Antique v. Vintage

[RWV01]

I'd like to know what other RTF members think concerning Vintage v. Antique Rolexes.

For example, a "vintage" rolex may be qualified by its movement, while an "antique" may be qualified by its age. Any thoughts on one or the other? There may very well be "standards" but I know not what they are.

[dom_]

I always took antique to mean over 100 years old and vintage to me is a rolex with a plastic dome not glass.

But that is just my opinion

[Adam K.]

I would say anything antique--in terms of Rolex--would be any pieces made before the 1950s...that is anything before the 10XX series calibers. Certainly anything in Bubbleback territory and going back from there to the first Oyster models of the 1920s and even earlier to the young years of the 20th century when some of the very first watches to feature "Rolex" on their dials were made (Kew Observatory pieces, etc.).

[NYMike]

No difference. The terms are interchangable. The one caviate is that Vintage is used to make more things qualify as antique. So while something from the 1990's might not seem like it's antique, calling it vintage, somehow grants it special status over being just somewhere between new and old.

I think calling things vintage is just a way to make something appear more special. It's a marketing term, and hold no real weight on the value of anything the way it's used today.

[tranny]

Originally Posted by NYMike

No difference. The terms are interchangable. The one caviate is that Vintage is used to make more things qualify as antique. So while something from the 1990's might not seem like it's antique, calling it vintage, somehow grants it special status over being just somewhere between new and old.

I think calling things vintage is just a way to make something appear more special. It's a marketing term, and hold no real weight on the value of anything the way it's used today.

I disagree. "Vintage" was originally used to refer to older clothing that is highly stylized and not currently "fashionable" (20s - 70s). It grew to include older furniture & home accessories that have a distinct period style but are not quite antique.

Vintage goods are generally not overpriced. They're typically very, very cheap. That's part of their appeal. In recent years, there's an increased interest in vintage goods, but it hasn't made them ridiculously priced. Check out etsy.com - plenty of reasonably priced vintage stuff there.

[AJMarcus]

Steve got it right. Although lately famous designers have now gotten into the fray and are now designing items with the vintage look and the designer price tag. Jeans are a good example of that. The new 42 mm Expy II is also a close example IMO. After all it has the vintage orange 24 hour hand and more resembles that era Explorer II than the one it replaced. I'd be curious to hear what others think.

[Beelzy]

Simple really.....Antique: worth some money. Vintage: worth a lot of money.

[NYMike]

Originally Posted by transio

I disagree. "Vintage" was originally used to refer to older clothing that is highly stylized and not currently "fashionable" (20s - 70s). It grew to include older furniture & home accessories that have a distinct period style but are not quite antique.

Vintage goods are generally not overpriced. They're typically very, very cheap. That's part of their appeal. In recent years, there's an increased interest in vintage goods, but it hasn't made them ridiculously priced. Check out etsy.com - plenty of reasonably priced vintage stuff there.

Actually, your wrong. Vintage is way of distinguishing particular years of wine. A vintage is just a year.

I like how you created a whole story about the word's origin using descriptive opinion terms like "highly stylize" and "not currently Fashionable." I also like how you come to the conclusion that they are generally very very cheap. Please tell me which is cheaper - "an old used shirt" or a "vintage 1970's movie shirt." Old shirt - no value, should go to good will. Vintage 1970's shirt - market appeal and collector credentials. It's used to market and remake undesirable items into collectable items and give value to the valueless.

And from Wiki refering to clothing:

"Vintage clothing is a generic term for new or second hand garments originating from a previous era.

[dddrees]

Antique doesn't seem to be to common of a term used around here at all. I imagine there might be some watches referred to as being Antique. But I'm not sure what criteria one would have to meet or if and when they would be called that vs vintage. It's probably one of those things where it is more rooted in opinion vs fact anyway.

[gwalker]

IMO antique is older. The term vintage was coined by a very smart marketing guru to give value to something that's not quite old enough to be antique. Vintage makes me think 70's.

[Eulogy]

I think vintage is kind of a personal opinion as far as actual age. Most people in middle age think of stuff from their highschool time as vintage. Reminiscent of their youth. People in their 50's now think back to the 70's.

It takes about a generation for the nostalgia to kick in. They see their kids transiting from youth to adulthood and harken back to their own time. And they now have the means to acquire or re-acquire those things.

Edit: And vice versa, their kids find thing from their parents' age and find them 'new'.

[tranny]

Originally Posted by NYMike

Actually, your wrong. Vintage is way of distinguishing particular years of wine. A vintage is just a year.

I like how you created a whole story about the word's origin using descriptive opinion terms like "highly stylize" and "not currently Fashionable." I also like how you come to the conclusion that they are generally very very cheap. Please tell me which is cheaper - "an old used shirt" or a "vintage 1970's movie shirt." Old shirt - no value, should go to good will. Vintage 1970's shirt - market appeal and collector credentials. It's used to market and remake undesirable items into collectable items and give value to the valueless.

And from Wiki refering to clothing:

"Vintage clothing is a generic term for new or second hand garments originating from a previous era.

Oh boy... Angry much? I didn't invent the terms "highly" or "stylized". Certainly the etymology of "vintage" is from wine. Vint = vin = wine. However, in terms of use of the term to qualify other goods, I am correct that it began with clothing. As for your wiki quote, well it only supports my statement How do you suppose one would recognize clothing from a different era if it's not "highly stylized?". Items devoid of style are impossible to classify. Further, pre-20th century clothing qualifies as antique, so it's no longer vintage. Finally, with regards to price, I was speaking relative to new and antique prices. Cheers.

[NYMike]

Originally Posted by transio

Oh boy... Angry much? I didn't invent the terms "highly" or "stylized". Certainly the etymology of "vintage" is from wine. Vint = vin = wine. However, in terms of use of the term to qualify other goods, I am correct that it began with clothing. As for your wiki quote, well it only supports my statement How do you suppose one would recognize clothing from a different era if it's not "highly stylized?". Items devoid of style are impossible to classify. Further, pre-20th century clothing qualifies as antique, so it's no longer vintage. Finally, with regards to price, I was speaking relative to new and antique prices. Cheers.

So MC Hammer Pants would be Vintage because they are highly stylized, but a pair of simple James Dean styled Jeans would not be?

[tranny]

Originally Posted by NYMike

So MC Hammer Pants would be Vintage because they are highly stylized, but a pair of simple James Dean styled Jeans would not be?

I'm not familiar with James Dean jeans, but I'd say sure... if they look just like jeans today, then they're just "old jeans". "Vintage" is a reference not to age, but style. Here's more info, though I think you already read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vintage_clothing