Sell your Cartier · South Florida · by appointment
Sell your Cartier to a buyer who knows a Tank from a Tank Must.
Send photos of the dial, the case back, and the buckle. I reply personally within 1 business day with an offer and the reasons for it. Ship on my insured label or meet me in your county.
- Automatic, manual, and quartz Cartier reviewed by hand
- Gold and platinum cases weighed against their collector value
- Wire or check within 24 hours of inspection
Who this page is for
Most Cartier watches I see were gifts. That changes the questions.
A Cartier often arrives as a present, an anniversary piece, or something a mother wore every day. The owner rarely knows the reference, the movement, or whether the case is gold or gold plated. That is normal, and none of it stops a sale.
Cartier value follows its own logic. A quartz Tank and an automatic Santos can look alike in a photo and sit far apart in an offer. A solid gold case has a floor set by its metal. A vintage piece with the right dial can be worth more than a new one. Size matters more here than with most sport brands.
This page lays out what I check on a Cartier and why each point moves the number. I do not list prices. Gold moves daily, and Cartier demand shifts by line and size, so you get a real figure in my reply, not a guess on a web page.
Selling to a private dealer
One buyer who reads both the watch and the metal.
Gold is not ignored
On a solid gold or platinum Cartier, I weigh the metal value and the collector value, then offer on the stronger of the two.
Movement checked first
I open the case back and confirm whether it is automatic, hand wound, or quartz before I settle on a number.
Shipping on my account
A prepaid FedEx label insured to the declared value, signature on delivery, and the box opened on camera.
Paid the next day
Wire or check within 24 hours of inspection, by the method you picked before the watch left your hands.
What I check on a Cartier
Six things that decide the offer.
Each point pushes the number one way or the other. My reply tells you which way and why.
Line and case size
Santos, Tank, Ballon Bleu, Panthère, and Pasha each come in several sizes. The size and the line together set demand.
Movement type
Automatic and hand-wound Cartier pieces sit well above quartz versions of the same design. The case back usually says which.
Metal and hallmarks
Steel, two-tone, solid 18k gold, or platinum. Hallmarks such as 750 or 950 confirm it. Gold plating does not count as gold.
Reference and serial
Engraved on the case back. They identify the model and the era, and they must match any papers you send.
Buckle and bracelet
An original Cartier deployant buckle or bracelet adds value. A generic buckle or missing links lowers it.
Papers and box
The Cartier warranty certificate, the red box, and any service papers help the next buyer trust the watch.
How it works
Four steps, from photos to payment.
01
Send photos
Use the appraisal form. Include the dial, the case back engravings, the buckle, and any papers. I reply personally within 1 business day.
02
Choose how to hand it over
Take the prepaid insured FedEx label, anywhere in the USA, or book an appointment in Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach.
03
In-person inspection
I open the package on camera, check the movement, metal, and serial, and confirm the watch matches the photos.
04
Payment
Wire or check within 24 hours of inspection. If you decline, I return the watch fully insured and pay the shipping.
Same look, different offer
How Cartier variants compare when you sell.
Two Cartier watches can share a name and a silhouette and still land in different places. These are the splits that matter most.
| Criteria | Stronger position | Weaker position |
|---|---|---|
| Movement | Automatic or hand-wound calibers, which collectors and resellers prefer | Quartz, which trades more like a fine accessory than a collector watch |
| Case metal | Solid 18k gold or platinum, with a metal floor under the offer | Gold plated or vermeil, which has no meaningful metal value |
| Case size | Sizes in current demand for that line, often medium and large | Very small sizes, which have a narrower pool of buyers |
| Buckle or bracelet | Original Cartier deployant buckle or full bracelet with all links | Aftermarket strap and pin buckle, or a shortened bracelet |
| Dial and gem setting | Original dial; factory diamonds with matching papers | Refinished dial, or diamonds added after the watch left Cartier |
| Documents | Cartier certificate with matching serial, box, and service papers | Watch only; still bought, with more weight on the inspection |
These are directions, not figures. The size of each effect depends on the line, the metal, and the market that week, and I explain it in the reply.
The detail
What moves a Cartier offer, and why.
Mechanical or quartz is the first split
Cartier has made many of its famous shapes with both quartz and mechanical movements. A Tank Française or Ballon Bleu can be either. The automatic version is the one most resale buyers look for, so it holds value better. Quartz Cartier pieces still sell, but they compete with new stock and trade closer to jewelry. If the second hand ticks once a second, it is almost certainly quartz. If it sweeps, it is likely mechanical. I confirm with the case back open.
Line and case size work together
The Santos, Tank, Ballon Bleu, Panthère, and Pasha each come in more than one size, usually called small, medium, and large. Demand shifts between sizes over time, and it differs by line. A size that sells quickly in one model can sit for weeks in another. That is why I ask for the reference on the case back. It tells me the exact size and movement in one line.
Solid gold and platinum: metal plus collectability
A solid 18k gold or platinum Cartier has value in the metal alone. That gives the offer a floor that a steel watch does not have. On top of the metal sits collector value: the line, the era, the condition, and the dial. For some pieces the collector value is far above the metal. For others, especially worn quartz models, the metal carries most of the weight. I tell you which case applies and offer on the stronger one.
Look for hallmarks such as 750 for 18k gold or 950 for platinum on the case back or lugs. Older Must de Cartier pieces are often vermeil, which is gold-plated silver. They look gold, but they are not priced as gold.
Vintage Cartier and Paris dials
Older Cartier watches can carry dials signed with the city where they were sold or cased, such as Paris or London. Collectors value these early pieces, along with original crowns and correct cases, far more than later production. Cartier Privé, the modern limited series that revisits historic shapes, also has a dedicated following. If your watch is old or the dial reads differently from current models, send a sharp daylight photo of the dial before anything else.
Buckles, straps, and bracelets
Many Cartier dress watches wear a leather strap with a folding deployant buckle in steel or gold. The buckle is easy to lose and expensive to replace, and a gold one has value of its own. Send it even if the strap is worn out. Current Santos models use quick-change straps and bracelets, so any extra straps or links that came in the box belong in the sale too.
Which Cartier lines are fashion-adjacent
Not every Cartier is bought as a collector watch. Steel quartz pieces, vermeil Must de Cartier models, and heavily gem-set watches with added stones often sell more like luxury accessories. That is not a reason to keep them in a drawer. It just means the offer follows the jewelry market more than the watch market, and I will say so plainly.
When selling to me is not the right call
If the watch is a family piece and you are unsure, wait. A Cartier in a safe does not need a decision this month. If you expect a retail price for a quartz model, a dealer offer will disappoint you. If the watch turns out to be a replica, I will tell you and decline it. If you want a fair, insured, documented sale with payment soon after inspection, that is the job I do.
How to prepare your submission
- Daylight photos: dial straight on, case back with its engravings, both sides of the case, and the crown.
- A photo of the buckle or bracelet clasp, plus any spare links or straps.
- The Cartier certificate, box, and service papers, if you have them, with the serial visible.
- Whether the watch ticks or sweeps, and whether you think the case is gold, two-tone, or steel.
- How you want to hand it over: my insured label or an appointment, and your county.
Questions, answered
Before you send a Cartier
Do you buy quartz Cartier watches?
Yes. A quartz Cartier sells for less than a mechanical version of the same model, but I still buy it. The offer depends on the line, the size, the metal, and the condition.
Is my gold Cartier worth more as a watch or as gold?
It depends on the model and condition. I calculate both the metal value and the collector value, and I offer on whichever is higher.
What if I lost the papers or the deployant buckle?
I still appraise the watch. Missing papers put more weight on the inspection. A missing original buckle lowers the offer because the next buyer has to replace it.
Should I service or polish my Cartier before selling?
No. A polish removes metal and softens the case edges. A service before a sale rarely pays for itself. I check the movement and price any needed work into the offer.
Can I sell a Cartier with diamonds?
Yes. Factory diamonds with matching papers help. Diamonds added after purchase usually lower the value, because collectors want the watch as Cartier made it.
Sell your Cartier
A clear offer on your Cartier, in 1 business day.
Send photos of the dial, case back, and buckle. I answer personally with a number and the reasons behind it. Insured shipping is on me. Payout within 24 hours of inspection.