Vintage chronographs and other old timepieces historically have been admired, valued and used as investments. It was only near the end of the 19th Century that vintage wrist watches came into existence. The basic production of wrist watches during the first 40 years of the 20th Century saw the mass production of very basic timepieces; others would follow that broke the mold, including vintage chronographs, repeaters, split-second timers and other complicated pieces were produced. These were high-quality and now are rare, so they fetch high prices in auctions.
The post-World War II era witnessed two important innovations; namely the Planetary Self Winding Rotor and the Gyromax balance. From about 1950 on, these innovations were built to sustain an upswing of production. It is this time period that has become of prime interest to collectors from around 1980 until today.
The sphere of collecting vintage wrist watches is well-defined and not too hard to follow; for this reason, there generally are few surprises if you have the funds to invest. There are, however, unique pieces that break the norm and bring values that are far above the average for the era. If the manufacturer is high-end and the piece rare, the watch can be labeled “very important” and its price can soar.
Vintage Chronograph Watches For Sale
Among the things to consider when looking for a vintage chronograph are:
• The manufacturer – This is important because watches from famous makers often bring more at resale.
• Material – If a watch is made of gold or platinum, it will typically be worth more than those of chrome nickel, stainless steel or silver.
• Style – Elegant and desirable watches with diamonds can often be more valuable than plain timepieces.
• Features – Watches with the latest advancements, such as vintage chronographs or pocket watches, often hold their prices better than simple watches.
• Rarity – A vintage Rolex watch may be worth less than a one-of-a-kind timepiece that has historical significance.
Vintage Chronograph Wrist Watches
Examples of what the collector would look for are repeaters, (watches that chime) chronographs and split-second timers, (watches with stopwatch functions) calendar and moon phase timepieces and sidereal function. Profiles and cases that are considered unusual are evaluated and can bring higher prices. Well-styled cases in 18 carat gold or platinum are generally near the top of the list. Silver is not considered a great watch material; in fact, stainless steel is preferred by many over its white-metal cousin.
The quality of engineering and complexity of the mechanism are key to increasing a watch’s value, especially if it was responsible for a facet of innovation in the industry. With so many factors to consider, those who are interested in purchasing vintage chronographs or other fine timepieces can expect to find excellent watches for both investment and daily wear.
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