Japanese decorative techniques have made a remarked-upon incursion into Swiss watchmaking in recent years, with projects that point to a certain number of shared values, not least attention to detail and painstaking execution.

Simple, sober, rigorously precise and Bauhaus-inspired: what else but a Nomos watch. The German brand broke the mould at this year's Baselworld with a new reference whose in-house movement is contained in a square case. Glashütte clearly still has plenty of tricks up its sleeve.

"The New York Times" set out to understand how a watch that price can be considered a good deal, and why horological enthusiasts are willing to pay the equivalent of a year's rent to wear a piece of obsolete technology on their wrist.

Buying a vintage watch is a fascinating and fulfilling learning curve. In part two of this article, we look at the actual purchase, which requires a methodical approach. You've done your homework, now for some action!

For anyone considering taking their first steps in the vintage watch jungle, this two-part article sets out the right reflexes and gives advice on how to avoid the many pitfalls of this tempting yet very particular world.