These Are The Best Places To Buy A Vintage Watch Online

New technology kills old technology. The combustion engine outpaced the carriage, electric lamps snuffed out gas lanterns, online retailers outsold brick and mortar, and the list goes on. Yet, there has always been a bit of a wrinkle in this rule. People are sentimental. We like to keep things alive past their time – and there is no better example of that tendency than the love vintage wristwatches receive.

For all intents and purposes, the traditional watch should be tossed aside and forgotten. The imperfect instruments we once wore on our wrists have been far outpaced by atomic clocks and the phones in our pockets. Yet, thanks in large part to new technology – the world of vintage watches has come on a kind of renaissance. Websites like Hodinkee have pulled scholarship on horology out of obscure online forums and far-flung shops and put them squarely into the mainstream. Instagram accounts have done their part, too. The once-private hobby of collecting odd and obscure watches has become a totally public one garnering followers and likes in the thousands. As a result, the vintage watch market has exploded in popularity. Watches that once sold at auction in the low thousands can now pull well over ten times what they were originally bought for. Yet, how exactly does one get into this hard-to-understand world? What are the safe places to buy online? We’ve compiled a list of the best places to buy vintage watches to help guide novices toward their first purchase.

Why Vintage?

One may wonder why you’d look to the past for wristwear when there are plenty of solid options currently on the market. Well, for one, vintage watches have the benefit of nostalgia, originality (i.e., fewer people will be wearing them), and, in certain instances, a level of distinction. If you’re a watch enthusiast, you’re almost saying, “I know my history.” There’s a reason why so many brands are reissuing their classic pieces. These watches were the foundation for their brands and, for some, critical models within the industry as a whole. This is not to forget that vintage watches are just really attractive, with many watch designs that haven’t seen anything closely resembling them in decades.

What to expect with a vintage watch

Owning a vintage watch means that it won’t have the same technology as modern watches; watch mechanics progress for a reason. This is why sticking to higher-end names like Rolex and Patek Philippe is important if you want something that will have some precision. If that doesn’t bother you, just make sure that your watch has been serviced by the seller (many of the companies below do this prior to listing them on their site) or plan to send it to somebody who can service it so that you can wear it on your wrist for years to come.

how to shop for vintage watches

First of all, make sure you know what you want. Shopping for “vintage Rolex” before you can even tell the difference between a GMT and a Submariner won’t do you any good, and can likely lose you some money (unless you have plenty of it to spare). Next, make sure that what you’re buying is authentic. Most of the companies in this guide have some sort of authenticity guarantee or at least put them through some level of vetting process.

It’s also important to know how much of the timepiece is from the original manufacturer. You don’t want mismatched hands or lumes. Likewise, you want to check the serial numbers to make sure that the movement inside is the one meant to go with the watch. Most shops will offer some sort of return policy if you’re unsatisfied after getting hands-on with your watch.

Analog Shift

Founder James Lamdin wanted his store to be a resource for enthusiasts, and above all else a place with a reputation for authenticity. All of the watches in Analog Shift’s shop have been beautifully photographed and feature descriptive, in-depth write-ups. While the New York City-based shop has plenty of impressive picks, be sure to check out their sister brands as well.

Bob’s Watches

If you’re looking for a Rolex and you’re hoping to pick it up at fair market value – you’re going to be hard-pressed to find a better place to get it at than Bob’s watches. Sure, you’re not going to be picking any gems out that you can re-sell for a whole lot more money, but if you have a passion for great watches and would love to own a vintage Rolex, this’ll do the trick.

Bulang and Sons

Collectors, not merchants. That is how Bulang and Sons see themselves. They didn’t get into the watch world to make a boatload of money – the small store and magazine was started because the founders had a passion for horology. That passion shows through in the great watches stocked in their shop. Rolex, Heuer, Universal Geneve, Omega, and more can all be found in the store, each accompanied by detailed write-ups and beautiful photography.

Chrono24

Above all else, Chrono24 endeavors to bring trust to the watch market. A truly global retailer, they have sales offices in New York, Hong Kong, as well as an editorial office in Berlin. And while Chrono24 doesn’t necessarily specialize in vintage watches, just by virtue of being so big they have a really impressive selection to choose from. Chronographs, dress watches, you name it and they’ll likely have a few different models.

Crown & Caliber

As one of the frontrunners in online watch retail in recent years, Crown & Caliber also recognizes the risks of purchasing something expensive (and easily counterfeited) from a third party. In 2015, founder and watch enthusiast Hamilton Powell had the idea to launch a seller’s platform to ensure transactions for vintage and pre-owned timepieces. Today, however, the Atlanta-based firm owns every watch it sells on the site, from over 40 respectable brands, which are tested and authenticated before listing. All of its prices are determined by current market data and each sale comes with a no-hassle return policy and 2-year warranty.

Ebay

So obviously, when thinking about buying or selling things online for cheap, eBay comes to mind. In fact, eBay is a great place to go on the hunt for great old watches at a good price. That being said, buyers need to beware. Fake watches or inaccurate descriptions are a feature of the site. The more research you do on your dress watches, GMT watches, or solid divers, the better. It is even worth visiting watch forums and asking others to verify your finds. Just whatever you do, don’t simply take a seller’s word for it – even if they have a good rating. Instead, take advantage of eBay’s “Authenticity Guaranteed” stamp that they’ve certified.

Fog City Vintage

Unlike some other sites on this list, Fog City Vintage only as a handful of timepieces to sell or consign at any given time, from a recent H. Moser to a 1969 Roles Submariner. Because of that, the company is able to ensure better quality and customer relations. However, it also keeps archives available to browse of all of its past sales as well. If you can’t tell by the name, Fog City Vintage comes out of San Francisco. It was launched in 2018 by Tim Bender, a lover of watches since he was 7 years old, as a way to buy and sell vintage Rolexes. Now, of course, the site specializes in any vintage or high-end luxury piece. Each watch you buy is shipped overnight and comes with a 72-hour window for you to inspect it in case you want to return it.

Grey and Patina

For the team at Grey and Patina, watches come with some weight behind them. And with each piece that it sells, the California-based firm tries to find some sort of narrative, as you’ll see in its decorative product descriptions. Even the brand’s name references the beauty that comes with a watch’s wear over time. Sometimes a piece’s provenance isn’t cut and dried, but the story it tells through its ownership can be attained on some level. Considering themselves vintage watch hunters rather than merely retailers, Gray and Patina is one of the more unique companies on this list.

Hodinkee

When it comes to the world of watches, few places are as respected as Hodinkee. The authoritative site started selling watch straps back in 2008, but they only started stocking vintage watches in their online shop in early 2016. Don’t let their short track record throw you off, though. Hodinkee is a leader in the space, and when it comes to scholarship and attention to detail, they’re practically peerless.

22 Pcs by Man of the World

Like a lot of great magazines these days, Man of the World has their own online shop called 22 Pcs, which offers a curated selection of – you guessed it – 22 pieces at one time. Unlike most publications, their shop carries rare, vintage watches. We’re talking timepieces from Patek Philippe, Rolex, Omega, and Universal Geneve. As tends to be the case with vintage watch dealers, Alan Maleh, the editor of the Man of the World, carries these watches in his store in large part because he has a deep love for vintage watches. That passion shows through in how the shop presents each timepiece, with deeply researched write-ups and crisp product photography.

Matthew Bain Inc.

Dedicated watch dealers are great places to look for quality vintage watches, and Matthew Bain Inc. is among the best out there. Bain has been in the business since he was fresh out of college in the 1980s and is a member of three major watch organizations – a testament to his clean track record and high standing in the community. When he isn’t working out of his office in Miami, he works as a consultant for Sotheby’s and Christie’s on everything from wristwatches to pocket watches from the 1800s. On top of all of this professional experience, Bain’s online collection is vast. Buyers on his site will come across everything from vintage Rolex and Omega watches to timepieces from Longines and Vacheron Constantin.

OYSTERBAR

Though it has no direct affiliation with Rolex, OYSTERBAR takes its name from the watchmaker’s iconic sealed watch cases. An extension of the London-based auction house Watches of Knightsbridge, founded by Toby Sutton and his father Simon in 2011, OYSTERBAR opened up just a couple of years ago. Focusing on pairing each timepiece with its year of production, the site specializes exclusively in Rolexes, with an emphasis on Datejust and sports models. With over 200 models currently available, the company lets you purchase online or in-store by appointment, and each piece comes inside OYSTERBAR’s bespoke watch box.

Watch Recon

So we’ll just own this – we’re breaking our rules here with this pick. WatchRecon is not an online shop. They will, however, help you find awesome vintage watches. The website is essentially a search engine that checks everything from forums to more prominent dealers for watches being sold. If you have a trained eye and are on the hunt for a top-quality watch, this is most definitely one of the sites you should be frequenting.

Wind Vintage

When Eric Wind launched Wind Vintage in 2017, it was a real treat for vintage watch fans. Wind had already been arguably the leading expert in the space, serving as a contributor to Hodinkee for several years, assisting several Hollywood productions in sourcing vintage watches, and boasting a personal collection of around 50 timepieces himself. Sourcing the available collection himself, Wind Vintage specializes in selling vintage luxury models before 1990 and above $15,000. It’s also worth noting that if you’re looking for a specific model that’s not available online, you can reach out to Eric to assist you in finding it.

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