Should You Buy a Vintage Watch_?Pre-Owned Pros & Cons

Welcome back to the Gentleman's Gazette. In today's video, we're going to turn our attention to the wonderful world of vintage watches, and ask the question, should you buy one? Now when it comes to watches, there are undoubtedly thousands of options to choose from. And depending on your budget, you could go from a dollar store timepiece to a hundred And depending on your style, really the world is your oyster when it comes to choice. Now I'm sure it's pretty obvious that you can go into really any watch store and pick out something that fits your style and budget. But what about a watch that's new to you and has a life beforehand? Well, welcome to the world of vintage watches. Currently, the vintage watch world is booming with a rise of online retailers and physical locations. Overall, there's been a rise in the sale of vintage watches with many beautiful models to choose from. But with price depending on condition and a whole lot of other factors to consider, you really should ask, is a vintage watch right for you? So that's what I'm going to try and guide you through today. But first, let's look at what we mean by vintage. So it's kind of annoying. It's a little bit difficult to really pin down what is vintage. And depending on the model and brand, it's really any watch that's 20 to 30 years or older. Whereas there are other watch brands that need to be even older than that to be considered vintage. Obviously, one of the key things that defines a vintage watch is that the watch is not new when you buy it. Now, there are collectors and you will find new old stock watches, but this is not very common. And keep in mind, if you do find a new old stock vintage watch, the prices are extremely expensive. Also, keep in mind that there are vintage inspired watches. These watches take stylistic cues, design ideas, or even reproduce designs that were made in years prior. For example, let's look at the classic Casio digital watch. Now, this watch is considered retro or vintage inspired, but this watch is still produced new today. So, this would not be a vintage watch if you buy it brand new, but you could find actual vintage examples. So, based on all these factors, we're going to consider a vintage watch being a watch that is 20 years or older. Now let's focus in on why do people buy vintage watches? This is an important question to ask as it's going to help us to understand the appeal of vintage watches in the first place. We've come up with four reasons as to why people buy vintage watches, but if you have more, feel free to leave them down in the comments below. Reason number one, prices for new watches are skyrocketing. So, once you start diving into the world of watches and start to understand pricing, when you look at iconic models, like maybe the Rolex GMT, prices are all over the place. They're climbing, they're dropping. It's like watching the stock market. And retail prices continue to climb as well, and waiting lists just get longer and longer. Meaning, if you want a new Rolex, you need to be in possession of some serious cash and patience. Even high-end fashion watches are extremely expensive for what they actually are. And even though I understand that people might like the look of a Daniel Wellington, there's absolutely no reason that a quartz watch like this should cost this price. Meanwhile, the vintage watch market will offer many options that don't have to break the bank. Buying a vintage watch can allow you to look stylish, save some cash, and pick up a watch with a movement that has history and heritage. Reason number two. Stylistically, a lot of vintage watches look really good. As we've previously mentioned, vintage watches can look fantastic. Overall, something you see with vintage watches is a design element that really is lost today. It's the beauty of simplicity. This is because a lot of these vintage watches were designed at a time when classic clothing was worn. So, a classically designed and elegant watch had to match and harmonize with a classic outfit. If you contrast that with today, casual clothing is much more present. Designs have become less considered and are more sporty. So, people turn to vintage watches as a way to elevate a casual look or to add a touch of authenticity to formal attire. Reason number three. A lot of people will find that vintage watches can be easier to wear. In recent years, modern watches have followed a lot of trends, one of them being really chunky oversized watches. And those trends should just stop. I mean, after all, I mean, I think a watch somewhere between 39, 40, 42 millimeters looks really good. 46, 47 is really, really just getting big. After all, a giant diver's watch that's weighing down your wrist might look good right now or with a casual outfit, but it's hard to dress it up and make it look classic. Hey, it might even be like the mullet of the 21st century. People might look back and say, why am I wearing that brick on my wrist? On the other hand, a vintage watch will typically be smaller and slimmer on the wrist. This is going to do you more favors than you might actually think. Remember that wristwatches of classic gentlemen were always elegant and didn't dwarf the size of their wrist. Also, as a bonus, if you have a significant other, watches of this size can really look good on both sides wrists. Reason number four, vintage watches can still be purchased as an investment. Of course, we really can't pass up the point that people do buy vintage watches based on their future value. After all, there are certain models in production years that can really fetch a hefty premium. Therefore, people will buy these hoping to fetch a profit in future years. Just like anything that's rare or no longer made, whether it's a classic car, a bottle of wine, or a baseball card, the few remaining articles in good condition become very desirable to collectors. Now that we've talked about why you might want to buy a vintage watch, let's talk about some of the pros and cons. Because we're happy people at The Gentleman's Gazette, we'll start with the pros. Pro number one, there are many options to choose from. No matter what you're looking for, you have decades and decades of examples to choose from. With many watches being made in mass production, your choice really is endless. Keep in mind that vintage watches also include brands that are no longer around. So, if you're looking for a specific type of vintage diver, you might not have to find an Omega. You can find another brand that has a great example. Chances are, no matter what you're looking for, you can find something that really catches your eye. Pro number two, you can find something that's really unique. In addition to having a range of choice, you also will have a range of condition, which means you might find a watch that is extremely unique. Even if it's just based off of patina, every single watch that has a previous life will have differing degrees of patina and more unique character. You can also find watches in your birth year, which can be extremely desirable for collectors. Pro number three, vintage watches can be inexpensive. Granted, this won't be the case with a lot of the bigger brands, but quite often if you have a design in mind, say a gold dress watch, you can find lots of examples from smaller Swiss brands that existed in years past. Another benefit here is value. Oftentimes, you can find a vintage Swiss watch from a brand that's no longer around that has a quality movement for $1,000, $2,000 that will greatly outshine a modern watch, which is overpriced. Take Jack on our team. He has an entire collection of vintage watches in different metals with different looks that really suit every one of his outfits, and he picked them up for a really great price. He only has a few that are big names with an Omega and a Cartier, but other ones from smaller brands that no longer exist. Pro number four, they fit really well in the world of classic style. Let's round things out with probably the least surprising pro of all. They go great with classic clothing. Vintage watches in their more elegant design go great with a pair of trousers and a jacket or a suit. So, if you love this sartorial lifestyle, chances are a vintage watch will work great for you. Now that we've looked at the pros, now let's look at some of the cons for vintage watches. Con number one, you could need to know a decent amount of information about vintage watches. Now, this is true especially if you're going for a more high-end brand like a Rolex or Omega. You really should know a lot about that vintage watch model before buying. That will help you to weed out the potential for things being fake or aftermarket parts being put on. You should know things like in this model year, what type of dials and dial colors did Omega use on their Seamasters. That way, it protects you from something like a redial where the dial's been repainted and the watch then doesn't have as much value. Luckily, we're happy to help you boosting your watch knowledge as we here at the Gentleman's Gazette are continuing to put out more and more watch content. Con number two, it is likely that a vintage watch will need some TLC. Now, if you're someone who doesn't like patina or some scratches, a vintage watch might not be something you want to wear right away. Also, there are models that are traded quite frequently across small dealers and the watch might not be the best cared for and might need a service. So, there is a chance that you'll have to put a little bit of money into that watch whether it's a new strap or a complete overhaul, just keep that in mind. A good vintage watch can be thought of a lot like a pre-owned car. They can have a lot of mileage left, but you really should take care of them. You also might notice that a vintage watch won't handle the bumps and knocks of everyday life that a modern watch will, but that's okay if you're not planning on using it as a workhorse. Overall, just something to be aware of. Now, this next point is not really a firm pro or con, but keep in mind that vintage watches might not always hold their value at the same rate as modern watches. There are many factors at hand when you buy a vintage watch, the condition, the dial, whether it comes as a full set, there's many things to keep in mind. So, these varying factors can greatly impact the overall value that that watch will continue to have and will continue to carry. Also, keep in mind that if you ever wanted to sell that watch, the vintage watch enthusiast market is smaller than the watch market in general, so you might have a harder time selling it. So, overall, this isn't something for the faint of heart and don't think that you're going to buy a vintage watch and then retire on it. Okay, so at this point, we might have you thinking that you actually want to buy a vintage watch. So, how do you do it? We're going to give you a few tips before you pull out your credit card. Tip number one is to research before you buy. Research the watch, the model, and do your homework on who is selling it. Look into the history of the watch that you want to buy. Are there other models that were made at the same time that you might like more? What color dials should it have? Make sure to do your homework. Also, look into the retailer with a similar level of curiosity. How often do they sell vintage watches? Are they reputable? Do they have strikes against their better business profile? If you call them up, do they actually have knowledgeable answers about the product? Take this for an example. Delvery Watch sells vintage watches quite often. I had a question about one of the chronographs that they sent us, which was a vintage JLC. We had some questions about it for this video and I was able to call up Federico, ask why it costs so much, what's special about it, when it was made, and he was able to answer all these questions for me. The second tip we have is to try and try on the watch before you buy it. So, this should be easy if you're buying it in person. Ask the salesperson to pull it out of the case and slap it on your wrist. But if you're buying online, there might be some more things you want to think about. Does the seller offer returns if you get it and you don't like it? Could you talk to the seller and they could compare it to another model of watch that you've already tried? Ask yourself, does this really fit my style? And don't just buy it because it's cheap. Make sure that it actually works for you. Tip number three, find a reputable watch care company. Even if your vintage watch comes with a watch service guarantee, odds are it'll still need a service at some point in time. And that original watch company might not exist anymore, so make sure to find someone that's reputable. Oftentimes, the dealer who sells the watch to you can recommend someone, or they might even have their own watch service program. I know that this is the case with our friends over at Delray. They have a watch service program, so you can buy a vintage watch from them and have it serviced from them. The final tip is to set an overall budget and stick to it. So, you'll want to break down your budget into a few categories. What is the upfront cost, the shipping and customs cost, a service cost, and the cost to get a new strap? Now, this will be different for everyone, but these are some things to consider. You don't want to spend $300 on an Omega Seamaster, get it, the strap is terrible, it doesn't fit you, and all of a sudden you're in $700, $800 when you weren't planning on it. When it comes to vintage watches and a particular model, you'll see really high and really low prices. It's best to stick to something that's in the middle for a happy medium. So, now back to the main question. Here are our summarized thoughts. If you're looking to buy a vintage watch as an investment, no. You'll have to put in countless hours researching, searching, haggling on price, and if you're not an expert, I wouldn't recommend this. The cost of time plus the cost of the watch might not leave you with a whole lot of profit in the long run. Plus, no one knows what the vintage watch market is going to do long term. Many vintage watches will come with a little bit of upfront cost, so just popping it out of the box and putting it on your wrist might not always be the case. If the vintage watch fits your style, yes. If you're a lover of classic style, chances are a vintage watch will be a no-brainer for you. If you care about craftsmanship and the beauty of old things, yes. If you care about sustainability or keeping old things going, vintage watches are perfect for you. Also, it's like wearing a piece of history that had a life before you. Lastly, if you want to find something unique at a great price, then yes, vintage watches are for you. So if you want to find something interesting and different than what's currently on the market, search for a vintage watch. And this fact is only sweeter by the numerous amounts of bargains that you can find out there in the market. So, as always, we're interested to hear from you down in the comments below. What vintage watches do you own? Do you have one that you're saving up for currently? Please let us know. In today's outfit, I'm wearing something pretty casual that I would wear around the GG office this winter. I'm wearing a gray merino wool sweater from L.L. Bean. It's in a commando style, very similar to what James Bond wears. I'm wearing a pair of darkwashed selvedge jeans in the new strongman fit from Bravestar. A pair of my more rugged winter boots in waxy commander from Grant Stone. And a pair of Fort Belvedere socks, which are red in this sort of diamond pattern. These are a prototype of something cool that we're working on. On my wrist is this really cool Piaget skeleton in rose gold. This was sent over by our friends over at Delray Watch. It's not a vintage watch, but this is so darn cool, I had to check out any of the Fort Belvedere products, like a new pair of socks or gloves for the winter, click on the link here. If you're looking for a reputable dealer to buy a vintage watch, I would recommend our friends over at Delray Watch. They sent many of the watches that are in today's video, and you can check them out by using the link in the description below.