Antique Clock Appraisal: Costs, Photos and Where to Go

An antique clock appraisal comes down to three questions: who made it, what kind of movement it has, and how original it is. Answer those yourself first, and any appraiser can give you a better figure.

• Maker. Look for a name on the dial, a paper label inside the case or on the back board, and stamps on the movement plates. Mearto lists trademarks and labels among the main value factors.
• Type. Longcase (grandfather), bracket, mantel, carriage, wall or Art Deco. Mearto names longcase clocks as the most sought after.
• Movement. Count the winding holes. One is time only; two usually means time and strike; three trains (time, strike and a melody or chime) add value, according to Mearto. On a longcase, an eight-day movement is wound weekly and usually has two weights, while a 30-hour movement is wound daily (Wikipedia).
• Originality. Replaced dials, movements or cases lower the value; Mearto lists originality and reproduction status as a factor.
• Condition and running. Whether it keeps time and strikes correctly.
• Provenance. Bills of sale, family history or a known first owner.

Neither Mearto nor Sotheby's publishes a shot list, so this is the set we suggest; it lets a specialist see the maker, the movement and any replacement parts.

• The whole clock from the front, in even light.
• The dial straight on, close enough to read any name or town.
• The back of the movement, showing any stamps, numbers or maker's name.
• Every label inside the case and on the back board.
• The pendulum, weights and key.
• The case back and base, and any damage or repairs.
• Measurements: height, width and depth.

• Online specialist estimate. Mearto charges $25 for one item and typically replies within 48 hours (prices checked 25 September 2026). Good for a first figure on an ordinary mantel or wall clock.
• Auction house estimate. Sotheby's gives a free estimate from photos and information submitted online, and tells you whether the clock suits one of its sales; if it does not, it may suggest other options. Auction estimates are free because the house hopes to sell the clock for you.
• Formal written appraisal. Required for insurance, probate or a tax deduction and always paid. See vintage appraisers near me for how appraisers charge and which credentials to look for.
• Collector associations. The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC), whose museum is at 514 Poplar Street, Columbia, Pennsylvania, gives members a horological forum, a research library and research requests. Its site does not describe an appraisal service, so use it for identification rather than a valuation.

Sotheby's names American, English and French clocks from the 16th to the 19th century, and singles out Aaron Willard, Edward East, Joseph Knibb, Thomas Tompion, Lepaute and the Vulliamy family. Its sell page shows these estimates for past sale lots (estimates, not results, checked 25 September 2026):

• Chinese ormolu musical automaton clock, about 1790: £600,000 to £900,000.
• Federal cherrywood tall case musical clock by Martin Cheney, 1809: $80,000 to $120,000.
• Louis XVI gilt-bronze mantel clock: €10,000 to €15,000.

For everyday clocks, Mearto's examples give the realistic range: a late-19th-century Seth Thomas slate and ormolu mantel clock at $550 to $650, and a 1970s mahogany longcase in Georgian style at $450 to $550. That second example is worth remembering: a clock can look 18th century and be from the 1970s.

• Longcase clocks cannot be earlier than about 1680, when William Clement made the first ones (Wikipedia). Between 1680 and 1800 an English grandfather clock cost on average £1 10s, a year's rent for a working family in 1680, so early examples were made for wealthy buyers.
• Seth Thomas began making clocks in 1813 in Plymouth Hollow, Connecticut, and incorporated in 1853; Plymouth Hollow was renamed Thomaston in 1875 (Wikipedia). A label giving Plymouth Hollow points to before 1875, and one giving Thomaston to 1875 or later.
• Current makers' names, such as Howard Miller or Hermle, which Wikipedia lists among today's longcase manufacturers, point to later production rather than an antique.
• Style is not age. Georgian, Federal and Louis XVI styles have all been reproduced.

• High-value makers and 18th-century clocks: ask a major auction house for an estimate. Sotheby's holds clock sales year-round in London, New York, Hong Kong and Paris, live and online.
• Ordinary 19th and 20th century clocks: get an online estimate, then compare sold results before consigning to a regional auction or selling to a dealer.
• Do not over-restore before selling. Replacing parts can reduce originality, which both Mearto and Sotheby's buyers value.

AntiqLens can suggest the maker, type and approximate period from photos of the dial, labels and movement. Use that to prepare your questions before you pay for an appraisal.

Research and drafting for this page were assisted by AI and checked line by line against the sources listed below. Prices are copied from the named auction house, dealer or guide with the sale date where the source gives one and the date we checked it; asking prices and estimates are labelled as such, and where a figure could not be confirmed we say so rather than estimate. If you find an error, tell us and we will correct it.