For the Love of Vintage Watches!
Jun 27, 2022
The market for vintage watches has been on the rise, and the price of new watches has been skyrocketing — driven by the limited availability of pieces like Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, and even some Omegas. Meanwhile, online shopping has made acquiring exceptional vintage timepieces more accessible than ever. At Experts Watches, we've been connecting collectors with extraordinary pieces for over 25 years.
What Is a Vintage Watch?
Vintage watches are generally considered to be at least 25 years old. At Experts Watches, we classify all timepieces made prior to 1990 as vintage. Others draw the cutoff at 30 to 50 years. What can't be debated is that all vintage watches exude a substantial degree of charm and personality that is difficult to replicate in mass-produced modern pieces.
Is There Value in Vintage?
Like fine red wines that improve with age, well-maintained vintage watches only grow rarer with time. Many older watches were produced in limited quantities. This unique combination of limited supply and enduring demand ensures that quality vintage watches appreciate in value — while simultaneously ensuring the wearer looks effortlessly stylish.
Why We Love Vintage Watches
Every vintage piece carries its own unique patina, nicks, dings, and wear from years of adorning wrists — giving it a personality no modern watch can replicate. All vintage watches have a story to tell: the lives their owners led, the care bestowed upon them. Was it worn by a businessman, a soldier, a diver, a race car driver — or even Paul Newman? In many cases, they are family heirlooms passed down through generations.
Vintage watches connect us to pivotal moments in history — the 1968 moon landing, the golden age of motorsport, the dawn of aviation. The design innovations and spirit of watchmaking link them to the world around them, like a time capsule. From the first chronograph to the first watch with an alarm, these functions were created as necessities to serve a purpose.
All the watches we carry tell a story — from the Omega Moonwatch to the Heuer Carrera, the Breitling Navitimer 806, the Rolex Submariner, to a 1939 Longines Lindbergh Hour Angle WWII Military Pilot Watch. That enduring passion is why we do what we do.
What to Look for When Buying a Vintage Watch
Do Your Research
Learn about yourself first. What do you like about your current style? Where do you see opportunities to improve your accessories? Your hobbies, your line of work, your weekday and weekend style — all of these will help you determine the direction you want to go. Once you have a sense of that, research brands and models that could work for you, and set a budget range. Before buying any vintage piece, educate yourself or find a trusted dealer. Contact us and we'll gladly help you refine your search — over 50% of our inventory sells before it's even posted online.
Check the Seller's Reputation
Vintage watches can be a great value — often less expensive than their modern counterparts. However, they may need servicing, parts, or have undisclosed issues. That's why Experts Watches created our Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Program — one of the first in the industry. Our goal is to ensure you receive an authentic, fully functional timepiece with complete transparency. We are a Power Seller on eBay since 2000 with over 10,000 happy transactions.
Patina
The character of a watch comes from its wearer — a unique look shaped by the watch's history. Patina is typically associated with the dial and how it ages based on exposure to the elements. These special characteristics differentiate each watch from another: the DNA of the timepiece.
Shop Our Vintage Watch Collection
Browse our curated selection of certified pre-owned vintage watches — inspected, timed, and authenticated in-house. Every piece comes with our CPO guarantee.
Watch Guides & Resources
Sell or Trade Your Vintage Watch
We actively acquire exceptional vintage timepieces. Whether you're looking to sell or trade, we provide honest market valuations, transparent offers, and a seamless process from authentication to payment. Get an offer for your vintage watch →
📚 Explore our full Watch Guides library — including Vintage Watch Care Guide, serial number lookups, sizing charts, and movement histories
🔎 CPO Program — every watch inspected, timed, and authenticated in-house
🕰️ Sell, trade, or upgrade your watch
💬 Contact us — we have more in stock than listed and will treat you like a VIP
Trusted vintage & luxury watch dealer since 2000 | Shop Dive Watches | CPO Program | Sell / Trade | Contact Us
