ordicio

Collecting guide

How to Collect Watches

Wristwatches and pocket watches (clocks are under Antiques).

Watch collecting is a game of details. Two watches with the same name can differ by a reference number, a dial variant or a replaced part, and the market prices each of these. Box and papers, service history and originality are often worth as much as the watch itself.

Getting Started

Clocks are under antiques. Collectors usually focus on a brand, a type (divers, chronographs, dress watches), a period, or a movement maker. Learn the references of your field before you buy.

What to Record

Condition

Describe the case (polishing, dents, sharp or soft edges), the crystal, the dial and lume, the bracelet stretch, and whether the watch runs and keeps time. Collectors prefer an unpolished case with honest wear to a heavily polished one.

Care and Storage

Wind manual watches regularly or let them rest; use a watch winder for automatics only if you wear them often. Keep watches away from magnets, water beyond their rating, and shocks. Store the papers safely, apart from the watch, and record their numbers.

Mistakes to Avoid

Kinds of Watches

The Data Sheet for Watches

The 33 fields worth recording for watches, grouped as in the ordicio app.

Identification

Watch type Choice, or your own
Kind of watch.
  • Wristwatch
  • Pocket watch (open face)
  • Pocket watch (hunter case)
  • Pendant / lapel watch
  • Smartwatch
Brand Text
Brand or manufacturer under which the object was sold.
Model Text
Model or product name given by the manufacturer.
Reference number Text
Manufacturer's model, reference or article number.
Serial number Text
Individual serial number of this object, as marked on it.
Year Year
Year of making, issue or publication when known exactly.
Reference link Link
Web page about this object or its reference entry (catalogue, database, sale).

Movement

Movement Choice, or your own
Type of movement.
  • Mechanical (manual winding)
  • Mechanical (automatic)
  • Quartz
  • Solar quartz
  • Automatic quartz / kinetic
  • Spring Drive
  • Smart
Calibre Text
Movement calibre, e.g. Rolex 3135, Valjoux 7750, Omega 321.
Complications Text
Functions beyond hours and minutes, e.g. date, chronograph, GMT, moon phase, perpetual calendar, minute repeater, tourbillon.
Accuracy Text
Measured rate, e.g. +3 s/day on the timegrapher.

Case & dial

Case material Choice, or your own
Material of the case.
12 choices
  • Stainless steel
  • Yellow gold
  • White gold
  • Rose gold
  • Platinum
  • Titanium
  • Ceramic
  • Bronze
  • Silver
  • Gold-plated / filled
  • Steel and gold
  • Carbon / composite
Case diameter (mm) Number
Diameter of the case without crown.
Dial Text
Dial colour and type, e.g. black gilt, tropical, salmon, enamel.
Bracelet / strap Text
Bracelet or strap with clasp, original or later, e.g. Oyster 93150 with folding clasp.
Water resistance (m) Whole number
Rated water resistance (unchecked after service or for old watches).

Completeness

Original box, papers and history.

Box & papers Choice
Which original accessories are present.
  • Full set (box, papers, tags)
  • Box and papers
  • Papers only
  • Box only
  • Watch only
Sold / warranty date Date
Date on the original warranty card or sales receipt.
Last service Text
Date and workshop of the last service, and what was replaced.

Condition

Condition Choice
Overall condition in plain terms; domains with an established grading scale use that scale instead.
  • Mint / as new
  • Excellent
  • Very good
  • Good
  • Fair
  • Poor
Condition notes Text
Faults, wear and damage in detail.
Restoration & repairs Text
Restorations, repairs, replaced parts and cleaning, with who did them and when if known.

Acquisition

How and when the object came into the collection.

Acquisition date Date
Date the object came into the collection.
Acquisition method Choice, or your own
How the object came into the collection.
  • Purchase
  • Auction
  • Gift
  • Inheritance
  • Exchange / trade
  • Self-collected / found
  • Commission
Acquired from Text
Seller, auction house (with sale and lot number), donor or place where it was found.
Purchase price Amount
Price paid including fees and premiums.
Provenance Text
Earlier owners and the object's history, oldest first, with sources (labels, invoices, sale catalogues).

Value

Estimated and insured value.

Estimated value Amount
Current market value as estimated.
Valuation date Date
Date of the current value estimate.
Valuation basis Choice
What the estimated value is based on.
  • Own estimate
  • Recent sales / auction results
  • Dealer offer
  • Catalogue value
  • Professional appraisal
  • Insurance valuation
Insured value Amount
Sum the object is insured for.

Collection record

Your own inventory data.

Inventory number Text
Your own number or label for the object, e.g. C-0042, as written on its label or album page.
Storage location Text
Where the object is kept, e.g. room, cabinet, drawer, album and page, box.

Standards and References

The data sheets follow the standards collectors, dealers and museums use:

Updated October 24, 2026