The days of a shady man in a trench coat approaching you on the street – flashing open his coat to offer you rows and rows of shiny gold Rolexes – are over. Vintage watch dealing has gone corporate, writes Bloomberg. According to a Swiss research company, the preowned watch market is worth about $5 billion, and growing swiftly. Driven primarily by newish marketplace businesses like Analog/Shift, Chrono24 as well as aficionado publications, the vintage market is booming.
Like any booming modern business, vintage watches have also benefitted greatly from Instagram, where businesses can show off their latest wares for sale, and collectors can brag about their latest find.
Read Bloomberg’s full report on the flourishing vintage watch industry here. Want a vintage watch but don’t know where to start? Check out our guide to affordable vintage timepieces here.