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Old 7 December 2014, 05:03 PM   #1
steve.r
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When does a watch become Vintage

Probably asked a hundred times, but when does a watch become a vintage?

I have a GMT Master 16700 i bought in 1990, does that count yet ?
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Old 7 December 2014, 05:05 PM   #2
Comex1665
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steve.r View Post
Probably asked a hundred times, but when does a watch become a vintage?



I have a GMT Master 16700 i bought in 1990, does that count yet ?

Good question !
I guess it has to be at least 20-30 years old or even more, shows a bit patina (not necessarily always though)
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Old 7 December 2014, 05:15 PM   #3
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In Ebay, when you do the search, there are 4 options

Vintage - 1920 to 1970
Vintage - 1971 to 1983
Retro - 1984 to 1999
Modern - 2000 to present
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Old 7 December 2014, 05:31 PM   #4
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I think 30 years plus is a good measure though most will say nothing past a 4 digit serial number
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Old 7 December 2014, 05:40 PM   #5
steve.r
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Thanks for the replies guys
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Old 7 December 2014, 06:25 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steve.r View Post
Probably asked a hundred times, but when does a watch become a vintage?

I have a GMT Master 16700 i bought in 1990, does that count yet ?
More like 100,000 times! Do a search here and see all the many threads about it.
It's very subjective, you'll see.

Most would agree 1990 does not constitute vintage.
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Old 7 December 2014, 11:14 PM   #7
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I was wearing my vintage (1990) watch while driving my vintage (1990) car.

Hell, the internet was around in 1990 and do you call that "vintage".


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Old 7 December 2014, 11:21 PM   #8
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i think its 35 in cars ,,, maybe that would do as a guide.
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Old 7 December 2014, 11:51 PM   #9
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I think 30 years plus is a good measure ....
whoever has a watch from 1989 would probably say 25 years...
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Old 8 December 2014, 12:10 AM   #10
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I was wearing my vintage (1990) watch while driving my vintage (1990) car. Hell, the internet was around in 1990 and do you call that "vintage".
In 1990 the internet was very vintage compared to today. It's all relative. IMO my two Tudor Big Block chronos, now 20 YO, are on the borderline of being vintage. Having an acrylic crystal adds to that credential, I think. My ca. 1969 GMT is definitely vintage.
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Old 8 December 2014, 12:43 AM   #11
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At least a generation after that model has been discontinued... Or when Brooklyn hipsters discover it.
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Old 8 December 2014, 01:10 AM   #12
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If a nice Rolex has the same life span as a human being, then being over 35 years of age is regarded being vintage. :)

Maybe starting a "Vintage humans wearing vintage watches Club".
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Old 8 December 2014, 01:30 AM   #13
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Maybe starting a "Vintage humans wearing vintage watches Club".
...you forgot "Official"
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Old 8 December 2014, 01:35 AM   #14
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Modern Art stopped being modern in the early 70's so who knows... but one thing is certain, if you hang on to it, it will magically transform into a vintage watch at some point. How this actually happens is still one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of our time...
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Old 8 December 2014, 05:28 AM   #15
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If a nice Rolex has the same life span as a human being, then being over 35 years of age is regarded being vintage. :)
Oh dear ... as I'm 20 years older than that, am I antique?
If so I have just got my 'antique' birth year 6538!
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Old 8 December 2014, 05:44 AM   #16
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Antique watches? Now that is a thought, Storky.

And after that, we got the Official Obsolete Watches Club.
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Old 8 December 2014, 06:12 AM   #17
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Plastic crystal IMHO

20140716_112842_resized_1.jpg
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Old 8 December 2014, 06:23 AM   #18
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I think Plastic Crystals is a good place to start calling it vintage. But, my 16710 is no longer made, an its becoming more vintage every day.
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