A Guide to Classic Watches

Classic watches are not just time pieces. They are pieces of workmanship, art, and design reminiscent of the time they were created. In fact, many of them don’t actually tell time as well as their modern day counterparts. But, they are valued for their sentimental value as well as the value of owning a part of history. Many people even buy classic watches as an investment, and many do turn out to be good investments.

There are two main types of classic watches, pocket watches and wrist watches. Very old classic men's watches are almost always pocket watches because wrist watches did not become popular for men until after World War I.

Classic watches are valued for many different reasons. Many times they are a family heirloom passed down through the generations. They can also be valued for a design or style that sets it apart from other watches of the same time. A great watch may even be able to capture the essence of an era or the watchmaker that originally made it.

To accomplish this, not all classic watches need to be old or make by a famous watch designer, it just needs to be unique or distinctive. There are many different ways a watch can express this, some are:

• Unique design
• Performance or Complications
• Innovative technology for the era
• Fashionable Design

One example of a watch that embodies all of these is the Rolex Perpetual.  Perpetuals are classic automated watches, they were the first watches to contain a self-winding mechanism.  This history and tradition makes even their more modern counterparts worth quite a bit of money.

While many different countries have produced great watches, classic Swiss watches have been considered the gold standard since the innovation of the wristwatch. Swiss watch manufacturers count Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe, Tag Heuer, Movado, and Longines as members of their stories legacy. Other watch companies valued for their classic designer watches include Simon Carter, a UK company, Cartier, a French Company, and Eglin National Watch Company and Hamilton Watch, both American companies.

Repairing Your Classic Watch

When you need to make watch repairs on your classic vintage watch make sure you take it to an accredited watchmaker. The watchmaker should be certified by the America Watchmakers-Clockmakers institute or another equivilent institute. Make sure to ask to see a copy of his certification. Only by taking your watch to a certified watchmakers for cleaning and repair will you ensure that your watch is correctly cleaned, lubricated, and repaired with the same methods and parts that were in use at the time your watch was made. It will ensure the watch's quality and integrity for years to come.