Vintage
americano's post delves into a fascinating, albeit chaotic, anecdote from the vintage Rolex market, illustrating the rapid spread of rumors and speculative pricing. His account highlights the often-unpredictable nature of high-value vintage watch transactions, especially when fueled by incomplete information and international intrigue. This narrative offers a unique glimpse into the less formal, yet highly influential, channels through which rare timepieces are sometimes discovered and traded.
A story about a major cluster f*ck among international Rolex dealers. Which happened fairly recently . Involving a Rolex Daytona.
So there was a rumour in Argentina their was a never seen before newly uncovered Rolex Daytona 6263 from a first owner and asking 60,000 us dollars and as it usally goes some people had actually seen it and according to some it had some pretty rare amazing details discolored registers , not a white background but a unique rare ivory blend dial background might be worth a fortune and please don't tell anyone.
Well in no time every vintage watch dealer in Argentina was on the look out for that Rolex Daytona.
And finally someone actually had photos and shared it via whatsapp with a strict request please don't share it keep it to yourselves and as you might guess in no time vintage Rolex dealers from Milan and Miami where also on the lookout for that Rolex Daytona in Argentina .
With every whatsapp photo exchange the value increased a couple of thousand of dollars . Dealers from Miami sending pictures of that Rolex Daytona to dealers in Milan , dealers in Milan sending pictures back to other dealers Miami with a even higher ask price and every dealer making the promise of a soon delivery of the Rolex daytona it was already sold a few times and future owners eagerly awaiting news.
In fact nobody knew who had or where was that Rolex Daytona . So someone did a reverse Google image search and in fact found that the Rolex Daytona was on offer on a OLX site offered by a retired watchmaker with an ask price of 35,000 dollars in some obscure Latin American country I would say an overgrown narco cartel. A pretty dangerous place to go especially with cash .
In Argentina Its impossible to take dollars out of the country even more dangerous to smuggle money into the overgrown Narco cartel .
The Italians vintage Rolex dealers being serial tax evaders objected stating for them it was impossible to travel with so much cash out of the country without declaring it.
Miami vintage Rolex dealers could not do it because diplomatic issues between that country and the USA.
They even tried to get some Dutch vintage watch dealers involved , but with the Netherlands being so liberal with drugs and some big vintage dealers currently under suspicion of money laundering for the narcos it would look suspicious on their reputation traveling to mayor drugs exporting country with so much cash.
As always the Chinese the last of the chain only get involved when the Miami and Milan dealers already took a big part of the profit and the Chinese probably earn more from picture credits from posting on Facebook then actually earning some cash profit.
Finally Aurel Bach of Phillips or Antiquorum caught up obviously it would be nice for them to have a proven first owner Rolex Daytona without suffering the scrutiny of criticasters like Orchi Parlar or Perezcope .
They called with " el Flaco Imberti " the biggest dealer
Latin America based in Buenos Aires and agreed on a future price reserve and for delivery of the watch in the USA or Europe. "El flaco " offered a nice premium in Buenos Aires for anyone willing to pick up the Rolex Daytona in the overgrown narco cartel.
Manolo a local gipsy king and small time dealer took up on the offer. He sold some cars and gold and traveled with cash to the overgrown narco cartel with some of his cousins dividing the money among them selves to minimize the risk . Upon arrivel Manolo was caught and the local corrupt police bullied him out of 20,000 dollars , with the remaining dollars they tried to recupe some of the loss by buying some watches but in one transaction they ended up in a hostage situation an barly escaped. They flew back to Buenos Aires vowing never ever to go back again.
So 4 months go by nothing happens , the Rolex Daytona still for sale in overgrown narco cartel . Finally a Canadian collector picks up on the rumour arranges for the watchmaker to fly to Canada paying for the expenses and being a fair Canadian even pays more then ask price , and now owns a great watch.
The Rolex Daytona which was for sale online for six months for 35000 dollars .
Tru story .
The Rolex Daytona reference 6263 represents a significant evolution within the Daytona chronograph line, distinguished by its screw-down pushers and the introduction of a black acrylic bezel. This reference, produced during the 1970s, is part of the manual-wind era of Daytonas, preceding the automatic movement versions. It is recognized for its robust construction and enhanced water resistance compared to earlier non-Oyster models, making it a practical choice for daily wear while retaining a classic aesthetic.
This reference features a 37mm stainless steel case, housing the Valjoux 727 manual-winding chronograph movement. The Valjoux 727 is an updated version of the Valjoux 72, known for its reliability and precision. The watch is fitted with an acrylic crystal and offers a water resistance of 50 meters. Its power reserve is approximately 45 hours, typical for movements of this period, providing consistent timekeeping for extended periods between winding.
For collectors, the 6263 is notable for its blend of vintage charm and improved functionality. It appeals to those who appreciate the design language of early Daytonas but seek the added security of screw-down pushers. Variants often include different dial configurations, such as the silver dial with black sub-dials or the reverse "panda" dial, which contribute to its diverse appeal within the vintage watch market. The black acrylic tachymeter bezel is a defining characteristic.
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