Birth Year Watch
I have decided to begin my quest for a "Birth Year Watch." I would be most interested in something like a Seiko, Bulova, Hamilton, etc. (something with a little history/heritage to it) or from a good brand that has since disappeared.
I live in an area where haunting thrift stores isn't really an option, so, besides eBay, where should I be looking online?
I don't have a specific budget in mind, but probably "low hundreds" if only because if I get burned (in any number of ways) by an online purchase I don't want it to hurt too badly!
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Scott
Collector of “value” watches getting ready to sell off about a third of my pieces in order to replace them with a Laco Casablanca and a Seiko Alpinist.
New Hampshire, USA
Member since
Last active: 5 hrs ago
20.32 cm
This might sounds a little funny, but sometimes I found vintage watches with a mint on Facebook marketplace
Recently bought a 1964 Bulova in great condition, which I love. Happy hunting. (Love that Stooges album by the way; all three are great 🤘)
WWIW (What Would Iggy Wear?)
Seiko are reissuing 2 1969 models later this year
There's a website called I think birth year watch. Something like that. Maybe it can help you?
Wearing my birth year Seiko 5 Actus right now. And after decoding the SN like you can do on older Seikos, it's even the same month I was born!
From what I understand, DC Vintage Watches can help you track down a birth year watch for an additional fee if you contact them directly and inquire about it. They're a reputable American dealer in vintage watches (mostly Seiko, but some other brands too). If you get a watch from them it will be genuine and in working order, however it will probably stretch your budget a bit or constrain your options compared to if you were to track down a watch yourself on eBay or something. It could be worth it for the convenience and peace of mind though.
Buying vintage watches on your own can be a real mine field, but it can work out if you're careful. Most of my own vintage collection came from eBay.
1969 was apparently a pretty significant year in horological history. Perhaps one of the watches listed in this article?
https://www.watchonista.com/articles/history/1969-most-important-year-horological-history
...or one of those if you wanted 1969 tributes...
https://monochrome-watches.com/tribute-to-1969-5-great-watches-that-celebrate-50th-anniversaries-buying-guide/
1969 was apparently a pretty significant year in horological history. Perhaps one of the watches listed in this article?
https://www.watchonista.com/articles/history/1969-most-important-year-horological-history
...or one of those if you wanted 1969 tributes...
https://monochrome-watches.com/tribute-to-1969-5-great-watches-that-celebrate-50th-anniversaries-buying-guide/
Thanks so much for the link!
Thanks to everyone for their help- I'm excited to get started on my hunt!
Thanks so much for the link!
Glad to help!!
Thanks to the link I've found that my grail watch (the Monaco) is also my birth year watch- not sure that was the "help" I needed! 😉
Thanks to the link I've found that my grail watch (the Monaco) is also my birth year watch- not sure that was the "help" I needed! 😉
There you go! Extra incentive to go get your grail!! 😊
I bought a NOS Atlantic Monza from my birthyear of 1969 too. It was all I needed.
I took the original bracelet off and replaced it with a red faux-leather one because it's more comfortable.
Bulova Accutron Space view, loads of history.
I have a solid recommendation. Seiko 6139-6010. It was one of earliest automatic chronographs and it was worn by Bruce Lee (he wore a black dial produced in 1969). Can get these in the $500-$1000 range, so a touch more than you said, but if you are careful you won't have a problem.
Here is a Blue one made in 1969 from Sweetroad in Japan (very good condition) for ~$1500. You can likely find one in worse condition for <$1000. Or if you like the one below, I can vouch for Sweetroad as a very reputable dealer (they ship overseas as well).
https://www.sweetroad.com/view/item/000000016097
I have a solid recommendation. Seiko 6139-6010. It was one of earliest automatic chronographs and it was worn by Bruce Lee (he wore a black dial produced in 1969). Can get these in the $500-$1000 range, so a touch more than you said, but if you are careful you won't have a problem.
I like those a lot- thank you!
I think your idea of getting something worthwhile for 'low hundreds' is dreaming a bit. Not only are watches from the late 60s/early 70s (what year are we talking here?) starting to appreciate quite a bit, but great examples are appreciating even more. Combined with the way you can only tell what year a watch was made easily with certain brands - and you're on the money with something like Seiko - that cuts down the market on top of all that.
Seiko are reissuing 2 1969 models later this year
Link?
Here you go...
https://www.birthyearwatches.com/shop/?pa_product_year=1969
Hope you find what you're looking for. For me, I don't need a reminder about how old I am 😂
'69 is great year for birth year watches - you certainly ain't short of choice - some icons in the mix too.
On another note, I watched 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 doco on The Stooges a month or so back (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1714917/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk). One of the better music docos I've seen. Great band.
Iggy pop I don’t think I ever saw a watch on the cameleon , the Chairman of the bored . He was an interesting cat .
'69 is great year for birth year watches - you certainly ain't short of choice - some icons in the mix too.
On another note, I watched 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 doco on The Stooges a month or so back (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1714917/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk). One of the better music docos I've seen. Great band.
Saw it (alone!) in the theater when it came out- sooo good!
Saw it (alone!) in the theater when it came out- sooo good!
Nice. I didn't know it existed before I saw it on the tele. They screened the 'Punk' series that he (Iggy) produced at around the same time. That was good too, not as good but still good.