Sell Your Audemars Piguet Watch with SwissWatchExpo

UNBEATABLE VALUE OFFER. We are known to pay the best possible price for the brands and models that we specialize in.

FREE SHIPPING WITH FULL INSURANCE. Enjoy complimentary next day shipping, with your watch insured at its full value during transit.

PROMPT PAYMENT POLICY. Receive your funds within 24 hours after evaluation is complete.

STRESS FREE TRANSACTION. As one of the world's leading pre-owned luxury watch retailers, we buy a wide range of watches daily, ensuring a smooth transaction.

TRUST AND INTEGRITY. SwissWatchExpo takes pride in being the most reviewed online retailer of luxury watches, and our business is built on a foundation of trust and integrity.

UNMATCHED CUSTOMER SERVICE. While we are lucky to have thousands of satisfied customers around the world, we treat each one as part of our family.

1. Model and Reference Number
   This is the single most important factor. The specific model and its unique reference number determine the baseline for its value.
   • Collection: A pre-owned AP Royal Oak will almost universally command a higher price than a model from the Code 11.59 or Jules Audemars collections, simply due to strong demand.
   • Material: For most luxury watches, precious metals (gold, platinum) are worth more. For Audemars Piguet, this is often reversed. Stainless steel Royal Oaks are the most sought-after and often trade for more than their gold counterparts.
   • Complications: More complex watches (chronographs, perpetual calendars, tourbillons) are generally more valuable, though a "simple" time-and-date "Jumbo" (like the 15202) can be one of the most valuable models of all due to its iconic status.
   • Rarity: Was this a limited edition? A boutique-only release? A discontinued reference? The reference 15202ST, for example, exploded in value when it was discontinued. Rarity and demand work hand-in-hand to set the secondary market price.
2. Condition
   For watch collectors, condition is paramount. An Audemars Piguet is a work of art, and its condition is evaluated meticulously.
   • Case & Bracelet: The famous faceted design of the Royal Oak is its signature. Our experts look for the sharpness of the bezel's octagonal edges and the "chamfers" (polished, angled edges) on the case and bracelet. A watch that has been "over-polished" will lose these sharp lines and, consequently, a significant amount of its value.
   • Originality: Are all parts original? Has the dial been replaced? Are the hands correct for the reference? A watch with all-original parts is always worth more.
   • Damage: We look for deep scratches, dings on the case, chips on the sapphire crystal, or stretching in the bracelet links.
   • Functionality: Does the watch keep accurate time? Do the complications (e.g., chronograph, date) function correctly? A watch requiring an expensive service will have that cost factored into the offer.
3. Documentation (Box, Papers, and Provenance)
   This is a critical value-add. Having the complete "full set" can increase the price of your Audemars Piguet by thousands of dollars. Watch collectors are willing to pay a massive premium for it.
   • The Papers (Certificate of Origin): This is the single most important document. It is the watch's "birth certificate," issued by Audemars Piguet at the time of sale, detailing its model, serial number, and date of purchase. This document is unique and cannot be replaced. Having the original papers of the watch provides irrefutable proof of authenticity.
   • The Box: This includes the original inner and outer presentation box that the watch came in.
   • Manuals & Hang Tags: All the accompanying booklets and tags.
   • Extra Links: If your watch has a bracelet, providing the extra links removed during sizing is crucial. A replacement AP link has considerable cost.
   • Service History: Receipts from official AP services can add value, as they show the watch has been well-maintained.
4. Identifying Your Watch: Finding the Model & Serial Number
   To get the most accurate quote, you'll want to provide your watch's key identifiers. The Audemars Piguet model numbers (or reference numbers) and serial numbers contain all the information experts need.
   • Model/Reference Number: This identifies the specific model (e.g., 26331ST, 15500ST). On modern AP watches, this is not typically engraved on the case. The most reliable source for this number is the original Certificate of Origin or warranty card.
   • Serial Number / Case Number: This is the watch's unique identifying number. It is engraved on the caseback of nearly every Audemars Piguet watch, or on the case side for some specific models. On older (vintage) watches, the serial number may be engraved on the movement itself.
   Providing both the reference number (from the documentation) and the serial number (from the caseback) allows us to confirm a precise match between the watch and its papers, ensuring the most accurate valuation and helping us offer you the best value.

1. Top Performers: The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak "Jumbo" Extra-Thin (references 15202 and the new 16202) remain at the top of the food chain. Steel Royal Oak Chronographs (like the 26331ST) and the classic 41mm Selfwinding (15500ST) are also extremely popular.
2. Stable Demand: The Royal Oak Offshore line, especially the Diver and 44mm Chronograph models, maintains a very strong and stable following.
3. Market Fluctuations: The market is fluid. A model that was "hot" six months ago may have stabilized, while another may have seen a recent surge. This is precisely why you need to sell to experts who monitor these trends daily. An offer from SwissWatchExpo isn't based on an old price guide; it's based on what your watch is worth today.

• The green or brown leather-bound inner box.
• The cardboard outer box.
• The "Certificate of Origin and Warranty" booklet (this is the most important).
• The instruction manuals.
• Any extra bracelet links that were removed.
• The original hangtag, if you still have it.
• Any receipts from past services.

1. Use Good, Natural Light: Avoid harsh-camera flash. Sit near a window on a clear day.
2. Use a Simple Background: A plain table or piece of paper works best.
3. Focus is Key: Modern smartphone cameras are excellent. Tap the screen to focus directly on the watch.
4. Get These Shots:
   • A clear, straight-on shot of the dial.
   • A shot of the caseback, clearly showing the serial numbers.
   • A shot of the clasp.
   • Shots of the left and right sides of the case (to show the crown and bezel profile).
   • A "group shot" showing the watch with its box and papers.
   • A clear shot of any significant scratches or dings you want to point out.

1. Pros:
   • Speed: The sale can be completed in 24-48 hours.
   • Security: 100% risk-free. You are dealing with a registered business, and your watch is insured.
   • Best Value: You get an immediate, fair price without any fees or commissions. The offer is what you get.
   • Convenience: A simple 3-step process handled by experts.
2. Cons:
   • The offer may be slightly less than the absolute theoretical maximum you could get in a private sale, but that premium comes with massive risk and effort.

1. Pros:
   • You can set your own price, which could be high.
2. Cons:
   • Extremely High Fees: These platforms charge 8-15% in commissions and payment processing fees. That's thousands of dollars on an AP.
   • High Risk: These platforms are filled with sophisticated scammers. You risk fraudulent payments, "item not as described" claims where a buyer returns a fake watch, or simple robbery.
   • Very Slow: It can take months to find a legitimate buyer.
   • Effort: You must be the expert, take photos, write the listing, arrange paperwork, and answer dozens of lowball offers.

1. Pros:
   • Can achieve a record-breaking price for extremely rare vintage or unique pieces with historical provenance.
2. Cons:
   • Extremely High Fees: They charge both a seller's premium (10-25%) and a buyer's premium (20-30%). The final hammer price is not what you receive.
   • Extremely Slow: The entire process takes 3-6 months from consignment to auction to final payout.
   • No Guarantees: If your watch doesn't meet its reserve price, it "burns" (fails to sell), which stigmatizes it on the market.
   • Not for Most Watches: This route is only for the top 0.1% of collectible watches.

• Marketplaces offer a potential high price but with maximum risk and high fees.
• Auction houses offer a potential high price but with maximum fees and the slowest timeline.