My wife recently discovered a long-lost Girard Perregaux watch that was given to her by her grandmother. We would like to try and find out some information on the watch -namely it's value.

My first instinct is to take it to a local watch/jewelry store and get it appraised - is this the right move? Obviously, I want to take it to somone I can trust. We have no idea how old the watch is. It DOES look old. My wife seems to remember her grandmother telling her that the case and the bracelet are 18K solid gold (the clasp does have a 18K mark engraved on it).