Great news: you don’t need a PhD in horology. Here are the basics.

A. Vintage watches are old. They’ve lived lives, seen things, and probably spent time in a drawer next to some tax returns.

B. They’re not perfect. Patina, tiny marks, warm aging — that’s the point.

C. They need care. Mechanical watches of any age eventually need service. Vintage ones need it a little sooner.

If that all sounds charming instead of stressful, you’re in the right place.

They’re not quartz. They’re not SpaceX telemetry. A good vintage mechanical watch might run within 10–30 seconds a day, sometimes better, sometimes mood-dependent. If you need second-by-second precision, your phone is right there.

Because in the 1940s–1970s, nobody was trying to wear a wall clock on their wrist.

Most men’s watches were 34–36mm, and guess what? They still look fantastic. Try one before you judge. There’s a reason “classic sizing” has made a comeback.

A few classics:

• Only shopping the big names

• Buying junk or fakes off Etsy

• Thinking 36mm is “too small”

• Expecting modern waterproofing

• Expecting modern accuracy

• Forgetting these watches have lived through actual decades

If you avoid those, you’re already ahead of the game.

Every watch, vintage or brand-new, will need service at some point. Depending on your area and the watchmaker, prices vary. If your watch stops, runs weird, or does the hokey pokey, email me and I’ll try to fix it or point you in the right direction.

No. Absolutely not.

Do not shower with them. Do not swim with them. Do not sauna, steam room, hot tub, or baptize anyone with them.

Vintage watches and water are not friends.

Yes, you can wash your hands. BUT NOT TOO MUCH.