Before the Noise: The Enduring Appeal of Neo-Vintage Watches
There was a time before watches became content fodder. Before launch embargoes, influencer wrist shots, waitlists, hype cycles, Instagram, TikTok, resale values, and theft-worthy wrist candy. A time when a watch was chosen because it felt right. The era, roughly spanning the mid 1980s through the early 2000s, is what many collectors now call neo-vintage . As for a growing number of enthusiasts and layman collectors alike, myself included, it represents the sweet spot in modern watchmaking. What Exactly Is Neo-Vintage? Neo-vintage watches typically sit between true vintage and fully modern production. Think: Post-quartz crisis, when mechanical watchmaking found its footing again Pre-social media, before taste was algorithm-driven Before watches became luxury “assets” rather than personal objects These watches often benefit from modern-enough engineering while still retaining classic proportions, design restraint, and e...
