Collecting watches under $1000

slique12 · Oct 29, 2018

In light of the fast rising prices of vintage watches across multiple brands and models, I thought this thread would be a timely reminder to newcomers in this hobby/passion/obsession of ours to seek and enjoy lovely vintage pieces that don't break the bank.

Like some of you, I started collecting vintage watches not so long ago and quickly found that many of the desirable pieces were above a price point that I considered reasonable. If you are like me and don't have a particular fascination with any single brand, the opportunities to collect interesting pieces are endless. And while $1000 is certainly not an insignificant sum for a single purchase, I have chosen that ceiling as I find many newcomers gravitate to this maximum as they learn the ropes, either due to financial constraints or caution when buying with limited knowledge.

Now with all that said, here are some examples I have been able to pick up over the past 24 months within this price range. Some cost less than $500, while others cost less than $1000. I'm not including any "steals" because those require luck, and my sole intent here is to showcase examples that can be found with some patience, learning and quick action.

Lastly, there are many other vintage collectors with more experience than I who often pick up nice pieces in this price range. If that is you, I'd encourage you to post a few as well.

Examples from popular brands

Examples from lesser known brands

Vitezi · Oct 29, 2018

These threads are also useful:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/learning-how-to-fish-the-under-50-collection.67807/
https://omegaforums.net/threads/2018-what-omega-did-you-buy-for-under-500.69515/
https://omegaforums.net/threads/2017-what-omega-did-you-buy-for-under-500.51171/
https://omegaforums.net/threads/2017-what-non-omega-watch-did-you-buy-for-under-500.51187/
https://omegaforums.net/threads/a-learning-collection-10-vintage-watches-under-500.44233/

calalum · Oct 29, 2018

A few.

Fritz · Oct 29, 2018

Life under a grand can be pretty damn good actually...

I don't think any of these cost me that much... (although the Longines is a pretty horrid redial, so it needed to be cheap)

jimmyjay · Oct 29, 2018

There are a wide variety of Ultra-Chron styles out there available at relatively good prices. Probably because service costs can be high.

tzachi · Oct 30, 2018

I get them as of my perception of quality, mainly vintage Seiko and Grand and King Seiko,
and Eterna's of its great era 60's - 70's

slique12 · Nov 1, 2018

Another addition to this list:

Tony C. · Nov 1, 2018

slique12
In light of the fast rising prices of vintage watches across multiple brands and models, I thought this thread would be a timely reminder to newcomers in this hobby/passion/obsession of ours to seek and enjoy lovely vintage pieces that don't break the bank.

Fast rising prices of vintage watches across multiple brands and models? Apparently we're living in different worlds. With the exception of the most obvious and in-demand models, I see close to the opposite.

Pjotr1 · Nov 1, 2018

Nice topic 😀. I’ve been collecting for about 1.5 years now. Here are some that were all wel within your price range. Several have been sold already btw...

slique12 · Nov 1, 2018

Tony C.
Fast rising prices of vintage watches across multiple brands and models? Apparently we're living in different worlds. With the exception of the most obvious and in-demand models, I see close to the opposite.

Perhaps I'll elaborate in that case. I believe newcomers to the hobby of vintage collecting typically think of brands that happen to be famous and popular today - Rolex and Omega. And when they get slightly deeper into the hobby, they branch out to other significant yet slightly less well known brands like Longines, Universal Geneve and Heuer. Are there many other brands out there? Absolutely. But I feel these few brands collectively occupy a significant portion of mind share in this audience.

Now, I've been following the market only for the past 24-30 months, but in that time I have seen a lot of references across these brands move higher - many Seamaster references, almost all Speedmaster references, Longines time only watches from the 40s-50s, many models from UG, and Heuer in general. To shop within this price range, one needs to hunt either the ignored/not-so-hot model lines of popular brands, or simply within brands that aren't in the limelight - what you said, basically.

Larry S · Nov 1, 2018

These new arrivals were not under 1000 but they were not budget busters either. I am totally stoked to have them in my collection. They will get a lot of wrist time along with their other low cost brethren. You don’t have to drop a pile of cash to enjoy vintage.

Larry S · Nov 1, 2018

More 1000 or less and all are worn regularly. Two are vintage homages but they hit the mark..

Tony C. · Nov 1, 2018

slique12
Perhaps I'll elaborate in that case. I believe newcomers to the hobby of vintage collecting typically think of brands that happen to be famous and popular today - Rolex and Omega. And when they get slightly deeper into the hobby, they branch out to other significant yet slightly less well known brands like Longines, Universal Geneve and Heuer. Are there many other brands out there? Absolutely. But I feel these few brands collectively occupy a significant portion of mind share in this audience.

Now, I've been following the market only for the past 24-30 months, but in that time I have seen a lot of references across these brands move higher - many Seamaster references, almost all Speedmaster references, Longines time only watches from the 40s-50s, many models from UG, and Heuer in general. To shop within this price range, one needs to hunt either the ignored/not-so-hot model lines of popular brands, or simply within brands that aren't in the limelight - what you said, basically.

Setting aside Rolex, which I don't follow at all, I simply don't agree with you. Again, with the exception of the most sought-after models, and those in exceptional condition, I believe there to be largely downward price pressure. Of course the better chronographs by UG and Heuer, and the most attractive Omega and Longines references continue to command strong prices. But those are a small fraction of the watches available in the market.

There are plenty of nice '50s Longines time-only watches selling for under $1000. I just bought one of the most desirable time-only Omega references from the '50s in 18k pink gold for under $1000.

Yes, a really nice and desirable chronograph or sports watch does still typically cost over $1000. But to those open to time-only watches, the opportunities to find good relative value are virtually limitless!

Wryfox · Nov 1, 2018

I've been playing around with "attractive quality vintage" at ~$300 or under.

I'll occasionally find some 'can't walk away' bargains for way less, even under $50....for example the 60's vintage Seiko 5s are an outstanding deal. They run incredibly well.

So below is my collection of 'cheap casuals', all automatics...a couple are ETA 2824/2892(Tissot/Tag 6000), and two are chronometers(Tag/Bucherer....Bucherers are a downright steal)

Pretty good deals all.....and run great, even the Ruskie. Most are 60s/70s, a couple are newer. Even sniped a couple of Omegas in this price range.

This is just to show that really inexpensive vintage automatics can look and wear quite nice.

Sorry for the lousy phone pics.

Under $50: (Invicta on right was $8 at a flea market...who wouldn't?...keeps 8sec/day)

$50-100:

$100-200:

$250-350:

slique12 · Nov 1, 2018

Tony C.
Setting aside Rolex, which I don't follow at all, I simply don't agree with you. Again, with the exception of the most sought-after models, and those in exceptional condition, I believe there to be largely downward price pressure. Of course the better chronographs by UG and Heuer, and the most attractive Omega and Longines references continue to command strong prices. But those are a small fraction of the watches available in the market.

There are plenty of nice '50s Longines time-only watches selling for under $1000. I just bought one of the most desirable time-only Omega references from the '50s in 18k pink gold for under $1000.

Yes, a really nice and desirable chronograph or sports watch does still typically cost over $1000. But to those open to time-only watches, the opportunities to find good relative value are virtually limitless!

If you think about it, a low of newcomers are exposed to vintage watches via places like Hodinkee and instagram pages often run by vintage dealers/popular instagrammers. A lot of vintage goodness there is all $1000+, and this thread is to simply remind them of what lies beneath the surface.

The commentary on the upward trajectory of vintage prices is a tangential observation, and one I still hold. Now, that doesn't mean I'm suggesting that there aren't any nice watches made by major brands under $1000 because indeed there are. But even there, I've seen prices rise. To give one example, two years ago I could easily find a large variety of good condition vintage Omega Seamasters from the 50s/60s/70s (these aren't popular models) under $500. Not anymore.