Click to view advice from other TimeZoners
First and most important, have fun - that's what this hobby should be all about....
Second - after you've decided on what type or types of vintage watches you'd like to collect, find and talk to a watchmaker or two who have some knowledge of these types of watches.
Can they easily be repaired???
Can parts be found or made???
And at what cost????
For example - I went from collecting Vintage Rolex watches to 1930's Vintage Mickey Mouse watches.
Now getting a vintage Rolex watch serviced can be difficult but not nearly as difficult as trying to get a 1934 Ingersoll Mickey Mouse Wrist watch serviced.
There is nothing more frustrating then purchasing a watch only to find out that it cannot be repaired. Even if the watch is running when you buy it, things "happen" and although a vintage watch that doesn't run is still collectable, one that runs and that can be worn is even better.
And last, and this point may be obvious - know what the watch you want should look like.
I have read many a book on vintage Rolex and Vintage Mickey Mouse watches, and I have found errors and contradictions in ALL of them.
What Case-Back should have come on a late model Rolex 1665 White Dial Sea Dweller???
How many dial variations were there of the Long Stem Mickey Pocket watch????
While some questions may never get answered completely, don't just take the word of a "book" - ask other collectors, try and find vintage watch ads from that time period, etc.
Don't be fooled. You don't want to purchase something that you thought was "Correct", only to find that it isn't.
Conversely, you may see a watch that someone is selling and realize that it's really a very rare version of that model and then, because you did your homework, you will recognize that really great find.
Good luck and have fun.
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