How To Score A Vintage Women's Watch
Finding a vintage women's watch that feels authentic to you can be a tough task, but thanks to these tips, tricks, and trustworthy watch retailers, you'll stumble upon the watch of your dreams before long.
Whether you're on the hunt for an artistic vintage womens watch like the Cartier Crash or a classically chic Audemars Piguet model, finding a vintage women's watch is easier than ever, thanks to the revolutionary new retailers that have joined the market since the onset of the digital age.
While scoping out your ideal model used to take place in conversation with a trusted dealer or at a buzzy auction, more and more ladies interested in owning a vintage womens watch are opting to take their business online, resulting in a booming new era for the industry.
While convenience is everything when it comes to online shopping, it's equally as important to train a discerning eye when it comes to perusing digital retailers. From identifying damage, fake models, and overpriced vintage pieces, the online market presents its own challenges, but with the expertise of leading vintage womens watch authorities, finding your next piece will be a breeze. Without further ado, join L'OFFICIEL as we dive into all of the do's and don'ts of the vintage womens watch world.
What To Know About Buying A Vintage Women's Watch: How Damaged Is Too Damaged?
Whether it be clothing, accessories, or jewelry, shopping vintage can yield some of the most memorable pieces in any woman's wardrobe, but it can also be tricky to navigate pieces damaged by wear and tear from previous owners. When looking for your next vintage women's watch, be sure to watch out for damaged parts that are difficult to replace, like hands, crowns, and bracelets.
These can be the most breakage-prone components of a watch, and if they need to be replaced, it can be extraordinarily costly to find both time period-accurate parts and a certified watch repair service qualified to fix your new find.
While watches with new parts can sometimes look the same as the vintage model, any expert would likely be able to identify that the watch is not in its original condition, thereby reducing the value of your timepiece. To avoid falling victim to this, be sure to select a vintage women's watch that is in premium condition and study any photos closely before purchasing.
What To Know About Buying A Vintage Women's Watch: What Does Vintage Really Mean?
While many younger members of Gen-Z seem to have come up with their own qualifications for what is considered vintage—think those viral TikToks of Gen-Z creators showing off "vintage" hauls made up of pieces from the early 2010s—in the luxury watch community, the verdict is clear.
Models crafted before the '90s are considered vintage, so let this guide you in your search for the ultimate vintage women's watch, as timepieces made after this period are still valuable, but not yet technically considered vintage.
What To Know About Buying A Vintage Women's Watch: How Can You Spot Fake Models?
Small details like logos, sizing ratios, and watch face numeral fonts are often good places to start when detecting a model that is entirely fake, but the latest problem facing the vintage women's watch community is the emergence of the "franken-watch," or a model that was once a vintage luxury watch, but has been reworked with modern materials or altered from its original state in any way beyond simple restoration.
To avoid accidentally ending up with a franken-watch, be sure to closely compare every aspect of your next potential purchase with photos of the same certified vintage womens watch. Logo stamps, watch faces, and bracelets are often replaced with vintage models, so start your comparison there. By opting to shop with a dealer who is trusted by others in the watch community, you can often avoid this stress altogether, so be sure to ask around before settling on the first retailer you come across.
What To Know About Buying A Vintage Women's Watch: What Brands Are Most Popular?
Shopping enduringly popular brands is a great way to ensure your vintage women's watch never goes out of style and is always of value, which is one of the major selling points for many collectors, but if you're drawn to a certain model that happens to come from a lesser-known label, don't be afraid to add it to your collection. After all, the point of collecting a vintage women's watch is to wear it, and if you don't love what you wear, why do it at all?
That being said, many of the most sought-after vintage women's watch models come from Rolex, Bulgari, Longines, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, and Cartier, so if there's a timepiece you've got your eye on, it's never a bad investment to make for the sake of adding value and volume to your collection.
What To Know About Buying A Vintage Women's Watch: Where To Purchase?
When shopping for a vintage women's watch, there are plenty of benefits in going about it the traditional way. Auctions and trustworthy dealers have enough experience to educate you on all the ins and outs of each specific model, and by shopping through these avenues, you're guaranteed an authentic model in quality condition.
For many, shopping online is simply more convenient. If you're looking to purchase a vintage women's watch from the comfort of your home, opt for Dimepiece, Foundwell, Hodinkee, Wind Vintage, and Rowing Blazers. All of these retailers offer certified authentic pieces and act as true authorities within the watch community, making for a great resource in terms of both education and acquisition.
