Does 25 years count as vintage yet?
It finally arrived! Last week, I saw this little beautiful online while looking for a titanium watch and it took all of two minutes for me to decide that I want it.
It's a 1997 Seiko 5 Superior Daydate Automatic. 5bar water resist, white patterned dial, 36mm titanium, mineral crystal, screw-in backcase. No second-hand hacking, crown not screwdown. Movement is 23 jewels caliber 7S36A Automatic (whatever that means). As you can see in the photo, the day of the week in the day window is a little askewed. The strap is a vintage-style leather-like nato (if that's a thing). Other than the day being wonky, it's in really good condition. I don't mind that minor imperfection though. It's a nice quirk.
I have, in several posts and comments here at WatchCrunch, expressed that I'm not exactly the biggest fan of Seiko. Nothing wrong with them as a brand. I have spent many hours perusing the official website, constantly putting in and taking out items in the shopping cart.
I like the idea of owning a Seiko.
However, I never could pull the trigger on anything. There's always something about Seiko--and I think what it is is, yes, it makes great watches for all kinds of situations, for all kinds of people, for all kinds of price ranges, but there's always (at least in my eyes) a better brand for the price. I like Seiko's field watches but for a little bit more cash I could get a Seagull 1963 or if I save the money maybe I could get a Hamilton Khaki. There's always something else.
I don't think this Titanium Seiko is going to change my mind in general about the brand. I can't see myself filling my drawer with Seikos. But I'm very happy with this purchase because, at the very least, that itch of owning a Seiko had finally been scratched.
I've got a god-shaped hole in my life that I'm trying to fill in futility with watches.
Love it, unusual and looks in good condition. Well done on your purchase 😉
Great pick-up man! That's one unique piece! 😉
I’ve got mixed feelings about Seiko, but I do love the vintage stuff. And even though I feel like 1997 was 5 years ago, I’d say that counts as vintage.
I’ve got mixed feelings about Seiko, but I do love the vintage stuff. And even though I feel like 1997 was 5 years ago, I’d say that counts as vintage.
I know right? One of those office lunch conversations: "I'm still interested in new music," said I. "Really? What's the latest song you know?" asked an audacious 24 year old. "I know the Frozen theme!" I proudly pointed out. "That was over ten years ago," replied the 24-year old. That shut me up.
Love it, unusual and looks in good condition. Well done on your purchase 😉
Thanks. I'm wondering whether I should keep the strap. With it running through the underside of the watch, it makes the watch taller and therefore chunkier.
Great pick-up man! That's one unique piece! 😉
Thanks. My first foray into buying old watches.
A really interesting watch and a great find! The word Titanium is the icing on the cake for me. That's definitely a keeper and conversation starter!
Generally 25 years is considered vintage. 100 years for antique.
Thanks. I'm wondering whether I should keep the strap. With it running through the underside of the watch, it makes the watch taller and therefore chunkier.
I always think leather NATO straps look great but don’t own any for that reason. I think I’d go with a 2 piece leather or nylon nato.
That’s a gorgeous dial. Congratulations on a great buy.
I’d also swap the NATO out for a leather strap.
Thanks. I'm wondering whether I should keep the strap. With it running through the underside of the watch, it makes the watch taller and therefore chunkier.
It would look cool on a brown leather strap as well
Interesting watch, cool to see a ‘vintage’ titanium. I have several watches from brands I don’t dive deep in because they are cool, this fits!
It would look cool on a brown leather strap as well
Yup, an excuse to go strap shopping.
That’s a gorgeous dial. Congratulations on a great buy.
I’d also swap the NATO out for a leather strap.
Absolutely. I like the idea of the vintage-looking nato but it's been bugging me how much it makes the 36mm watch bigger than it actually is.
Generally 25 years is considered vintage. 100 years for antique.
I've read somewhere that vintage doesn't just mean age (in watches). Heritage, scarcity, and brand also come into play. I'm finding that there are as many definitions in this hobby as there are brands.
Interesting watch, cool to see a ‘vintage’ titanium. I have several watches from brands I don’t dive deep in because they are cool, this fits!
Yeah. Still, somehow I feel guilty about not loving Seiko, like I'm missing a beat. I shouldn't have to love every brand or kind of watch out there to show street cred. But I still feel guilty anyway.
Great watch. Nice!
Remember how old you were the first time your joints told you it was gonna rain? Anything that age or older is vintage.
Nice watch. I agree with the others, get yourself a new strap. A distressed leather watch strap if you like the look, any other strap if you want to change how it looks.
This could be just be me, but using a used/second hand strap (aka a strap that has been sweated on by someone else) feels icky as heck.
Yeah. Still, somehow I feel guilty about not loving Seiko, like I'm missing a beat. I shouldn't have to love every brand or kind of watch out there to show street cred. But I still feel guilty anyway.
I hear you, I’m not a personal fan of digitals, so guilty feelings for G-shock and Seiko ‘God tiers’. Nomos - too plain and Breitling - too busy, also don’t appeal. I better stop before I alienate everyone!
I hear you, I’m not a personal fan of digitals, so guilty feelings for G-shock and Seiko ‘God tiers’. Nomos - too plain and Breitling - too busy, also don’t appeal. I better stop before I alienate everyone!
Hahaha. I feel the same way with all your examples. Add Rolex into the mix. My father is more excited about giving me his Rolex than I am. I don’t know what kind it is. That’s how excited I am to get it, I just know it’s a Rolex. All I can think of is, “Do I put that in the same box as the Seamaster?” I too need to stop before I piss off people.
Can I buy it new? No? Then it's vintage.
Hahaha. I feel the same way with all your examples. Add Rolex into the mix. My father is more excited about giving me his Rolex than I am. I don’t know what kind it is. That’s how excited I am to get it, I just know it’s a Rolex. All I can think of is, “Do I put that in the same box as the Seamaster?” I too need to stop before I piss off people.
I’ll give you a happy endorsement there. Rolex is a PERFECT example for me. I could imagine owning one, if the stars align and I come across one I like or get one as a gift. I can’t foresee a future where I’d ever collect them. I’m sure they’ll survive without me😉
I'm totally on the same page as you regards Seiko's in general. I have a vintage titanium cased blue dial which I inherited from my father in law and as such is a permanent addition to my collection (who am I kidding, they are all permanent 😄).
You new one is a really interesting shape and the leather NATO reall suit's it. Not often a fan of a square case but this is reall well done.👍 Nice.
Love it! Congratulations 🎉👏🍻
Damn, that's a sick watch!!
Great watch!
I pretty much start vintage in the early 1990s myself. Anything after that date I catalogue as pre-owned. So 25 years is technically vintage, but kind of on the cusp.
Great watch!
I pretty much start vintage in the early 1990s myself. Anything after that date I catalogue as pre-owned. So 25 years is technically vintage, but kind of on the cusp.
I think the general rule on vintage items is 20+ years old. You’re good! Beautiful piece!
Replaced the strap with a two piece black leather.
It really depends on who you talk to. Antiques dealers would see vintage in the 30-40 years plus department. Less professional types, and depending on what suits their business (if they have one), perceptions of a markeplace, etc, might start antique from 20 years on. Personally, I think 25 plus is a good place to start, so your watch would fall into that definition of antique and, I believe, many people's.