ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

ecsub44 · 8 March 2011, 12:30 AM

I'm new to the world of watches...and it's not clear to me what constitutes a "vintage" watch.

Let's stick to Subs (because that's what I'm most interested in). Is a specific year when the cutoff occurs? Is it with a certain reference? Or a movement? Or the crystal material? Or some combo of each of these?

GeorgeK · 8 March 2011, 01:21 AM

For me, it is matte dial and painted indexes, because that is what is immediately obvious.
There are more factors: plastic cristal, movement, crown protectors, open sixes, text lines (red, double red,...) and more I forget.

STEELINOX · 8 March 2011, 01:39 AM

And nice thick chamfer lines like this !

conrail · 8 March 2011, 01:42 AM

Nice watch Steelinox!

I think matte dial, tritium markers/hands, and a plexi crystal qualify as vintage. 306 grade steel maybe too? I think they switched from that to 904 around 1988/89?

lhanddds · 8 March 2011, 01:50 AM

There's nothing written in stone. As far as subs go, I believe most here would agree on plastic crystals and matt dials with no surrounds around the markers. Of course that will change with time. It may have already with the intro of ceramic bezels.

Frogman4me · 8 March 2011, 02:08 AM

I will go with 4 digit model reference numbers this time. This question comes up once a month.

January 24, 2011

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...itutes+vintage

"4 digit model numbers
15XX movements
Acrylic crystals
Matt Dials (Except for early gilt/gloss dials)
Tritium
Silver date wheels
Oh, and Rolex USA won't service it....
Take your pick....."

~Clay

ecsub44 · 8 March 2011, 02:24 AM

Hmmm...

And I actually searched before starting this thread. I think I'll never start a new thread again. It's all been covered!

conrail · 8 March 2011, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frogman4me

I will go with 4 digit model reference numbers this time. This question comes up once a month.

January 24, 2011

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...itutes+vintage

"4 digit model numbers
15XX movements
Acrylic crystals
Matt Dials (Except for early gilt/gloss dials)
Tritium
Silver date wheels
Oh, and Rolex USA won't service it....
Take your pick....."

~Clay

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecsub44

Hmmm...

And I actually searched before starting this thread. I think I'll never start a new thread again. It's all been covered!

You're right, it has ;-)

Warnsboy · 8 March 2011, 02:39 AM

The late 1970's and early 1980's were a major transitional period for Rolex models. In the Submariner and GMT models, this transition resulted in a short production run of 5 digit model numbers replcing a long run of 4 digit models. The 1680 was replced by 16800 and the GMT 1675 by 16750. The 16800 and 16750 models initially maintained the plexi crystals and matte dials sought after by vintage collectors. Later in transition these evolved to include the saphire crystals and WG surounds found in today's modern models. Purists in the vintage realm believe the 4 digit model numbers to be the end of the current vintage period. Many will argue that the 5 digit transitional models should be included but from my observation, they have yet to acheive the collector demand that commands prices like those seen for older 4 digit models.

Frogman4me · 8 March 2011, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecsub44

Hmmm...

And I actually searched before starting this thread. I think I'll never start a new thread again. It's all been covered!

haha, No hard feelings its just I have seen this exact thread 3 times over the past 3 months. I literally typed in the search What Constitutes "Vintage" and a thread just like this came up on the first page. The funny thing is I responded with the same "4 digit" response on all them

SS Oyster · 8 March 2011, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lhanddds

There's nothing written in stone. As far as subs go, I believe most here would agree on plastic crystals and matt dials with no surrounds around the markers. Of course that will change with time. It may have already with the intro of ceramic bezels.

So my RSC serviced 1.7M 5513 (circa 1967) doesn't qualify as vintage because the service dial has WG surrounds? Yes, has domed acrylic though.

Clay · 8 March 2011, 04:18 PM

My wife says I'm getting old...I tell her I prefer to think of myself as "vintage".....

bluemartinifan · 8 March 2011, 10:53 PM

My 16750 8.6 mil with a full set is vintage to me

springer · 8 March 2011, 11:19 PM

I consider the Submariner 168000, 16800 and 1680 vintage. Also the Submariner 5512's and 5513's prior to the gold surround markers from the mid-1980's.

Rolex116520 · 8 March 2011, 11:21 PM

Like the word suggests ? Twenty years old ?
Just kiddin'

Puffy · 9 March 2011, 12:51 AM

i wonder if my Tritium 16710 from 1997 can be classified as vintage...

Mike1066 · 9 March 2011, 03:13 AM

I always thought vintage was anything over 30.

Hey SS Oyster - nice shot of Del Mar. Great surf there!

Michael M. · 9 March 2011, 03:18 AM

Nice watches guys!

sub300t · 9 March 2011, 03:32 AM

According to the local DMV it is any car over 25 years old, but I think of the matt dials as vintage. Matt dial replaced at service does not disqualify the watch though!

8 March 2011, 12:30 AM	#1
ecsub44 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: US Watch: Sub Posts: 3,175	What Constitutes "Vintage" I'm new to the world of watches...and it's not clear to me what constitutes a "vintage" watch. Let's stick to Subs (because that's what I'm most interested in). Is a specific year when the cutoff occurs? Is it with a certain reference? Or a movement? Or the crystal material? Or some combo of each of these?

8 March 2011, 01:39 AM	#3
STEELINOX 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Real Name: Sink-O! Location: a praire in AZ Watch: ROLEX-less atm... Posts: 14,021	And nice thick chamfer lines like this ! __________________ *Positive Waves Baby* Lug Hole Loyalist / Chamfer Line Inspector INFORTHE WIN SUB-MAH-REEEN-ER ~ !

8 March 2011, 01:42 AM	#4
conrail "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Boston Posts: 3,177	Nice watch Steelinox! I think matte dial, tritium markers/hands, and a plexi crystal qualify as vintage. 306 grade steel maybe too? I think they switched from that to 904 around 1988/89? __________________ "Oh, you give a f****' aspirin a headache, pal!"

8 March 2011, 11:19 PM	#14
springer 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Real Name: jP Location: Texas Watch: GMT-MASTER Posts: 17,309	I consider the Submariner 168000, 16800 and 1680 vintage. Also the Submariner 5512's and 5513's prior to the gold surround markers from the mid-1980's. __________________ Member of NAWCC since 1990. INSTAGRAM USER NAME: SPRINGERJFP Visit my Instagram page to view some of the finest vintage GMTs anywhere - as well as other vintage classics.

9 March 2011, 12:51 AM	#16
Puffy "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Here and there Posts: 12,485	i wonder if my Tritium 16710 from 1997 can be classified as vintage... __________________ Fine Quality is Long Remembered After the Pain of Spending Money is Forgotten

8 March 2011, 01:21 AM	#2
GeorgeK "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: The Alps Posts: 408	For me, it is matte dial and painted indexes, because that is what is immediately obvious. There are more factors: plastic cristal, movement, crown protectors, open sixes, text lines (red, double red,...) and more I forget.

8 March 2011, 01:50 AM	#5
lhanddds Banned Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: USA Watch: of course Posts: 8,429	There's nothing written in stone. As far as subs go, I believe most here would agree on plastic crystals and matt dials with no surrounds around the markers. Of course that will change with time. It may have already with the intro of ceramic bezels.

8 March 2011, 02:08 AM	#6
Frogman4me Banned Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Maryland Posts: 6,268	I will go with 4 digit model reference numbers this time. This question comes up once a month. January 24, 2011 http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...itutes+vintage "4 digit model numbers 15XX movements Acrylic crystals Matt Dials (Except for early gilt/gloss dials) Tritium Silver date wheels Oh, and Rolex USA won't service it.... Take your pick....." ~Clay

8 March 2011, 02:24 AM	#7
ecsub44 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: US Watch: Sub Posts: 3,175	Hmmm... And I actually searched before starting this thread. I think I'll never start a new thread again. It's all been covered!

8 March 2011, 02:39 AM	#9
Warnsboy "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Real Name: Michael Location: Midwest-USA Watch: 5513 Posts: 1,942	The late 1970's and early 1980's were a major transitional period for Rolex models. In the Submariner and GMT models, this transition resulted in a short production run of 5 digit model numbers replcing a long run of 4 digit models. The 1680 was replced by 16800 and the GMT 1675 by 16750. The 16800 and 16750 models initially maintained the plexi crystals and matte dials sought after by vintage collectors. Later in transition these evolved to include the saphire crystals and WG surounds found in today's modern models. Purists in the vintage realm believe the 4 digit model numbers to be the end of the current vintage period. Many will argue that the 5 digit transitional models should be included but from my observation, they have yet to acheive the collector demand that commands prices like those seen for older 4 digit models.

8 March 2011, 04:18 PM	#12
Clay Banned Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Up a tree Posts: 4,001	My wife says I'm getting old...I tell her I prefer to think of myself as "vintage".....

8 March 2011, 11:21 PM	#15
Rolex116520 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: EEC Watch: Daytona & Deepsea Posts: 2,387	Like the word suggests ? Twenty years old ? Just kiddin'

9 March 2011, 03:13 AM	#17
Mike1066 "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: San Diego, CA Watch: 16600 Posts: 728	I always thought vintage was anything over 30. Hey SS Oyster - nice shot of Del Mar. Great surf there! __________________ V/R Mike

9 March 2011, 03:18 AM	#18
Michael M. Banned Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 8,391	Nice watches guys!

9 March 2011, 03:32 AM	#19
sub300t Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Norfolk Posts: 27	According to the local DMV it is any car over 25 years old, but I think of the matt dials as vintage. Matt dial replaced at service does not disqualify the watch though!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)