Vintage watch wearing

tgeekb · Dec 17, 2020

While it's obvious that we shouldn't wear our vintage Omegas swimming, or chopping wood, do you have any other rules you follow?
Can we enjoy them mostly whenever we want or are they relegated to a watch box?

wilderbeast · Dec 17, 2020

I wear vintage 98% of the time. For any manual work or in heavy rain I choose a modern Citizen Eco-Drive or a modern quartz dress watch for going out on wet evenings. I work as a music teacher, with a mixture of desk, classroom and rehearsal activities and I’m happy to wear vintage every day at work (I have a small work rotation), with more casual vintage pieces in the evenings and at weekends.

Since the pandemic, I’ve been enjoying wearing mine more at home - two or three changes in a day have not been uncommon! - but only one piece really stays in the box for special occasions.

So, yes, avoid them in some extreme situations, but I personally love to wear them!

Spruce · Dec 17, 2020

Ditto @wilderbeast, except for the bit about being a music teacher.

However, I regard this old hand-wind Seiko as a wear anywhere watch,

And I had this old Certina DS extensively serviced and although I wouldn’t go swimming in it, I tend to regard it as a wear anywhere watch.

watchyouwant · Dec 17, 2020

Same here.this summer, which is now in Australia, my Beach everyday watch is Tudor Pelagios left hand diver.last year it was my Rolex mil.sub 5513. That needs pressure testing again , so it stays in the bank. Rotation with Speedy 2998 and 1969. All on Kangaroo leather NATO. ( Best NATO ever...) For more formal occasions my 1955 Railmaster Canadian prototype with Swan neck movement. Sometimes. Cal. 20F wing case rectangular Omega from 1938. Sometimes a Heuer Bund red 3 H for travels. Overseas quite often the Blancpain look a like for no worries. And if I feel like something, nobody knows, my 1983 East German clearance divers issued massive Rhodium plated divers watch for the NVA ( national people's army issued ) which nobody really knows.... Better stop now.... Summary: I wear my vintage watches. Kind regards. Achim

wilderbeast · Dec 17, 2020

I feel about my Dugena Monza how @Spruce feels about his Certina DS:

It’s important to know that there is vintage and there's vintage - whilst condition is undoubtedly crucial for collectors (and I am merely an enthusiast), not all of your pieces need to be safe queens.

love that Certina, by the way, @Spruce 👍

Larry S · Dec 17, 2020

Always have some modern, and modern expendables for sport and aquatic duty. Vintage = Dry sunny days, no sport. The exceptions are Rolex which if properly maintained can see a rainy day.

zwjk · Dec 17, 2020

Never wear vintage in the rain or doing strenuous activities (so much lume to lose) 😜

Always have my G-Shock DW5600 for everything else other than a dry day.

Canuck · Dec 17, 2020

My newest watch is over 30 years old. So I always wear vintage. Right now, I am wearing two Omegas, both over 60 years old. What I do shouldn’t guide anyone else. I repair my own watches. I do, however, have several watches that are not in the rotation because they are very old, and very fragile. (Oh! I have a modern quartz Seiko quartz which I got for free. It is my beater. But even it, I treat it with respect.) i don’t even wear my Rolex Oysters in water!

krogerfoot · Dec 17, 2020

Canuck
Right now, I am wearing two Omegas, both over 60 years old.

I have questions.

Canuck · Dec 17, 2020

krogerfoot
I have questions.

So?

Fritz · Dec 17, 2020

krogerfoot
I have questions.

Bet one is in his pocket.

i am also currently wearing two. 1900 model 92 Vanguard in the pocket, modern diver on the wrist. It snowed last night so its a beater on the wrist as i’m headed out to shovel next, otherwise its usually vintage as well.

there’s a Seiko in the box for toilet cleaning day...

YY77 · Dec 17, 2020

Fritz
there’s a Seiko in the box for toilet cleaning day...

So it never comes out of the box.😲

krogerfoot · Dec 17, 2020

I’ve inadvertently revealed myself as the only person here who was unaware that either 1) having multiple watches on your wrist(s) is so routine it’s not worth commenting further upon, or 2) the meaning of “wear” extends to “carrying in your pocket.”

janice&fred · Dec 17, 2020

krogerfoot
I’ve inadvertently revealed myself as the only person here who was unaware that either 1) having multiple watches on your wrist(s) is so routine it’s not worth commenting further upon, or 2) the meaning of “wear” extends to “carrying in your pocket.”

Most of us got your light-hearted reply. Emphasis on "most". 😁

STANDY · Dec 17, 2020

Just think of vintage watches like your Grandparents your not going to theme parks, skateboarding, rock climbing or playing sport with them but your still visiting and doing stuff with them.

Just look at the WRUW thread, all those watches are being worn....Common sense rules apply.

snunez · Dec 17, 2020

What's the consensus on the 'not wearing in the rain' bit? Where I live, rain is unpredictable and frequent. I don't think it's entirely possible to avoid at least a light-medium rain a few times during a rainy season. My watchmaker advised that the seals weren't good because of pitting on the case, which I guess is fairly common and would probably allow water to enter.

Larry S · Dec 17, 2020

snunez
What's the consensus on the 'not wearing in the rain' bit? Where I live, rain is unpredictable and frequent. I don't think it's entirely possible to avoid at least a light-medium rain a few times during a rainy season. My watchmaker advised that the seals weren't good because of pitting on the case, which I guess is fairly common and would probably allow water to enter.

Read my post. Screw back case, even bettter screw down crown, well maintained can handle a little rain, a little sweat and humidity. I have learned the hard way.

Ascalon · Dec 17, 2020

I'm waiting on my vintage Mark II to come back from a movement rebuild and gasket set, so I fully intend to have it as a daily wearer, rain, washing up, etc.
Wouldn't use it on holidays for swimming, but would for all else.
The 861 is highly durable, and I'm prepared to let it be.

Spruce · Dec 17, 2020

snunez
What's the consensus on the 'not wearing in the rain' bit? Where I live, rain is unpredictable and frequent. I don't think it's entirely possible to avoid at least a light-medium rain a few times during a rainy season. My watchmaker advised that the seals weren't good because of pitting on the case, which I guess is fairly common and would probably allow water to enter.

I guess in those circumstances many of us might be wearing some sort of long sleeved coat rather than adopting the full bare chested look

vbrad26 · Dec 17, 2020

My grandfather wore this Seamaster every day for over 50 years.

He spent half his year in suburban Ohio, and the other half of the year on the family farm.
So he would wear it while, yes, chopping wood and cutting down pine trees. Working on the tractor. Herding the cattle on the 4-wheeler.
Anything. And from what he says, it never had a service lol.
The man worked till he was about 88 before my family literally forced him to stop.
He will be 94 in May. And his watch (now belonging to me), has been retired to desk diving a couple times a month.

Vintage watch wearing

tgeekb

wilderbeast

Spruce

watchyouwant

wilderbeast

Larry S

zwjk

Canuck

krogerfoot

Canuck

Fritz

YY77

krogerfoot

janice&fred

STANDY

snunez

Larry S

Ascalon

Spruce

vbrad26

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