Annual Calendar

So, what it’s all about? Well, the matter is quite simple. The movement automatically adjusts the calendar indication for months of 30 or 31 days, and the owner only has to manually correct the date once a year Patek Philippe Annual Calendar, when February turns into March. Yes, it looks simple, but it should have been the first to come up with the idea to implement such a complication in a wristwatch movement.

What many people do not know is that the annual calendar is a fairly new complication that emerged in the late 1990s. In the 1990s, the mechanical watch market was still recovering from the quartz revolution (or quartz crisis, depending on which angle you look at it from) and during that time, complicated movements became more and more popular. The idea of a new complication was born when the management of Patek Philippe (at that time, Patek Philippe was headed by Philippe Stern) concluded that there was a big price gap between watches that only told the time and watches that had certain complications. This gap had to be filled with a watch that had a complication that was at the same time beautiful, interesting and useful for the end user, but at a price that was much more affordable than, for example, a perpetual calendar. And so the in-house designed automatically-wound Caliber 315 S-QA was created.

The revolutionary Patek Philippe reference 5035

The first watch with an annual calendar complication was the Patek Philippe Annual Calendar reference 5035J. The watch was launched in 1996 and was named “Watch of the Year” by the Swiss magazine Montres Passion in the fall of the same year. This award is all the more valuable considering that at that time awards of this kind were not so common.

The elegant look, brand-new complication, and precious metals made this model an instant success on the market. The $17,500 retail price positioned this watch right where Patek wanted it, between the $9,000 Calatrava ref. 3919 and $45,000 what was the price for the ref. 3940 with the perpetual calendar.

The original Patek Philippe Annual Calendar was offered in three distinct gold colors: ref. 5035J for yellow gold, ref. 5035G for white gold, and ref. 5035R for rose gold. A little later, the ref. 5035P appeared, which was made of platinum.

Platinum Patek Philippe Annual Calendar reference 5035P

After the great success that Patek Philippe achieved with the first versions of the 5035 model, the reference 5035P was launched on the market. It is practically an identical watch for the production of which, in this case, another precious metal was used – platinum.

The Patek Philippe Annual Calendar ref. 5035P features a 37 mm platinum case and an extremely legible and perfectly balanced black dial. The dial contains three subdials. The subdial at 3 o’clock indicates the month, the subdial at 9 o’clock indicates the day, and those two subdials are the same size. A little smaller than the mentioned two, at 6 o’clock there is a subdial that indicates the hour on a 24-hour scale, and below it exactly at number 6 is a date window. The bold Roman numerals and hands have a luminous coating, and there’s also the rail chapter ring on the outer edge of the dial.

Interestingly, the Roman numeral 4 differs from what is common in the world of watchmaking. Patek Philippe decided that the Roman numeral on the dial should be written as IV, and not as IIII, which is an unwritten standard among watch manufacturers. This gives this model a special charm and unusualness.

If we turn this timepiece over, through the transparent sapphire caseback we can see the beautiful in-house 315 S-QA movement with a 21k gold rotor and 35 jewels. The movement operates at a frequency of 21,600 beats per hour and provides 48 hours of power reserve.

The elegant black Aligator leather strap and matching platinum pinhole buckle are included with the platinum Patek Philippe Annual Calendar 5035P.

End of production

The ref. 5035 was discontinued production by Patek Philippe in the middle of the 2000s to create room for other Annual Calendar models. The 5146, which was identical to the 5035 but benefited from a more refined design and revised 39mm case dimensions, took its place in 2005 when the 5035’s manufacture ended in late 2004.

But in addition to appreciating the Annual Calendar reference 5035’s historical significance as the first annual calendar timepiece, we also love its simple dial layout. We may thank the reference 5035 for the Annual Calendar’s status as Patek Philippe’s flagship model in under two decades.

Price

When it appeared on the market, the reference 5035 cost $17,500, while currently on the pre-owned watch market, the price of this model ranges from $25,000 to $35,000.

Specifications:

• Reference number: 5253P
• Production years: 1996 – 2004
• Case size: 37 mm
• Case thickness: 10.5 mm
• Case Material: Platinum
• Functions: Annual calendar, day and month subdials, 24 hour subdial with date at 6 O’clock, central sweep seconds hand
• Dial: Black dial with applied luminous Roman numeral hour markers and luminous hands,
• Caseback: Exibition sapphire crystal
• Crystal: Scratch resistant sapphire
• Movement: Automatic 315 S-QA
• Power reserve: 48 hours
• Water resistance: 25 meters / 82 feet
• Strap: Aligator leather with pinhole buckle

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Rolex Cosmograph Daytona legend

However, the Rolex Cosmograph was not very popular in the early days of its existence, so it had to be a few years before it found its place on the watch world map. Even more, in the very beginning, Rolex intended this model for enthusiasts of space exploration. Hence the name Cosmograph, identical to the science of space exploration, and the name Daytona itself appeared a little later.

Motorsports were first mentioned in advertising campaigns for the Rolex Cosmograph as early as 1965. The original 1963 Cosmograph was not at all referred to as a Daytona, despite being known as the Daytona to everyone today.

It is interesting that in the first advertisements this model was called “Le Mans”, after the famous 24-hour race in France. However, when the unbreakable link between the Rolex brand and the Daytona International Speedway in Florida was established, of course, the name „Le Mans“ was no longer used and the watch has since been known as the Rolex Daytona. The Daytona inscription first appeared on the dial at the end of 1965 on the reference 6239 model Rolex Daytona Big Red, and only years later did it become standard for all Rolex Cosmograph timepieces.

The “Big Red” Daytona reference 6263

Along with the Submariner and Datejust, the Daytona is the first model that comes to mind when the Rolex brand is mentioned. However, all of these models, which are legendary in their own right, also have their own legendary references. The “Big Red” Rolex Daytona reference 6263 is one of those pieces and because of that it causes great excitement among collectors and fetches extraordinary prices at auctions.

Whether it is a vintage or a new model, the Rolex Daytona is one of the most sought-after models. It was launched in the early 1960s, and among the many references in this collection, the “Big Red” Rolex Daytona reference 6263 is certainly one of the most famous and sought after by collectors.

As one of the last models of the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona generation, the “Big Red” Rolex Daytona reference 6263 appeared at the same time as reference 6265 and was produced from the early 1970s to the late 1980s. The difference between these two models is that the ref. 6263 has a black acrylic bezel, while the ref. 6265 has a steel or gold bezel.

The black bezel with tachymeter scale, which is made of acrylic, aesthetically fits very well with the dial, which is made in a contrasting manner – black dial with white sub-dials or white dial with black sub-dials.

The distinguishing features of the „Big Red“ Rolex Daytona reference 6263 are screw-down pushers, a black acrylic bezel and, of course, the large red “Daytona” text above the subdial at number 6. However, not all models of the reference 6263 have red text above 6 o’ clock subdial. Some of these models do not have the “Daytona” inscription at all, and the font size varies among the different series depending on the year of production. For this reason, the designations “Big Red” and “Small Red” are used among collectors Rolex Daytona Big Red.

The original Rolex Cosmograph model from 1963 featured pump pushers, while reference 6263 had screw-down pushers. Along with the screw-down crown and back cover, this increased water resistance, so this watch is specified at 100 m water resistance. To clearly indicate the enhanced water resistance, sandwiched between the „ROLEX“ and „COSMOGRAPH“ inscriptions on the dial, there is also the inscription “OYSTER”, thus Rolex has officially entered the world of fully waterproof chronometer watches.

At the time of the launch of the Rolex Daytona reference 6263, Rolex had not yet included automatic movements in the Daytona collection, so this watch is powered by a Valjoux-based manually wound chronograph movement. Only since 1988 has Rolex equipped the Daytona collection with an automatic Zenith movement.

One of the things that also attract collectors is that this watch looks bigger on the wrist than it actually is. At first glance, many will say that reference 6263 (the same is the case with the 6265) has a diameter of 38 mm or even 40 mm, but the truth is that the case diameter is 36 mm. The reason why it looks bigger on the wrist than other Rolex models is the large pushers and crown, and also the bezel is a bit wider than the case itself. Although the specifications state that the diameter of the case is 37 mm, the actual diameter of the case itself is 36 mm, while the stated dimension of 37 mm is actually the diameter of the bezel.

Overall, the reference 6263 looks larger on the wrist, but its dimensions are the same as most models from the time. What is not standard is the lug width of 19 mm. Standard strap widths are 18, 20, or 22 mm, but if you want to replace the metal bracelet with a leather strap on this model, your choice will be a little narrower because you will have to look for a strap with a non-standard width of 19 mm.

The Rolex Daytona is one of the most valuable timepieces ever produced, and the reference 6263 is one of the most sought-after vintage examples. The reference 6263 “Big Red” is undoubtedly one of the most iconic Rolex Daytonas, even though it isn’t the most valuable or rare Rolex Daytona (that distinction goes to one with a “Paul Newman” dial). It represents the fusion of vintage and modern design in the first generation of manually wound Daytona watches, just before the Daytona started to take on its modern design.

Specifications:

• Reference number: 6263
• Production years: 1971 – 1987.
• Case size: 37 mm
• Case thickness: 13,3 mm
• Lug width: 19 mm
• Lug to lug distance: 44.8 mm
• Material: Stainless Steel
• Functions: Time with running seconds, 12-hour chronograph
• Dial: Black or silver with luminous hour markers
• Bezel: Fixed, black acrylic with tachymeter (units per hour) Scale
• Crystal: Acrylic
• Movement: Manual wind Valjoux 727
• Power reserve: 45-48 hours
• Water Resistance: 100 meters / 330 feet
• Bracelet: Oyster bracelet

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Per capirne a fondo la straordinarietà occorre fare un passo indietro nel tempo e analizzare 5070 Patek Philippe Yellow Gold:

• A) Da dove viene l’orologio?
• B) Quali sono le sue funzionalità? Perché è stato creato?

Cenni alla storia dei cronografi Patek Philippe

In origine agli inizi del ‘900, i cronografi nascevano come puro strumento scientifico, utilizzati da osservatori e scienziati in laboratori per misurare la durata di specifici fenomeni 5070 Patek Philippe Yellow Gold.

Questi strumenti di osservazione e misurazione tecnici, sono diventati di dominio pubblico solo a seguito dello sviluppo dell’industrializzazione, della ferrovia e degli sport da competizione.

Soprattutto negli sport da competizione, come le macchine da corsa, ben presto l’orologio da polso in grado di cronometrare -cronometro per l’appunto- divenne uno strumento largamente adottato, sia dai piloti, sia come sistema di misurazione della velocità.

Negli anni ’20, ad esempio, associamo l’adozione del cronografo come strumento tecnico di misurazione per l’allora passione per la velocità e gare di corsa automobilistica.

Ora chiediamoci,

“Perché dunque questi cronografi sono stati pensati con casse oversize e quadranti così grossi?”

E la motivazione è di carattere prettamente pratico: per potere visualizzare chiaramente e rapidamente il tempo.

Pensa al pilota… Con un orologio al polso non può permettersi di perdere tempo a mettere a fuoco un quadrante piccolino durante una gara in cui ogni secondo è prezioso, deve poterlo fare rapidamente, ecco il perchè della grandezza 5070 Patek Philippe Yellow Gold.

Il primo vero predecessore del Ref. 5070J Patek Philippe: Il chronografo ref. 1463 “Tasti Tondi”

The Patek Philippe reference 5070 is one of those watches that has had a slow development into the luxury wristwatches scene.

As you probably have heard, the Ref. 5070 by Patek Philippe it’s a very famous and appreciated watch ever produced.

Somebody -such as Sotheby’s- likes to associate its production with the very first basic chronograph by Patek: the “Tasti Tondi” Ref. 1463, whose production ceased in 1960.

Just to give you an idea, here you can see two versions of the prestigious and vintage Ref. 1463:

What nobody normally explains clearly to you at this point is:

Why can we consider the Patek Ref. 1463 the first real predecessor? Ultimately, ok the chronograph function, ok the similarity on the dial counters, but what about this huge difference in sizes? How about the fundamental difference between rounded pushers and square pushers?

None the less indeed, logic helps us to untangle through this matter.

Launched in 1940 reference 1463 was in production for approximately 25 years. It was the first and only waterproof chronograph produced by Patek Philippe featuring a screw-back case and round pump pushers. Only 750 examples were produced with the majority in yellow gold and a very limited number in stainless steel.

When the 1463 “Tasti Tondi” has been launched by Patek Philippe back in 1940 (we’re speaking of more than 80 years ago!) established a real record: the first chronograph waterproof produced in series (its estimated production is of circa 735 pieces of this references during the whole 25 years of its production).

Why the pushers were rounded?

Because the manufacturer’s level of technology could only make a wristwatch waterproof with round pushers 5070 Patek Philippe Yellow Gold.

Yes, you got it right, Patek Philippe -at that time- couldn’t produce a waterproof wristwatch with square pushers. That’s why so we can relate the two references even though a big difference between them.

Also, another curiosity…

Technically, you could hear someone saying that the predecessor of the Patek Ref. 5070 though was the incredible oversized (45mm) spilt-seconds Ref. 2512, made more than 40 years ago, but not really since this reference can actually be thought of as a prototype model, not so a model produced in series.

Come anche riportato dalla didascalia del Magazine Ufficiale “Patek Philippe”, quella referenza 2512, che possiamo considerare un primo prototipo di produzione del ref. 5070, era appunto solo un esperimento…

Non sappiamo se fosse impermeabile o no (probabilmente no), ma quandanche lo fosse, non sarebbe una reale produzione in serie aperta al pubblico.

All the variations of the Ref. 5070 Patek Philippe

Le produzioni della referenza 5070 in generale sono iniziate nel 1998 e cessate nel 2008, ma non tutte le variazioni del metallo di cassa sono state prodotte insieme.

• Versione cassa in oro giallo: prodotta dal 1998 al 2002;
• Versione cassa in oro platino: prodotta dal 1998 al 2002;
• Versione cassa in oro rosa: prodotta dal 2002 al 2008;
• Versione cassa in oro bianco: prodotta dal 2002 al 2008 5070 Patek Philippe Yellow Gold.

As you can see from the chronological diagram, the 5070J we are reviewing today is the very first Ref. 5070 Patek Philippe series, the main reason why we expect in the future his relevance is destined to grow over time.

Patek Philippe has declared that every year produced about 250 pieces of each variation PER YEAR, which with the full summa of all production years makes this reference very important and not produced in more than 3000 pieces overall!

Photos and Detail of a rare 5070J Patek Philippe

The Dial

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What is really fascinating is the peculiarity of the dial graphic with an outstanding graphic identity.

The circular tachymeter scale at the perimeter of the dial takes a lot of space, so much that even the two symmetrical counters cross 4 gold numerals.

Obviously, the tachometer has been placed at the perimeter of the dial since the purpose is to measure high-velocity time records.

The mechanism

The watch is equipped with a modified version of the famous Caliber 27-70 movement, which Patek Philippe uses as the base for its perpetual calendars and chronographs. In the Lemania movement, the tooth profile has been modified to minimize friction losses and increase reliability.

A bit more about the history of the wonderful movement CH-27-70 In 1986, Patek Philippe opened a new chapter in its legacy of chronographs by presenting the famous manually wound caliber CH 27-70 based on a Nouvelle Lémania movement blank produced exclusively for Patek Philippe and completely reworked in the manufacture 5070 Patek Philippe Yellow Gold.

In the eyes of connoisseurs, it quickly gained a reputation as the most beautiful chronograph movement of traditional design available on the market.

In 1996, the workshops received a patent for a split-seconds chronograph mechanism with an isolator catch that totally eliminated rate accuracy deviations when lap times were stopped.

Case

Strap and clasp

Super elegant black crocodile strap with original yellow gold Patek Philippe clasp…

Full set

5070J Patek Philippe Contexts

Did you know the Ref. 5070 is one of the few modern references chosen by Patek Philippe for its own personal museum? This means the manufacturer considers this reference very important and remarkable.

Down here you can see a very very rare picture of the 5070 utilized for an article of the official Patek Philippe Magazine.

5070J Patek Philippe testimonial

5070J Patek is a trendy watch, Frank Lampard  (famous soccer player) but also known as a serious watch collector has one too has been captured while wearing its beautiful 5070P 

5070J Patek Philippe Price Analysis

As a matter of a fact the price of the 5070J it’s been increasing over time and seems not to stop 5070 Patek Philippe Yellow Gold.

As true lovers of this reference we must say that in our opinion, this is one of the few models where the yellow gold version is much more attractive than the pink gold one.

As a matter of the fact, on Chrono24 we can take a look at the price appreciation graph and see how the 5070J, since when the production has been ceased in late 2009 (It was worth around 50.000$), now has increased by over 15.000$.

How to buy this 5070J Patek Philippe

Buy this timepiece might not be easy at all. It’s not anymore in production and find it in good or “like new” condition is every year even more rare and difficult.

We are proud to offer to you this watch in beautiful shape…

Our Yellow Gold Patek Philippe Ref. 5070 is a complete set, comes with its original Box and its original Papers/warranties.

The condition is really perfect since is like new, never been worn before.

The post Everything should know about the Ref. 5070 Patek Philippe Yellow Gold appeared first on Vintage Watches Miami.

We first run into Sofia a couple years ago after she saw one of our Google ads. A quick email from her reached us inquiring about the process of selling an old Rolex watch she had received as a gift in 1973. We started the procedure we follow after receiving these types of leads, little did we know the thrill we were about to go through. The old Rolex watch she claimed to own was the last watch we expected. Before receiving the pictures our thoughts were that she probably had an old Rolex Date with a stretched bracelet. Oh how wrong we were. 

As the day progressed we went about our daily work, honestly not thinking much about Sofia’s old Rolex. Until her email came in along with multiple attachments. The first one opened a grainy picture of her watch face down with its oyster bracelet draped over it. The quality was bad, as if she had taken the picture with a potato, but it did not matter because we could clearly see what every collector salivates over… two screw down pushers protruding out the side of the case. Immediately we knew it! Sofia’s old Rolex watch was none other than a Daytona with screw down pushers. Now the question at hand are we talking about a 6240? A 6263? A 6265? Her second attached picture would reveal even more Sofia got way richer! An old Rolex box a couple papers, and a clearly seen Rolex guarantee document. At that moment our jaws, already on their way to the floor went even farther away. The third attachment opened and there it was – a crisp exotic white on black dial. That old watch we did not think much of had become a complete set Rolex Daytona 6263 with a “panda Paul Newman” dial. 

With the stage set our adventure began. We wrapped our heads around how we could buy that watch. Could we fly out to Argentina to see it in person? Could we pay for her ticket to Miami? Could we send a FedEx label? It did not matter because after a quick chat with Sofia our fears were confirmed. She was having second thoughts about selling her old watch. It had been a gift from her late a father, a wealthy entrepreneur that had done things right and had ensured that she would be financially set for life Sofia got way richer. We were stuck and frankly a little disappointed. We wondered why would she reach out with such a grail watch and not be willing to sell it. Sadly we encounter similar cases from people on the daily and we cannot blame them. People create emotional bonds to their watches. Some cannot let them go and many times at the end of the day those watches take longer to reach us. 

Our average day had resulted in a roller coaster of emotion and had ended almost tragically. We went home knowing there was a grail watch within our reach but everything had gone from “for sale” to “sorry can’t do it” and so the days passed, weeks came and went, and finally months. As our withdrawal symptoms subsided and that Daytona slipped out of our minds life threw us a curveball in the form of an email from none other than her. Sofia was in Miami and had given the watch some thought. It was time to let it go but she had conditions Sofia got way richer. Confused and a little skeptical we caved and arranged a lunch knowing full well we could go home that day more broken hearted than the day she came into our lives for the first time.

A place and time were determined, it was show time and we had accepted that whatever happened at the very least we were about to see a watch that is as rare as a unicorn. With the you win some and you lose some mentality we arrived at the restaurant, went over to our table and waited.

It felt like an hour had past but in reality only 10 minutes had gone by when we heard Sofia as she greeted us with a distinguishable Argentinean accent. She sat down and after some pleasantries were exchanged she reached down to her purse and pulled out a satchel. Out came the box, then the papers neatly arranged inside a ziplock, and then the grail watch.

Perfect in all sense of the word. She explained that the watch only came out with her on special occasions Sofia got way richer , it lived almost full time inside a safety deposit box. As the conversation about her obtaining the watch started to wind down we asked “so can we purchase it?” With a half smile she replied “yes, but I have conditions” we had gone this far, so in for a penny in for a pound.

She wanted us to help her place the watch with someone that would cherish the watch just like she did for decades, we thought ok that’s simple we know plenty of collectors. She then added the transaction would need to be completed within 24 hours and the price would need to be around the high six figures because she was looking into buying an apartment. Honestly we were surprised to hear that number, showed she had done some research in the months she had gone.

Long story short as the lunch wrapped up we agreed to the challenge and embarked on a near million dollar speed sale. Before the day was done we managed to help Sofia sell her watch to a Californian collector that to the day cherishes the opportunity to safe keep such an iconic Rolex Sofia got way richer.

Before the watch departed to its new home we arranged to have the watch serviced and photographed, even though those pictures would never make it onto the site. We simply could not allow ourselves to forget THE WATCH.  

The post “I didn’t want to sell my old watch”, and then Sofia got way richer appeared first on Vintage Watches Miami.

The process of selling an old watch has to be secretive, something that is between the seller and the buyer vintage watch Mistakes Avoid. A watch that has not been shown around has a sort of mystique to it. In the watch world this is known as “fresh to market”. When a watch has been shown around it loses that mysteriousness and it goes from being a fresh to market watch to a “oh, yes I’ve already been offered that watch” The seller will make more money from a watch that is fresh than from one that has been paraded around. 

2. Your cousin is not the expert… we are 

Often times when someone does not understand the value of an old watch he/she will likely turn to someone they trust for guidance. Do not do this because no two old watches are the same, it does not matter if it’s a Rolex that you can compare to others. The beauty about old watches are the individual intricacies around each watch. These particular details are often invisible to most people, however they are not invisible to us. We have over 30 years experience buying old watches so trust us when we tell you that we have seen almost everything. The details your cousin failed to see are the ones we noticed first.   

3. Used is not a dirty word 

The key to selling an old watch is to making sure the originality of the watch is kept. In the watch world this is called “untouched” vintage watch Mistakes Avoid. Often times people looking to sell their watch ask their watchmakers to clean it and if its too scratched to polish it. This doing will tank the value of the watch when it is time to sell it. The buyer of an old watch appreciates original condition, which includes the watch being in its original shape. Dust, scratches and all.   

4. Don’t trust the internet

Relying too heavily on the internet when researching your old watch will confuse you. As mentioned above no two old watches will ever the same. Your old Rolex is nothing like the one you found online vintage watch Mistakes Avoid. Your watch has details that are exclusive to it, this notion is very important so remember it. Please refer to our guide “What Defines a Million Dollar Watch” to better understand if what you have is worth thousands or millions. 

5. Make sure you will be paid 

It is no secret the watch world has grown during the past years. The value of watches and the quantity of dealers have increased. But very important, keep in mind that even though there are many watch buyers out there not all are capitalized to be able to purchase your watch outright vintage watch Mistakes Avoid. The common practice amongst watch buyers that are interested in your watch but cannot afford to buy it is to pre-sell it and in doing so they send pictures to everyone they know. This is risky because now everyone will have seen the watch (mistake #1) and you will likely have to wait 24 – 48 hours to receive payment. What sets us apart is the fact that we specialize in acquiring old watches and are in the position to purchase yours on the spot without having to pre-sell it. 

The post “I want to Sell my vintage watch” – 5 Mistakes to Absolutely Avoid appeared first on Vintage Watches Miami.

1- Condition is Money 

These two Rolex Submariner’s are identical and sold at the same auction on the same day. The difference in price $27,500 Swiss francs vs $500,000. The $472,500 difference lies solely in the condition of one Rolex versus the other understand vintage watch value. 

The bulk of a vintage watch’s value is found in the condition of the dial. It is often said that 80% of a watch’s value is its dial. Notice the difference in quality: 

The dial on the example that sold for $500,000 is pristine retaining its fantastic gilt gloss effect, almost mirror like: 

The dial on the example that sold for $27,500 appears to be dirty, grainy, and devoid of its mirror like effect: 

Examples below illustrate a dial in exceptional condition versus one that shows scratches resulting from the dragging of the hands – pristine condition of the left vs less than perfect on the right.    

In the game of condition the dial plays a pivotal role in setting forth the value of a watch. If the dial is not in optimal condition but the case is in fantastic shape then value of the watch could be substantial, not as much as one with flawless dial but there might be some value regardless. If the dial and the case are in bad shape then the value of the watch will be tremendously diminished, does not matter how rare the watch might be. 

Below are two examples of one of the rarest Patek Philippe models ever made, the reference 2497. It is estimated less than 100 were ever made. The first example sold for $233,000 in 2015 while the second example failed to sell at auction in 2017. 

2- Brand Matters – The Split Seconds 

Brand matters a lot and no two are more significative than Rolex and Patek Philippe, when it comes down to beating down records and bringing in millions of dollars. A perfect example of how the name on the dial of a watch determines if its worth $200,000 or $2 million understand vintage watch value. 

There are two watches that best represent the difference the name on the dial makes and those are the Rolex Split Seconds Chronograph 4113 and the Universal Geneve Split Seconds Chronograph “A. Cairelli”. Both these watches are from a technical point of view identical.  

They are both split second chronographs, they are both 44mm in size, and they both use the same mechanism. What is the difference you might ask? Well how about $2,208,000. That is one massive price difference but do not forget one very important thing. Rolex is King.

3- Provenance – Where Did You Come From? 

When it comes to vintage watches collectors are always on the hunt for the special one, for the watch no one else has but them. A vintage watch with provenance might be a watch that displays the name of the jewelry that originally sold it also known as double signed or a vintage watch that still retains its original set of box and papers. Collectors love provenance because it allows them to be able to track their watch down to the original owners, for them being able to do so is kind of like a badge of honor. 

Below are three similar Rolex Daytona 6263 with the sought after “Paul Newman” dial. All these watches are identical to the untrained eye but to those who know and understand them the differences between each are in the hundreds of thousands of dollars understand vintage watch value.  

The example on the right is a Rolex Daytona in fantastic condition but this one here still retails its original box and papers from when it was new. Back in the 60’s and 70’s these watches were not expensive or luxurious. They were tools, that is it. For this the people that bought them often did not care for keeping the boxes, tags, or papers. Nowadays collectors look for those details like crazy. The watch on the right sold for $628,000 at auction. 

The example on the left is another Rolex Daytona. Very similar to the one above, however this one did not have its original set of papers. What this had that the other did not was a record from the jeweler that sold it. However, this was not just any jeweler. The company that sold it was once a notable jewelry in Argentina called Ricciardi. This very watch sold at auction for $756,500.  

Much like those above it this here is also a Rolex Daytona. Highly sought after with no signs of stopping but what sets this one apart is the fact that aside from it being a 6263 Paul Newman nothing else is special. This watch sold at auction without its documentation from Rolex or the selling jewelry. This watch sold as is for $425,000, or hundreds of thousands less than its peers above. 

This is what we mean when we say a watch with provenance will be more sought after and will likely fetch more money at auctions or via private treaty. 

4- Who Owned You? – A Notable Past 

Similar to a vintage watch with its original paperwork, but also different. A vintage watch that can be traced to a notable historical character is often times a gold mine for the seller and the buyer. A watch is often times seen as part of someone, an object that goes beyond the materialistic and crosses into the intimate understand vintage watch value. Collectors often vie for a watch that accompanied a notable character through their historic journey of life. There have been many of these watches sold in the past but no two are more significant than these two. 

The most expensive and important Rolex ever sold in public. The original Rolex Daytona “Paul Newman” owned by Paul Newman himself. This watch sold on 2017 for the record breaking sum of $17,752,500. The sale of this watch was monumental for two reasons. First prior to the original Paul Newman coming to market the exotic dialed “Paul Newman” was already an icon fetching unmeasurable amounts at auctions so collectors world wide were already well versed with the influence and power of the Daytona. Second, Paul Newman the man has been highly regarded as a spectacular actor and human being, an icon of Hollywood. When the sale was announced two worlds came together. The watch world and the world that admired Newman, the man. 

The Rolex Moonphases 6062 in yellow gold belonging https://vintagewatchesmiami.com/home/sell-my-vintage-watch/to Bao Dai, the last emperor of Vietnam. This is another example of a watch that has an increased value due to its previous ownership, on top of its already substantial value.

The Rolex 6062 is regarded as one of the most beautiful watches ever made. Not many were produced and far less were manufactured with a black dial. In the past black dialed 6062 have sold in the ranges of $500,000 to $900,000, however the watch previously owned by the Bao Dai sold for the record sum of $5,066,000 understand vintage watch value.

Comes to show that a watch with a historical past will often times attract a larger pool of willing buyers ready to pay premium sums.  

5- Marketability – Is There Someone Out There For You?

A few years ago a very special, unique, and historically important watch came to market. The watch was a Vacheron Constantin that had been long lost. Everything about the watch ticked the boxes to make it a million dollar watch. From its provenance, to its craftsmanship, to its mechanics, to who sold it the Vacheron was supposed to bring down big money. However when the moment came to be the watch sold for much less than originally thought. Granted it brought in a lot of money, $740,000 to be exact.      

The main reason why the unique minute repeater Vacheron undersold is simple. The market was not hungry for a small tonneau shaped watch. Did not matter how important it was, a watch is worth what a buyer is willing to pay at that moment.  

So you have to ask yourself is your watch appealing to the market at the moment? Will the buyer appreciate it right that second or are you better off waiting until the moment is right. 

6- How Rare Are You? 

It all comes down to supply and demand, the less the supply the more demand. This case is increased when it comes to watches and even more so when those watches are Rolex or Patek Philippe.

When the watch is limited and bears the name Patek Philippe or Rolex you can bet prices will be high. When a watch with that name on the dial is unique and its design is inline with the current market then prepare yourself for a million dollar watch understand vintage watch value. The pictured unique Patek Philippe 530 manufactured in 1941 sold at auction for $1,445,000.

7- It’s Complicated 

A complicated watch – like those displaying a chronograph function or a perpetual calendar are from the bat more expensive than those watches with simpler functions. When it comes to vintage watches a complicated watch will sometimes command substantial premiums.

A complicated vintage watch is carries a premium for the following: 

1. Their production required more craftsmanship and technical skill as technological advances were scarce in the 40’s through the 80’s – very limited quantities made due to this  
2. They were often cased in smaller cases (under 40mm) which ties in with the fact that they were entirely made by hand and often took years to complete 
3. They were manufactured during the turbulent decades of the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s therefore they are also symbols of resilience and are historically significative 

The Audemars Piguet Perpetual Calendar 5516 from 1957 sold for $675,000 

8- Craftsmanship, It Matters How and Who Made It 

The appeal of Swiss watches is largely based around the fact that they embody quality and top of the line craftsmanship. However within those watches there is a division between “mass produced” timepieces (Rolex) and highly limited ultra technical timepieces (Philippe Dufour). As watch collecting has evolved the market has begun to see technical watches creep up in price as collectors have embraced the art of watchmaking.

Though not yet vintage but rather neo- vintage watches produced by Roger Smith, George Daniels, FP Journe, Philippe Dufour have become incredibly popular and sought after. Collectors vie for them due to their exclusivity, rarity, and technical marvel. 

One of 8 examples of a Philippe Dufour is expected to sell at upcoming auction for 1 to 2 million but can likely reach $7.6 million final result understand vintage watch value.  

9- Heavy Metals – They Matter  

Metals matter a lot. Watches can be found in an array of metals some precious while others are not. When it comes to collecting vintage watches the case material can define a hundred thousand dollar watch and a million dollar watch. https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjf04S8oq78AhXS53cKHa36AEgYABAAGgJlZg&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESa-D2RzU6NCSvaAawFV9Smjx8hrflvP8tojhBpeT95orlllWHh2YdOmFgQGOB26-mQJpAy3vjwE1wBHSSmXRfVjIEEgnRlz838aIBC0PaIN1KZK6p6pLWaCRtkdOw7shViFUZfPiqOSfvxEtg&sig=AOD64_3s_vqEeT1kkKsMhFY6NSiIWhjk8g&q&adurl&ved=2ahUKEwjF-P27oq78AhVF6aQKHbeaDiMQ0Qx6BAgFEAE

Within the world of vintage watch collecting, specially amongst the top three – Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet the case material is hugely important. The unofficial hierarchy of metals by value (from least expensive to most expensive) is the following: 

1. Yellow Gold (least expensive) 
2. Pink Gold 
3. White Gold 
4. Platinum 
5. Steel (most expensive 

People are bewildered when they realize that steel carries huge premiums over gold. The explanations are simple. During the tumultuous eras of the 40’s through 70’s watchmakers were manufacturing more watches in gold due to their market value, while they were largely disregarding the platinum and steel metals, often reserved for special orders. Therefore we are back to supply and demand. The less vintage Pateks available in white metals the more they will cost. 

Above are two pictures of a Patek Philippe Perpetual Chronograph 1518, they are the same watch but one (on the left) is yellow gold while the other (right) is steel. The price difference between them is $10.4 million. You read that correctly. The Patek Philippe 1518 in steel is the most expensive Patek of that metal ever sold.  

To determine the value of a vintage watch, you can consider the following factors:

Brand and model: Watches from well-known brands and popular models tend to be more valuable.
Condition: The condition of the watch will affect its value. A watch that is in good condition with all original parts is generally more valuable than a watch that is in poor condition or has had parts replaced.
Age: Older watches are generally more valuable, especially if they are rare or hard to find.
Materials: The materials used to make the watch, such as the case, strap, and movement, can affect its value. Gold, platinum, and other precious metals are generally more valuable than stainless steel or other less valuable metals.
Features: Watches with additional features, such as a chronograph or date display, may be more valuable.
To get a more accurate estimate of the value of your vintage watch, you may want to consider consulting a professional appraiser or checking online marketplaces to see what similar watches are selling for. It is also a good idea to keep in mind that the value of a vintage watch can vary depending on the demand and market conditions at the time.

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