes trust, patience, and a bit of nerve. You’re handing over your watch without getting a cent upfront. But for the right person, and with the right dealer, consignment can be one of the smartest, most seamless ways to sell.

This is something I’ve personally done - twice, in fact - with my Cartier Pasha Seatimer and Breitling Chronomat. And in the process, I learned a few important lessons about what makes consignment work, and where it can go wrong.

What Consignment Really Means

At its core, consigning your watch means letting someone else sell it for you. The dealer or platform holds your watch, markets it, and takes a commission once it sells. There are a few good reasons why you might choose this route.

First, you’ll usually make more money than if you sell directly to a dealer. When a dealer buys a watch outright, they need to account for their resale margin, so their offers tend to be well below market value. This changes though when you sell a watch on consignment. When consigning a watch, the dealer isn’t tying up their own capital - they’re simply facilitating the sale for a commission, which means you’ll typically receive a higher payout once it’s sold.

Second, it’s incredibly easy. The dealer handles everything - logistics, photography, listings, shipping, even after-sales support. You simply hand over your watch, and they do all the hard work.

And finally, you benefit from their reach. Most established dealers already have loyal audiences, curated mailing lists, and dedicated marketing teams - advantages that most private sellers just don’t have. Your watch doesn’t get lost in a sea of listings; it’s being presented to buyers who are already in-market and trust the seller.

In short, consignment trades a bit of your profit for a lot of convenience, reach, and peace of mind.

The Risks You Can’t Ignore

Of course, all of that sounds great - until you remember that you’re handing your watch to someone else without getting paid first. And that’s where the real risk lies.

The first thing you need to check is how long the business has been around. The watch industry can be volatile, and capital-intensive. Dealers who don’t have deep pockets often rely heavily on consignment to avoid buying the stock themselves. The downside to that, is that it also means they’re more vulnerable if cash flow dries up. If you’re consigning your watch, look for an established company with a strong reputation and track record.

When I consigned my two watches, I was working at Chronext, so I already had that trust and inside understanding of how things worked - a privilege not everyone has, but definitely one that made it considerably more comfortable to hand over two of my watches with no immediate return. For anyone else, do your homework: check their reviews, see how long they’ve been in business, and whether they’re known for handling consignments responsibly. Cliché as it is, this business is built on trust - and as a consumer, you need to make sure you trust the company you’re giving your watch to.

Understand the Terms - and Your Exit Plan

Before you hand anything over, make sure you know how long they’ll hold the watch and what happens if you want it back. Some consignment agreements lock your watch in for months, and getting it back can be complicated.

Ask whether there are any fees if you decide to pull your watch early. In most cases, there shouldn’t be - but some dealers may charge if they’ve invested in professional photography, service work, or polishing before listing it. For some, those costs could cut into the cash you get when the watch sells - so it’s important to know the economics of the sale before you agree to hand over your watch.

While that adds a bit of cost on your end, some of these “costs” can actually improve your odds of a smooth sale. A freshly serviced, polished, warrantied watch has a much lower chance of being returned, which saves everyone time in the long run. Good pictures can be make or break for selling a watch quickly and for a higher price. The important thing is to make sure you understand those costs upfront so you’re not surprised later and know when and how you can pull out of the agreement if the watch takes longer to sell than you’re willing to wait.

Is it safe to sell a watch on consignment?

Lastly, find out where and how your watch will be stored. Are they keeping it in a secure safe? Is it insured? Do they have watches of their own in inventory, or do they only sell on consignment?

The latter is important - a dealer who also holds their own stock usually has more at stake in maintaining proper insurance and security versus one that primarily deals in selling other people’s watches. When they’ve got their own six-figure watches sitting next to yours, you can be sure they’re protecting both.

Should i sell my watch on consigment?

Consignment isn’t for everyone - and that’s okay. It works best for people who value convenience, trust, and reach over squeezing out every last bit of profit.

If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t want to deal with listings, lowball offers, or the stress of private sales, consignment is a great option - as long as you choose the right partner.

If, however, you want full control, need quick cash, or absolutely must have top dollar for your watch, then consignment will probably feel too slow and cut too deep into your sell price.

As for me? I’d do it again. Both my watches sold without headaches, and I had peace of mind throughout the process. And even though I don’t work for a watch dealer while writing this, I’d still consign with another dealer if I wanted to sell another watch. That being said though, now with the experience of having sold to a dealer and through a dealer, my next experiment will be selling directly.