Tips For Buying An Antique Wall Clock
An antique wall clock can be far more than a simple investment or valuable asset – it can also be a functional addition to your home and at the same time a beautiful piece of artwork. If you’re thinking of buying one, here are a few tips to help you make the right decision.
When looking at any antique wall clock, check for a brand name or specific model name, and see if you can find a date of manufacture or production. This information may be in accompanying documentation, or on the clock itself. Clocks with genuine paperwork are often worth more than those without. As you are inspecting the clock, check for signs of repair or poor workmanship.
The importance of whether any antique clock still works or not will be a personal preference, and although working clocks may fetch a higher price, don’t be afraid to choose an antique wall clock that doesn’t work. More importantly try discover as much as you can about it’s history. Find out who owned it previously and where it was kept.
Vintage wall clocks tend to come with either weight or spring driven mechanisms. The weight driven clocks usually last 1 to 2 days, whilst the spring driven and pendulum wall clocks will often last about a week. Often you will be lucky enough to find a beautiful antique key to go with the clock.
Before you go clock hunting, you may want to browse a few magazines or websites that deal with antique clocks. It’s an easy way to familiarize yourself with the different types of clock, the manufacturers, brand names and models. The makers name or brand is usually somewhere prominent such as the face of the clock, but often you’ll find the information engraved on a backplate. On less valuable models, it may be on a paper label glued to the back or inside of the clock.
If you find something you like and you decide to buy an antique wall clock, always take the time to have it properly appraised first. This will put a value on the clock, which will probably be required anyway when you come to insure it. Check with the seller whether they offer any warranty on the clock or it’s movement and if there is a returns policy. Also ask for any written guarantee of authenticity.
When buying a clock for your own home, make sure you have a suitable room for it. A large antique wall clock can be quite ornate and can easily overpower a normal room. Ideally you will have somewhere that matches the style and period of the clock, where it will look at home. Also, it’s important not to expose antiques to direct sunlight so you may want to position the clock away from any windows.
It’s still possible to pick up an antique wall clock at your local yard sale, although the chances of finding a valuable clock are much greater if you visit antiques fairs or dealers. It’s slightly safer buying from an antique dealer because you are less likely to be sold a reproduction clock, but it’s always worth checking for signs that the clock is a genuine antique.