Antique Longcase clocks like antique artwork or other collectable items are so individual in nature that it is almost impossible to make a fixed valuation on them. Unlike motor vehicles there is no standard value list guide, antique clocks hopefully go up in value, whereas motorcars depreciate the moment you drive them off the sales room forecourt
A price asked for and offered is determined by the personal interest of the seller and the buyer, and also on the market trend, but it is interesting to note that the antique markets, like all other markets are cyclical and are in and out of vogue.
The antique market seems to be correlated to the housing market. When the housing market is in a boom period the antique market is in a slump, which has been the case in the UK for the last twelve years. People have been investing their money into bricks and mortar and not putting their money inside their homes.
It is inevitable that at some time the housing market will reach a bubble, and house prices will stabilise or fall and people will once again put their money where it will make the most gain, into a rising market, antiques. This housing cycle is about fifteen years in the UK so by the end of this year 2007 or into early next year we should see interest in the antique market increase and the value of works of art and collectables go up.
It is interesting to note that although the antique market has been in decline for a number of years, in the antique furniture industry, clocks have held there own with a small increase in value and sales are still strong. This I believe is because we look upon a clock especially a grandfather clock, as a working living piece, to which we form a bond and get attached to it as it seems to have a heart, but not so the chest of draws or tallboy.
There is also the fact that there is no capital gains tax on clocks which makes it a great investment as clock prices have been rising at about 10% a year which is better than some pension plans and stocks.
You can find many publications on the value of antique clocks but these never seem to be current and never take into consideration regional variations, they mostly only cover the top end of the market which are high value pieces. One of the best places to find the current range of prices for clocks is at your local sales and auctions, you can go there and compare your clock like for like to the ones being sold, remembering that variations on movement and dials, also type and quality of case can make a great difference in valuation.
If you don't have the time to spend at the auction most auction houses publish a catalogue which they will mail to you, and by consulting this you will get a guide for the reserved price which as been placed by the seller. Many reputable auction houses do have professional appraisers and valuing service but this is not always free. You can find a full list of UK and global antique and auction sales from antiquestradegazette.com where you can get live auction prices and view the many current catalogues online. Also take a look at antiqueclockspriceguide.com for comparisons.
It goes without saying stay clear of dealers actively engaged in buying and selling antiques as I'm sure you can understand they have only there own interests at heart.
Always use professional appraisers attached to sales rooms, and official appraisers of local probate courts usually can give prevailing price values.
When you think of antiques, you sometimes think of an item's value both as collectible and as a monetary value. The challenge with a lot of ways to value an antique monetarily is that a lot of antiques are very unique so it is hard to put a price on these things. Antique clocks are no different in the ever popular antique world. When you look at things like antique vehicles, it is a lot easier to value since there are specific value guides that are published for these types of items. No such thing for clocks!
A lot of times with clocks and many other antique items of interest, the value is greatly determined by how interested the potential buyer is in the antique clock. If an antique collector absolutely has to have it in his or her collection, a lot of times that will bring the value up immensely.
A lot of times, the real estate market affects the antique market as well. It seems that whenever real estate takes a dip, so do antiques. And then when the real estate market is booming, the antique market becomes a booming industry as well. There is not a lot of information out there on why this is but it is an interesting fact.
One other rather interesting fact is that antique clocks have been able to hold their value even though the antique market as a whole has taken a declining trend in the last ten years or so. Other antique items have been slowly decreasing, but the clocks have managed to stay relatively stable in value. This is a good thing to know if you are looking at various types of antique clocks to invest in. There just might be a grandfather clock out there with your name on it!
Another excellent thing about investing in these old clocks is that you are not taxed on any capital gains that you acquire when you buy an antique clock. Also, prices of these clocks have been steadily rising in the past eight to ten years. This makes an antique clock a sound investment.
If you are more interested in collecting clocks, there are many books out there on the subject. Visit your local library or bookstore! Also, when buying, only buy from respected antique dealers and make sure you do your research to make sure you are not getting bitten with a bad deal. Enjoy your collection!
Both Barry Share & Corey Palmer are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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