These days, everything from ovens to telephones silently mark
the minutes in glowing red and green letters, rendering the
?tick tock? of the mechanical clock increasingly unnecessary.
Digital clocks might be more convenient and accessible, but they
will never hold our affection the way a good old-fashioned
round-faced clock does. Antique grandfather clocks are not
collected for their time-keeping ability, they are a treasured
piece of history, an heirloom to pass down to future
generations. These classic timepieces are part of our lives, our
homes, our families even. They are decorations and sometimes act
as the design focal point of a room. Antique clocks from the mid
1600s still exist. Some of these are worth well over $70,000.
Some extremely rare models are worth over $100,000. A wise
consumer, before spending this type of money, would have any
prospective clock appraised before purchase. These timeless
treasures are available at flea markets, estate sales, local
auctions, and through newspaper ads. Antique grandfather clocks
can also sometimes be found at online auction sites. To be
certain of a clock?s authenticity, you should only buy from a
trusted and reputable seller. Read any listing carefully to
ensure that the product you are buying is truly an antique. In
addition to online auctions, established auction houses hold
auctions for antique grandfather clocks, although these may
happen only twice a year. Antiques are a significant purchase,
and should not be taken lightly. When buying an antique
grandfather clock, there are several things to consider: ?Does
the seller offer any guarantee of authenticity? ?What is the
total price of the clock? Be sure to figure in shipping charges,
tax, financing charges, etc. ?What is the clock?s condition?
Obviously, a clock in excellent condition is considerably more
valuable than one that is in poor form. A clock with all of its
original components intact is worth more than one that has been
restored. ?What are your intentions for the clock? If you intend
to sell the clock, you need to find it at the absolute lowest
price so that you can make a profit. On the other hand, if you
are buying the clock purely for enjoyment, you might not be as
concerned about original components, identifying marks, etc.
?How much is the clock really worth in today?s market. Knowledge
of recent sales of similar clocks is extremely helpful in
deciding how much to pay for a clock. If you do not have this
knowledge, you should have a professional, unbiased appraisal
done. For those desiring the look of antique grandfather clocks
without the hefty price tag, reproductions are available. No
matter how ubiquitous and prevalent digital clocks become, a
stately grandfather clock will always have a place in our
hearts?and our homes.
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