Openai/69529813-69a4-8008-92d8-747b5588c5f4

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gpt-5-2

User: How old a timepiece must be to be called vintage??

How old a timepiece must be to be called vintage??

Assistant: Great question — and in the watch world, the word “vintage” actually has a fairly accepted meaning.

Great question — and in the watch world, the word “vintage” actually has a fairly accepted meaning.

🕰️ When is a watch considered vintage?

Most collectors and dealers agree:

A watch becomes “vintage” when it is about 20 to 30 years old.

So, in 2025, that generally means:

• Vintage: 1995–2005 and earlier

Some use a stricter cutoff:

• True vintage: Pre-1990
• Neo-vintage: 1990–2005
• Modern: 2006–present

🧭 Additional collector terms you’ll hear

| Term | Age | | ----------- | ------------------------------- | | Antique | 100+ years old | | Vintage | ~20–30+ years | | Neo-Vintage | ~20–30 years (transitional era) | | Modern | Less than ~20 years |

💎 Why age alone isn’t everything

A watch isn’t considered collectible vintage only because of age. Collectors also look at:

• Historical importance
• Discontinued movements or techniques
• Originality & condition
• Brand heritage

That’s why a 1998 Rolex Submariner can already be “vintage” in the market, while a 1998 mall-brand quartz watch is just… old 😉

If you’d like, tell me the model you’re curious about and I can place it precisely on the vintage spectrum.