re: Paul Newman’s Rolex sells for $17.8 million, WTF?!?!!!

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I'm willing to bet 100% of the money is going to the foundation. When charity is involved in these auctions, the price goes up exponentially.

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It is going to charity but not Paul's instead to his daughter Nell's foundation. The interesting thing is the family did not own the watch. Newman gave it to one of Nell's boyfriends James Cox many years ago. He fairly recently became aware of what he really had "The Paul Newman Paul Newman" and set up the auction. An extremely magnanimous gesture.

Personally, I do not have much of an interest in vintage watches. I have a Rolex Pepsi 1675, but that is it. I guess if I have a vintage grail, it would be the original JLC geophysics - cool watches, great provenance.

I am more interested in current production watches (or recent vintage). If I had the dough (which I do not), my current grail is the VC Historiques 1955 CDV, or the Lange 1 Moonphase. Maybe one day.

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Personal preference aside, which few watches have the potential to have big increases in the future?

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Really few if any new or recent watches are likely to see large appreciations in the future, watches are now like baseball cards in the 80s and 90s too many are being made to be truly collectible and the people that buy the low volume normally take good care of them so the numbers don't diminish over time like watches from the era when people just saw even expensive watches as a tool.

The only "new" watches that will appreciate are extreme quality very low production ones like Roger Smith. Though Patek and Rolex hold value better than the rest in general.


ON the vintage side the collector market is mostly Patek and Rolex where you can expect good gains, though there are small numbers of historically important watches from other manufacturers that are important as well.

While some might say I collect watches I think of myself more as an accumulator, I buy what I like to wear and in the case of the watches I bought in the early 90s I made a little money. That said if someone were to want to buy a watch with a good chance of being worth more later on AND not have to fork over more money than a car (or house) I would suggest buying the oldest and best condition Rolex Submariner or GMT that they are willing to afford a much better financial decision than a new Rolex. These are watches you can wear daily are robust and easy/cheap to maintain. My first thought would be a 1675 GMT Pepsi which I think someone just mentioned owning in the thread. It is a classic Rolex design and much loved and sought after. Rolex has a GMT Pepsi in their current line but it is only produced in white gold much to the chagrin of Rolex nuts.



BTW it is called Pepsi due to the bezel colors. The watch community gives lots of Rolex watches nicknames (Seiko collectors are also known for that). Rolex has nicks like Kermit, Hulk, Batman, Coke, Pepsi, Fat Lady, Newman, McQueen etc

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I am more interested in current production watches (or recent vintage). If I had the dough (which I do not), my current grail is the VC Historiques 1955 CDV, or the Lange 1 Moonphase. Maybe one day.

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That's crazy, I wore my Cornes De Vache 1955 yesterday. I am a sucker for vintage inspired "dress" chronos. I have what I consider the modern chrono only trilogy: the PP 5070g, Lange Datograph (pre-up/down) and VC CDV 1955. The CDV in gold can be had for a decent price these days used, the platinum ones are still holding most of their value. I wish they would all build them in SS! Speaking of grails my chrono grail if one of the Lange Datographs in steel. Early on they made two and loaned them to their customers when their platinum ones were in for service.

Man, I have to say, I am exceedingly jealous. The CDV is amazing - I really like the iteration that Hodinkee "produced" recently.

My stable is substantially more modest. I have a JLC MUT Moon, Speedy, Rolex 1675, some Seikos (including the GS Snowflake), and most recently, a Lange 37mm.

Is your 5070G the variant with breguet numerals? If so, that is my favorite current production Patek. Personally, new Patek makes me sad, the design and typefaces (specifically the overuse of arial) are terrible. I also like the 5711-12 nautilus (as well as the AP 15202 which is the only AP on my radar).

Thanks. Your answer was more in line with my thinking than my question was.

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I am guessing it is because you piss yourself laughing at me nerding out, if not I'm glad I could help... I guess.

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I used to moderate the sales corner and Breitling forums on Watchuseek and I left with the other mods when WUS was bought out and we now own another watch forum.

Are you part of the IWL group? If so I remember the schism well as my PMs got cut off at WUS for the mere mention of IWL in a PM! Was at the end of 2014 right?

I was ilitig8 on both forums, I say was since I don't post much on WUS now and only spent a few weeks on IWL, most of my closest friends stayed exclusively on WUS. If it is IWL is Jeannie still around? Also, is the IWL continuation of the massive military watch thread still going? A lot of them were pissed when it was shut down.

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Are you part of the IWL group?

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Yep, I'm one of the owners.

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Also, is the IWL continuation of the massive military watch thread still going?

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I believe it's still going.

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If it is IWL is Jeannie still around?

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Yep, Jeannie is still there.