Tested: The 9 Best Vintage Reissue Watches You Can Buy

Over the past handful of years, a major trend has emerged within the watch industry that shows no signs of abating. Watch brands, from the expensive luxury side of the spectrum to affordable budget options, are combing their back-catalogs in search of old references that are deserving of a comeback. A good many of these old timepieces are being resurrected as vintage reissue watches — and it’s having a massive impact on the industry. With consumers in the mood for all things classic, prices have soared on legitimate vintage watches, while more and more new watches look like they could’ve been released 60 years ago. So with so many to choose from in this hot market, which are the best reissued vintage watches to buy today?

How We Tested

Needless to say, the number of vintage reissues on the market is increasing with each passing year, with no plans of slowing down in sight, which is perfectly fine in our book. However, this makes it more difficult to decipher which models are worth your hard-earned money. For this guide, we’ve utilized our wealth of experience and knowledge with the category of vintage watches and looked to our favorite watchmakers. From there, we got hands-on with each pair, spending time with them to see how they looked and felt up close. The results are detailed below.

Wrist Size: We should also mention that our tester has a wrist diameter of around 8″, so keep that in mind when comparing it to your own wrist.

What to Look For

Aesthetic: First and foremost, a watch’s visual appeal will make or break whether you want to purchase even the most comfortable watch. Since these are vintage reissues, they will feature old-school aesthetics. Pick something that works for you and helps express your personality!

Size: Aside from looks, comfort is the most crucial element in a watch. You can have the best-looking watch on the planet but you might not want to wear it all day if it feels like a shackle around your wrist. Keep in mind dimensions of your watch.

History: The watches below are all vintage reissues, meaning that they were pulled from brands’ back catalogs. Some of them are recreations of some of the most iconic watches ever made.

Water Resistance: Water resistance is important to note if you’re planning on purchasing an everyday watch. You’ll want something with at least 50m of water resistance if you’re planning on taking these out and about. However, this isn’t essential.

Movement: Quartz movements are common in retro reissues but many of them are automatic calibers too. While the former benefits from accuracy the latter is more classic and mechanically impressive.

Q Timex 1975 Enigma Reissue 37mm

Although most watch brands focus on reissuing mid-century references from the pre-Quartz Crisis Golden Age of watchmaking, Timex has taken a different approach. The Q Timex Reissue series really has several candidates for this guide but we went with this Enigma, which recreates a quartz piece from 1975, right down to the coin-operated battery hatch on the caseback. The sub-$200 watch has loads of panache, and it’s quickly become a modern classic for Timex, helping to rehabilitate the brand’s image as a serious arbiter of style.

Timex does an excellent job with its reissues and this recently-released 37mm Enigma is our favorite, from its “mystery dial” with quasi-floating handset tips to its quirky Space Age Modern aesthetic and cushion case. We love the contrast of the highly polished case with the brushed finish on the retro-style stainless steel bracelet. On the other hand, we noticed the soft acrylic crystal on top of the dial scratched incredibly easily, as (somewhat) expected considering the material’s reputation. But then again, that softness also allows it to be buffed rather easily as well.

Seiko 5 Sports 55th Anniversary Limited Edition

Few lines are more venerated in the vintage watch world as Seiko’s 5 Sports, which celebrated its 55th anniversary last year. For the occasion, the Japanese watchmaker released several commemorative timepieces, but none of them were as cool and deliberate as the actual reissue of the 1968 original, which itself was the spawn of the Sportsmatic 5 from ’63. The 5 Sports series introduced a boundary-pushing design language, a new lume, and bumped water resistance to 100m. Limited to 15,555 pieces and maintaining the 39.5mm case size, this reissue only really adds a higher-quality bracelet and new movement to the recipe but still, this is about as retro as you can get at first glance.

A faithful recreation of the original, the watch does have one obvious difference in the dial text above the 6 to denote the updated 4R36 automatic caliber. Everything else, down to the case shape, size, finishing, and even bezel grip, is accurate. We were even surprised by the single-row, flat-link steel bracelet pulled straight from the vintage pieces. The wearing experience is also fantastic with its hyper-compact 43.1mm lug-to-lug to go along with a 39.5mm diameter. Prior to this release, the second-hand market had the ’60s original listed at around 2 or 3 times more than the current retail price, but these actual vintage pieces have now dropped down significantly. Something cool about the new movement, aside from it being an in-house creation, is that it’s a Seiko exclusive, so it’s not offered to any of their partners. Admittedly the 40-hour power reserve is a bit low but this is still a great movement for such an affordable retro piece.

Hamilton PSR Digital Quartz

Like Timex, Hamilton has gone back to the early age of quartz with this release. Released in 1970, the Hamilton Pulsar was the world’s first digital electronic watch and the first to incorporate an LED display. Originally released in solid gold, it was one of the priciest watches of its time period and was a favorite of countless celebrities in the ‘70s. A more affordable stainless steel version soon followed (which James Bond wore in Live and Let Die), and that’s the version that Hamilton has accurately recreated here, going so far as to incorporate the button-activated red time display.

Using a very simple 40.8mm x 34.7mm stainless steel case with a pseudo end-link meant to look the part even though it’s just part of the case, the watch sports a button to adjust the time and light up the LCD screen. Speaking of which, the display is an LCD-OLED hybrid that’s now been updated from the rudimentary LED of the original, which took up a lot of battery life, so this is a welcomed evolution. Moreover, the LCD is active during a low-power mode, passing duties to the OLED when it’s activated, staying on for around 6 seconds to save power. The only visible change is the Hamilton text, which used to say “Pulsar” instead. However, their font is pleasing to the eye and fits the futuristic appeal of the timepiece. Our favorite aspect is the three-link bracelet, which is visibly unique and well executed with the rounded links and slight taper towards the butterfly clasp below.

Bulova Mil Ships

Bulova is another affordable American heritage brand that has recently taken to plumbing the depths of its archives and fishing out worthy watches from the past to recreate. But they’re not just remaking popular consumer watches, they’re going for some deep cuts. The Mil Ships was a prototype that Bulova made for the U.S. Navy in the 1950s that never saw production — until now, that is. The new version of the military diver, like the original, includes a unique paper strip on the dial that indicates if moisture has entered the watch.

Added to their Archive series in 2021, the Mil Ships model isn’t necessarily a 1:1 remake but this is as close as you’ll get to the ’50s mil-spec models. Sized at 41mm across and around 50mm lug-to-lug, the watch is rather thick at 15mm. However, the oddest part is the 16mm lug width (these are about 20mm on average), due to the rapid narrowing of the case that has a rather atypical wearing experience. We do love the sizable dome of the crystal, evoking divers of yesteryear. Meanwhile, the bezel markers are color-matched with the faux patina of the hour markers, lending some warmth to the viewing experience. Our biggest gripe is the water ingress indicator. While it’s a good idea on paper, it’s important to note that if enough water has made its way inside the case to trigger a color change, you’re going to need service anyway. We also don’t love the Miyota 82S0 movement, which isn’t a bad automatic but does only offer a 3Hz beat rate, which isn’t the most accurate around.

Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Compression Diver

It’s a little-known fact that Zodiac’s Sea Wolf debuted at the same trade show as the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms in 1953, even though the latter gets all of the credit for being the first professional dive watch. But with an influx of cash thanks to newish corporate owner Fossil and an eye toward their fascinating past, Zodiac is starting to get a lot more recognition in the Swiss watch industry. A compression version of the original timepiece, one of their more intriguing recent re-releases is this faithful (yet updated) recreation of one of the first dedicated dive watches ever made.

Producing an excellent wearing experience for a modern dive watch is the 40mm diameter, 47mm lug-to-lug, and 13mm thickness. Even for a small wrist, the Sea Wolf Compression diver will fit you nicely. We love how willing Zodiac is to apply fun and playful colorways to its vintage-inspired divers. This one basts an aqua blue insert with light green markers. Also, the dive utility is top-notch with 200m of water resistance and a screw-downcrown for protection. However, the crown is admittedly difficult to grip and screw down if you’re trying to rush. The handset is also more squared off like the ’60s and ’70s models, even though initially the ’50s Sea Wolfs used sharper Dauphine hands. We also love the new STP1-21 caliber automatic which has a 4Hz beat rate with a notably smooth second hand sweep, albeit only 40 hours of power reserve. As for the steel bracelet, it has quick-release spring bars for a tool-less swap.

Tissot Heritage 1973

Sporting an unmistakable motorsport influence, the aptly named Heritage 1973 is a Swiss-made chronograph modeled after one of Tissot’s own from the namesake year. Powered by a Swiss Valjoux A05.H31 automatic caliber with 60 hours of power reserve, the remake is constructed around an oval-shaped 316L stainless steel case around a tachymeter-equipped panda dial. Best of all (in our opinion) is the superb leather rally strap inspired by vintage race car steering wheels.

Perhaps not the first name you think of when it comes to automotive-connected brands, Tissot has still had its fair share of racing partnerships throughout the years. In fact, this Heritage 1973 pays homage to its yesteryear collaboration with the Kessel Classics F1 racing team, so it’s not a direct reissue per se. However, it certainly evokes iconic Tissot chronographs such as the Navigator model. This particular timepiece debuted in 2020, adding a third sub-register compared to the Navigator’s two. Meanwhile, a dash of blue breaks up the black coloring. Admittedly, the 43mm case is a bit large and the 14.8mm thickness sits a bit high on the wrist, but thankfully this hefty watch has solid wrist presence thanks to the tonneau case shape.

Rado Captain Cook

Few vintage reissues have had as big of an effect on a brand like this one. Rado, while a relatively successful and storied Swiss brand, was largely ignored by enthusiasts and collectors in modern times because the brand’s trademark ceramic dress watches didn’t appeal very much to said communities. But that all changed with the re-release of this formerly-obscure ‘60s diver, with its convex ceramic bezel and fun rotating anchor on the dial. Now Rado is arguably one of the hottest brands in the industry, with an entire robust line of different Captain Cook models powering their resurgence.

Available in a number of iterations and styles, the updated Captain Cook brings the diameter of the original 37mm up to a whopping 42mm, which might detract some potential buyers. While there is a more accurate 37mm version can be found in the brand’s current lineup, the version above is remarkably similar to the original nonetheless. And besides, the roughly 48mm lug-to-lug and 12mm thickness wear really well, especially since much of the thickness is due to the domed crystal on top, not the caseback. Likewise, Rado uses their famous high-tech ceramic for the bezel insert which helps shed some weight as well. Like other dark-dialed Rado watches, this model strugges with legibility on the dial, despite the AR coating on the sapphire. Powered by the popular Powermatic 80, this watch provides you with 80 hours of power reserve, which is awesome. Also, we love the eye-catching 7-row beads-of-rice bracelet, which is just the icing on the cake.

Oris Big Crown Pointer Date 80th Anniversary Edition

One of the only surviving fully-independent Swiss watchmakers with over a century of history, Oris heads back to the 1930s with this super-vintage reissue of its four-handed pilot watch called the Pointer Date. While a normal four-hander would have a GMT function, this one kept track of the day of the month. This 80th-anniversary reissue has a highly unique presentation with an inverted arrow design for the red tip of the fourth hand. Powered by the Oris caliber 754 automatic, the watch has a solid 4Hz beat rate, albeit a modest 38 hours of power reserve.

Apart from its unique function, the watch is housed in a full bronze case (except for the steel caseback) with exceptional build quality and inherently better corrosion resistance. It also looks really cool and allows for some patina over time. Paired with the Art Deco styling, the watch’s unique dial delivers an amazing overall look with solid wrist presence. You’ll love the way the case develops character over time with regular handling. Maintaining excellent proportions, the case is 40mm across with a 48mm lug-to-lug and 11.5mm thickness. Style-wise, it can be utilized as a dress watch, pairing well with a suit, enhanced even more by the handsome leather strap.

Zenith Chronomaster Original

Zenith’s El Primero movement was one of the first automatic chronograph movements to market, first appearing in a handful of the Swiss brand’s watches in 1969 — including the iconic A386 with its trademark tri-color chronograph registers. Countless El Primero chronographs have been released by Zenith since then, but this Chronomaster Original is the closest the brand has ever come to recreating the legendary A386. Zenith dug up the OG’s blueprints to accurately recreate the case for the new watch, getting not only the dimensions right but the finishing, too. The movement is far from vintage, however, as the watch houses the latest evolution of the El Primero featuring a 1/10th-second chronograph.

Celebrating the original feat with a near 1:1 replica of the ’69 model, the watch has a compact 38mm diameter with a 46mm lug-to-lug, wearing really well on the wrist, especially since the 13mm thickness includes the high-domes crystal. Of course, there’s the funky tri-compax color configuration of blue, gray, and light gray, which won’t be for everyone but is undoubtedly unique. Best of all, this has the finest movement on the list in the way of a high-beat El Primero composed of 311 components and boasting a 5Hz beat rate for supreme accuracy. You can even view the automatic caliber through the caseback. We also lvoe the blue nubuck leather strap with white stitching near the lugs, pairing perfectly with the dial’s color scheme.

Tested: The Best All-Black Watches for a Stealthier Presence

If the watches above are too old-school for you, then check out our guide to the best all-black watches for a decidedly modern look.