Interesting question ...

and the answer to it is with the people/PuristS we have here - members and moderators.

The biggest and very serious collectors I know/met (most of them PuristS) are kind of discreet when it comes to show what they really have - at least when we talk about the seriously HEAVY guns. They are frequent followers (for years!), but most of them only have a few posts - if at all.

Please allow me one more thought. Rolex needs some "odditiy or flaw" (mainly based on age) to get collectible, but isn´t a matter of outstanding quality shown - at least most of the time. The offer of collectible watches is much wider when it comes to Patek Philippe. Almost no flaws are accepted, rarity does help to make it even more interesting ... but especially if we talk about vintage it is outstanding all-over quality that matters at the end. Even when the watch is "tiny" or looks "simple", it still can be very interesting and highly collectible for the connoisseur. Good news, there are still some treasures to find if you are not looking for "mainstream collectibles" and based on your own criteria.

Both brands quite often atract the "wrong" people - no offense to anyone here, but I guess most of you will know what I have in mind. Also the audience of Rolex is much bigger, because it is much more affordable for Mr. & Mrs. Smith - good or bad.

That´s all for now, after a long and annoying day with daily business ...

Cheers,
Oliver

My question to the Patek forum members?

By: Baron - Mr Red : May 26th, 2014-04:23

My collection is split between mainly Rolex, JLC and Patek. Within Rolex, 90% of my watches are vintage. Within JLC, 90% are modern. Within Patek, its now about 40% modern and 60% vintage. Up until this year, it was 100% modern. This year, I have seen the...

Patek has a rich and long history, and maybe more interesting, horologically speaking than

By: amanico : May 26th, 2014-08:27

Rolex... There were so many complicated watches which Rolex didn't have! Hence the interest of your question...Both Rolex and Patek should have a ot of fans of their vintage watches, and it seems that Rolex has more vintage aficionados than Patek. It is c...

Yes....

By: Baron - Mr Red : May 26th, 2014-08:33

.....you hit on my central point. I think vintage Patek has an extremely interesting history, and in terms of horological interest, perhaps the richest of any manufacturer....yet, as you say, it is vintage Rolex collectors who seem more passionate. And ag...

Big difference.

By: patrick_y : May 26th, 2014-13:15

Make no mistake, the appreciation for vintage Patek Philippes is there and abundant, even among users on our site. But it's a much more expensive piece and thus less people in the game. Also, the people in that space are sometimes more quiet about their a...

Thats a very interesting and full answer....

By: Baron - Mr Red : May 27th, 2014-01:51

......and i agree on many points. Yes, you are probably correct that the Rolex forum is somewhat the vintage outlier, though I would also say that Blancpain has become quite similar and one or two other forums seem to develop in a similar way. However, I ...

Interesting question ...

By: small-luxury-world : May 26th, 2014-14:09

Supply and demand

By: Myopiccoog : May 26th, 2014-14:22

... If you have to say you are the boss your not the boss. How many red subs or DRSD? How many 1518 or 2499. Supply and demand.

This doesn't make much sense to me....

By: Baron - Mr Red : May 27th, 2014-01:59

......this is a forum where people share their watches and discuss them. This is THE place to talk about our watches. Sure, there are more DRSD....way more....but why does that mean that the rare treasures from Patek are not discussed more?

Agree on most...but not all....

By: Baron - Mr Red : May 27th, 2014-02:02

The beauty of PuristS is that it is a place where we don't judge each other. If someone wants to share their joy in owning a watch, they are received with welcoming arms and interest from the fellow enthusiasts. The forum is here so people with wonderful ...

I think this question has been answered in parts

By: watch-guy.com : May 26th, 2014-14:23

I am not going to debate which company PP or Rolex has the best history . Both are old established companies run as a private company for many year now with single families dominating ( or owning the company as in PP case) As to which company tends to loo...

Now that's what I am talking about.....

By: Baron - Mr Red : May 27th, 2014-02:09

.....beautiful watches.....absolutely classic and pure. But again, I am picking up a similar theme.....collectors of modern Patek seem to post on the forum quite happily but the issue of discretion crops up when it comes to vintage Patek.....again raising...

A lot of

By: Myopiccoog : May 27th, 2014-16:49

Dealers on here

Very much not the case.....

By: Baron - Mr Red : May 28th, 2014-00:30

......the forum is dominated by collectors, not dealers. What makes you say that?

One other factor that stands out , is that the Rolex vintage is all OYSTER

By: watch-guy.com : May 27th, 2014-21:31

very little other vintage Rolex is shown Why is this ? does it relate to size and wearability Does it relate to functionality - ie water proof andd tough Does it relate to value and the fact that the majority of vintage Rolex vintage that has appreacited ...

Two major reasons from my perspective.

By: Grisar : May 27th, 2014-17:14

1. Quantity in existence. Many more vintage Rolex than Patek. 2. Wearability. - Size. Most vintage Pateks are too small in today's taste thus less wearable for most modern collectors. Popular vintage Rolex are mostly sporties which are significant bigger ...

Two good points....

By: Baron - Mr Red : May 28th, 2014-00:15

......but my response would be..... 1) Quantity..... there are undoubtedly fewer vintage Patek, but there are a huge number of Patek collectors.....that suggests that the demand/supply issue should only intensify the focus. OK, I think for some Patek the ...

Demographics

By: U3O8 : May 28th, 2014-08:47

Pateks are not cheap. A modern Patek costs as much as a Vintage Rolex. Often much much more. I have several Patek's. All modern. Post 1990. I consider myself a "wearer" and not a collector. I own several modern Rolex watches. Again, I wear them. I don't c...

Interesting....

By: Baron - Mr Red : May 28th, 2014-10:01

......not sure where that places me?? I am young enough to run a mile in under 6 minutes but old enough to have a son at university....i collect watches but do so with a 100% correlation to wearing them. I never started with modern Rolex ....i started wit...

I think it's about context and price point

By: daytonaman799 : June 1st, 2014-05:38

Patek's have become extremely expensive and thus access to,collecting is very limited where one can pick up,a great vintage a Rolex for a fraction of either a modern or vintage Patek. There is something else though that I think is even more important. Con...

Bingo my friend

By: Le Monde Edmond : June 5th, 2014-03:55

Firstly, Joe you bring up, once again a very interesting topic. I think the many answers given on this Forum have mostly answered your question or at least made some very valid points and given us food for thought. However I think Daytonaman really hit th...