Watch consignment fees: compare the amount you may receive.
A consignment proposal needs more than an expected sale price and a commission percentage. Maison Montres's checklist helps you separate the fee basis, other agreed costs and payment conditions. Use it to ask clear questions about a proposal. It is not a quote for a Maison Montres consignment service.
Start with the fee basis
Ask what amount the percentage applies to. A fee based on the final sale price is different from one based on another figure in the agreement. Confirm whether a minimum fee applies and whether the quoted fee includes any applicable tax on that service.
Write down the calculation
Possible net proceeds = agreed gross sale amount minus seller commission minus other agreed seller costs.
This simple calculation is only a comparison aid. The agreement determines the actual amounts and conditions. Personal taxes and any additional contractual deductions need separate consideration.
Illustrative example, not a market rate or Maison Montres quote
Assumed sale amount: 20,000 currency units.
Assumed commission: 10% of that sale amount, or 2,000.
Assumed other seller costs: 300.
Illustrative net before any other applicable deductions or personal taxes: 17,700.
The commission and costs are hypothetical. Replace them with the figures in the actual written proposal. Do not compare proposals in different currencies without stating the conversion basis.
Ask these questions before agreeing
| Topic | Question to resolve |
|---|---|
| Price authority | Who can approve a lower price, and is there a minimum the seller must receive? |
| Commission | What is the percentage, its calculation basis and any minimum fee? |
| Other costs | Which transport, inspection, service, photography or other costs can be charged, and who approves them? |
| Custody | Who holds the watch, who is responsible for loss or damage, and what evidence of cover is provided? |
| Duration | How long does the arrangement last, and what happens if the watch remains unsold? |
| Withdrawal | Can the owner withdraw the watch, and what fees or costs would then apply? |
| Payment | What event makes payment due, and what happens if the buyer delays or fails to pay? |
| Records | Which watch details, condition notes and supplied accessories are recorded at handover? |
A sold watch and cleared payment are different events
Ask the provider to describe the settlement process in writing. A notification that a buyer has been found may not mean that the owner can immediately receive funds. Check the actual payment trigger, expected steps and responsibility for follow-up.
Compare proposals on the same basis
Use the same watch description, condition information and currency for each proposal. Compare the possible net amount alongside time, obligations and unresolved costs. Do not assume the highest headline estimate produces the best result for your priorities.
Where Maison Montres fits
Maison Montres can discuss a selling brief and the questions you want resolved before choosing a route. The advisory scope, fees and any transaction role are agreed separately. If you are comparing an auction with private representation, use the sale-route guide first, then use this checklist for the detailed terms.
Common questions
Is there one standard watch consignment fee?
Do not assume a single percentage applies. Read the proposed agreement and confirm the calculation basis, minimum fees and additional charges. This guide does not establish an industry rate.
Do I pay if the watch does not sell?
That depends on the agreement. Check unsold, withdrawal, storage and other cost clauses before committing. Do not assume that a commission charged only on sale means every other cost is also conditional on a sale.
Does a consignment estimate guarantee what I will receive?
No. Confirm which figures are estimates, which terms are fixed and which conditions can change the outcome. Record the uncertainty instead of treating the headline amount as cash already available.
Discuss the decision ahead
Send a short outline of the watch and the sale route you are considering. Do not include private contracts or identity documents in the initial enquiry.
Discuss your watch sale