How to style your vintage watch
Ft. Rolex, Patek and Omega
Perhaps you've recently invested in a vintage sport timepiece at an auction, or acquired an exquisite wristwatch at a garage sale. Or maybe you were lucky enough to inherit a vintage dress watch. The question now is, how do you wear it?
There is no right or wrong when it comes to styling a vintage timepiece. You might pair it down with your everyday wear just as easily as you may use it to complement an elevated look. And of course, a handsome sport chronometer is foolproof for finishing off any look with a strong blazer.
To offer you a bit of inspiration however, we’ve teamed up with Eric Wind from Wind Vintage to showcase exceptional pieces from Rolex, Patek Philippe and OMEGA. Eric is a seasoned connoisseur when it comes to vintage watches, having previously worked as a contributing editor at Hodinkee and served as Vice President, Senior Watch Specialist at Christie’s before founding Wind Vintage in 2017.
Patek Philippe 565
"While Patek Philippe is known for making most of its wristwatches watches in gold (yellow, pink and white) plus a select few in platinum, the company historically made a small number of wristwatches in steel," Wind explains. "This is a very desirable model, called the reference 565, which features a screw-back case that was made to create water resistance for the watch."
Joseph wears Louis Vuitton pullover and pants
Rolex "Red" Submariner 1680
As part of the production of ref 1680 in the late 1960s, Rolex "Red" Submariners were the first Rolex Submariners to be issued with a date. This reference is particularly coveted amongst collectors due to its seven variations.
Rolex Gold Submariner 1680
"The gold Submariner reference 1680 (sometimes called the 1680/8 with the '/8' meaning it was made in yellow gold) was the first Submariner model to feature a gold case," Wind says. "The original early gold bracelet has the error that says 'PATETED' instead of 'PATENTED' on the inside of the diver’s extension."
Joseph wears Woolrich jacket, Louis Vuitton hat
Dravid wears Acne Studios jacket & jeans, Pierre Hardy sneakers
OMEGA "Speedymoon"
"This OMEGA Speedmaster is nicknamed the 'Speedymoon' as it was the first Speedmaster to feature the moon phases," Wind says. "This particular example is from 1986 and features a rare original bracelet for the model."
Left: Rowing Blazers jacket
Below: Acne Studios sweater
Rolex "Big" Daytona 6239
"This is an unusual and early example of a Rolex Daytona and one of the early examples to feature the word 'Daytona' on the dial. This watch features the 'Big Daytona' text where DAYTONA is larger underneath COSMOGRAPH on the dial," Wind describes. "Collectors appreciate the way the ROLEX/COSMOGRAPH/DAYTONA text lines up in descending order like a pyramid in shape."
Rolex
"Paul Newman" Daytona 6239
"The 'Paul Newman' Daytona class of watches has become one of the most recognizable and desirable set of vintage watches you can buy. Paul Newman wore a reference 6239 just like this one and it sold for $17.8 million USD at auction in New York in October 2017," Wind says.
Dravid wears Louis Vuitton parka, jacket, shirt and shorts
Acne Studios Sweater