Sell your antiques in Paris and get paid on the spot

Selling an antique always raises the same questions. What is it worth? Who should I sell it to? Will I be paid fairly? We are antique and second-hand dealers, and we buy antiques and old objects from private sellers in Paris and Île-de-France. Here is how it works, and how we set our price.

What antiques we buy

We buy what we know well and know we can sell on:

• Clocks and watches: mantel clocks, wall clocks, pocket watches and old wristwatches. See antique clock valuation.
• Period furniture: chests of drawers, armchairs, small furniture, mirrors.
• Antique jewellery and gold, even broken. See selling antique jewellery.
• Silver: cutlery sets, dishes, cups, display pieces.
• Coins and medals.
• Old postcards, in lots or in albums.
• Paintings, drawings and engravings. See old painting valuation.
• Porcelain.
• Asian art: vases, porcelain, small objects. See Asian art valuation.
• Curiosities: anything out of the ordinary.

If you are unsure about an item, show it to us. We will tell you whether we buy it, and if not, why.

How does a cash purchase work?

1. You contact us. By phone, on WhatsApp with a few photos, or by email.
2. We come to see the items. Travel is free in Paris and Île-de-France. We look at each piece and explain what we see.
3. We make you an offer. Item by item, or for the whole lot if you prefer. We tell you how we reached that price.
4. You accept or not. No pressure. You can turn everything down, or sell only part of it.
5. We pay you straight away. Payment is made by bank transfer, at the time of the sale.

There are no fees or commission for you to pay, unlike what can happen at an auction.

How we set our buying price

This is a fair question, and it deserves a clear answer.

We start from the item's value on today's market: what it really sells for, not the price shown on an online listing. A listing shows what a seller hopes for, not what a buyer paid.

Then we take into account what we must do to sell it on: the time it will spend on our stand, any restoration, transport, the risk that it does not find a buyer. So our buying price is lower than the resale price. That is normal, and we would rather tell you plainly.

What you get is an offer that is explained. If an item would do better sold another way, for example a rare piece that deserves a public auction, we tell you that too.

Selling to an antique dealer, at auction or online: which to choose?

Each option has its advantages. Here is an honest comparison:

• An auction suits important pieces. Expect fees, a wait before the sale and a result that is not known in advance.
• Selling online lets you set your own price. In return, you have to take the photos, answer messages, let strangers into your home or post fragile items. Scam attempts are not rare.
• Selling to an antique dealer pays you straight away, with no fees, and we can take a whole set at once, heavy items included. Our price takes our margin into account, as explained above.

The right choice depends on the item, your time and how quickly you need to move. We can help you decide, even if the answer is not to sell to us.

What French law requires when you sell to a professional

• An identity document. Article 321-7 of the French Penal Code requires professionals who buy second-hand goods to keep a register, with a description of the items and the identity of the sellers. It protects everyone.
• No cash for gold and precious metals. The law requires a traceable payment. We pay by bank transfer.
• Items that are yours. If they come from an estate, check that all the heirs agree before you sell. See our page on antique dealing for estates.

Before you sell: three tips

• Do not clean anything. Removing the patina or a home-made restoration often lowers the value.
• Gather everything that goes with the item. Furniture keys, jewellery cases, boxes, invoices, a watch's papers.
• Get a valuation before you decide. A home valuation is free and does not commit you.

What if there is a whole house to clear?

We can buy a set of items, then clear the rest. The amount of what we buy is taken off the price of the clearance, which can even become free when the purchase covers it. What we do not buy but can still be used is given to charities.

Do you have antiques to sell in Paris or Île-de-France? Send us a few photos on WhatsApp at 06 24 56 38 58 (+33 6 24 56 38 58 from abroad), or call us on the same number. We will tell you what we think, and we can arrange a visit together.