While the purpose of a watch is to keep a track of time, the reasons of wearing a watch don’t end here! You might have heard of vintage watch brands and how some enthusiasts go fanatic about them! While comparing a vintage watch with an expensive wine might not be justifiable for many, the value of a vintage watch just gets better with years. Shelling out on a vintage watch would not break your bank, and we assure you that with this guide! Welcome here, where you are going to get enlightened on how to buy a vintage watch without breaking your bank.
Where to Start from? Knowing where to buy the watch of your dreams is just as important – if not more important – than choosing one of those Japanese watches of your dreams in the first place. The vintage watch market is brimming with fakes, dodgy sellers, and the dreaded watches. There are four primary options when it comes to purchasing vintage: dedicated watch dealers, auction houses, retail stores and the Internet. Each one has its pros and cons.
Reliability A well-made watch is practically a piece of art. Look for a respected, sought-after movement, like the Valjoux 72, so you know your new watch isn’t going to freeze up the minute you strap it round your wrist. A quality movement is both precise and extremely desirable. Also look for the company’s logo on the case, dial, crown and movement for further proof that you’ve got a first-class watch on your hands.
Quality The most impressive vintage watches comprises some awe-striking complications which can only boost the value of your watch. For example, a calendar watch would display date and month as well as also the week’s day, moon phase, and year. The movement is required to be sent only a total of three times each 400 years. This means that it is just once in your entire lifetime.
Pricing If you’re looking for an investment piece, Rolex and Patek Philippe are the go-to brands. Watches from these companies tend to rise in value most. The devil is in the details where investing in vintage watches in concerned. Small changes made between different versions of the same watch can mean the difference between a $5,000 investment and $50,000 investment. Do your research ahead of time and know exactly what you’re looking for.
What to Avoid? Consistency happens to be of paramount importance when it comes to purchasing a vintage watch. An investment-worthy timepiece would be in a unique condition. The decades-old timepiece looks old-fashioned. If your timepiece looks old-school, it is never because someone has taken good care of the watch! Is the case surprisingly smooth? The watch you want will have its original finish, scratches and all, not be polished until all signs of age have been buffed out. Does it match? If not, one or the other has been replaced. Use the serial number to check the watch’s age, and make sure that the movement number corresponds. In case you are searching for a cool vintage timepiece, the mismatched parts are never really important. However, these are the things for you to take care off while purchasing a watch!