Do antique clocks appreciate over time?
The value of antique timepieces
may keep pace with inflation. However, timepieces are long-term investments, and
they are not the most liquid assets in the world. Consider this: If you decide
to liquidate your collection in the short term, you are probably going to lose a
lot of money. Auction houses may charge you as much as 30 percent of the sale
price. In order to make money on an investment in a fine clock, the piece must
appreciate a large amount, which does not usually happen over short time
frames.
What English artisans are the most sought after?
Edward John Dent is one
of the best. His London-based firm, founded in 1840, actually built Big Ben.
Frodsham, founded by William Frodsham and his son, Charles, around the same time
in London, is another important name. They are both guarantees of quality. Fine
English antique clocks like these routinely sell for over $100,000. The English
are the main collectors of English clocks; they drive the market.
Who are the finest French artisans?
French clockmakers are as renowned as
the English. For example, if the early 18th-century clockmaker Julien Le Roy’s
name is on a clock, it is valuable; he was one of the finest clockmakers of his
time and made all types of timepieces. England and France produced different
styles; the French specialized in making fancy, elegant regulators, while the
English ones were more massive.
What are regulators?
Regulators are tall case clocks with compensated
pendulums, made from about 1725 until the 1950s. They have plain cases; mahogany
was the wood of choice over oak or pine, and it was often cut and veneered with
elaborate graining.
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