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Sextant
Navigation instruments.
Scientific & Measuring Instruments · Indicative US retail $200–$3,000
At a glance
- Family: Scientific & Measuring Instruments
- Periods most often found: Most date from 1850 to 1950.
- Typical price: about $700; range $200 to $3,000 and more for exceptional pieces
- What drives value: Maker, completeness
What it is
The sextant measures the angle between the horizon and the sun or a star, allowing navigators to calculate latitude. Brass sextants by English makers (Heath, Hughes, Husun, Kelvin & Hughes), French makers and German makers (Plath) were used at sea from the 18th century until satellite navigation, and came in fitted wooden boxes with certificates.
How to identify and date it
Maker marks on the arc, a fitted box with spare filters and telescopes, and a calibration certificate inside the lid add value. Many decorative sextants are recent reproductions made in India with fake names; they are shiny, light and poorly engraved.
Periods and styles
Most date from 1850 to 1950.
How much is it worth?
On the US retail market, most sextant examples ask around $700. Simple or worn pieces start near $200, while documented, signed or exceptional examples can pass $3,000. The main value drivers are: maker, completeness. These are indicative ranges, not an appraisal; see our price guide for French antiques for the method.
Before you buy
- Check maker, box and certificate
- Inspect mirrors and arc
Living with it
A sextant on a library shelf evokes long voyages.
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How we write these guides: identification notes are general guidance written by French Country; a style name, a region or a resemblance does not by itself date or attribute a piece. Price ranges are indicative US retail asking prices for antique and vintage examples in sound condition (dealers, specialist marketplaces and auctions), estimated and rounded as of November 2026; check recent sold results before relying on a figure. They are not appraisals or offers to buy or sell: condition, provenance and documentation can move a value far outside the range. For insurance, estates or sales, ask an independent, qualified appraiser for a written valuation.