At what point is a piece considered “vintage”?

[baumare]

For me to the 16753 with the acrylic glass is what trow me off going from 4 to 5 digits

[brandrea]

Everyone will come up with a definition that suits their own belief, (especially if they happen to be selling).

To me, 4 digit “feel” vintage, while 5 digit fall somewhere in between vintage and modern ... perhaps “vindern”.

[77T]

An organic view might be “never” if the reference is unchanged and still in production.

For example, if the 2021 DJ goes unchanged for 50 years - no new movement, no new components, bracelet or complications - it would never be “vintage” - just old in 2071.


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[watchmavan]

Originally Posted by Kingface66

Fair enough. But show me evidence of a consensus that a watch from 2001 (20 years ago) is regarded as “vintage”

So in your first post you told someone to go and look in the forums for verification of what vintage is. Ive done that many times over the years as the lack of uniformity is something that annoys me slightly. So I'd say you take your own advice rather than me doing it again for you. Wanting me to provide it for you digests you haven't done it yourself prior to your offsetting of advice, so I will say that there isn't a consensus at this point. There are general views that support 20+ years and those that day 50. There are also many listing supporting the other points I issued.

Personally, I own watches from the 60's through to modern day pieces so this has always been of interest to me. But without consensus, it will also remain my opinion. It is however an opinion shared by many others and documented in the forums, Facebook user groups and the broader internet. I would also say that 20 years on its own is not enough for me though. It would also need to be a discontinued model and have features that are no longer available in current models. My Explorer II fits these criteria on all these and as 2020 I began referring to it as neo-vintage. I'll probably change that to vintage if Rolex bring out another new Explorer this year.


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[watchmavan]

Originally Posted by Nickn

Acrylic = vintage in my opinion

Current day Speedy Hesalite!


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[ciceroyeah]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Everyone will come up with a definition that suits their own belief, (especially if they happen to be selling).

To me, 4 digit “feel” vintage, while 5 digit fall somewhere in between vintage and modern ... perhaps “vindern”.

"Neo-vintage" is the term that's catching on for the early fives with tritium dials and some of the transitional models in the early 80s like the 16800. The late fives with never-aging lume and an altogether modern feel are not (yet) considered vintage, however, I suspect in a decade or two when the next big submariner iteration arrives, neo-vintage will come to encompass all 5-digit models.

[ciceroyeah]

Originally Posted by watchmavan

Current day Speedy Hesalite!


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I think it's more brand-specific. Each brand made incremental improvements at different times. AP and Patek, for example, were using sapphire long before Rolex started to, while brands like Tudor, Omega and others have contemporary throwback models that harken back to earlier technological limits and specifications and do not represent their cutting edge anymore.

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by watchmavan

So in your first post you told someone to go and look in the forums for verification of what vintage is. Ive done that many times over the years as the lack of uniformity is something that annoys me slightly. So I'd say you take your own advice rather than me doing it again for you. Wanting me to provide it for you digests you haven't done it yourself prior to your offsetting of advice, so I will say that there isn't a consensus at this point. There are general views that support 20+ years and those that day 50. There are also many listing supporting the other points I issued.

Personally, I own watches from the 60's through to modern day pieces so this has always been of interest to me. But without consensus, it will also remain my opinion. It is however an opinion shared by many others and documented in the forums, Facebook user groups and the broader internet. I would also say that 20 years on its own is not enough for me though. It would also need to be a discontinued model and have features that are no longer available in current models. My Explorer II fits these criteria on all these and as 2020 I began referring to it as neo-vintage. I'll probably change that to vintage if Rolex bring out another new Explorer this year.


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Fair enough.

[springer]

Originally Posted by watchmavan

Yes, both here on the forums and on the broader internet. And you'll find many references to 20 years, discontinued models, 5 digit Rolex references etc. Your opinion is different, not necessarily right.


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I would disagree with your analysis on what is vintage. Being on the internet is not synonymous with being accurate or correct.

A 20-year-old discontinued model would be considered a classic but not within the parameters of vintage. If you view some previous threads here on TRF concerning the vintage question, there are some good perspectives in many of the responses on what is vintage.

And, a question for the OP, what difference does it make if a watch is called vintage? Nothing magical or mystical happens to a watch because it is considered or called vintage. The only thing mystical about vintage is the desire to call one's watch vintage.

jP

[springer]

Originally Posted by harry in montreal

JP, that looks like an Indian Larry bike!

I’m turning 48 in a couple of days, and I consider myself vintage. I keep poor time, I have a lot of stretch, and my face has plexi.

It was built by Jeff McCann, a very well known chopper builder from Oakland who happened to be a personal friend and painter for Arlen Ness. He passed away about five years ago.

[watchmavan]

Yes. I can see your view, but like mine and everyone else's, it's just your opinion. As I said, there is no consensus it appears on this and the internet via user groups does lend itself to the most accurate views of users, as you've used to express your own view. This is an area so devoid of consensus that I would challenge anyone to present a correct view. I've been after one for 15 years.


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[68shark]

Originally Posted by Nickn

For some reason I finished at 1976
Then I bought a 1979 16753 so my cut off date is now 79
No logic

I had one also and as it's plexi, seems to be a good fit as vintage. I fall in the "sapphire is not vintage crowd" but of course as the early sapphire watches get close to 50 years old, it will be time to revise my thinking! Maybe the determination should be "when RSC refuses to service them".

[watchmavan]

Originally Posted by springer

It was built by Jeff McCann, a very well known chopper builder from Oakland who happened to be a personal friend and painter for Arlen Ness. He passed away about five years ago.

Yes. I can see your view, but like mine and everyone else's, it's just your opinion. As I said, there is no consensus it appears on this and the internet via user groups does lend itself to the most accurate views of users, as you've used to express your own view. This is an area so devoid of consensus that I would challenge anyone to present a correct view. I've been after one for 15 years.


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[Nickn]

Originally Posted by watchmavan

Current day Speedy Hesalite!


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That’s a classic not a vintage that only comes with age

[Paulie 50]

4 Digit, plastic glass.

[GST15]

1978- Probably Vintage

. 1999- Probably Not

JMHO

[springer]

Here you go everyone. Search this thread and the attached links and if it isn't here, then I would say that it probably isn't vintage.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=551004

[Dan S]

Another list here:

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=527572
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=81694
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?p=4226538
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=94489
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?p=3292746
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=22706
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?p=1477230
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?p=3144255
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?p=3511691
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?p=3226311
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?p=982827
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?p=4325919
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?p=4678105
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=742643
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=766188
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=768222

[watchmavan]

Thanks for the forum search. Here is one from the internet specificly concerning neo-vintage.

It broadly defines it as 20 years but it's not black and white. Hense I have watches that are around 20 years old that I do not regret to as neo-vintage and others where I do.

https://blog.craftandtailored.com/de...ntage-watches/

Another defining vintage as older than 20 years...

http://en.worldtempus.com/article/ne...rice-6592.html

Vintage watches 20 years

https://www.truefacet.com/guide/diff...tique-watches/

Ebay qualifies vintage watches as over 25 years.


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