How To Value Your Antique Clocks

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.


----------------------------------------------------
Barry Share is the proprietor of Riversdale Clocks...
http://www.riversdaleclocks.com
Make your own family heirloom. Get your free copy of part#1
of the case making manual "Making A Case For A Longcase
Clock" from. http://www.casemaking.riversdaleclocks.com

 

Baume et Mercier Watches Picks Up A Goldmine With Meg Ryan

There are several ways a company can go about marketing
their product to the public.  Whether it's online, in a
magazine or on television, the marketing campaign a company
uses and how they display the product is crucial to the
business.  For Baume et Mercier, the company picked up a
gold mine with the beautifully talented actress Meg Ryan
becoming the new face of the company.

Meg Ryan has enjoyed an extremely successful career acting
with movies such as Kate & Leopold, You've Got Mail and
Sleepless in Seattle just to name a few.  Despite her
hectic schedule, including three new movies that are in the
pre-production stages, she has taken the time to show her
face and do some charity work for Baume et Mercier.

Ryan has appeared in several printed ads for the company
now and has donated her time to help others as well.
Another recognizable face that accompanies Meg Ryan with
charity work for Baume et Mercier and print ads is Kiefer
Sutherland.  Sutherland has been in a plethora of movies
including L.A. Confidential, Phone Booth and A Few Good Men.

In 2005, Ryan and Sutherland represented themselves as well
as Baume et Mercier at several non-profit organizations.
The organizations they supported were the Doctor's Without
Borders Glaza, Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association,
Hollywood Entertainment Museum, Prostate Cancer Foundation
and the Youth I.N.C.

Having two highly recognizable and extremely classy figures
representing their company, Baume et Mercier is living
large and having continuous success.  They have been able
to use Meg Ryan and Kiefer Sutherland in enticing ways to
keep their watch line hip and classy at the same time.

Ryan and Sutherland joined the likes of Charlize Theron and
Johnny Depp who also represent and endorse top class
timepieces.  In 2005, Theron became the face of the
worldwide timepiece line Raymond Weil.  Picking up
celebrities to be the face of the company is a great way
for companies to appeal to the public since celebrities and
actors are recognizable.

As soon as the public sees the face of one of their
favorite stars in connection with a brand or model, that
company becomes highly touted.  In the case of Baume et
Mercier, they not only picked up two talented and
recognizable celebrities to represent their watches, but
they also picked up two well-liked and classy figures as
well.

Baume et Mercier has been around for over 170 years and it
can be difficult to keep things fresh and enticing for the
public after that long.  However, with new watch models and
collections coming out every few years in conjunction with
two recognizable faces representing the company, Baume et
Mercier appears to be on the path of selling for years to
come.


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superstore at watchesonnet.com
(http://www.watchesonnet.com). To find your perfect Baume
et Mercier Watch visit our Baume et Mercier watches section
at (http://www.watchesonnet.com/Baume-et-Mercier.html )

 

Omega Watches Make History with Co-Axial Escapement

In 1999, Omega made a huge impact on the watch industry by
introducing the very first co-axial escapement.  The
introduction has been considered one of the most
significant advancements within the watch industry since
the invention of the lever escapement.  After English
watchmaker George Daniels invented the co-axial escapement,
the first mass-produced watch incorporating the new feature
was distributed to the public in 1999.

The way the co-axial escapement functions, it uses
virtually no lubrication.  Because of this, it eliminates
one of the shortcomings that are present with the
traditional lever escapement.  By utilizing radial friction
instead of sliding friction at the impulse surfaces, the
co-axial escapement helps reduce friction.  As friction is
reduced because of the co-axial escapement, theoretically
the watch should last much longer.  In addition, you will
find that your watch maintains its accuracy and precision
over time.

Another benefit to the co-axial escapement is the smaller
lift angle and the increased arc of free vibration of the
balance wheel.  Because of this, there is a greater part of
the total arc that is conducted free of interfering contact
with the pallet lever.

The original escapement has proved to be reliable and
durable over the past two centuries.  It was designed by a
British maker Thomas Mudge and was eventually refined by
the Swiss.  Although it has served its purpose, the one
downside to the conventional escapement is that the design
relies so heavily on sliding friction.  The sliding
friction serves as the escape wheel impulse surfaces sweep
over the pallets to power the balance.

By having sliding friction in your watch, lubrication is
needed.  Lubrication continues to be a weak point to the
lever escapement, and because of this George Daniels wanted
to eliminate sliding friction.  By utilizing radial
friction, Daniels was able to eliminate sliding friction
and thus eliminate lubrication.

Many Omega timepieces have the co-axial escapement in them
now since being introduced to it in 1999.  At the Basel
Watch and Jewelry Fair in 1999, Omega introduced a new
watch for the Deville line that was a chronometer-rated
limited edition watch.  This was the first watch that
included the co-axial escapement that was being sold for
under $150,000.

Today, there are many watches that use the co-axial
escapement.  Omega has ventured out and their
innovativeness was well felt with this invention.  It was a
remarkable achievement by Omega and has contributed to an
already successful history within Omega timepieces.


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Watches On Net (http://www.watchesonnet.com). To purchase
the perfect Omega Watch visit our Omega Watches Section
http://www.watchesonnet.com/Omega.html).

 

Tag Heuer Watches Make History Again

There are certain watches on the market that are in a whole
different world from the rest.  The kinds of watches that
make people pay thousands of dollars for just to say that
they own one.  With the kinds of things Tag Heuer has done
for the watch industry, they have set their place in
history.  Despite all of the contributions and inventions
they have come forward with, Tag Heuer is now taking it to
the mechanical world.

After many years of pushing the quartz movement to the
extreme, Tag Heuer mechanical movement is just making way.
With the Monaco V4 Concept watch, Tag Heuer has been
working and crafting this watch together starting just a
few years ago.  The idea came about with their involvement
in motor sports, which has sparked the development of the
Monaco V4 Concept watch.

This mechanical movement watch derived the V4 from the
movement of the four barrels.  The four barrels are mounted
on a v-like shaped main plate at a 15-degree angle, much
like that of the cylinders in a motor racing engine.

There are four parts to the watch that have made it a
mechanical movement watch; transmission, friction, torque
and power.  In building the watch, there were several
firsts that Tag Heuer approached to get it up and running.
Because of all of the mechanical movements that correlate
with that of a high-engine motor racing car, several
designers, watchmakers and engineers worked together to
build this revolutionary watch.

In the process, Tag Heuer invented the first patented
drive-belt transmission in a watch movement.  The original
mechanical movement watch ran off of pinions, which was
replaced with the relay of 13 drive belts.  With these 13
drive belts and the linking and turning of two axes in the
same direction, it is much more efficient than by means of
an intermediate wheel.

Another first with this mechanical movement watch was the
linear oscillating mass.  The linear oscillating mass
replaces the oscillating weight that was traditionally used
to wind an automatic watch movement.  This helps make the
rotating movement run much more efficient and smoother.

If that weren't enough, this Tag Heuer also reduces most of
the friction that is apparent in many other watches.  This
is made possible with the 39 micro ball races that help
minimize friction in the power transmission system.  This
helps replace and upgrade the traditional use of synthetic
red rubies.

The list of firsts for the Monaco V4 Concept watch could go
on forever.  This Tag Heuer watch has truly revolutionized
the mechanical movement watch world forever.


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For more information about Luxury watches visit
watchesonnet.com (http://www.watchesonnet.com). To find a
great Tag Heuer Watch visit our Tag Heuer Watches Section
http://www.watchesonnet.com/Tag-Heuer.html).