Collecting
The vintage watch market offers a variety of
beautiful watches at more affordable prices.
By Laurent Martinez
THE VINTAGE SWEET SPOT: $1,500 - $2,500
LeCoultre Futurematic
MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT COLLECTING VINTAGE WATCHES IS AN
ULTRA-LUXURIOUS HOBBY . Yes, it’s true that vintage watches are
currently going through a glamorous time with prestigious auction
houses hosting high-profile events littered with celebrity watches,
rare timepieces, and never-before-seen unique models.
It’s also true that watch media outlets focus on particular
models like the Rolex Daytona “Paul Newman” or the vintage Heuer
Autavia, thereby placing these particular vintage watches on
unapproachable pedestals. That, coupled with the successful
millennium-set clamoring to get their hands on a Rolex Submariner
5513, GMT-Master or a Patek Philippe Nautilus, and it seems that
only select brands are enjoying the limelight in the vintage market—
and as a result, come with bloated price tags.
As a direct consequence of the vastly unaffordable prices of
certain brands in the vintage watch market, some collectors and
56 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | FALL 2018
enthusiasts look to other brands. What these other brands may lack
in prestige and popularity, they make up for in appealing aesthetics
and solid movements.
In my forty years of collecting vintage and contemporary
watches, I have observed trends and fluctuations in price, size, and
designs. Today, you have tremendous opportunities to buy afford-
able watches in the $1,500 - $2,500 price range. Not only do these
watches offer great looks and decent calibers, they can also present
good investments opportunities.
I classify brands into four levels. There’s the most exclusive tier
with brands like Patek Philippe. Then there’s the luxury tier with
brands like Audemars Piguet. Furthermore, there’s the upper-level
tier with brands like Breitling. And finally, there’s the middle tier
with brands like Baume & Mercier. Today I will discuss watches that
sit in the lower price range of the upper-level tier.
iWMAGAZINE .COM