10 Vintage Clocks That Are Worth a Small Fortune

The vintage clock just sitting on your mantle could make it easy to earn extra money from home. While the market for this type of collectible remains somewhat soft, certain makers, styles, and eras command high prices at auction and online.

If you have old clocks collecting dust in your home, this list could help you to better understand the market. So if you're ready to sell, here are the top types of timepiece treasures that are worth some serious cash.

Grandfather clocks

Estimated market value: $200

These classic wall clocks are traditional timepieces that were once considered a sign of great wealth and sophistication. Made by skilled artisans, the clocks typically have ornate elements and a tall stature (typically reaching six to eight feet), setting them apart from the rest.

Features that may identify a vintage grandfather clock as valuable include a manufacturer's mark on the dial or a stamped serial number. Additionally, higher-end designs typically have cable-driven key-wound mechanisms. While some of these pieces fetch just over $200 online, we spotted a few rare versions in near-perfect condition selling for more than $50,000.

Grandmother clocks

Estimated market value: $800

Yes, there are both grandfather and grandmother clocks. The grandmother version is slightly shorter (between five and six feet) and thinner than the grandfather. Even though they're technically a different category from grandfather clocks, you could also identify an authentic or valuable grandmother clock based on a maker's mark or serial number.

The ornate woodwork and slim profile make these vintage clocks valuable to collectors. While the specific purchase price varies based on the timepiece's age, manufacturer, and condition, you could get around $800..

Designer clocks

Estimated market value: $5,500

Some of the top design houses have created clocks with their logos or trendy, fashionable finishes. Pieces from sought-after upscale brands usually command a higher price. Sotheby's recently listed a Louis Vuitton wall clock (with the iconic "LV" pattern instead of numbers) for $5,500.

Porcelain clocks

Estimated market value: $5,500

Delicate porcelain clocks have an artsy appeal that oozes sophistication. These highly prized pieces vary in price, depending on the condition, designer, and manufacturing date. The Manhattan Art & Antiques Center recently listed an extremely ornate French Japonisme Porcelain Bronze Clock for $5,500.

Travel clocks

Estimated market value: $1,000

Compact, portable clocks might not seem like moneymakers. But these lightweight, slim timepieces could possibly put extra cash in your wallet.

While modern travel clocks are often cheaply made and worthless online or at auction, older models might attract serious buyers, especially those crafted by sought-after luxury designers. We noticed a vintage Cartier travel clock (in its original box) that sold on eBay for over $1,000.

Art Deco clocks

Estimated market value: $58,500

Characterized by geometric shapes and a sleek, streamlined style, items from the Art Deco period (1919 to the 1939) are popular in the antiques world. To identify an item as truly vintage Art Deco, you need the ability to discern a modern copycat from the real deal. Don't rely on the "look" of a clock or a printed name. Instead, consult a professional appraiser who works with 20th-century art.

How much is a real Art Deco clock worth? The answer depends on the designer, condition, and finishes. We found a Tiffany & Co. agate, enamel, and diamond clock (with 18-karat yellow gold) listed for a whopping $58,500 on M.S. Rau.

Banjo clocks

Estimated market value: $360 to $29,000

In 1802, Simon Willard patented the banjo clock. As the name implies, this timepiece is shaped like a musical instrument. With a narrow trunk and boxy pendulum case, the typical banjo clock is nearly three feet tall. Other defining features include a drum-like top dial and a compact build.

Some of these clocks sell for as little as a couple of hundred dollars, while others are worth thousands. A Eurich & Romeo, Dearborn Lyre Banjo Clock recently sold for $360 at Cottone Auctions, while a rare early Simon Willard model brought in nearly $29,000.

Crystal clocks

Estimated market value: $15,000

Clunky clocks made from plain plastic aren't exactly valuable in the vintage marketplace. But delicate glass and crystal clocks have a very different appeal.

True antique crystal could potentially fetch a high price at auction. We found a French Ormolu and Glass Clock Garniture listed for $15,000 at the Manhattan Art & Antiques Center. But this doesn't mean every crystal item is expensive. A qualified appraiser could assess the true value and provide an estimate of the item's worth.

Cuckoo clocks

Estimated market value: $450

Whimsical and somewhat wacky, these imaginative items were first made in Germany's Black Forest region. The mechanical timepieces use heavy weights and gravity to power the sound bellows, making a characteristic "cuckoo" cluck on the hour.

Authentic antique cuckoos sell for several hundred dollars online. Like other vintage pieces, the price you could get could vary dramatically. We recently saw one dating back to 1910 listed on eBay for $450.

Mantel clocks

Estimated market value: $25 to $3,120

As the name says, these clocks belong on a mantel. Of course, you could place them elsewhere. Also sometimes referred to as shelf clocks, this broad category includes smaller, self-standing pieces. In other words, you wouldn't need to hang these clocks on a wall.

Due to variations in style, design, mechanisms, and materials, the price of a mantel clock isn't fixed. However, those with refined finishes, such as brass, command higher prices. We reviewed listings at one auction house and found prices ranging from $25 to $3,120.

Bottom line

You don't necessarily have to pick up an extra job just to put extra cash in your pocket. Vintage clocks appeal to antiques enthusiasts, making them a valuable commodity at auction. But that doesn't mean every prized piece from the past is worth a fortune.

Not sure whether your clock is valuable? While knowing the key identifiers to look for is a starting point, a professional appraiser could assess your item and help determine a realistic price point.

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