New v Vintage – 5 things to consider before making your purchase!

Watch & Bullion

11 January 2017 | 2 min read

When embarking on the adventure of adding a watch to your collection one of the first decisions that you will face is whether to buy a vintage or a modern watch.

Having personally gone down the track of a vintage watch as my first timepiece I would like to share my experience and some things you may want to consider before making your decision!

Availability:

While certain modern models have waiting periods, in general, they are a lot easier to come by than vintage watches. All metropolitan cities have jewelers which carry the current line up of the big names. When it comes to vintage watches, however, you are dependent on the supply. It may take a few weeks or even months before that one watch you’re after pops up again for a reasonable price. So if you consider yourself more the impatient type, then a new watch may be the better choice for you.

Durability:

The durability of a watch includes too many factors to list in this blog. One to consider however in your purchase is that vintage watches are relatively speaking more fragile. This is mainly due to the wear of time, but also because the technology in the days was not as advanced. Careful selection of your watch will limit this factor greatly, but lead a rather active lifestyle than a modern watch may be the better choice for you.

Repairs:

I had to undergo the painful procedure of repairing a vintage watch, and I can tell you it is neither fast nor cheap. The more exotic the watch the more difficult it is to come by the parts required or a watchmaker who has the knowledge to put them together. Every watch can be repaired, but vintage models are just that tad bit trickier to maintain.

Uniqueness:

If you after the x-factor in a watch then this may be a big thing to consider. A modern Submariner or Datejust are, as mentioned earlier, easier to come by, but that also makes them a lot more common. If you want to stand out in the crowd then the immense choice of vintage watches will be right up your alley!

You buy a used good:

New old stock being an exception when you buy a vintage watch it is bound to have some dings and dongs here and there. Where some see character and history in a used watch others feel uncomfortable with the idea of a second-hand luxury item. Here there is no right or wrong choice, but it is a choice nonetheless and something to consider before making your purchase!

Before rounding this off it has to be mentioned that regardless of new or vintage, in both situations the watch dealer you source your dream timepiece from plays a big role. Sometimes paying just a little premium to ensure you receive good service could save you a lot of headache down the road.

We hope this helped you make your choice, and let us know in the comments whether you would consider buying a vintage watch as your first timepiece!