Yes, I do too :)

Jul 22, 2014,17:22 PM
 

And what he says is often so true and well written. Regarding vintage Rolex it is sad but describes pretty well the reality. Even the best dealers I know cannot guarantee that the watches are authentic, unless they know the history (provenience) of the watch. The slightest modification just massively increases prices. The problem is that a Rolex is and have always been an industrial product. This means that there is nothing difficult to counter-fake. It is not like making/producing a perpetual calendar or a minute repeating. It is just printing some red over white or just changing a dial, fading a bezel, making a steel case, etc. The prices have no connection at all with the real (inner) value or the craftsmanship of the watch. I do also not believe people when they say that a certain iteration of a model is so much nicer because it has a "double red" or "double Swiss" printing on it or any little graphic difference. Either you like a certain Submariner type or not, etc. All these elements/small differences are just used to make the watches look rare=special=expensive, what a Rolex by essence just never is. If you really want a rare watch, buy a Daniels.

PP is another story. What disturbs me the most is that one of the biggest buyers has been and still is PP itself....

What both brands have in common is that the hype is not due to "real" (what ever it means) collectors but pure speculation/"investment". And we all know how the story ends when the bubble will explode.

Just my two cents

  login to reply

Comments: view entire thread

 

The Watch Snob (do you also enjoy reading his bits as much as I do?)

 
 By: Arie - Mr Orange : July 11th, 2014-07:49
The current vogue for vintage Rolexes is irrational even by the admittedly not very high standards of watch enthusiasts; they are horologically mundane (in fact, they were deliberately intended to be), and on top of that you have to be the worst kind of m... 

A tad too radical. You can love, sincerely love watches, and love vintage Rolexes.

 
 By: amanico : July 11th, 2014-08:48
I can agree with the author about the minefield vintage Rolex watches represent. But I strongly disagree with the rest. Vanity can be found on collectors of other brands, for example. It is not the monopole of Vintage Rolex Collectors. Moreover, there are... 

An oversimplification of a complex theme.

 
 By: Bill : July 11th, 2014-09:16
Yes vintage Rolex collecting is a mine field and as noted often hyped by the internet. However there are many passionate watch collectors who are not all dummies. Advance with caution always. Bill

Watch Snob is one of my favorite writers

 
 By: amerix : July 11th, 2014-10:41
a kind of Jeremy Clarkson for the ongoing, upwards-striving enthusiast. And who knows - perhaps he is that very man? Severely limited to vintage Rolex, we have one point in common - I do not appreciate the "tropical" patina of tired-out tritium on the han... 

Indeed

 
 By: Arie - Mr Orange : July 12th, 2014-03:14
His writing style is epic and very entertaining! I always find it very enjoyable reading is bits. It's like sharp intellectual stand up comedy. And often, like in this case, he is right. PS I've read books written by Jeremy C and I can assure you that he ... 

Certainly not Jeremy Clarkson...

 
 By: KMII : January 20th, 2015-13:12
... but at the same time both more knowledgeable and more verbally gifted. And easy to discover the name, too - a quick look on Amazon will turn up a slim Kindle volume with some Watch Snob writing. I enjoy the entries for entertainment / education value ... 

Nothing like taking an extreme position...

 
 By: Echi : July 11th, 2014-18:13
to knock folks into putting a bit more thought into the watch buying/collecting process. On the article per se, well, I'd agree with Nico. Especially on what he said about "what it represents to me". I think a few of us here have come across pieces that w... 

Yes, I do too :)

 
 By: Goldenlutin : July 22nd, 2014-17:22
And what he says is often so true and well written. Regarding vintage Rolex it is sad but describes pretty well the reality. Even the best dealers I know cannot guarantee that the watches are authentic, unless they know the history (provenience) of the wa...