Why don't more of us here collect vintage watches?

[River Rat]

I was wondering why not more of us collect vintage watches.The way I look at it you are saving one from the scrap heap some people don't know what they have and will shit can them.Or in pocket watches sell the case for the gold content.Here is the last one I saved.

This watch was made in the 1970's from the case back was not serviced since 1990 so this one was sitting in some ones dresser drawers most likely for years.And with a little work like a service and a new mainspring and a bracelet it good again for use and some times cheaper than a new one.Plus you save a piece of time piece history.So why not more of you collect vintage pieces some of them are cool looking and still made today no different than this Omega the only thing different is the lume and bracelet and I think a few changes in the movement but still about the same.

[matt.wu]

There are two things that originally made me wary about vintage watches.

1) Styling - Sometimes, by and large, the vintage watches just don't appeal to me. Of course, there are quite a few that do in a big way, but on a whole, there are probably more modern watches that I'd place in the "to buy" column than vintage.

2) Durability - Sure, a lot of vintage watches have withstood the test of time. But you can't deny that modern watches, both in case and movement design, generally have significant advancements in terms of water resistance, shock protection, and overall tightness in build tolerances.

However, those two things were trumped for me when it came to the 1655. I took a long hard look at just what kind of durability I actually needed for day-to-day wear (I'm no construction worker). I realized that vintage Rolex sport models (given proper service and pressure testing) provide MUCH more "robustness" than I ever will test the limits of. Additionally, vintage does get tougher to find as the years go by. So the decision was easy for me.

And I haven't regretted it one bit.... yet.

[DMB]

I love old stuff, and vintage watches are cool as hell. Especially vintage divers. Now that I have my main 4, I may actually start looking at some vintage pieces.

[carlodwc]

In truth I prefer nice looking watches rather then beat up, scratched and worn out ones. However I would not mind a nice vintage like the one you have there if it was in good shape.

And, the price isn't really cheap for some of these pieces. Someone was selling a beat up Speedmaster with holes in the hands, faded dial, scratched up and no bracelet for $1,500. For that much I can buy 3-4 nice watches that don't need service any time soon and I can enjoy more.

The real question is where do you find these? The ones I see on the forums look like they have been to war or dropped into a cement mixing machine... I mean most of the ones I see are seriously used. I know some like them that way but I don't. Another consideration is if the piece needs service or parts and these are unavailable or extremely expensive like that Vintage Rolex Daytona chrono pusher that was selling for $1,800...

Any ideas? I think more would buy a vintage piece if in good enough condition, serviced so that it is reliable and cheap enough to make it worth it. I would love to play that game, but I ain't rich.

[CesarG]

I love vintage. I think the only new watch I ever purchased was an skx173 a few years back.... I sold it after only few months. Vintage just has the character I don't see in newer pieces.

[Boomer]

Here are a couple. The first is a mid-70s Universal in 18 kt gold. I've had it since 1980 and have kept it in pretty good shape. The second is a 1953 Omega with original bumper movement. It has been carefully restored using as many original parts as possible.

[Jamie]

I lov e vintage styling and have a watch box just for my vintage pieces but I don't wear them and hence they have mostly been sold. Mainly because I am too dumb to take it off before I have a shower this thing has lasted 20 maybe 50 years and I dont want to be the dick shit that screws it by flooding it in the bath.

If I can't wash up in it I can't wear it. Even my beloved Monaco with no screw in crown and 50 m resistance has been through the shower routine.

[YOHOHO]

I like to wear the watches I own, and I find most vintage watches are too small for my taste. My seiko 6105 and 6139 are nice, but I just don't wear them much... Heck, I'd have had a 1655 many moons ago if it looked as good on my wrist as it does on Wu's....

[matt.wu]

I like to wear the watches I own, and I find most vintage watches are too small for my taste. My seiko 6105 and 6139 are nice, but I just don't wear them much... Heck, I'd have had a 1655 many moons ago if it looked as good on my wrist as it does on Wu's....

[Rick-Holland]

i love vintage watches but not to wear because they are so small compared to watches these days and because of that looks they look silly on the wrist.
just my opinion ... but again i love a lot of vintage models.

[snootydog]

I'm loving the hunt for vintage dive watches right now and I'm talking cheapies. Some vintage watches are way out of my price range right now but I still get the watch buying bug.
Also,size is a restriction so I don't look at any under 38mm. There are bargains out there,you don't have to end up with beaten up wrecks.
Most of the vintage dive watches out there are made by companies long gone,most I have never heard of,so spares are probably out of the question,but if you are only paying around $100 its worth it even if you only get a couple of years fun out of it.
Look at my two vintage Timex's for example,one manual wind,one automatic......these two cost less than $60 for the pair. Both run +/- 2mins a day. Too delicate to risk wearing all week but good looking and fun to own.

[River Rat]

i love vintage watches but not to wear because they are so small compared to watches these days and because of that looks they look silly on the wrist.
just my opinion ... but again i love a lot of vintage models.

Here are a few that were large for there day 42mm or larger.

Seiko 6105

Eterna Kontiki Super IDF

Omega Speedmaster MK II

Aquastar Benthos 500.And there seems to be a lot of Dutch sellers on Ebay selling these Aquastar Benthos 500 I bet you could find one of these out in the wild for cheaper than what I paid for mine.And all the Rolex subs and Tudor Subs are about the same size as the there subs today.

[River Rat]

In truth I prefer nice looking watches rather then beat up, scratched and worn out ones. However I would not mind a nice vintage like the one you have there if it was in good shape.

And, the price isn't really cheap for some of these pieces. Someone was selling a beat up Speedmaster with holes in the hands, faded dial, scratched up and no bracelet for $1,500. For that much I can buy 3-4 nice watches that don't need service any time soon and I can enjoy more.

The real question is where do you find these? The ones I see on the forums look like they have been to war or dropped into a cement mixing machine... I mean most of the ones I see are seriously used. I know some like them that way but I don't. Another consideration is if the piece needs service or parts and these are unavailable or extremely expensive like that Vintage Rolex Daytona chrono pusher that was selling for $1,800...

Any ideas? I think more would buy a vintage piece if in good enough condition, serviced so that it is reliable and cheap enough to make it worth it. I would love to play that game, but I ain't rich.

By the way the lume is there just dark with age and I paid 1400.00 for it with a 250.00 service and the bracelet still not a bad deal and you got a vintage Speedy that was made when we were still landing on the Moon.


There is one vintage Speedy from the 1960's with the 321 movement with a stepped dial and the sweep hand on the bottom has a different shape the dial and hand look better than today's Speedy wished Omega still made them the same way.

[demer03]

Love vintage. Lord knows I spent enough money restoring a few. Downside is the hunt for parts, internal and external. Pressure tested can be a challenge.

Newer ones are, IMHO, better for the office and meeting with clients. I'm just on a "new" kick right now...still have a couple though.

[mattcantwin]

I ask myself the same question every time Tom posts one of his pieces.

[Brklynlarsons]

Generally, not all the time, but generally, I think they are too small.

[jimyritz]

Interesting post Mike.

I would really like to add a vintage Omega or Heuer but
just don't know enough to make sure I am not getting
taken for ride.

Could be a good summer project, though...

Mike

[aikiman44]

Wish I knew more about them and could evaluate them. The ones you guys have, I love those.

[W. C. Bartlett]

This watch is mint. Not a mark on it and looks brand new.

[BSears]

I love those Aquastar Benthos models guys. Actually vintage watches is what really piqued my interest in watches back in the day and set me on my quest to find "that watch" - by that I mean this. I had a college professor who had this old auto Seiko diver. I never asked him about it, but always loved that watch. And I think he wore it on some type of canvas or possibly a two piece nato of sorts. Anyway, time went on, I had no idea where to even begin and after some searching on the web, all was revealed. I think his was either the 6309 or 6306 - but it was definitely a vintage Seiko diver.

Since then I've picked up a few vintage ones here and there - an old Elgin Shockmaster, a Waltham, a Seiko 6309 (since sold) a Seiko 6306, a Seiko Bellmatic, and a Seiko chrono (6139). really want to find the gold dial version of that 6139 in good condition but those are harder and harder to find. As many of you know, I have been searching for a birth year/month Seiko 6105....and I finally found it. Right here on DWC!! more on that later....

[Tragic]

Because they're beat up.

[CGSshorty]

1. Most of them are beat up
2. The ones that aren't beat up are expensive
3. Most of them are tiny
4. The ones that aren't tiny are expensive

[River Rat]

Because they're beat up.

Do these look beat up.



They look to be in great shape to me ?

[carlodwc]

Because they're beat up.

Do these look beat up.



They look to be in great shape to me ?

Sure they are and they would make any one who owned them proud.

I had a Vintage Seiko 6309 and I really liked it, the value of it was around $250 or so. Really nice, serviced and great looking. But one could see that it was vintage since the dial and the case while in excellent condition for the age, were old and worn. Still though it was affordable for me and worth having. But this was just about the highest I could go for a watch of that kind. These models above and in that fantastic shape aren't exactly cheap. I believe the last one is a Benrus and I believe I have seen a similar one on sale in a much worse state then this one for something like $2500. Even if i loved that dearly I would never have the dough to buy one.

If I had the cash to afford these I guess I would collect some, but then I would collect also other ones...

I guess the answer to the question is that there are some that like and collect vintage pieces, some can afford better watches then others, some can't afford them at all even if they would love them...

By the way River Rat, thanks a lot for the pics, these are fantastic watches, I especially like the Speedy...

[River Rat]

carlodwc your going to hate me I got the Benrus type II at the MWR sells section for a 1000.00 a few years ago the guy did fast shipping one day service from New York to Calif.One of my better deals.So there are deals out there for vintage you just got to catch them.