Wealthy designer watch fans are now snapping up damaged second-hand timepieces, saying nicks, scuffs and discoloration just makes the coveted jewelry look even better

Wealthy designer watch fans are favoring beat-up vintage wristwear rather than shiny and brand-new timepieces. 

Watch-fanatics globally are choosing watches that are unique or special because of the age and originality rather than the glitz and glam.  

'I like walking down the street with a watch that may not look special, but it is special,' Jeffrey Binstock, 62, told The Wall Street Journal.

The watch lover and former New York media executive said that some of his most beloved watches are decades-old, and look it too.  

'Scratches, dents, 'crazed' [visibly cracked] dials—that doesn't bother me at all,' said Binstock. 

Vintage watches that have stood the test of time usually have a story to tell. 

An account on TikTok that specializes in buying, selling and trading luxury watches @TNSdiamonds explains the full run-down of the pieces they sell.

The account recently advertised a vintage Rolex from the 1950s, which was selling for $2000 - a bargain in the world of designer watches. 

It was a 1950s 'bubble back', reference '3, 3, 7, 2' with a gold crown. However the watch is mismatched with a steel bezel - indicating that the crown was originally stainless steel and was replaced to gold or vice versa. The 70-year-old watch is for men, even though it's smaller than usual. 

The quirks and imperfections of the watch are what makes it interesting and gives it character. Not to mention the cheaper-than-usual price tag. 

Mike Nouveau, a vintage watch specialist, has made a career out of collecting and explaining rare and historical pieces.

He even stops people in them middle of the street when an especially rare watch catches his eye - as he did with Constantine Giavos - the proud owner of a 1979 Rolex Day-Date President with a Greek day wheel and a wooden dial.

The expert explained the rarity of the 'highly specific' watch - saying that Rolex made 26 different languages, and Greek is 'absolutely amongst the rarest' - adding that he's never even seen one in person. 

Nouveau revealed that such a watch would sell for over $20,000 today because of its rareness and historical value, despite being tattered and aged. 

Fashionable and wealthy watch lovers find pieces that are less pristine and more worn-in stylish and cool. 

Christopher Bastin, 50, the Swedish creative director of fashion brand Gant, wears a scratched-up but still elegant Rolex Submariner from the '70s. 

'The dial flew off while I was working in the garden last year,' he said. 'To me, having a watch that you need to be careful and all prissy about is pointless.' 

The immaculate state of a Rolex can still be alluring, but a battered version is being regarded as a more humble approach than a glistening timepiece. 

While watch-enthusiasts are choosing shabby watches for style purposes, its important that the piece still serves its purpose. 

Dylan Lewis, founder of Goldfinger's Vintage in Brooklyn, told The Wall Street Journal there are several things to look out for when shopping for a vintage watch.

He said that scratches, subtle dents or discoloration can supply the desired look - but that cracked glass or a misshapen dial or hand 'compromise a watch's integrity.'

Experts suggest that if you want to achieve the worn-in watch look, you should find a reliable dealer to guide you in the right direction without being overcharged or sold a doomed product. 

Binstock has said that, for him, wearing a stylishly shabby watch is a private luxury - only he knows its true value and interesting quirks. Plus it doesn't 'scream on the wrist.'