For Sale Any vintage Baume & Mercier watch experts out there?

The value of that watch is in the gold and not as a collectible.

 

Sadly, Cigarzman is mostly correct due to low collector interest in vintage lady's wristwatches in general, even when it is a well-preserved original from a well-known Swiss maker, with period accessories and a very attractive bracelet. However I would strongly urge against selling this watch to a scrap dealer, unless you are truly desperate. Far better to find a collector or antique dealer on eBay or elsewhere, who will pay a premium for originality and condition.

Either way, your first step should be to determine if the case is solid gold (hallmarked 14k on the case somewhere, often between the lugs) or if it is gold-filled (a very thin layer of gold overlaid on steel or other base metal). Markings for a GF case will depend on country of origin, but will typically be something like "14GF" or "14K 20 Plaque" (referring to 20 microns thick) or similar. Next step would be some online research to identify the model number, movement, and approximate date of manufacture, which any potential collector / buyer will want to know regardless of case material. Suggested resources for identification and pricing would be Chrono24.com, WatchUSeek.com, or eBay.com.

Even if it turns out to be 14K, the scrap value of such a small case will probably be less than $200 despite the spot price of gold at an all-time high of $3380/oz or $108/gram (remember that a Troy ounce used for PMs is different from an Avoirdupois ounce used for everything else). A small lady's watch case typically weighs between 3 to 4 grams total and 14K alloy is only 58.5% pure, thus the melt value for such a case would be somewhere between $189 to $252 at the current price. Most pawn shops and gold buyers will pay between 70% to 80% of melt value (zero value paid for the movement or bracelet) thus the net price to the seller would be somewhere between $132 to $201. For practical purposes, the melt value of a gold-filled case of this size would be negligible (Happy Meal territory) thus not worth considering.

 

I would think if it’s 14k there will still be at least 500$ in gold. Op , have the watch weighed. Then we can assess the gold value. My guess is it weighs about a half an ozt. with the movement. Btw it’s weighed in Troy ounces not avoirdupois. And once you have the exact weight I will help you price it for the retail market gratis.