What is Vintage?

Calibre11 · Feb 23, 2016

A good question that I got on Instagram...how old does a watch have to be before we consider it vintage?

For the purpose of this forum, it's kind of easy. Pre-1986 We have Heuer and post 1986 we have TAG Heuer...so that's fairly neat line between vintage and modern.

But, a 1992 watch will be 25 years old next year! I think a lot of people get confused between "vintage" being a style of watch versus the age of a watch. For example,

1984 Heuer Autavia Diver 100

1986 TAG Heuer Formula 1

I think most people on this board would agree that the Autavia is a vintage watch- but few would say the same for the F1...but they're only two years apart! One is a Heuer (vintage cred), the other is a TAG Heuer. One has a Calibre 12 movement, while the other has a quartz movement.

Which all begs the question: What do you think is "vintage"??

Hubert · Feb 23, 2016

I've always liked how it's organized on this forum, Heuer=vintage; TAG Heuer=non-vintage.

Calibre11 · Feb 23, 2016

Hubert
For this forum, Heuer=vintage; TAG Heuer=non-vintage.

But what when are sitting here banging away at the keyboard in 15 years time? Are you telling me that a then 45 year old Formula 1 TAG Heuer will never be vintage? Surely at some point, everything becomes vintage.

Hubert · Feb 23, 2016

D.C
But what when are sitting here banging away at the keyboard in 15 years time? Are you telling me that a then 45 year old Formula 1 TAG Heuer will never be vintage? Surely at some point, everything becomes vintage.

Sure it will. 😀 I think the delimiter is 30 years or more is vintage; more than 75 years makes it an 'antique'.

Calibre11 · Feb 23, 2016

Hubert
Sure it will. 😀 I think the delimiter is 30 years or more is vintage; more than 75 years makes it an 'antique'.

OK, so that makes a 1986 TAG Heuer S/el vintage?

My answer to the question was that 60s and 70s were definitely vintage...80s was probably vintage, but 1990s...not yet! So, I guess we're on the same page

Hubert · Feb 23, 2016

D.C
OK, so that makes a 1986 TAG Heuer S/el vintage?

My answer to the question was that 60s and 70s were definitely vintage...80s was probably vintage, but 1990s...not yet! So, I guess we're on the same page

Indeed we are. 😀. However, I would still encourage users on this forum to post original Heuer / Leonidas models here and TAG Heuer on the other one.

elbeik · Feb 23, 2016

I like Mercedes-Benz classification of vintage; anything from the 80's - early 90's is listed as youngtimer / modern classic, and what comes before is classic.

I guess vintage will relate to a bygone era, where trends, technology, and lifestyles were specific to a generation.

imagwai · Feb 23, 2016

I like this definition of vintage: "denoting something from the past of high quality, especially something representing the best of its kind." Using this guideline, it's possible to have two watches from the same period, one being vintage, and the other not.

dtf · Feb 23, 2016

I like that definition @imagwai, I would describe the f1 and s/el as 'old' and the autavia as 'vintage' 😀

Calibre11 · Feb 23, 2016

Actually, for me "vintage" is absolute. Two watches from the same year are either both vintage or they're not.

But, one can be a classic and the other not.

When it comes to cars, I see anything before say 1950 called vintage- post that they're "classic"

imagwai · Feb 23, 2016

I can understand your viewpoint David. "Vintage" describes the object, but it's subjective to you. And of course, people being people, they frequently use the term in slightly different ways.

Here's another definition from the Cambridge dictionary:
of high quality and lasting value, or showing the best and most typical characteristics of a particular type of thing, especially from the past:
a vintage plane
a vintage comic book
This film is vintage (= has the best characteristics typical of filmsmade by) Disney.
She loves buying vintage clothing.

imagwai · Feb 23, 2016

imagwai
I can understand your viewpoint David. "Vintage" describes the object, but it's subjective to you. And of course, people being people, they frequently use the term in slightly different ways.

Here's another definition from the Cambridge dictionary:
of high quality and lasting value, or showing the best and most typical characteristics of a particular type of thing, especially from the past:
a vintage plane
a vintage comic book
This film is vintage (= has the best characteristics typical of filmsmade by) Disney.
She loves buying vintage clothing.

P.S. I personally like to think of vintage as "of it's time" or "of a certain age/period".

Big Adam · Feb 23, 2016

😗
What about the Heritage watches?
Vintage or not?

imagwai · Feb 23, 2016

Big Adam
😗
What about the Heritage watches?
Vintage or not?

"Vintage style" 😀

automobilia42 · Feb 23, 2016

I was reading today an article about cars, a little bit of a similar discussion, but they called vintage 'historic', which is of course also a nice description:
"....Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA), explains: “By ‘historic vehicle’, we mean a mechanically propelled road vehicle at least 30 years old....".
Again 30 years as a minimum of age.
http://www.automobielmanagement.nl/download/1145254_220216-fiva.doc

OttoWilliam · Feb 21, 2017

What do you guys think of monza reedition 2016 ?

Will it be vintage in the next 30-40 years from now ?

Calibre11 · Feb 21, 2017

OttoWilliam
What do you guys think of monza reedition 2016 ?

Will it be vintage in the next 30-40 years from now ?

That the million (OK, thousands) dollar question. I think that its a timeless design- but will the taste for larger watches still be in force?

OttoWilliam · Feb 21, 2017

Calibre11
That the million (OK, thousands) dollar question. I think that its a timeless design- but will the taste for larger watches still be in force?

So by size alone, lets say Richard Mille will never be vintage ?

Hubert · Feb 22, 2017

Calibre11
That the million (OK, thousands) dollar question. I think that its a timeless design- but will the taste for larger watches still be in force?

Time + Scarcity = Appreciation

OnlyTheClassics · Nov 27, 2017

I think this may be just the right thread for this question;
What about the transitional models? My 844/3 auto was sold with both Heuer and Tag Heuer dials. Are the Tag dialed examples still considered a "true" Heuer by the purists/enthusiasts or will it always be seen as less desirable than the Heuer 844's that are otherwise exactly the same watch?
I let condition be my deciding factor when purchasing my 844 and am hoping i didnt make a mistake by buying a Tag dialed example :/