It is better to buy a vintage watch then a brand new one?

Better for what?

Build quality etc

There are much more technically advanced and longer lasting movements available at reasonable prices than in the past. Water-resistance, shock-resistance, anti-magnetism, you name it.

New is better.

If you want the best in durability and features at a great price then quartz is the best option.

Vintage are much more delicate and often will need servicing by a professional before they are useable.

Yes - if you are looking for something different than what everyone else is wearing, you have a high threshold for pain (lots of issues crop up with vintage watches), you can find an honest dealer, and you know a decent watchmaker.

No - if you cannot abide scratches, dings, acrylic crystals, temperamental movements and bracelets, and the thrill of the hunt.

Here are some of the cool things you can find if you are open to vintage...

You can compare new and used but new and vintage is a bit weird. I would say buy used vs new. Vintage watches would fall on the want list. From experience vintage watches will trigger anyone's OCD even if it's mild. Far from the feeling of owning new or used mint.

Vintage is purely for aesthetics, build quality has really come a long long way with watches. This isn't like phones, smartwatches or cars.

You buy what you like. There is no better.

This is a complicated question IMO. Old Seikos, for example, were better made (I did say IMO). But new Seikos have better specifications. However, old Seikos are now old and need servicing. And new Seikos are expensive and have quality control problems. 😕

Like I say, it's complicated.

Depends on what you want your watch to do, if it is purely to keep accurate time, of course you need to purchase current production items. Imo vintage watches are almost the same as the dreaded fashion brand watches so loathed by enthusiasts except they do not function as well but can be visually attractive, conversation starters. I used to know a lot of fellows who worked fashion who couldn’t afford a gold Cartier Tank but would wear something old or vintage.

Depends on what you like, but as always, first educate yourself on that specific watch, then buy it.

I collect vintage for the way the watch looks after a couple of decades of wear, and not for the technical specs. And I also know (from many a painful personal experience) that if you pass on a good vintage you’ll probably never see one like it again. :(

Very good advice! I’ve bought a few straight off the web without knowing too much… and all I got was a bad experience trying to sell em off.

Hear hear. I’ve never bothered about accuracy on my vintage watches. If they keep decent time they’re gold.

What a varied collection! Thanks for sharing!!

Depends. I'd seriously consider an Omega quartz, for instance, as I'd like an Omega at some point but may not be keen on paying so much for a new one. You'd have something relatively unusual, and should have quartz accuracy (although I don't know what other issues there may be with vintage quartz).

I wear my vintage collection sparingly, mostly for dates with the wife or other special occasions.