LIST: 5 solid vintage watches you can buy in Australia right now

Daniel Senia

I don’t think we’d be telling anyone anything new by saying vintage is sooo hot right now. Price escalation, predominantly driven by the vintage Rolex market at auction, has created incredible demand for vintage timepieces. But it can seem we get the short end of the stick in the land Down Under when it comes to access, quality and quantity of vintage stock. That being said, the Australian pre-owned watch market is abuzz with quality buys at the moment, if you look hard enough. So we took it upon ourselves to explore just some of the timepieces available right now, across our great land. Here are five of the best vintage watches available in the Australian market.

1967 Tudor Oyster Prince ref. 7928 – $11,995

The rapid escalation in vintage Rolex prices is now being reflected in prices for late ’60s and early ’70s divers from Rolex sister brand, Tudor. This example is about as original as you’ll find. The bracelet has been discarded, likely from years of wear, while the original dial and hands have a beautiful patina, which reflects the age. There’s no box or papers – but who needs them? This one is a keeper. View the listing here.

1969 Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch – $9,990

The Speedy Tuesday and Ultraman special editions may be the most popular watches on the pre-owned circuit right now, but this OG Speedmaster — from the year that NASA actually landed on the moon — is a well-priced piece of history. Inside tip: the demand for these is about to skyrocket with the release of the movie First Man later this month, with Ryan Gosling, as Neil Armstrong, wearing one on his wrist. This example won’t be around for long. See the listing here.

1970’s Patek Philippe 3528 – $8,800

This white gold masterpiece is the epitome of ’70s cool. It’s on the small side, at 31mm x 26mm, as was the fashion of the time, but it makes up for it in spades with the deep blue dial and white gold mesh bracelet (a personal favourite). At $8,800, it’s an easy entry into the world of Patek Philippe. View the listing here.

1991 Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, yellow gold – $29,990

Toggling on the cusp of what can be classified as vintage, this modern vintage piece is stunning for a couple of reasons. Firstly, Daytona prices are currently on fire, but with this piece, you can buy yellow gold for marginally more than you would have to pay for a stainless steel model. Secondly, it’s a work of beauty — champagne dial, yellow gold Oyster case and infamous Zenith movement. Hurry, because I could be the first person to enquire about this one. The listing is here.

1962 Longines Flagship Automatic – $1,295

A fine example of a vintage Longines, this one will give you all of the vintage street cred at a fraction of typical vintage prices. Recently serviced, with original dial and hands, and with deco numbers at 3, 9 and 12, this one is a simple conversation starter from a brand with a long and exhaustive history. Check out the listing here.