Defining Vintage

[Dr.Smellody]

For the longest time, the 80's was beginning to feel like a lost decade. President Reagan, ALF, the A Team, and the last of the generation X's and beginning of the Y's. As children from the 80's are entering their 30's and actively participating in fora like this, when do we expand our vintage definition or create a new definition for those watches that are neither modern or vintage?

Acrylic crystals and lug holes are just two of the charming attributes of vintage watches. Few will disagree that the 5513 made through the late 80's is a solid vintage, but at what point did the 16800 with sapphire crystal and uni directional bezel become vintage? Is this because of the early dials?

Enough debate, at some point in time that which is old becomes cool, vintage, and ready to be discussed. I'd love to hear some thoughts of when will the 14060, 16610, Hydronaut, and other models with sapphire crystals, lug holes, and no ceramic will receive their own definition or simply be included as vintage. .

These models are often more relatively affordable and daily on several of our own wrists. Better yet, let's see some of these soon to be classics. I'll get this started:

[JohnBaker3]

I like the rule of thumb " 30 years old (or older) and out of production" makes a watch vintage....

So, 1984, just made the cut !

[sishac]

In the US car world, 25 years is an antique....I personally believe that the lug holes and plastic crystal are a must (except for a 5517!), but as long as you like it, who cares if it is considers vintage or not?


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[RC2]

Here is a blast from the mid 80s. Plastic crystal too!



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[Dr.Smellody]

Not sure if this is where I am going. But I do believe the Swatch was an important offering and likely deserves its own forum somewhere. But now, I am interested in Rolex. I agree like what you like, but it feels there is emphasis on all that is brand new or all that is vintage. . . maybe others don't.

Originally Posted by RC2

Here is a blast from the mid 80s. Plastic crystal too!



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[Old Expat Beast]

I was pleasantly surprised by the results of this poll, in which at this moment more than 85% of people say my 1977 Oysterquartz, with sapphire crystal, is vintage.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=343546

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by sishac

In the US car world, 25 years is an antique....I personally believe that the lug holes and plastic crystal are a must (except for a 5517!), but as long as you like it, who cares if it is considers vintage or not?


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I would like to add my matt dial Sea Dweller 16660. Even though it has a saphire crystal, it is over 30 years old.

[Vincent65]

There's no concrete definition, and it's very subjective.
What is 'vintage' to some will be 'modern' to others. Some may consider something 25-30 years old as vintage, while others disregard anything 'younger' than 60 or 70 years as 'quite new.'

Some use dates and number of years, others define by materials and design.
I think some of the ones to which you allude are often referred to as the 'transitional' models, with matte dials and sapphire crystals.

[Suprageex]

Originally Posted by Vincent65

There's no concrete definition, and it's very subjective.
What is 'vintage' to some will be 'modern' to others. Some may consider something 25-30 years old as vintage, while others disregard anything 'younger' than 60 or 70 years as 'quite new.'

Some use dates and number of years, others define by materials and design.
I think some of the ones to which you allude are often referred to as the 'transitional' models, with matte dials and sapphire crystals.

haha don't know why but this reminded me of that awesome quote by R. Carver:

"The curmudgeons believe anything newer than 1930 is newfangled and useless. The sports crowd believes Rolex began in 1953 and ended in 1978. The gold boys just like anything shiny. The Tudor crowd feels disrespected and the mil watch crowd won't talk to the Comex crowd. The Daytona crowd won't talk to anybody and none of us talk to Cellini owners." (Richard Carver)

[Vincent65]

funny quote from RC!

[akira23]

Originally Posted by Suprageex

haha don't know why but this reminded me of that awesome quote by R. Carver:

"The curmudgeons believe anything newer than 1930 is newfangled and useless. The sports crowd believes Rolex began in 1953 and ended in 1978. The gold boys just like anything shiny. The Tudor crowd feels disrespected and the mil watch crowd won't talk to the Comex crowd. The Daytona crowd won't talk to anybody and none of us talk to Cellini owners." (Richard Carver)

Nice!

[landroverking]

Four model. numbers for me.

[jban5]

I would think that the birth of the title vintage would come when a particular model or variation of model is not being manufactured any longer regardless of age.

If Rolex had made the 5513 from the beginning until present day with absolutely no changes, everything exactly the same except the serial number, would there be any difference from mine which was made in 67 and the persons that was purchased downtown at the AD last week?

[Beelzy]

Originally Posted by Suprageex

haha don't know why but this reminded me of that awesome quote by R. Carver:

"The curmudgeons believe anything newer than 1930 is newfangled and useless. The sports crowd believes Rolex began in 1953 and ended in 1978. The gold boys just like anything shiny. The Tudor crowd feels disrespected and the mil watch crowd won't talk to the Comex crowd. The Daytona crowd won't talk to anybody and none of us talk to Cellini owners." (Richard Carver)

This made me laugh, really hard!....so true.

[g-boac]

I think over time, you'll see Subs fall into various vintage "families":

-acrylic crystal
-metal bezel
-ceramic bezel

Within each family, you'll have some subgroups: lug holes or not; tritium or luminova; matte dial acrylic; meters first; gilt dial; and crown guards.

[autofiend]

Eventually, the current Rolex line up will be 30 years old and no longer in production. At that time, the newest of the plexi models will be pushing 60 and will be plain antiques. The collectors who favor them will also not be the majority in the enthusiast community as many will have passed on. The definition of "vintage" is forever changing. Point is, buy what you like and forget the definitions. Just MHO.

[kam1]

Originally Posted by RC2

Here is a blast from the mid 80s. Plastic crystal too!



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Coming up on my 30th high school reunion, and I had that very same watch! Great pic, thanks!


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[G Francis]

Is 5 digit, sapphire crystal, tritium dials from the late 80's to 1999. A lot of readers here wouldn't describe a 25 year old Rolex as vintage. If it was a car or a guitar maybe they would. I buy it because that was the stuff that I wanted when I got into " modern" Rolex at the time.
A like everything else that was relatively "uncool" at some point wil become sought after then uncool then sought after....

[SMD]

Originally Posted by RC2

Here is a blast from the mid 80s. Plastic crystal too!



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Had the same watch in the fourth grade!