Vintage Watches: I Don't Get It

So this is about what you dont like ?

I like new...phones, tv's, yard tools and the occasional watch. Everything else is vintage: sunglasses, pens, watches, cars, golf clubs, luggage. Touching history means something.

I could consider myself the outcast here because I am "all vintage, all the time." I use very few watches that are less than 40 years old. The Speedmaster here is 41 years old and is near the newest watch on hand.

Serviced and maintained properly my 50 to 130 year old watches all tick merrily, are trouble free, capable of adequate accuracy for my purposes, and provide for joy and gratification in my wearing rotation.

I enjoy keeping up with current events in the watch market as presented here in OmegaForums-World, but don't imagine myself wearing many of the watches currently catalogued and marketed. I guess you could say I " have a casual awareness" of new watches.

While I could afford them, the price of new watches have become bloated for my sensibilities. If I am to spend so much then those same makers once provided some beautiful and iconic models that appeal to me more. For instance, I would rather collect 1950s Omega Constellations than acquire new Omega watches.

Watch styling has changed from the olden days. Styling tastes are very subjective and I have my own tastes like everybody else does.

Size matters. Apparently, large watches aren't going anywhere soon and that is fine if it appeals to most current buyers. A watch can be large enough to "wear its owner" rather than the other way around. I have a few inexpensive late model watches: Seiko Turtle, Seiko field model, and an Orient diver that could do service as a wheel on a city bus. For me vintage provides balance as an accessory.

I think responding to this thread is more than it deserves. I'm trying to imagine myself starting a thread with "I don't really like modern watches. Am I the only one? They are so modern and don't appeal to me. I mean, what IS modern, anyway? They just don't interest me enough to buy one. Anyone else agree with my unsolicited negative opinion about new watches? Is it weird that I chose to type this in a forum that I know is filled with vintage nerds? I also hate rock and roll music. Am I the only one?"

"We don't sell no GODAMN TROUT."

OUTcast? Hell, I'd eat VINTAGE food if it wouldn't kill me. In fact, has anyone seen the guy who opens ancient MREs and C rations live on camera? It's pretty cool, actually. He eats A LOT of scary looking stuff.

I've given considerable thought to "everyone is entitled to their own opinion," and I've decided it's simply not true. Much the way many Americans have forfeited their rights to opinions regarding certain presidents. Many people have done nothing to earn an opinion. It's like when the teacher used to say, "There are no dumb questions." (or dumb observations). Hell yes there are. That's my opinion.

I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the selection of the next thing some guy prefers to some other thing.

I just like old stuff. I try not to complicate it too much. My wife is the opposite, new is always better. We have quite the mix of furniture!

I can’t help but admire vintage watches.

I am all about antique and vintage and am “plum ate up with it!” Stuff was just better in the “way back when.”

I love shooting sports and hunting, but stridently avoid using firearms’ designs that date to after about 1940. No black plastic pistols or AR 15s need apply. Oh, I have a single Glock, only acquiring it so I could learn to better detest the severely overrated design. A 1973 Colt SP-1 AR 15 is a place holder in a US military rifle collection. I have not shot it in years.

Am currently reading an 1885 edition of Dickens’ “Bleak House.” Have lots of antiquarian books on the library’s shelves with publication dates as far back as 1628 and all are read and loved.

Favorite razor for shaving my ol’ ugly mug is a 1934 Gillette Aristocrat safety razor. It’s out of a complete Gillette double-edged safety razor collection that spans their safety razor production from the first year, 1904 to the last year, 1988.

Love numismatics: American and British coinage mostly. I strive for a complete type set of both collecting endeavors which is unrealistic for US coinage and impossible for British coinage.

Am still wearing nice older Allen Edmonds, Alden, and a few British brands of shoes from near 30 years ago. Was part of the attire from the career. Even wear a dandy pair of Floursheim V-Cleat, 5-nail wingtips to church on occasion. They are probably 40 years old.

We both like antique and vintage house furnishings, Mrs. noelekal and I. We are the same way about films and television shows, classical and classic rock music. Vintage is distinctly better on these topics.

I would drive vintage vehicles except for the fact thst they are bottomless money pits. We did keep a rare Chrysler 300 convertible for 30 years. I still mourn it.

I “ain’t skeered” of old MREs either. While our youngest son was active duty Marine corps he procured sample MREs for us to try so we could experience what he was being served afield. They were dated 1988-1990 as I recall. This photo was taken Valentine’s Day, 2010 when we were setting it all out for a candle lit dinner.

All quite tasty, but salty enough to give one a stroke! The raspberry, macadamia nut, and white chocolate chip cookie was great!

When I first started I really liked the old seamasters. 50’,60’s and 70’s. I acquired so many and it dawned on me that”damn these all look the same.” I sold them all locally and broke even with a little over. I was just glad I didn’t lose a bunch of money.

I started getting into neo vintage and new. One aspect being the damn humidity in New England. My watch maker is pretty good but I hate foggy dials.

I think the mechanisms and asthetics of vintage are amazing. Some brands like movado imo lost a let of soul over the years but it was their more modern Vizio that got me into watches.

I love having the option although I may lean modern their are plenty of vintage I love.

Off topic but I’m a big Seiko guy and the fakes and frankens that inflected my beloved vintage seikos is just a bummer at to me this is just a hobby I have limited time to devote to it.

Anyway it’s a good healthy distraction. I haven’t bought any watches recently as I’m guitar hunting but damn it’s hard to stick to a “I’m not buying a watch for a spell” pledge.