Value Assessment

I just inherited a few watches that I need to sell. What is the best way to get these appraised? I was thinking about just putting them on eBay and seeing what I can get, but I think I should find out what kind of minimum to put on them.

Here are my written descriptions of them. I haven't had a chance to take pictures of them yet.

Elgin Railroad pocket watch. It doesn't say "railroad", but the owner worked on the railroad his whole life. Seconds sub-dial at 6. Power meter at 12. The dial look amazingly new; it may have been replaced. Blued hands. Case is almost 50mm across and the works pretty much fill it up. The inside of the case back says that this Elgin is 10K gold filled. There is a serial number and the uncle's name engraved - inside. There are also 3 tiny, faint, engravings that look hand done. One looks like a date and the other two look like initials with numbers.

The works inside don't say Elgin though. It says B. W. Raymond. Well, it does say "Elgin Natl. Watch Co. U.S.A." under the escapement wheel. It is 23 jewels and "motor barrel". The gears aren't fancy, but where the writing is has those shaded type straight lines engraved in. (I can't remember what they are called.) The serial number is in there.

This watch runs fine and looks very clean. Its only problem is that you can't set it. I can't pull the crown up at all. I'm also wondering if I should have that fixed before I sell it.

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The second pocket watch is also an Elgin. It is smaller - 44mm - and much fancier. It "engraving" all over and inside it, but I suspect that most of it is cast in rather than real engraving. Inside and the case back look like real engraving, although the inside engraving is VERY shallow.

The dial is not new. There is one "mark" down under the seconds sub-dial at 6. Otherwise, it looks a tad faded. The odd font for the numbers and the decoration in the center look like they were silver coated. You now have to get the light right to see any shine. I don't know if the non-shiny parts were suppose to be white or not, but they are a even gray now. The hands are blued.

The inside of the case back says that this "Elgin Giant Watch Case Co." case is 10K gold filled. However, the watch isn't gold in color; it's silver. No added engravings in this watch.

The only writing on the works is the "Elgin Natl. Watch Co." "U.S.A." and the serial number. While nothing is caked on anywhere, it probably could use a cleaning.

This watch also runs and I can set everything just fine. The seconds don't hack, but that's probably normal. It's running fast now, but I'll play with that to see how I can get it close.

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The last watch is a wristwatch - Accutron by Bulova. It is 14K gold with a gold mesh bracelet. A few of the mesh links are broken and would scratch skin pretty bad. The dial looks like it was a mottled champaign color. It may have faded. There are very fine black lines going out to the quarters. The 3, 6, and 9 are outward pointing arrowheads. Of course, the 12 is the little tuning fork. All markers and hands are gold. There are minute gold dots and the second hand is very thin.

This watch has the "crown" on the back. You lift this little handle and turn to set the time. The battery cover comes off with a dime. Luckily it has been stored without a battery for, at least, 7 years. The battery area is clean. It says "waterproof" but the gasket on the battery cover looks pretty shot. It probably hasn't been serviced for several battery changes.

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So, where would be the best place to learn the value of these? Where would be the best place to sell them? Should I just sell them on eBay? If so, what minimum should I put on them?

Thanks,
Clyde
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