In your opinion how much is this worth on the market?
SE-con-do — three syllables; stress on the first. 'Secondo lei' = according to you (formal); 'secondo te' = informal.
Use this to get a seller's market assessment, which gives you negotiating context. A seller who is honest will give a realistic figure; the response also tells you much about their expertise.
'Secondo lei' (according to you, formal) + 'quanto vale' (how much is it worth) + 'sul mercato' (on the market). This question invites the seller's professional opinion. It is a sophisticated question that signals you are a serious collector rather than a casual browser.
A quanto andrebbe questo in asta?
How much would this go for at auction?
Auction value is a useful benchmark — typically 30–50% higher than market price
Ha fatto stimare questo pezzo?
Have you had this piece valued?
Asking if a formal appraisal has been done
È sottovalutato a questo prezzo?
Is it underpriced at this price?
A direct invitation for the seller to reflect on value — can trigger a price increase!
Christie's and Sotheby's both have major Italian offices in Milan and Rome, and Italian auction results are closely watched by the antique trade. Many market sellers use auction results as reference points for their pricing, even when selling at a significant discount. Websites like Catawiki and Barnebys now make auction result research accessible to all buyers.