How to buy a vintage watch like an EXPERT!
Vložit
- čas přidán 16. 12. 2023
- Join our podcast: New episodes every Monday and only $5 per month!
www.buzzsprout.com/2001228/su...
Top tips on how to buy a vintage luxury watch: eBay, Chrono24, watch dealers. - Zábava
This is what a watch discussion should be: educational, informative, honest, nuanced, and three guys giving opinions based on experience! Great work you three.
Regarding Andrew's wind up rant... it's so interesting that I've been to several watch meet ups here in Malaysia but hardly ever seen a Rolex. Collectors will bring their Breguets, GP, Omegas, vintage Seikos, independents, micros... but you'll just see maybe 1 or 2 Rolexes out of 30 watches. It's incredibly refreshing! 😆
Heaven
I really dont understand whats the problem there. I have 2 rolexes both vintage and i love them completely. Why on earth should i feel ashamed of bringing them to a meet up? They make me smile…
@@ericpoupier8613there's no shame! Just that the oddball watches are extra colorful, but of course vintage rolexes are brilliant no denying
@@ericpoupier8613 You should never feel ashamed of your watches (no matter what brand they are, frankly) and you have every reason to be proud of your two Rolexes. But think from a watch journalist’s perspective: when the whole watch industry orbits around a single brand (like it does Rolex), it’s hard not to feel a bit apathetic when 80% of the watches in a room are that brand - a brand you probably see every day anyway. For a guy like Andrew i’m sure a watch meetup is a place to escape the mania around Rolexes, so he’d probably be frustrated when that’s not the case.
Most enthusiasts, even the most cynical, would probably be delighted to see your watches - so don’t be discouraged to show them off or bring them to a meetup!
I get that guys , honestly i do feel also tired about all the guys wearing the same sh… but lets not get jaded. My gmt coke is a rocket and the seadweller from 2006 is a 1000m resistance in a 40mm case. They are glorious watches…
George's best episode by far. Sometimes it''s difficult to forget that GB is in a different watch buying league to the rest of us, but in this episode his passion for all watches and enjoyment of attainable pieces really shone through. More please.
Dear AET,
I've been eagerly awaiting the discussion of this topic for an absolute age. My journey into watches commenced with vintage timepiece collecting, kickstarted by stumbling upon a simple Longines Le Grande Classique at an antiques market in Hong Kong for a mere US$15. That find set me on a path to building a substantial collection on a budget. While the so-called grails in the vintage realm are a tad out of my financial league, I manage to snag worthwhile purchases by diligently researching instead of succumbing to current trends. Oh, and do ensure to scrutinize the dealer and gather knowledge from seasoned collectors, scholars, and even watchmakers who'll dispense fair and sound advice on whether to proceed or not. Cheers!
Absolutely loved this episode. Saved it for my flight back from London!
George’s approach to vintage watches is just perfect!! Such a connoisseur Mr BadForm!!
Thank you for another great video!
Make the vintage discussions a permanent rotation. Absolutely spectacular, naturally valuable conversation.
You always know George is about to make a serious point when he starts with “what I would say to you is….”
Love it!
Great episode, as always.
That's the tell
"The table lifted" just spat my wine across the room 😂 love you guy's ❤
This episode is a perfect example of why I gravitate to this channel (and why I’ve subscribed to the podcast). Honesty, generosity and passion. The knowledge is incredible without arrogance and pretence. Thank you.
I love watching Adrain re arranging the props so they look good on the camera even when its not in frame, just so it looks good at the next cut.
That ADHD / OCD lyf
I’ve just brought an Omega GMT worldtimer and my other half isn’t too pleased as it’s the 4th watch I’ve brought since finding you guys a few months back.
I’ve kinda blamed you guys as I’m weak.
On a lighter note…. Have an awesome Christmas and look forward to seeing what you guys bring next year… Also Mr Bamford I am buying one of your watches next…
What a great episode this was, I learned more from this episode than in the last 30 years of being a watch guy. This was Awesome, please do an episode 2 to this. Thanks guys.
My vintage heart jumped at the sight of the thumbnail 🙌
I totally agree…James Kibble, owner of Kibble Watches is the best dealer I know and have bought from and consigned with complete confidence.
He’s a real professional and a great guy.
Far far too kind. I'm lucky to do what I love, thank you for the support!
One of my favourite episodes so far. Thanks George with your bloody enthusiasm; just made me pull the trigger on a new old stock Herma from 1970. $95,00. Can't go wrong really. Great show guys.
Do you guys realize that you have a soothing tone of voice? Watch content is great, but the calming effect of your videos is greater :D
the Heuer Audi Sport is supercool!
Happy to hear Adrian call BS on “dot over 9” and “cracked dials” in terms of false value! Same with Andrew on vintage box and papers. Impressed to see George present attainable vintage watches, especially Zenith. Of course, they just went up in price. :-) Interesting fact on dial, bezel, and hands aging differently. All in all a practical, informative episode. I think you guys just expanded the vintage watch market. Oh yeah, loved you guys in Teddy’s compilation episode. Happy Holidays!!
So how is a dot over a number going to add value to a watch?
@@duck2h465 The older Speedmasters had a dot over 90 (whoops, not 9) on the tachymeter. The Speedy community anointed them as being more desirable and thus more valuable. Adrian effectively pointed out “the emperor isn’t wearing any clothes” in this regard.
Unfortunately George has just doubled the price of vintage zeniths 🤣
@@user-td9yd2dk2w The colorful, sub $1K Zeniths are now gone on eBay. They were there shortly after this episode dropped.
Having bought my first vintage, King Seiko High Beat 1973, last week I'm watching anxiously that I haven't made a huge mistake 😂. Love the content, keep it up!
KS and GS vintage are stupidly good watches. From experience buy from Japan with a good reputable dealer. Even with 20% import costs you inevitably get a beauty!!! Same with the omegas £5-900 will get you a stupendous watch with a recent service
Could listen to the lads talk watches all day
Just received my Richard aquamax from 1950. Also got a tissot pr516 from 1968 and (shame on me!) 2 vintage rolexes. Love vintage!
Truly appreciate the shout-out, guys. Far too kind. I'm a collector who has been fortunate enough to turn this into my career.
Would be honoured to have you guys in the office for a coffee and get some quirky watches out!
Funnnnnn
Well deserved great dealer, hopefully I’ll purchase many watches. Bought a cool 1970 Zenith!
As soon as I saw the "office" I said out loud while watching "Kibble!" I'm in the states and have never bought a watch from KW (yet) but visit the site every week to check out the new inventory. So many cool pieces.
It's appreciated that you guys give ample time to also show the caseback of these lovely watches--making us like these pieces even more.
And in the same line of thought, it's nice George shares his success but also mentions how there are losses when it comes to vintage.
Hope the xmas meet went well; also looking forward for any coverage here!
I actually started to develop a passion for military watches, the range goes from new ones (I have a Christopher Ward that I actually had on my wrist at the AET Meeet) to a WW2 ATP Moeris. I agree that you have to have different expectations based on the age of the watch, a 80 year old watch that has been on a battlefield will never be without dents (quite the opposite usually) or be without defects. But everytime I see it running (quite accurately) there is a satisfaction that I am not getting with the more modern watches. For me, this is what vintage is all about, the history of the watch, its design but mostly, as George always says, it makes you smile
You guys are great. I just bought my first vintage 2 weeks ago. Omega c-case constellation and it’s running about 8 sec slow per day. There are great watches to be found!
Well done guys, you are back on track! Great discussions on this episode 👍
Great episode as usual. I agree with others, there is definitely more than one episode in the world of vintage watch buying. Thank you, keep safe and have a cracking Crimble.
Loved this episode as a ‘vintage lover’ however after putting up with the eye candy fragility of older subs I have cashed in and bought the 50th anniversary sub which I wear with utter confidence knowing it will truly outlast me even if I make it to 100 years old!!! 😂
Still kept a few older subs but had to sacrifice the old for new to wear with everyday confidence.
Love the content gentlemen! I’m always looking forward to a new episode. Thank you for all that you guys do 👍🏻 those Zeniths and that Breitling were 🔥 btw. Can’t wait for more AFT!
My vintage watch was gifted to me last year on my 40th birthday by my mom, my late grandfather’s Longines that was given to him by my grandmother on the occasion of their engagement, Christmas 1952, engraved with her name, their song, and the date. I got the movement serviced, but kept the dial untouched because it still has ink on it from when he worked in a printing factory for Columbia Records in NJ. I wear it every Sunday to Mass and think of them.
this episode comes from heart its without doubt the best episode i have seen from you since i subscribed to this channel
Great episode of the podcast, amazing to see good value vintage watches. Thank you for sharing.
I've watched most of these AET episodes and liked this more than the rest. Thanks, George, for showing your bargain interests and showing that you buy what YOU like. I loved Adrian's BYOI tip. ...The phrase relating to vintage I like is "fully depreciated".
For a vintage watch win, I got very lucky last month. I was browsing eBay, and stumbled upon a Glycine Vacuum from the early 60s. The photos were all out of focus, but the seller had great feedback. I tossed in a bid at the starting price, and won the watch uncontested for just under $200 USD.
It looks much better than I had expected, and runs wonderfully too. Mine gains about 8 seconds a day, which is nuts for a watch of that age. It’s also a fairly unknown piece, which makes it much cooler to me.
It came with a period box and a receipt from 1964, which while doesn’t increase the value for me, it certainly makes it all that bit cooler.
Wow! Those vintage watches were so refreshing! Another great episode, thanks guys!
If it was 1.2K to have Vacheron Constantin evaluate a watch then, I wouldn’t try to guess what it cost today for them to do the same.
The vintage car analogy- a buddy of mine from the Netherlands has owned some 1970’s 12 cylinder Jaguars since the mid ‘80s. He was a at a filling one foggy night and was looking for the switch for his fog lights. He was getting nowhere fast. There happened to be a fellow filling up the same car at the station and asked him where to find the switch. His reply was not to bother, it doesn’t work anyway.
That’s been his attitude with that car and all his other oddball projects since. He can fabricate and fix things himself, doesn’t sweat the details.
George nailed it! I have one vintage and want more. My vintage was from grandfather belongings. It sat in drawer for 48 years. I put new strap and crystal. Love love! Way to go George.
One thing to consider as an alternative to vintage is that there are many microbrands producing vintage inspired pieces with modern features and more reliability/less servicing nightmares.
Great episode, guys! I'm hunting for the last few month for some cool vintage which won't break a bank and would tick my heart. I do very like the process itself as you don't know what you can expect sometimes.. Thanks, especially George, for giving more insides.
Hands down, best episode to date. Unique takes on a challenging topic. Practical advice mixed with lofty idealism. Constantly rewinding to repeat interesting points made. Well done.
🫡🫡🙌
Fantastic episode. Loved it, guys!
Greet video. One of the better ones you blokes have done. Have a wonderful holiday season!
That was the best wind up ever!!!! Andrew channeling his inner me :))) Excellent episode, wish I'd watched it a few years ago but (thank the gods) I haven't made any giant mistakes (yet) in my vintage adventures...
Great show ... love the information.. thanks guys...
Fantastic episode. Learnt lots!!
First episode in a long time that I can watch all of the way through. Very interesting discussion.
Enjoyed that one, and great to see some different vintage watches.
I love your show guys thank you so much. I learn something every episode. Andrew LOVE that Doxa! Your show introduced me to the brand. It Will be my next watch. Keep up the great work gentlemen!! Thank you!
Hands down gents, this is "THE BEST EPISODE"
As a lover of vintage watches this was a great episode. I own (and regularly wear) my late dad's 1966 Rotary GT with Adolf Schild movement - not a partcularly valuable watch but it means a lot to me. At the age of 4 years old I was with my dad in Singapore City when he bought it. Dad was not a car or racing person, but even at the age of 4 I knew what crossed chequered flags meant and that was the most exciting watch in the window, Thankfully my dad bought it and I covetted it ever since. During a visit to his house just before he passed away, he told me to take it with me. Since then I swapped my lovely but old Ducati Monster 600 for a beautiful ex-RAF 1952 IWC Mk11 and found a couple of other nice vintage pieces. Vintage is more exciting to me than modern, which is probably why my daily is a Black Bay 58 in black/gilt as it gives me the best of both worlds.
Thanks George, you've dropped a ton of good knowledge on us. That military monopusher Chrono is gorgeous. Now I have to ignore the voice in my head saying "BUY VINTAGE!"
The Heuer & that canvas strap are a perfect match. Love it to bits.
Great discussion on what to do, and not do, when looking for vintage watches. Thanks !
I have been on George's vintage voyage of discovery and the thrill of the chase when you're onto something is indescribable, you dont get that with modern watches. It's also more of an illness than George described, mine 'flares up' uncontrollably every so often and ends with me spending g more money than I should on some vintage tissot, or even a vintage digital watch - now vintage digital watches are a whole separate rabbit hole! Great video as usual lads.
When you have a vintage collection - mine are 1960s sports pieces, black, tritium, no date, acrylic, radium, bakelite... - you also have a set of modern pieces for normal, day-to-day, rough treatment, like a modern Aqua Terra or a SuperOcean. Collecting vintage - in my case - is a journey into your own childhood, into memories very dear to you.
I guess part og getting into vintage watches is accepting what they are and what they are not. And having a clear idea what you want. I went looking for a watch made in my birthyear (74) and ended up with a lovely Lanco Diver - pedigree, a bit banged up and rough around the edges, definite 70ies vibe - just like the owner 😅 at a reasonable price of less than 300 USD. Im happy as a fiddle with in my opinion this vintage gem.
I also have a birth year watch (1971 Seiko Pogue) and was lucky enough to come across one on eBay with really bad photos. The watch is in amazing condition and looks perfect after having the crystal replaced. It's a bit of a hype watch, but the poor photos depressed the amount of people bidding.
The three watches pulled out of that drawer… so fricken sick! 👏🏼 need to see more random picks from George.
Burlington Arcade Rolex Store - Christmas Day every day to pick up that grail watch from your birth year. Wait for it to get there & then the watch journey is complete. That vintage grail watch is the end of the line.
When you're a collector of anything, rarity makes for a desire, hence the weird variables of vintage Rolex fetching crazy prices. Unusual patina makes for piece uniques, hence premium prices for tropical dials. But to each their own. Buy the pieces you like, not the ones you think somebody else is going to like.
I have 2 neo vintage Zenith El Primero Chronographs with the 400 series movement. 😊
Vintage is amazing..takes lots of research and bit of luck as well. I recently purchased vintage 6024 rolex, 1951 oversize 36mm model with superoyster crown and lugs drilled on one side. Bought it based just on almost no info or sales I could find online about the model. After some digging it turns out rolex made them all in 1 year, only 1k pieces ever made and God knows how many survived till today. It's now my absolute favorite watch and it's something special when I put it on my wrist.
Bought an Enicar from 1960s for £115. A few years ago in a little vintage shop in Whitby... the best sounding manual wind watch I've ever experienced... the slow beat movement sounds like an old clock.. loud clear ticking. It's beautiful.
The hand winding just feels lovely to operate too.. It's 35mm , around 8mm thick... beautiful golden caramel dial that changes from beige caramel to golden yellow in certain light.
I wear it on special occasions only, and enjoy it just as much a I would a vintage Rolex at 50x the cost.
I agree with George... look for outliers and don't go with the hype. For me, vintage is to be enjoyed at the lower price bracket... less risk, and just pure enjoyment
Please do an episode just on 70’s Omega. For me it the pinnacle of watch design bar none.
This was a really good episode. I don't understand why they pulled the plug on the channel. I like Andrew and Adrian well enough on their own, but the 3 together are an excellent team.
Yes, so many interesting vintage watches. IWC also made some nice automatic ones (colour matched date wheel) with the Pellaton movement inside.
Thanks George!!
2 vintage swatches I got from my mum one which now sports a new band and another which is completely original. As well as a watch I wouldn't call vintage. A 2003 Seiko SNXJ89. Happens to be a birth year watch I got for an excelent deal. It definatly needs a service and a polish would be nice as well but, getting that and wearing it just makes me smile everytime I look at it
Love hearing about George's vintage quests. Happy hunting!
This was one of my favourite episodes ever and I’ve seen them all. I absolutely love vintage but aside from a 1960’s Aureus that I bought at a flea market in my home town (Torreira, Portugal) for 15€, I’ve always been to afraid to get into vintage. I’ve been collecting for about 17 years, more seriously for about 6 years and I’ve had about 40 or 50 watches that have come in and out of my collection. Presently and though I feel that my collection isn’t anything particularly special, I feel it’s special for me and and there is nothing in my collection that I want to change… there is no modern watch that gets my blood boiling. That being said, at this moment I feel that I’m done collecting… except for vintage. One or two vintage pieces is the only direction I feel my collection can go. So this was a particularly interesting episode for me and it got me wanting to explore this path more.
I don’t agree with George about the lack of accuracy of vintage watches. If they have been well maintained and serviced, they are just as accurate. I have a 50 year swiss watch and a 66 year old Longines and they both run at plus -1.5 seconds a day! Age is not an excuse for inaccuracy! Otherwise a fantastic episode guys!
Super Advice from George in this episode....BTW one of your best episodes!
That was a fun ep!
Loved this
Felt like a masterclass from George, someone who’s further evolved in their watch journey and seen more than more people you meet, and certainly way more than me!
Vintage Zeniths were beautiful, not seen those before. My personal favourite was the Heuer Silverstone. I think I now need one on my life. So great video, but possibly an unexpectedly expensive one :-)
Thanks for the awesome content through the year, have a great Xmas / NY
Back at you
Vintage watches is often a cheaper way to get into a modern brands, and i have plenty of friend who got into Breitling that way or Omega. I love how the past of a company can and should influence the present and future.
Question: When does a watch become vintage? I have a Navitimer from 1993 and i am not sure if i can call it "vintage" XD
Thank you for the video! I agree there's a lot of interesting vintage watches out there that can be had for fair prices.
My personal outlook is that this is not something I'd wear as a daily (evenn though I have for one particular watch) and therefore i usually go a bit weirder with it.
Love it, a great topic! Vintage a real nightmare when spending 4/5 figures anything for a few hundred is just fun. Picked up an old Seiko tank for under £100,
just to thank you guys for the great content this year ..happy xmas and a healthy new year
Appreciate ya
Just picked up a vintage heuer 2 tone diver on a jubilee braclet(quartz) 37mm has a great presence on the wrist❤
Great show! Few days ago I found a Mr. Porter's Solar Blue Zenith Bamford at a watch dealer. Nice looking face, great feeling strap (although little short for me). I have been thinking about it....
You gotta love vintage. Its a whole different feeling to the game.
I can vouch for Kibble Watches - I bought a piece from them (actually the exact Fears Archival 1930 rectangular shown at 39:54). It arrived promptly, exactly as described, with a personal note from James KIbble. Excellent service, and I would buy from him again.
What a fantastic session and for want of being an Adrian (boring) it was everything u guys set out to do. Informative, helpful and useful. And extremely great to listen to, as u all had such a good banter going and all had great surprises, which was very apt seeing as its Xmas time...😄⌚
I prefer neo-vintage so 80's and 90's, you get most if not all of the character (Rolex in particular) of vintage but with good robustness and reliability, modern watches are really jewelry (fantastic technical watches) but Rolex is mostly bling and real vintage is a minefield of expensive franken watches. To me a 16610, tritium dial, patina and drilled lugs yet a robust and modern movement is the sweet spot.
Good video. I have a vintage Tavannes tank which I believe is from the 1930's though the movement may have worked on/ updated in the 1950's. I recently had it serviced (broken mainspring) in Glasgow for less than $200. But when I attempted to have it serviced in the US, the guy was going to charge me over $4000. Not sure why it was cheaper in the UK than USA. But vintage watches can certainly be pricey when it comes to maintenance.
I first started on watch forums in 2007. They really started in around 2003 so missed the boat on some real bargains / esp. 70’s omega. It was the Omegamania auction that really kicked it off globally albeit there were several frankins unwittingly listed. I bought an Omega Chronoquartz (albatross) which was a train crash from Brazil. I sent it off to Tony at STS where it was fully referb’d good as new. Problem was the alloy was soft and the brushing so delicate I struggled to wear it. It was at that point that I realised I was not a collector but a hobbyist. Shortly afterwards I sold pretty much all my vintage collection which included some beautiful examples from JP, JLC, IWC, Heuer, Omega, Bucherer etc. to raise a family. Today that collection would be worth a small fortune. I did however hang onto my ‘67 Doxa Sub Pro which is the watch that started it all for me as a 13- year old boy when I read about it in a Clive Cussler novel.
Yooo Guys never been this early , exited for this one because it’s exactly what I was looking for
Would like to see an episode where every viewer submits a photo of the 1 watch they own which they would wear to a get together.... Almost a virtual get together as some really interesting watches would appear.
It is regularly mentioned about watches seen at events and the conversations it leads to
Vintage Seikos can be excellent buys. I own two Seiko 6139 chronos (1972 and 1974 vintage) and my watchmaker and Seiko AD (Hisao Yokota in North Vancouver) is able to source OEM parts and repair them for very little money. Ditto when my 1987 Tag Heuer 2000 needed a new bezel… no problem. This is why I avoid micro brands. I never sell a watch and major brands carry inventory for decades after the watch has been discontinued. Andrew’s point on the availability of quality watchmakers is pertinent, however: Hisao-San is a magician, having been trained and worked at Seiko in the 60s, but he is 74 years old.
Love that DOXA, great choice!
A relevant and insightful episode well done
Ultimately you can get a beautiful cheap watch if you go vintage but with caveats as described by these chaps
Treat them as delicate dress watches and they will be fine some wonderful horology out there.
For me the vintage heuer nicki lauda edition is the balls
Great episode & discussion gents.👏🏼 I’ve got quite a number of vintage watches among my later model collection. The vintage are early 1900’s, through WW1 trench watches, WW2 watches, including a number of German military issued watches. Finally US Vietnam issued watches. Some of the trench watches will definitely need servicing at some point & are only worn very sparingly. Honestly I just love the history behind them & the fact they are still here in 2023.😍🤤 All the best for Christmas & New Year. Stay safe.🇦🇺🍻🥂
Same to you Aussie legend
@@AboutEffingTime 🤪👍🏻
Prop movements! I note the helmet is just behind George's head? Who moved it? Is this a comment on him, or is he trying to get some more free attention for Tug Hammer?
Anyway. Well done. Not so manic. Great content. Keep going on this arch.
Yes guys, the Breitling and the Heuer Silverstone have the same calibre 11 movement that was also in the Monaco. Heuer, Breitling and Hamilton all used it as they all co-developed it alongside Burin and Dubois Depraz.
Ah yes, the consortium that formed to beat Seiko!
Nice! Starting now
awesome doxa!!
Best vintage for me is digital LCD from the 80’s on. Seiko, Citizen and others have some great models of that era in stainless steel bezel that put a lot of modern watches to shame; Seiko A914 series is a great example. A great adult alternative to the Casio F91W
Wonderful episode guys!
Adrian, get yourself a Fortis B42 Cosmonaut Chronograph. Legend has it that a Cosmonaut actually used one as a hammer on an EVA, because his hammer was missing in his kit. I guess that Fortis should be Adrian-Proof too ;-)
I'm listening... 🤔 Ahhh this first point about servicing is why i started learning to service my own watches and the vintage watches I buy are King Seikos, Lord Marvels, Omega, etc things that I'm confident in working on. I mean even a Rolex or Tudor I could be comfortable working on, but not a Patek or Vacheron. There are certain vintage I won't even approach. I try to buy stuff in the $600 to $1500 range and put the work into servicing myself.
I love vintage especially heuer but it's a minefield at times but it's only money and you earned it so enjoy it
George’s comments- once again- are all about wild colors. I would strongly recommend: buy the movement first. In other words: can you get PARTS. Vintage Omega or Rolex pieces typically can be repaired/serviced.