Le Monde Edmond
1049
Agree 100%
Joe- you bring a very important and relevant post that I am sure many collectors have appreciated reading. I really can't add much than to say that I share your view. I will chose a nice watch any day over a mediocre watch but that comes with box and papers. One thing worth adding to: Have you noticed what was going on at the last May Christies auction? Do you notice how many watches were being offered with boxes and papers? However the problem was that almost 90% of the time they were 'dealer' watches who have just found correct period boxes (but not original boxes) and blank papers. But like a friend told me a correct box is a nice thing to have and a $200 find on Ebay. What was more troubling was that most of the watches were also being offered with blank certificates, blank guarantee. This box and papers watch falsely gives a sense of security to the buyer and any buyer paying more for this is being 'robbed'. This is a problem right now.
There is just as much forgery in the box and papers business in Rolex as they are in watches. Now some papers that are blank might be authentic
but I find their value close to zero. I would only trust box and papers if every single paper is correctly filled out with the watch case number on the papers. So ideally I would only buy a watch with box and papers if they came from the original owner family. I know this is wishful thinking in 2014.
Thank you for bringing up a relevant post. I know I will be coming back to this post often in my collecting path down the road.
Best Edmodn
Vintage Rolex: How important are box and papers?
Buying a vintage Rolex can be a traumatic experience. Even the most experienced collector will have horror stories to tell of buying a watch only to find it is not quite what was expected. Sometimes, parts will be replaced incorrectly, incorrect hands and...
Great POV on Rolex Box and Papers
There is very little that I disagree with on your thoughts. With the more rare pieces the paper punched, letters, receipts all help to paint the picture of the history of the watch. An as noted with rare pieces you don't have a s many pieces flying around...
Agree....
.....I guess one of the things I wanted to get across is that so often new collectors will place a significant importance on box and papers as a form of authenticity passport....whereas in fact, this type of thinking only really applies to a few rare exce...
Absolutely.
There is also a range of papers from stamped to punched and hand written to blank all with validity but must be understood. There are many cases where you have a large chrono certificate and the guarantee is not filled in. But the date of the guarantee an...
Aaargh, Bill! A very nice set you have here.
And what an insert you found! Best, my friend. Nicolas.
That was the insert on the watch
It was owned by a British serviceman Royal Navy. The case back is engraved. Bill
Like you, I am not obsessed by box and papers.
When a nice watc comes with the box and the papers, ok, I will not cry... But if the same very nice Watch comes without, I will not pass on it. An example? This 6542, which came with its papers. Not the box, but while I am at it, why not trying to hunt th...
But important to say so......
....as some often see B&P as some form of guarantee....which it never is.
It can be very important...
Especially when you're dealing with diamonds and/or rubies. I have here a "L" series NOS from 1989, and I can tell you that if it didn't come with the original papers certifying the diamond dial, I would not have purchased it. A watch "making you smile" w...
well ....
" my problem with many Comex is that, so often , it's hard to tell weather a watch is authentic or not " .... if you well know them it's not so hard as every Comex model has some peculiar tips you must know to do a correct IFF ( Identification Friend or F...
at the same time Marcello.....
....what i am saying is that there are plenty that have been "put together" in a not-so-authentic way.
Ithink the older the watch , the more relevant the papers
But unless provenance is important such as Comex or any military piece, theye are an added benefit. Ialways try and find a piece with papers but it not essential I have this striped Prince with papers and found an original Prince box - voila B&P ...
Wow....that is awesome....
....i do wonder whether this vintage reference will make a strong comeback...it should...it really should
Fantastic article! One can collect all your articles, print, bind...
and have a nice Rolex collecting handbook at the ready! Thanks for putting it all together. I surely learned a lot and have a better appreciation for vintage :-)
Hey Echi....that is a really nice thing to say....
.....but what you really need is to become a mind-reader and extract everything in that brain of Marcello.....now that would be priceless!!
You must've been reading my mind.
I was going to ask the same question on the importance of box and papers when it comes to vintage pieces. Since I pass on my watches to my sons and don't sell any, I wasn't quite sure if B&P made too much of difference, except for specific pieces. And...
The insight
& indepth Nico, Bill & Baron you bring across is a reason I remain an ardent fan of your posts… Great read. Cordially Mally
Hey Mally...
......very kind of you to say so, but to be honest, its great fun to do!
Not important, I guess, but...
After all we are not wearing boxes and papers on our wrists. So not vital at all. Getting a full set gives however a particular satisfaction, most of the times that illusion of being the first time owner of the watch. In fact I would think that any inform...
Agree 100%
Joe- you bring a very important and relevant post that I am sure many collectors have appreciated reading. I really can't add much than to say that I share your view. I will chose a nice watch any day over a mediocre watch but that comes with box and pape...
well.....its my personal take on it....
....i think people will vary from one to another. I know in the past that one some watches I have been very swayed by having paperwork....but it is usually when i am insecure about a purchase....and usually not in Rolex territory. I think its fair to say ...