Antiques Roadshow

GUEST

I brought this pocket watch that I bought at a garage sale several months ago. I asked the guy if he had any jewelry, and he told me he has a gold watch and he'll sell it to me if the price will be right. I didn't know anything about pocket watch, none whatsoever. So I was, like, maybe, like, $300, $350. And he said, like, he thought that was too little. So he said he will sell it to me for $400. So I decided, okay, where else can I buy a gold watch for $400, so I bought this.

APPRAISER

Your watch was made by the Waltham Watch Company. It's made of 18-karat solid gold.

GUEST

Oh, wow, wow.

APPRAISER

And the outside of the case is multicolor gold, and you have platinum appliqu on the case.

GUEST

Oh, wow.

APPRAISER

The watch was made in 1880.

GUEST

Wow.

APPRAISER

It's in incredible condition. I love the engraved bird on the watch there.

GUEST

Okay.

APPRAISER

And all the flowers. It's a very heavy case, and what's very interesting about this watch, this is an American case, but was made for the English market. So it has English import marks on the inside of the case cover. What do you think the watch is worth today?

GUEST

Well, I do hope, like, it's worth, like, $600.

APPRAISER

Okay, yeah. Well, this is an exceptional, fine watch in a very rare case, and I'm happy to tell you in today's market at auction this watch would bring between $1,600 and $2,000.

GUEST

Oh, wow. Oh, that's wonderful. (laughing) That's wonderful.