Are Vintage Watches Worth It? 

I own an Omega Seamaster service watch which my uncle was awarded at his retirement in 1961. When my uncle passed away, my father inherited it. When he passed away, I inherited it. I cherish wearing it every day and know that in the future, it will be my son’s turn to own the watch.

I agree love 60’s small cases 34 to 38 best sizes

That Omega Constellation Pie Pan is probably the best reason to buy vintage. It’s absolutely gorgeous yet looks like it was made yesterday. Well bought Teddy!

As a 61 year old man, I remember many of those watches when I was a kid and first got interested in mechanical watches. I love vintage watches and have bought a few in the past.

I’m looking for my first vintage watch. Kinda fallen in love with 50s to early 60s Omega Seamaster. Their is just something about them that sets them apart from watches today... Class.

I bought a vintage omega de ville from the 1970s a week ago. I love it so much, I could never afford a new omega but vintage allowed me to make my dream of owning an omega a reality.

Ultra thin quartz watches from the 70s are great. Omega, Cartier and others offer some terrific bargains from that era. I have old and new watches but my two favourites are the oldest and cheapest: a thin squarish Seamaster quartz on a Jubilee bracelet, and a Seiko Bellmatic (a mechanical watch with a friggin alarm complication!).

My aunt and uncle both always wore a Omega geneve dynamic. It was gorgeous, I always admired it, I loved the unique shape of it. MANY years later, I seen a Omega geneve dynamic in a jewellers windows. It was a 1976 model, on bracelet, with (bruised)box, no manual, with only one service paper. I took the plunge and I have never looked back. I wear it with pride on days out with family knowing everyone else I pass is wearing a lump of soon to be obsolete plastic, whilst the watch on my wrist is 40+ years old and can easily go round for round with anyone I meet. That's the difference with vintage. The minute you find the one that makes you go, WOW! That's it.

I do not have anything against vintage watches, but I like the idea that the new watch I wear will someday be the vintage watch of my grandchildren. That you are the one eventually making it a vintage watch.

I got pulled into the market because of the sizing. The modern watch industry is finally offering small watches again but vintage watches provide such a better price point. Also the first watch I fell in love with was a vintage watch, a 60s JLC Memovox. But vintage watches aren't for everyone. Two topics not discussed are parts availability and build quality. I've taken off my vintage 60s diver and shoved in my pocket during a rainstorm. And for good reason.

Vintage watches are my most favorite types ever because of their style.

My rules for buying vintage ( used ) watches: 1. NEVER buy a used watch online UNLESS you can clearly see the movement. ( If the seller is too lazy to open the watch case and photo the movement, they are too lazy to sell you a good watch. ) This goes double for watches from India! 2. ALWAYS do your research. You should have a current copy of the "Complete Price Guide to Watches ". The internet is replete with good information concerning watch brands. Do not believe everything you read. 3. DO NOT buy vintage unless you are willing to spend more money on servicing the watch; expect the vintage watch to need it! Buy the proper tools, oils, and take the time to learn how to PROPERLY disassemble, clean, demagnetize, lube, regulate, and reassemble your watch. You will find, like I did, that it is rewarding! ( If you do not have what it takes, you will need money to have someone else do it!) I recommend learning on fairly cheap pocket watches; as they are larger. If the seller claims the vintage watch has been serviced, ask where and by whom. 4. LEARN how a watch actually works; get to know the names of all the parts and what they do. Your watch ignorance will, most assuredly, cost you money! 5. KNOW what to expect from certain brands and certain models. A German made Helbros will most likely have a P.U.W. movement installed. ( If you find a FHF 96 movement, something is not right. ) A Rolex Daytona can have a Rolex or ZENITH movement! ( If you find an Adolph Schild chronograph, you have a problem! ) 6. NEVER trust Archie Luxury unless he's smiling!

I have inherited my dad's Omega Deville Seamaster 1967. It was in a state of disuse for over a decade, and it was only last month that I decided to get it repaired. Well, I have got it back last week, and it's been on my wrist ever since. And the crazy thing is I keep looking at it quite often, it's cloudburst beauty, simplicity and elegance are what keeps me fascinated.

I love my vintage 14k gold Omega mechanical watch.

Love my 60’s Omega Seamaster. Definitely agree with you 100% about value for money and not being able to afford new luxury pieces!

Vintage watches are fantastic to add to a watch collection consisting of newer watches. I have two favorites of great sentimental value, a 1965 Tudor Submariner 7928 and my father’s 60’s Omega 565 caliber Deville. A vintage watch I’m restoring currently is a 1967 Girard Perregaux 32a caliber 39 jewel Gyromatic Chronometer which only 667 were made in Chronometer version. An example of an excellent way to afford an excellent timepiece is this watch as they can be found at low cost, serviced and on your wrist for a few hundred dollars for a movement that is as good as any made in the 60’s. New modern watches are beautiful and with great technology, although not everyone can afford them. Great video Teddy!

The holy grail decades in watches are the 50’s and 60’s my favourites are Zenith’s, Cyma’s and Certina’s 😉

Christian from Theo & Harris mentioned sizing and Mohammed Ali with the same picture. I love that you also support Christian achieve his dream Teddy! Also, I love the 30-32mm size for my small wrists and vintage watches have a lot of great options in that size.

I love my vintage watches and I've been recently adding to my collection of vintage watches , and yes before I make a purchase I Always look at the movement and look for the serial number , than I take the particular brand of watch and search for a decoder to make 100% sure that the watch is authentic , these days you can never be too careful there is a bunch of fakes out there you have to be smart and not afraid to ask questions especially if you are going to spend a lot of money , do your research I stick with the brands that I know and trust , Omegas , Longines , Le Coultre, Mido, are my favorites vintage brands they are well respected in the watch industry Best regards and God bless

I have over 100 vintage mechanical watches mostly Swiss and American from 1860's till present. I have been enjoying videos where they are working on a watch like I have, fun!

It’s a calculated risk! I love vintage, Ive cried both for joy and in regret, but I still love them.

I really like watches from the 70's, which I completely restore myself. My favorite brands from that era are rado and Seiko.

Watches 46mm and above are too large (he says) No! Watches 41mm and above are too large.

Getting into vintages has been great for me. Even those that are not of famous brands but I do enjoy how they age like bourbons and whiskeys. Although at the same time my friends around me don't really support the idea or not fond of them, I do love them myself still.

I just bought myself the Hamilton Khaki 38 mm, and I love it. A week later I walked by the shop it came from and there was the same Murph in the window display. I still love the watch because of the movie and overall how good it looks, but most of the time owning a vintage watch is a one of a kind experience. You can't find those rolling out from the factories like modern pieces do. It spent decades to find itself on your wrist and be appriciated for it's damages, and history.

Totally in to vintage, own about 20, wouldn’t be able to afford to have this many if they weren’t vintage, thanks Teddy!

Very well done Teddy, Very professional, I myself have several vintage Watches including a Seiko 6139 I have owned for Forty Years,

I found a vintage omega in a thrift store watch grab bag :)

vintage is awesome...just thinking about all the hopes and dreams and meetings a 80 year old watch has is badass

It's because of your videos that I've rediscovered my love for wrist watches. Thank you for that. I'm not well off enough for big dollar watches, but I do love what I have. Your videos are really educational and well edited. I'll be watching for as long as you make them.

I'm obsessed with vintage watches. I think all collectors have their brands. I personally collect Eterna Matic, Vulcain, Elgin, Gruen Curvex/ veri-thin, Hamilton and obscure short lived swiss brands in Automatic. Time only watches are now my favorite because I have found that when a watch face is uncomplicated, the number markers, movement and hands are the icing on the cake when they are well done.

Vintage needs knowledge! You have to research about the brands history - their movements and styles. This is for me the most interesting part in this hobby. I discovered for me a forgotten but very important German brand - Bifora. The first German inhouse movement 1928 - the first German automatic movement 1951 a Chronometer certified watch in the 1960 = 120Unima. So lots of things to discover for still very affordable prices...

I have a Bulova automatic from 1946 . It runs and looks great . I wear it all the time . Classic .

I like your videos. I have several vintage watches - as usual, my father was the pathfinder and collector and I followed enthusiastically - although for watches, I really did not get interested until a few years ago (at 91 he is still excited about them). In fact, I did not realize that the LeJour panda chronometer/7733 he gave me when I was commissioned as an Army officer in 1982 had anything special about it until I was dumb enough to break it a couple of years ago (I have a feeling fixing it will cost me). I have two Universal Geneve hand winds he gave me; one was a gift to him from his mother in 1943 - apparently an expensive watch for the day. I also have a Lord Elgin gold-filled tank from the 30s, a small art deco Waltham (a lady's watch I think); and an Elgin Deluxe sport watch from around 1950. The older ones are small by today's standards but those UG's at about 30mm are what our troops wore in WWII. The high cost of service and repair has always been the deterrent for me - I was lucky to find an older gentleman who had a watch repair business near me but he finally grew very old and had to retire; sadly he recently passed.

I like vintage watches. I'm the guy who when watching a movie set in the 1950s or 60s will freeze frame when an interesting watch worn by one of the characters comes into view. I then go close to the TV screen to try and make out the watch brand.

Another pro of vintage watches is that they are usually lighter. Not only did watches get bigger diameters over the years the materials they use such as the quartz crystals got denser.

I agree with all your points. Some other cons is that you of course shouldn't take vintage watches into water, that if you're a lume freak you can't expect vintage watches to glow and that if you're gonna do some hard work it's best to leave a vintage piece off the wrist - but these may not necessarily be cons as long as you know what you're getting yourself into. Radium dials can of course be a major hassle - I'm personally very vary of those and that would be a dealbreaker for me. I love vintage watches and their sense of history and character is intoxicating - some vintage grails of mine would be a Doxa Sub, 116710 Coke GMT Master, and some kind of Heuer Autavia... there's too many to choose from and dream about!

Love vintage watches and regret having sold or traded in several over the years...

No clue exactly when it was made but no piece in my collection will ever be more special to me than the one i inherited from my grandad that i am named after. He got it for 25 years at a company back in 1965 meaning the watch is from between 1962 and 1965 due to the certina logo being the one they adopted in 1962 and still use today. Its a manual wind small little gold dress style watch with his name and therefor my name engraved into the caseback. It might not be the most expensive piece. Not the most recognizable or flashy, but it ties my to my grandfather and in a way lets me meet him, eventhough he left this earth before i was even born. Not to mention its kinda cool to have a watch that is as clean and functioning as it is when it is 35 years older then me. Which is more than 2.5x my age. And that is assuming it was made in 1965 not just presented to him in 65

Love vintage watches. Inherited a Longines and a Wittenaur. Recently bought a 1950s Kirovskie crab watch from Russia. Also bought a Stirmanakie Poljot watch from the 1950s. These Russian watches are so Robust they are still running decades later. But I also bought a retro Sturmanskie Raketa military watch.

You should primarily focus on making these watch videos. They’re your best content

I bought some vintage watches in the past... returned most, sold back the remaining few... but I am receiving another vintage watch tomorrow evening haha. vintage watches are amazing and filled with rich history.

Most of my watches are vintage, and antique. There is a watch for every occasion, and I love the history

Nice video again Teddy, I like your style, common sense combined with passion of watches, keep up cool ways! I have four vintage watches: manual winding Citizen Parawater, quartz Omega Constellation, Rado Electrosonic and Seiko 7005-2000A. They are all really special to me and really something else compared to new watches. They have that unique heart and soul!

Franken vintage watches are pretty cool; I have two of them and they work just fine, had them for many years.

I see the 60s as the most popular decade when it comes to vintage also it's my favorite the way they look!

Vintage watches are cool. So much history and story.

I have the orient from late 70s early 80 still runs have it service and of course like every piece of jewelry needs maintenance once in a while still runs fine .

I have three vintage pocket watches from Elgin ones from 1898,1922,1926 and I love them

Fairly well on in my life I've discovered vintage watches; it's been an adventure. On (semi) retirement I decided a nice watch would be a pleasant way to celebrate. I looked, I disliked - and for one of the reasons you gave, size. I realised very quickly that my old cheap watches, my father's watch, my grandfather's, and so on, were all 'vintage' sized and knew I wanted a good example like that one too. And so I plunged into a new and confusing world. After a little under a year I have unearthed a lovely little dome dial, egg shell finish Constellation and from the year before my birth year. Alongside arcane discussion on various forums, you played your part in piquant my curiosity. So, thank you so much, Ted!

So many beautiful pieces.

After watching a video about all the b.s with vintage watches. I didnt want any watch. Now I'm back liking them again.

I 150% love vintage watches. My watch collection is currently just over 200. I love vintage Rado watches. Not the most expensive brand out there, but they are Swiss made, with Swiss parts, not cheap imported parts, and there is so many models to collect. That's what I love about Rado's. I currently have 39 Rado's, almost a dozen his & hers Omega's and 5 Tudors too. You are right, to buy them at retail, there is no way I could afford them. And my prize watch, is a Hublot Big Bang. It was not working when I bought it, the person selling it was a son selling off his dads old collectibles, including several watches. He did not know anything about it. But the price was reasonable, so I took the chance. It wasn't a huge amount of money, but enough that, if I sent it for repair to Hublot, and it turned out to be a fake, I'd not get it back. Luckily it was authentic & for a couple hundred more, the watch was sent back looking brand new!!! Vintage watches are definitely an excellent investment! Great video too Teddy!!! CHEERS!

I own only 1 vintage watch. It is an Omega Automatic gold plated that was presented to my Dad in 1973 for 25 years of service. I have the original box and documentation. This watch sat in the box for decades. I recently took it out and it still works. 48 years old and it still functions. I wore it for 2 days and it kept perfect time. Next step is to have it serviced. Not certain where to take it or send it if need be.

Vintage watches are a big gamble which often goes expensively wrong.

I'm a proud owner of a 1920's dual signature Tudor by Rolex Cal. 59 and a 30's Omega T17. Both are unique and owning an 80- & 90-year-old watch is amazing.

Lotta of beautiful old watches with small case and dials out there! Like the video!

My favorite is a tv dial Raketa Baker. So 1978. The era when mechanical watches tried to look like digital watches.

I bought my first vintage watch recently, a King Seiko and love everything about it. The look, the size (I have a pretty small wrist), the story behind. It's also pretty accurate at -3sec/day. I'm already hunting for the next one. Really can't see me buying some recent watches with so less value.

I agree about finding a trusted source to purchase from... as you say, a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing :-)

My vintages don't need constant servicing if you keep on rotating watches and if you don't wear them while doing any hard activity. Also hand wound movements are far more robust than automatics since they use less parts.

I love vintage watches. I just purchased a 14Kt Gold Men's Hamilton Model 637 to add to my collection.

Most of us won't be buying a Patek or JLC. Could you provide a little more detail on finding service for more common three-hand watches from, say, Omega, Eterna, Certa, etc?

Vintage has always got an attention it's craftsmanship it's elegance the efforts from each brands everyone loves the story of Zenith el premiero the famous attik where Charles Vermont hides the entire technology during hard times and later the boom. These days have so many mobile phone supported watches in the market but vintage has its own business. However the mechanical knowledge personals are hard to find..

I agree with others on the Connstellation, Teddy...timeless and just perfect in every respect. I personally own everything from about 5 Seiko's, a number of Wyler Incaflex-Dynawind, Rolex Submariner, just sold a nice Omega Seamaster-Bumper (1951), Vacheron-Constantine. But my everyday watches vary from quartz to even a recently purchased watch from China with a Seiko-clone automatic movement, which incidentally keep excellent time. It's a STEELDIVE GMT, a well executed copy of the Rolex Explorer ll GMT and in my opinion looks even better. There are some excellent "cheap" $100 watches starting to emerge with good automatic movements from China.

I found a vintage watch I like in Poland. It was restored and serviced with a 1 year warranty. I think I'm pulling the trigger on it. There is one of these in Italy but it cost about $100 more in excellent original condition but I'd rather let a collector or someone who cares more to have it. I'm still new to watch collecting and as a 19 year I'm happy with a restored watch and don't fear messing up an original not restored watch, I also save $100. Of course I'll try my best to care for the watch.

I bought a vintage ‘60s Patek on EBay and paid to have it authenticated and appraised. Totally worth it.

Huge fan of vintage watches. I currently collect early Seamasters, Bumpers, and others. Taotl vintage Omega Junkie.

I love vintage even when they don't work ( not that I'd wear one that doesn't work), it's all about the look.

I collect vintage Chinese mechanical watches and vintage Soviet mechanical watches. Maximum price paid is £30 unless its rare like my Kirovskie watch made in 1939 at the 1st Moscow watch factory. I paid £70 for that. The toughest and most reliable are Sea-gull 1980s watches with the beautifully decorated St5 movements. The same applies to the 1980s Raketa/Seconda watches with the tough and accurate 2609ha movements. I have a watchmender who is impressed by the 2609ha and the St5 movements and as I have lots we always have spare parts. I just bought a Junghans handwinder military for £30 and had it fixed for £20. It's only 33mm in size like my Omega 1954 gold watch that I inherited. Too small. The Sea-gulls and the Raketas are mostly 36mm and 37mm which is perfect for me. I love researching and passing my knowledge on to others. These vintage videos are the most interesting ones you make.

I just bought a doxa jumbo - timeless design, the classic dress watch. swiss made - for peanuts. I also bought a few 70s tv dial watches - for less than usd 100. Crazy prices for really stylish watches.

I love them. The style on most are very clean.

Vintage watches can be very rewarding if you know what Ur doing. Craftsmanship and prestige of luxury watches at a relatively lower price

Vintage is great, and the hunt for them also. Interesting pieces can still be found at interesting prices.

thank you for a great video... vintage watches is a really interesting hobby due to the new aged i-watches and stuff like this... i really beleive that owning a vintage watch makes you a better person :P

Love my 1962 OMEGA seamaster. Rock it with such pride. I see these huge Brietling Bentley or Paniera, ect, on a daily basis but I love my vintage 60 year old Omega. B/t/w it's on a Hirsh twist o flex. LoL 😆

I just bought a omega Geneva made in 1973 for£310 on eBay .it was purchased for £51 by the first owner in Oldham ,it's gold plated and automatic.

No 1 piece of advise. Agreed. Unless you are an expert buy from a watchmaker/dealer. I learned this lesson after my first 3 frankenwatches on eBay. Second thing that hasn't been mentioned. Vintage watches need care all the time. They will probably not be waterproof so thinking what you'll put on, what you'll be doing and what the weather will be like before you go out is a good idea. That was the prime reason I bought a new watch, a Duckworth. Looks a little vintage but you can do anything with it.

Vintage watches are the green way to go. Hand wound low beat movements last and last. Lots of watches have hardly been worn. People used quartz watches instead and just put them in a drawer. 36mm is my favourite size. I have a 33mm Omega which is great for my lady friends to wear.

I love vintage watches.. I do hope one day I could own one of these

Vintage rolex bubble backs are awesome.and of course that omega constellation that yoh have.good for you for having it

Love my 33mm 1953 Lecoultre Automatic.

the true legacy of a watch brands who became what it is nowdays is the heritage of the vintage watches

I have a dozen Omegas, all but the Speedmaster Professional from the 1950s or 1960s. One of them is a Seamaster that my grandfather got in 1952, complete with original box and receipt. I absolutely love them and wear them the majority of the time. I completely agree with you about the size of modern watches. The vintage 34-38mm size range is far more comfortable on my 7 1/4 inch wrist.

Love elegant vintage watches. There is no comparison

I love them. And you’re right. They’re not for everyone

I agree with you on the size. I am a 6'2" giant and build like a football player and I still think those mammoth watches look rediculous on people. My watches are all either dress or vintage for that reason.

My wrist is on the large side for most vintage, but to your Ali comment, with the right outfit and the right occasion I think a smaller watch can be classic and classy. My current two favorites with lots of wrist time are my Fortis True Line and Longines Cosmo. Cheers Teddy, always great content!

I just gave my wife a 1927 Bulova (solid 14k) USA made watch. Put it on a genuine croc blue deployant strap. Dial is in great shape (original). Had the watch serviced, keeping great time. For a dress watch, I wear an Omega 14k Constellation pie pan 1954. Bought both of these a yard sales for super cheap as part of a lot of supposed junk watches.

I love the vintage look. Despite the bits of rust, scratches and smudges the character is what makes it interesting. It's a funny thing though. Some vintage watches look like they should be chucked in the spare parts bin and others look better for it. I suppose it's all down to personal taste.

Buying vintage watches for me is buying a work of art!

Hello Teddy your new subscriber here,,,,,im same fan of midsize watch ...i used to staring at them, most of the time and well im enjoying myself , very simple watches i have but for me its just full of wisdom go with my watches ,,,,im here present Sep2020

Vintage watches are dangerousssss for me, as someone who’s spent way too much money on vintage audio equipment, I’ve fallen in love with buying vintage things and it’s exciting but also terrifying for me to get into vintage watches

There are plenty of Swiss made Swiss movement watches that are not high end brands like Omega and Rolex. These watches can be picked up on ebay for between £20-£50 Rotary, Excalibur, Election, Jean Perret, Everite, Helvetia etc

8 1/4” wrist love my 36mm seamaster. I love my 44mm Bulova but Bulova offered a smaller size I would have got that one.

I love them. Everything about them. Apart from the servicing costs. That’s the only thing that puts me off buying a lovely vintage timepiece. Kind of like vintage cars I suppose. Great content btw!:)

I just bought two vintage seikos from a dude selling them on his IG page, he also has a online shop, to be fair... Paid 350€ and I LOOOOOVE them. One of them is that "seiko natulis" bicolor, the other one is a square dial gold plated old man's watch, can't stop to wear them....

There are those sellers of vintage watches from India. They say either unbranded or refer to a specific, ie Seiko. The #'s are 95% and above and I bought the vintage (mechanical/automatic) watches, eyes open. Then again, they have been $20

Great video Teddy! Vintage watches is full of charm and we Love to offer them to our customers

I do love vintage watches and have a few in my collection. Of course, as a Tissot fan, I have a couple of those, a Seastar Seven from the 60's and a Seastar quartz from the 70's. But also more obscure pieces like an Exita Sport from the 50's and a Vobis from the 40's. Even if I don't know the story of that particular piece I know it's there, and that in itself is cool to me