What age is vintage

[boring_sandwich]

What are the opinions on a watch becoming vintage. I have read some feel its pre sapphire crystal but surely its more age related.

Here is my sub from 85.

[MonBK]

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=493077

[RHJ]

I read the citated thread, but I didn't find a real definition. For sure a vintage watch must be out of production, but what about the time factor? A car for example is something that becomes older faster than a watch, because its models has a very short life cycle. But also here I cannot find a definition. There is an inflational use of the word in the last ten years and slowly all the semantics disappears..

[rootbeer7]

Opinions seem to vary, but a good guide would be 4 digit models.

[landroverking]

Originally Posted by rootbeer7

opinions seem to vary, but a good guide would be 4 digit models.

x2

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by rootbeer7

Opinions seem to vary, but a good guide would be 4 digit models.

What about 5-digit models from the 1970s?

[ever]

Originally Posted by rootbeer7

Opinions seem to vary, but a good guide would be 4 digit models.

wath about SUB 168000... just lived nine month: 1988 - 1989 (6 digit)

[Vincent65]

Originally Posted by RHJ

I read the citated thread, but I didn't find a real definition. For sure a vintage watch must be out of production, but what about the time factor? A car for example is something that becomes older faster than a watch, because its models has a very short life cycle. But also here I cannot find a definition. There is an inflational use of the word in the last ten years and slowly all the semantics disappears..

That's because there is no 'real definition'.

There must be hundreds of these threads...

[springer]

Originally Posted by Vincent65

That's because there is no 'real definition'.

There must be hundreds of these threads...

Many hundreds..maybe more

[Old Expat Beast]

Seems like for every definition there's an exception. There are dozens of threads on this to read though, ad nauseum.

[boring_sandwich]

I will have a read through all the posts I can find.

[Fleetlord]

"Vintage" is among the most abused and hyped words in watch collecting.

[Vincent65]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

"Vintage" is among the most abused and hyped words in watch collecting.

and elsewhere

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

"Vintage" is among the most abused and hyped words in watch collecting.

[doramas]

Cyclop???

[Cortezthekiller]

I have seen many of these threads as well and it's an interesting topic. I tend to think of my 1983 16753 and 1987 16803 as vintage even if they are 5 digit references. The 16753 Rootbeer is still nipple dial and plexi. However, I like the sunburst dial over the matte 1675/3 and the quickset date doesn't hurt.

For the transitional Sub, the blue sunburst has degraded to a golden lager color, not unlike a serti dial. It does have yellow gold surrounds, but these increase the contrast of the white lume.

Both of these refs have had many new iterations after them, and the Rootbeer GMT is currently out of production entirely. Depending on when the original ref was released, I think you can start talking about "vintage" somewhere after the 20 year mark as long as there is significant differences between the current production model and those before it.

[16610v]

marker without white gold ring and plastic dome is vintage in my book

[RGAmos]

Some say the separation between modern and vintage lies sometime in the 1980's when technology advanced with the introduction of sapphire crystals, quickset date complications, luminous paint, etc. giving us in effect the modern watch as we know it today. Personally, I think anything before 1980 is vintage.