How much time must elapse for an item such as a book to become classic?

Mentioning a book to an individual to include in their list as classic was met with...

I wouldn't call "Book Name" a classic - it's less than 11 years old.

This got me thinking about when a book or other item (car, slang, recipe, etc...) becomes a classic. In my initial investigation I stumbled upon this description...

A novel can be called a classic when there is a significant time period between its publishing and the current age we are in. In other words, it has to be old, as well as critically renowned as a good novel. Then, it can be called a classic.

While the above may help define what constitutes a classic, it doesn't define the amount of time that needs to pass before that criteria is met.

Does the designation classic truly imply that a significant amount of time has passed since the work's creation, and if so, how long must that period be to qualify as "significant"?

Solution 1:

Time, as they say in contracts, is not of the essence. For the OED, a classic is:

A work of literature, music, or art of acknowledged quality and enduring significance or popularity. In extended use: something which is memorable and an outstanding example of its kind.

The entry is silent on how long it must endure to be of enduring significance or popularity.

Solution 2:

Classic as explained at etymonline.com historically referred to standard authors of Greek and Roman antiquity. As an adjective and noun it now means (a) "1, exemplary of a particular style; 2, exhibiting timeless quality" and (n) "1, a perfect and/or early example of a particular style; 2,an artistic work of lasting worth". Some books, films, and artistic works are of obvious quality when they first appear; others are not; any can be called classic in either sense even when they first appear. Some judgments hold, some do not.

An ngrams for "instant classic,old classic,new classic,favorite classic" in recent years shows rising use of "instant classic".

For some reason, use of "favorite classic" has exploded since 2006.

Solution 3:

There is no definite length of time which must pass before something becomes a classic. The requirement is that sufficient time has passed during which it becomes famous because of its quality.