Fratello Talks: Vintage Watches — Wear It Or Spare It?

Most of us here at Fratello love vintage watches, but not all of us are comfortable buying and wearing them. Do you wear it, or do you spare it? Damaging a vintage watch can be expensive, but it might also just feel wrong to wear it daily. Can it withstand today’s abuse? Is it still water resistant enough? How about shocks? In this week’s installment of Fratello Talks, RJ, Max, and Daan discuss whether they wear or spare their (neo-)vintage watches.

Wrist check

We start the podcast with a round of wrist checks. This week, Max is wearing his 1950s Rolex Oyster Precision ref. 6482. Max is our youngest team member, but he always wears vintage watches. If it isn’t this Rolex, it’s his vintage Omega Constellation or Heuer.

RJ put on his 1982 Omega Constellation Manhattan in gold and steel. This is a battery-powered chronometer watch that wears like a bracelet. With a mere 32.5mm diameter, it’s the smallest watch in his collection.

Daan is rocking his 18K white gold Breguet Classique 5907 from 2005. It is powered by a hand-wound F. Piguet (now Manufacture Blancpain) movement with a power reserve indicator on the back.

Omega Speedmaster ref. 145.022-76

Fratello Talks: Vintage Watches — Wear It Or Spare It?

Is there a difference between wearing a vintage watch that already shows signs of wear and one that is NOS (new old stock)? RJ likes to think so, as he can’t get himself to give his birthyear watch (above) wrist time. Watches that clearly have been worn are no problem for him. Daan is in the same boat, although his collection consists mainly of neo-vintage watches from the early 2000s. His oldest watch, though, is a 1968 Seiko that he does wear occasionally. As said, Max only wears vintage watches (and drives old cars), as he believes these things have character.

We’d like to know whether you keep your vintage watches in the best possible condition or wear them like any other modern watch. Let us know in the comments below.