| 1. Museums are a great place to shop! Many | | | | 5. Labels & Signatures up the ante! Antiques |
| museums have fantastic antique clock exhibitions that | | | | with the signature or label of a famous clockmaker |
| will give you a great idea of what you want to buy, | | | | will carry a premium. As will clocks owned by |
| without any pressure from sales people. | | | | celebrities. For some, though, the price is more than |
| 2. The internet is your friend. You can search out | | | | worth the premium because of the joy of owning |
| many reputable dealers at once. There is one site | | | | such a unique piece. And sharing the story that goes |
| (linked to below) that scours the net for the best | | | | along with finding a great antique is one of the great |
| deals and displays them all in one place. Using this site | | | | features of owning a classic; |
| you can browse the best offers from many different | | | | 6. Shipping is Significant! You must, must, must |
| sites in one place; | | | | investigate the shipping price before buying; |
| 3. Price check before you buy. If you're interested in | | | | 7. Hidden Costs are killers! Don't forget about |
| a particular clock, find out how it sold for online. You | | | | restoration fees, insurance fees, and cleaning and |
| can go to ebay (or the site I mentioned in #2) and | | | | maintenance fees. Many antiques are ready to go, |
| find out how much your clock has sold for in the | | | | but some dealers tack these fees on. And they are |
| past; | | | | negotiable. So play hardplay; |
| 4. Condition matters, get a guarantee. This is a | | | | 8. Don't Forget Care & Conditioning. Your antique |
| no-brainer. Better condition equals higher price. But, | | | | clock should be lubricated by a professional about |
| buyer beware many times so-called antiques are | | | | once every 5 years. And once a decade it should be |
| merely reproductions. Read the fine print and insist | | | | overhauled. |
| upon an authenticity guarantee; | | | | |