Birth Year Watches - What are your Thoughts???

Not for me.

A sun dial would look horrible on my wrist 😂

I think they are silly. Why would I want a crappy 80s watch?

Everybody knows the best things to come from 1982 are The Number of The Beast, Conan The Barbarian, and me. 

I am more likely to care about a watch that was my birth year + 8 years (when I start caring about watches) or my birth year -5 to 10 years (my dad’s watches) than the watches that would have been way too big for me as I happened to be born. 

Meh. 

If it has meaning then go for it. I've seen some guys go for the birth year of their child. That to me seems pretty cool because you can then pass it on to them when they reach maturity and you get to wear until that time creating a connection with your child that lives on.

Not really working for me since I have a daughter. But I've turned her into a watch appreciator. She gets my daily wrist shots and usually comments on them. 

I've also given her some cool vintage watches for her to wear. Probably some of the coolest are these...

I was able to find a bracelet that was two-tone that I could shorten to fit her wrist...this is the watch on my oversized mitt...

Then I found this vintage women's Mido Ocean Star Commander with it's original bracelet from a dealer in Brazil which was really cool...perfect fit for her wrist...

And, of course, she needed a pretty watch...

Now I'm tempting her with the new Parmigiani Tonda PF 36mm...but she probably needs to be a little more responsible with her watches before she gets this one...

I'm firmly in the 'meh' camp.

The guy who bought my dad's Rolex (Dad wanted the cash, and I couldn't afford it) bought it for it being a birth year watch.  Surprised me at the time, and doesn't motivate me toward any particular watches. 

That said, if you are in love with a vintage watch and it happens to match up then you may as well try to get the same birthday as your watch!

'67 1016

I own a watch that was made in the same year in which I was born. It was more of a coincidence purchase as I was looking for a specific watch and found it on eBay. But it was an added bonus that it turned out to be a "birth year watch" and it did sway me to up my bid (It turned out this was not needed as my low bid was enough). 

Crap. Don't care. What great watches came out in 81 ......

My birth year 65 produced many watches I would love to have! 

1 of many

If you want something that connects you to the time of your birth get a magazine from back then. Or a piece of music (CD, vinyl record, sheet music - depending on how far back you go).

These things are much more tightly connected to that time than a watch.

I bought a couple of birth year watches about 20 years ago when I'd never heard the term and didn't even know it was 'a thing'. In terms of affordability, many people go Seiko. There were tons produced, and they're one of the more reliable brands for tracking serial numbers against years. 

They're also a lot cheaper, on average, than what you're looking at there. In your shoes, I'd find a fun, 40 year old Seiko, and have a birth year watch without breaking the bank or going over the top on a concept that, from your post alone, you don't seem entirely sure of being into, yourself.

For 7grand you really need to love the watch. 

I was looking at birth year watches and managed to score this for the princely sum of £90 from a website that specialises in them… 1979 Kelton (French Timex) “Diver” 38mm

Do I wear it? Rarely…

Am I glad I have it? Totally…

Its an affordable bit of fun for an enthusiast like me and was an absolute winner in one sense as my two favourite colours are blue and orange. 

Id say… keep hunting 👀 

1. I don't care about the day or year of my birth beyond having DOB as PII.
2. Where is the VIN plate on a watch that tells you which model year it is?
3. This seems like boring spendthrift people looking for excuses to squander more money on trinkets. 
4. At least it gets the nervous nellies to confront their neuroses and paranoias about vintage, so maybe some good will come of it.

That is a great watch to own in its own right.

Man, you are old.

There used to be a tradition, among my people anyway, to put away the front page of the day of your birth. It was usually kept with your first blanket, the clothes that you came home in, first shoes, that sort of thing. I destroyed mine when I was about nine.

Until I joined watch forums, I had never heard of the concept of birth year watches. I own a few, but that is by accident. My birth year contained a major escalation in the Vietnam War, the debut of Star Trek, and an England World Cup victory. I don't see where a watch helps me there. I am the best proof of my birth.

Er… I would 😂. There are some lovely options from the 80s, especially if you can stomach a little bit of quartz.

I love and hate my birth watch. Vintage Omega Seamaster with a date with no date hack! they didn’t do date hack until the next year so I only wear it roughly the same time of the month each month hahaha if I miss the date I either have to sit there and spin it around the dial for 20 mins until the date is correct (don’t even think about telling me the date doesn’t matter!) or I have to wait!

I love the birth watch for the kids and actually have one for our son!  Nice selection you have there for your daughter.  Very cool!

Beautiful watch!  

1976 - Yeah Baby!

Love that thought.  My 40th is coming up and I am more in the camp of "buy a really nice watch for my 40th" camp vs the birth year.  Maybe pull the trigger on that grail....😮

totally agree!  

Great story and thanks for sharing.

Very "adult" of you 😂.  

I do like linking a watch to a special time or occasion.  The watch my wife gave to me on our wedding day as an example.  Seems odd for me to go back and by a watch from my birth year....My dad should have done it!  Thanks Dad?!?!  (kidding)

'Mind Blown'

There. It. Is.

Not necessary, but if I came across a good condition seiko gold tuna from 85 sure. 

I would like a birth year watch but all the ones I like are thousands of dollars.. and anything reasonably priced is ugly / broken / both??   If I had thought of buying a birth year watch say 25~ years ago it would likely have been a lot easier / cheaper?     I would love a 1969 speedy but jesus...so expensive even anything cool from Seiko from 69 is gnarly price wise.

Could do what I did, get a new Moonwatch, then say 'hey, it went to the moon in '69, the year I was born', and then be done with the whole birth year thing.

Only you can confirm this choice.

I found something that can help you!
(it’s a bit hideous but you can thank me later)

From 1982 it’s a genuine product of its time.
From a good, reputable and historic Swiss brand. Good condition, with box and papers.

But like I said, only you can confirm this choice (right bottom pusher).

You can keep pressing it if you experience buyer's remorse.
It won't help. But it might take your mind off it. Might...

Happy birthday mate, all the best 😉

I bought a Sinn as I realised one of the things I liked  about the company was that it was started and founded in 1961 my birth year ..