By When you are buying a smartphone, you will want to buy one every iteration or two. In other words, it is something that is part of a scheme of planned obsolescence where its features and parts are already outdated each and every year.
But, watches do not share the same thing. In fact, the older the watch gets, the higher its value becomes. A vintage mechanical watch, for example, may be sold at a cheap $300 back in the day. But, if it still alive 30 years after, you can bet that it will be sold for about 100-200 times more than its original asking price.
Vintage watches, therefore, has increased in popularity in the past decade or so thanks to the internet. With so many resources available today, people are now more aware of horological timepieces and how they appreciate in value over time.
If you are thinking of buying your own vintage watch, read this article first to find out the things that you should know before purchasing one.
Why Vintage?
A lot of people who do not know about the value of vintage watches would argue that buying a newer watch will be so much better as an investment than buying some watches of old.
Sure, you can do that. In fact, it may even last a lot longer than a vintage watch, given the proper care and maintenance. But if you are buying a newer watch, you are going to bet that other people might be wearing it too. You see, what makes vintage watches more appealing is the fact that you not only embrace a part of horological history but you are also wearing something that is so rare that people would almost always look at your timepiece than any others.
Although I do not recommend that you think about vintage watches as investments, recent watch auctions may indicate that there is still some value into these old timepieces than one might think.
This is especially true if you are buying old Rolex Tool Watches such as the submariner or the Explorer.
What You Can Expect
Because vintage watches are old, you should have them serviced every couple of years so that they remain performing in tip-top condition. Aside from that, you should never think of them as more accurate than modern watches like a Quartz, for example, mainly because their watch movement (mostly mechanical in nature) is, by default, not accurate from the get-go.
But, there’s something about these watches that hold so much promise. Wearing one is quite different knowing that you are wearing something that is already a part of history. If anything, you are going to form a special bond with your vintage watch if you ever manage to buy one off of the online auction.
When Buying
Here are the important things to keep in mind:
Learn More About Vintage Watches
The beauty of today’s world is that you have the internet to help you find out more information about vintage watches, so use this resource as much as you can.
Look at the Watch Personally
One of the many things that you have to look for in a vintage watch is how worn out it is. That is part of its allure. If you find that the watch looks shiny and doesn’t have any dents or scratches, you can bet that most of its parts have already been replaced which ultimately diminishes its original value.
Beware of the Frankenstein
You might have heard of the term Frankenwatches before and true to its namesake, it refers to different watches that have its parts mismatched or replaced. To avoid this from happening, check the serial number of the watch to find out if it is original or not and compare it with its original image.
Ask for Proof
If you are going to buy from an online seller, make sure that you look for reviews stating that this seller is legitimate. Aside from that, you also ask for proof like pictures or videos to help you discern if the watch they’re selling is original or not.