How old before reliability becomes an issue?

[taxboy]

I've been trawling the internet and have come across mechanical watches from the 80's which have a certain appeal. However are watches from this era likely to turn into money pits or is it simply a lottery in the same way as older cars.
Alternatively is there a sweet spot e.g. up to 10 years where the risks of a second hand purchase are reduced

[Miguel Alvarez]

Only my own personal experience but for me it s been a coin toss. I ve got older watches that are pretty much spot on with time keeping. Some that are not.

One thing I ve found with some older watches is getting parts or someone trusted to fix them. I have an old bumper automatic that s being looked at and it s taking ages as getting parts are not that easy.

A phrase I learned when I joined this site is buy the seller ask questions if you feel happy with the answers it s probably worth a punt.

What are you looking at?

[Alorotom]

Ive got 2 vintage auto watches, one 1970s Rado Diastar Day/Date that keeps time as well (if not better than anything I own thats brand new), and one 1960s Omega DeVille that keeps time reasonably well - loses maybe 5min across a week of wearing it non-stop.

Both havent ever been serviced as far as I am aware - both were bought very cheaply on eBay 8-10yrs ago

[taxboy]

Miguel Alvarez said:

Only my own personal experience but for me it s been a coin toss. I ve got older watches that are pretty much spot on with time keeping. Some that are not.

One thing I ve found with some older watches is getting parts or someone trusted to fix them. I have an old bumper automatic that s being looked at and it s taking ages as getting parts are not that easy.

A phrase I learned when I joined this site is buy the seller ask questions if you feel happy with the answers it s probably worth a punt.

What are you looking at?

Thanks for that I was looking at Omega Seamsters but dress watch style rather than diver

[Barchettaman]

taxboy said:

Thanks for that I was looking at Omega Seamsters but dress watch style rather than diver

Bear in mind that vintage Omega automatic watches are likely to have been messed around with. Redials and movement swaps etc are not uncommon.

You’re more likely to get an original vintage Longines or Tissot and will most likely end up with a watch of comparable quality.

One other thing: brands have really started tapping into their back catalogues and releasing new watches with a vintage aesthetic. That’s where my money would go, I think, something a bit neo-vintage, a couple of years old, with a modern non-gunked-up movement.

[taxboy]

Barchettaman said:

Bear in mind that vintage Omega automatic watches are likely to have been messed around with. Redials and movement swaps etc are not uncommon.

You re more likely to get an original vintage Longines or Tissot and will most likely end up with a watch of comparable quality.

One other thing: brands have really started tapping into their back catalogues and releasing new watches with a vintage aesthetic. That s where my money would go, I think, something a bit neo-vintage, a couple of years old, with a modern non-gunked-up movement.

Thanks for the advice much appreciated

[bazza.]

If you keep on top of servicing a watch, reliability shouldn't be a problem