descartes1
2985
Tw pieces for me in 2014
One, a 1665 rail dial, which is one I've been searching for for a while after reading Baron's excellent scholarship on this watch. The second, a Panerai 'Zero' logo, which I purchase at the boutique in Firenze. I've never been a Paneristi, but this one grabbed me and is an expression of my joy for Italy and Italian style. Still, 2014 is not over yet, and the NY auctions are next month, so we'll see what may come next.
Rolex collecting: looking back on 2014....and into 2015
Some personal reflections on my collecting during 2014 in Rolex and thoughts for 2015. I would love to hear how other collectors are viewing the year behind and the one in front..... This was meant to be a year where I consolidated my collection....maybe ...
I had ( and still have ) some targets, but it is, for the moment, a virgin year for me.
As it comes to Rolex and Tudor, a Monte Carlo Chronograph, a 7928 Ci, 7924 ARA, or a 7922, and a Tudor MN are still in my hunting list... For Rolex, a 1019, A 1675 Underline or Military, a 1665 DRSD MK II PP, and a Daytona 16520 Black... For the moment......
In Rolex....
....my total collection is actually unchanged in size.......but finessed. Other manufacturers have seen bigger increases for me....the 3 in Rolex were a gross 3, not a net 3. Its an odd feeling ...i don't have that itch! Servicing and maintenance are issu...
Which makes me rethink the size of my " collection."
It is too much money and time to maintain all these waches... Best, Nicolas
Less is more....
....I have had 7 watches at service this year....and the cost of that would be enough to buy a very nice watch indeed. We have different size collection for sure, but I feel mine is too large......
Sometimes, less is just zero. ;)
We never discussed that point, but it is a very important one.... Best, my friend. Nicolas
Well.....
......zero can also be more...depending on whether it is accompanied by the mental shift! I think that the "less is more" concept really takes a strong hold when a collection becomes big...and by big I mean more than 20.
No, Jeff, your 6239 is still with me.....
.....its just never for sale, that one. The nicest 6239PN i have seen. I sold another PN.
I am
trying to consolidate my collection. My buying was diverse and low cost but visibly strategic. I managed to sell three of the watches I'm most well known for, but the Rolex Bruiser remains elusive as the best example of said watch has only attracted horri...
A pretty slow year in watch collecting for me...
Also in case for Rolex collecting… I was initially slowly looking for a nice 5512 chapter ring dial but didn't really especially hunt for one, until I found and fell in love with this 5513 underline. It gave me great pleasure having it on the wrist, and I...
Thanks Sam....
......i can easily see a 1655 adding some variety and class to your collection. The 5513 looks amazing by the way....amazing. A nice assessment of targets and views that you portray......here's to a good hunt! Best Joe
I've always wanted to...
Get a nice 1655 straight hand or even mk1.. But I have yet to find a "right" one… Thanks for your kind words my friend! Cheers for the good hunt! Sam
Great post, and one that gets me thinking
I have been working to consolidate - it's still work in progress, but this year has seen my collection go from 22 to 15, which I think is a good number and one that my wife wholeheartedly agrees on. The milestones is that I have finally added a Rolex Exp ...
Richard...
....I think the trend on big watches is seriously reversing....I will no longer add a watch over 40mm.
I am in complete agreement with that
Right now, only two of my collection stand at 42mm, but they wear well. As with you, any future additions will be 40mm and below.
To be honest....
.....i have bought a number at 35, 36, 37 and 38......and I am almost tempted to say that that range is perfect for me. I'd certainly wear a 40mm watch and have no problem doing that, but in terms of "perfect size" for me....well, probably 37mm. I definit...
Great post for pondering....Rolex is a great brand
which I am still a little timid to step into, because of the vast varieties and similarities, and huge counterfeit market. That is why I bought the Cellini Prince, but your 1019 looks great! I am amazed at how Rolex can produce so much with such high qual...
Joe: I read with great interest your reflections about ...
... your balance of 2014 for your collection and your expectations for 2015. Your thoughts show the view of a true collector and a wise managment of the pieces which conform the collection. It´s so nice to read your closing saying that you can seat back a...
Always a pleasure
To read your posts Abel. You have a nice way with words and I enjoy reading you very much. Here my favorite part you recently wrote in response to Joe: It´s so nice to read your closing saying that you can seat back and appreciate the cohesion of your pre...
Dear Edmond: thank you so much for your kind words...
... my English is not good enough and I find some limitations to express my thoughts, but I try my best. The merit belongs to Joe and his sharing of his thoughtful approach to collecting. He said the exact words, and achieved what I always felt about a co...
Abel,
"purify" is a wonderful word to use....coming from you Mr. Dexter! I think it is inevitable that when a collection is being built, watches will come and watches will go. Tastes evolve and indeed what one wants from a collection also changes. Some want dep...
Dear Joe: thank you for your comments. Your words are always ...
... wise, and your approach to collecting is what I focus to reach... some day. I had told myself many times, that my enthusiasm makes me invest too much time, efforts ... and resources, to a new hunt, and this takes time to enjoyment to what I already ow...
Well.........
it was the wise Dr. No who said "less is more"......it just takes time to realise he is right
Less is more
Joe- a great thread once again that you have started. You are certainly talented in picking topics that alloy fellow purists to eagerly participate! Congratulations your acquisitions. I think for the most part they are superb. Especially the 6542. Why you...
The analogy with car collecting is good...
It is not that easy to find a correct and in great shape one... And, like watches, when you fall on one, you have to pay it high.... Best, Nicolas
Edmond....
....you are an investor and a collector. You merge the two processes into one....and I can see that works with you well. You also adopt a philosophy that appreciates depth rather than diversity. You don't like my Sea-Dwellers, but you do like the fact tha...
I respect your answer
Joe, I respect your answer very much. I also respect you as a person, and respect your knowledge of watches and of views in life in general. Be assured I can and have learnt much from you. It is why I value Purist- the moderators for the most part put pas...
cutting your cool SD collection ?????
oh my God !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you are running a big risk !! watch your back ....... ...
Well,Marcello...
.....I think 7 isa little greedy...even for a well-known valve player. Could i live with just 4 or 5?
of course ...
you can well live even with just a damned couple ( your beautiful PPs ) .. but the question is another one : I have noticed you got really clean SD examples that fits very well in your " non-orientated " and " multitasking " collection. so sell them to bu...
here's the thing Marcello....
......You are right, my SDs are very clean. But, who needs 3 Patent Pendings? (LoL). One would be fine. And you are right, what could i possibly add to surpass my 6200? Another 3-6-9 dial? Why? Not needed...i have a 3-6-9 dial!!! Milsub? Well, plausibly, ...
.....
.....losing 2 of the three patent pendings would be plausible...i still end with one PP. Losing the next one is trickier......i know i am a heathen, but once i heard that there were only 400-600 Rail Dials made, my attraction to it rose!! LoL. Howe many o...
Well, the DRSD MK II Brown is so you. So, you could even live with one.
After you can choose between the Triple 6, which is very you, too, and the Rail.... But I suspect the Triple 6 gives you even more pleasure.... So, you see, things can go fast! ;) Best, Nicolas
....and consider....
......(close your eyes Marcello), if i wanted to keep only one 666, i could let the Comex go!!! The thing is, I do think its time to think deeply about the cohesion and what is not needed.
Totally agree on that. Cohesion, I meant. ;)
Not an easy game, but how interesting it is! Best,Nicolas
Hey Baron, That Milgauss Is...
,,, STRONG. What a g-damn'd beauty. I had the latest version mitz green crystal, but like a fool I traded it for something else. Can't wait to get it back. Cheers! - Scott
there is something "strong"
...about the Milgauss generally....whichever version actually. It is a powerful watch.
Only one Milgauss
There is only one Rolex Milgauss to own. It might be narrow minded. But this is my opinion and I have a strong one on this. Its the Iconic 6541. Not because it is among the earliest or the most valuable right now- it is simply is breathtaking aestheticall...
Different tastes are good
That is what ultimately makes the watch world interesting. Some people love references that others don't find appealing. The world would be awfully boring (and expensive) if everyone liked the same things. best Edmond
you forgot just 3 words......in your opening sentence....
"There is only one Rolex Milgauss to own....IN MY OPINION" Nothing wrong with strong and direct opinion unless there is some assumption that opinion is fact.
Agreed BUT
I think its obvious that this is my opinion. I am not THE absolutely authority on Rolex in the world so of course there are other opinions. I am just one of many opinions.
yes.......but.....
I don't think it is obvious at all. When one states personal opinions as seeming fact, then it comes across slightly differently. "In my view, the 6541 is the most attractive Rolex fro own, bar none"......that sentence opens the discussion for others to a...
Moderator
As you a moderator you can write like that if you like. Be politically correct. I am most certainly not going to change how I write. Its my personality to write like that and I am not going to change my friend. But thank you for the English lesson. E
Actually
I just checked my post. I said very clearly it is my opinion. Just not in the opening. And I was taught as young boy that opening sentences, headlines should be powerful, to the point and strong. Else no one reads the rest. I am listening to my school tea...
Well....
.....in fact, your header and your first sentence made no mention of opinion. That came subsequently. Strong opinions are great..I welcome them....so do most people. I do, however, feel that sometimes strong opinions that come across as "fact" cross the l...
Best Thread in a Long Time
Baron: Thank you for starting such a great thread. Reading from top to bottom, all the contributions were very throughtful and a very cool read for an amateur like myself. It is very interesting to see that you are tending toward "less is more". Though I ...
Mike...
....what a fabulous response....really appreciated. I think one of the things I have learnt (slowly) is something that comes through in your post....namely, that some watches make their way onto our wrists more than others. Some watches just get squeezed ...
Jeff...
Sure thing. It is thoughtful responses that make this forum so much fun. Please keep us all posted through 2015 on what you do with your collection. I always love hearing about fantastic Sea-Dwellers going to great homes (or staying at great homes!) Have ...
My apologies, Joe!
I knew that - Not sure why I wrote "Jeff"? Apologies! Although Dr Strong is not a bad person to be accidentally mistaken for on these blogs! -Mike
Not that easy.. But I' try to play.. :)
.. Hmmm... Rolex collecting : I'm still not sure, if I am a real collector, but definitely a lover of Rolex watches, several moderns accumulated over the years, In addition to my good old " life"- Rolex-Date from the mid 70ies, and the Milgauss GV, which ...
That is already a nice Rolex Collection, my friend.
3 GMTs and One Explorer... I love your taste! Best, Nicolas
Thank you kindly !..Trying to continue my learning process ;)
.. and actually there still is this 116700, which is probably going to leave.. Alltogether, the GMTs somehow are a" fascinosum" to me.. Best, hs
Yes, my error .. Thank you.. Slowly these GMTs are growing in me.. :)
.. Guess, I have to continue to "condense", to be ready for future targets, Best, hs
Thx again.. You again meant the 16700 Ref. ?.. So many targets..
.. such as 1655, just to name one of the Rolex camp, maybe a nice 5508, might qualify as well. But thank you indeed for the advice again ! Best, hs
You have built a diverse and interesting collection....
.......but I tell you this, that 6610 is THE killer for me.
Yep !!.. You've said it & U are right !!.. Thanks for your kindness ! :)
.. As you may have realized, I'm truly in love with that superb piece !! There is almost no day, where I don't look at her, on & off my wrist !.. Yeaahhhh ! Best, hs
Tw pieces for me in 2014
One, a 1665 rail dial, which is one I've been searching for for a while after reading Baron's excellent scholarship on this watch. The second, a Panerai 'Zero' logo, which I purchase at the boutique in Firenze. I've never been a Paneristi, but this one gr...