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Some Buyers Are Melting Down Vintage Watches Amid Soaring Gold Prices
Soaring gold prices are putting vintage watches at risk, as some collectors are melting down or trading in timepieces due to the value of the metal.
Image credit: Robb Report
As gold prices reach historic highs, an alarming trend is emerging in the vintage watch world: collectors and dealers are melting down gold timepieces for their raw metal value. The economics are stark—for certain vintage gold watches whose horological value hasn't kept pace with the soaring precious metal market, the melt value now exceeds the watch's value as a collectible.
This affects brands across the spectrum, including Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, and Vacheron Constantin. Dealers report seeing an increase in gold watches being traded in specifically for their metal content, particularly less sought-after references and dress watches.
For collectors and preservationists, it's a sobering reminder that market forces can threaten horological heritage. Every melted watch is a piece of history lost forever.
Read the full article: Robb Report
Source: Robb Report, February 13, 2026