Bill
32156
You hit the nail on the head in two ways
The first is the OCD nature of a Rolex collector. If that dial on a watch was replaced with a brand new dial most watch buyers of other brands would be elated. If that was a Rolex you just knocked 20% off the value and this is for every part from the insert to the bracelet to the crown and so on. Every part count. The closer it is to the way it was born the happier we are. Our beat up original owner watch give us the same pleasure as a brand new watch out of the box. It takes a lot of time and research to learn the nuances so you have to be invested as a collector and pay your dues. I have started to venture down the Doxa Sub 300 path and the collectors there don't care if the watch was re lumed or has the wrong crown it is jsut about integrity of the watch in a functional respect. But that may be simply due to the fact that parts are completely unavailable.
The culture of Vintage Rolex Collectors
I know money always sneaks in to the conversation. But when you step outside of the realm of in stock at the Rolex boutiques money is less powerful than knowledge. I mean this in two ways. The fist is if you do want a Gilt 5513 from 1964 you can't just buy one of the shelf you need to hunt far and wide and evaluate all your options and if you are luck you will land on one. The other is that people of completely different means will be shown the same Rolex Collector respect. That is to say any basic 5513 matt dial will hold the respect of another Rolex collection with $150k Daytona or Rolex big crown simply because they know and appreciate the effort it takes to hunt down and collect Vintage Rolex.
I am not sure if you caught my article on what is vintage Rolex but it ties in well.
rolex.watchprosite.com
A fun read.
Bill
Rolex Collector – What type are you? Vertical or Horizontal
Vintage Rolex collecting as with Modern Rolex starts with an innocent first watch. It is often the first watch that you consider a milestone. The watch you bought yourself with you own salary or the watch that was gifted to you at gradation or marriage. O...
Is that a serious disease if we are both horizontal and vertical Collector?
I can't consider a vintage Rolex collection without a Sub, a GMT, an Explorer, a Milgauss, and a Daytona. Having several of them, I mean several GMTs, Subs Explorers and so on, well, is just unavoidable. How can we resist to the pleasure of owning several...
The ghost insert was born with that Rolex 1675 cornino CR
Even better. This is a complete set. And more. It has a a military heritage as there is a serial and rank/name engraved. This is by no means a "military" watch but owned by one - UK. The ghost is from real live action. Bill
My problem is ...
Interesting topic, Bill! Maybe not within Rolex (yet? ;) ) but in some other brands... My problem is that I would love to be both Vertical AND Horizontal ! ;) Hard to choose... Best Blomman
I think the evolution is generally horizontal to vertical
With Rolex you have a huge platform to stay horizontal for a long time with a collection of 10 watches. But I think if you take a refining approach as we all do at some point the vertical solution can give you a collection of five watches and you feel com...
Stunning set of GMT's!
They do lay horizontal on the the table - but in my book this is a great example of a vertical collection! :) Best Blomman
I guess I´m a vertical AND horizontal collector following ...
... the hints on your opening post Bill. Very interesting indeed! I´m a relatively new collector, as all started for me about 5 or 6 years ago when I bought an old little bubbleback, after reading about them in a book about Rolex history my family had pre...
I am like you focused now on Vintage Rolex Submariner and the Rolex 1675 GMT
Thank you for your thoughts. I am also like you relatively new as a collector but I wore on Rolex from 1978 - 2000. Lever took it off. Collecting came in the last five or six years and my focus became more sharp. A pleasure to be in your company Abel and ...
Thank you so much for your kind words Bill...
... and it is really a pleasure for me to share a friendship and passion for timepices (and Rolex in particular) with you! Very cordially, Abel.
My tiny collection is Vertical
A 16600 and a 1665. If you throw in my father's Red Sub, it would still keep my "collection" in the Diver family. I am not sure how my collection will progress, if it will go more vertical (a CR 5512) or go horizontal (a 6239 or a 6265)? Both catch my eye...
Vertical...
... and with a branch coming off the tree into the Tudor realm! I hope you are enjoying your beautiful 7924, my friend! Have a great weekend. V/R Mike
The beauty with Rolex vertical collecting is...
You can go as deep as you like with two or three watches you can be there. I hope it is not raining to hard where you are. HAGWE Bill
Very True
If you pick wisely and do your research, 2 or 3 in a vertical collection can make a collection complete and you can have some unique and beautiful watches. All these great decisions we get to make in this great hobby! Unfortunately, we are getting some ra...
and circular too!
I presume we all are both, vertical and horizontal, but I would add circular too. I will try to explain myself. I am inclined to say that aI often could be considered Vertical as I have my times for each model, so, I have my times for Subs, and when this ...
Now you give us a new direction - Circular collection
The never ending collector. As you go in and out Vertical or horizontal you can always jump in at any point. I must confess I an twice a vertical collector going Vintage Rolex GMT mostly gilt and Vintage Rolex Submariner mostly gilt era. But I like your i...
The never ending
circle... that is a nice definition! where collectors spend their lives in eternum. It sounds like fantastic literature. I like the idea. Thank you Bill, very interesting thread! Kind regards
Circles, circles, circles... nice theory my dear friend! ...
... life is a big circle which we need to complete. Not a bad idea to think about our long collecting trip like a circular experience where we repeat our tastes and come back to enjoy past favorites. Interesting to think about an alternative to horizontal...
I admire and respect people who
collect watches with a solid theme. It reflects distinctive taste and discipline. Very impressive.
I hope to share some other deep verticals
Doxa is brand that I have a great admiration because of the dicing heritage. Bill
Now we are talking . Great Rolex Price Collection
I must say I am a little ignorant when it comes to this model except for the modern interpretation. You have to be an Rolex archeologist to make sure not to fall down any traps. Lovely collection. Bill
not that old but have been collecting for years.
Yes, same like everything you need to know your stuff. I am very selective in what I buy but still make mistakes- note the rams horn prince- dial is way too clean and I suspect is a reprint . Now I have to examine in person before buying Thanks for the co...
Trouble!!!…Rolex collecting is far different than collecting other brands
Bill, Great post! The Rolex bug bit me hard about a year ago. In 15 years collecting watches, ( poo-poo'ed Rolex as nothing of interest to me. I poured myself into Lange, IWC, Panerai, Parmigiani, UN, some independents and the like. Oh my gawd!! I've been...
You hit the nail on the head in two ways
The first is the OCD nature of a Rolex collector. If that dial on a watch was replaced with a brand new dial most watch buyers of other brands would be elated. If that was a Rolex you just knocked 20% off the value and this is for every part from the inse...
Superbly written, Larry. You are right, but for an obvious reason.
Rolex doesn't have too many different watches in the catalog. Most of them have Evolved with time passing, since their birth... For the Professional line, since the Fifties. And year after year, due to the reglementation ( luminous material ) or to aesthe...
A very interesting Q.. And a reason to look inside, at least for me.. And although..
.. I would rather call myself a relative Newbie in the Rolex terrain, especially in the Vintage domain, - yes, Rolex has always been there, for a pretty long time. - Actually since aroung 1974, when I bought a simple, humble Rolex Oyster Date, black dial ...
This is a refined collection borne from experience of a Rolex collector..
You must tell us about the journey. To arrive a such a collection you really need a lot of experience. Just the Blueberry alone is a journey by it self. And I must say only another refined collector will recognize the blueberry. A magnificent selection to...
Singular
I'm not really a Rolex guy and had drifted in and out of ownership over the years. What finally made me commit to keeping one was the realisation that I had one of the last "essential" Rolexes: the 14060. One that looked like it was made just for diving w...
That is the beauty of Rolex - every collector has at least one.
It stands the test of time and in future years if you pass it on that person will have then same pleasure for generation to come. But between the lines you mentioned the Purity of the 14060 that is key. That is the essense of Vintage Rolex. Clean lines wi...
An important question you raise!
Bill- you raise a great question and it is not easy to answer. I often wonder which are the best collections: I often think it is those that are horizontal as it shows the more sophisticated collectors, that really have to do their homework and go 'deep' ...
Correction Vertical not horizontal
Please substitute with each other and my post makes more sense ;)
I don't think there is a best way or a right way to approach collecting
It is the journey and the discovery that tends to send us in different directions at different time. There is such a wealth of option for the Rolex Collector. Bill
I think I'm more of a Horizontal one
And might become a vertical one once the horizon is covered... It's a very long journey this vintage Rolex collecting.. For what I can cope, I'm pretty much sure I'm a horizontal type and have to be picky to pick one example I like the most Best, Sam
Horizontal Collectors get to sample many
Keeps things interesting. Until..... You fall in the vertical trap. Stay strong stay horizontal. LOL Bill
Yes...
At one point , I'm sure one would eventually fall in the vertical trap... But they're too pricey for me :)) So I'm pretty much sure I will stay horizontal Hope to talk to you again soon Sam
With a collection like yours
You are the envy of both horizontal and vertical collectors. Best Bill
Mine?
I think far from being an envy Bill... I mean just look at your array of GMTs! I envy you! Hehe Cheers Sam
A very logical and simple way
Interesting post.. A very logical and simple way to look at the behavior of a collector well done Bill...
Now we need to explore the psyche of the collector
Then we can establish what are the predisposition of the vertical vs the horizontal. The risk taker and the adventurer. Would be fun. Where do you find yourself as a collector. Bill
As I am Cartesian, I would define the geometric lines....
differently! Any Submariner, Sea-Dweller, Deep-Sea, Sky-Dweller, GMT are in my opinion and by definition, in the VERTICAL category;) All the others then, must be in the HORIZONTAL category;) The GMT can be put in both the VERTICAL and HORIZONTAL position,...
I think we can all add our own dimension
After all it more art than science. Thanks for your thoughts. Bill
Evolution....
......my way was definitely an evolution....starting horizontally and then finding "pockets" of vertical. Its a lovely way of thinking about it, but I am guessing the profile of the collector here will mirror personality traits elsewhere in their life.