As I understand it:
Antiques are generally over 100 years-old, rare and not mass produced with some aesthetic or historical provenance.
Collectibles are not rare, mass produced but no longer manufactured and reflect some cultural phenomenon. Value is what the buyer will pay to own it.
American Pickers is a joke. The prices they pay for rusted junk is unreal. And then they show at the end: Bought for $100, Sold for $125, Profit - $25. BULL! What about their gas, store rent, advertising, motel bills (although the two of them probably share one bed), etc. etc. If I bought everything for 100 and sold it for only 125 I would be out of business in no time. Watch Pawn Stars if you want to see a properly run business.
I paid $300 for a pocket watch in a silver case. The Case is made in England, the Mechs in Germany.
The coolest parts are the face, which is beautiful and the tiny chain that moves the gears.
I was watching Antiques Roadshow and they showed a similar watch that would fetch $1,500 and I got all excited.
Mine is in way better condition and just beautiful for the details.
Thing is, I’ll never sell it.
I buy for pleasure and just don’t think about the resale value. I love touching things I buy and wondering about who held it and what it meant to them.
I have a storage site full of antiques and will never sell em.
I occasionally give them away for a special event but that’s it.