The New Vintages

[Chase]

Rolex wouldn't be Rolex without their history and with that comes vintage pieces. Rolex and Tudor have a wealth of vintage watches and while the 5517's, Cosmographs and Tudor snowflake subs will always be vintages it has got me thinking about what contemporary watches from either brand will claim vintage status say 20 years from now.



These aren't always the most popular ones of their time either. In fact sometimes it can be the ones that didn't move terribly well that become rare and collectible. What about ones that surpass the vintage designation and move on to be further into the iconic category. Any standouts that are available brand new right now or in the last few years or so that you think have that sort of potential?



For me I start thinking about the Rolex Hulk, Tudor Pelagos (the original two-line model of course!), someone mentioned the new North Flag as the first with Tudors in-house movements and I think that makes sense. The Explorer II 42mm to me I think carries the weight of instant classic. Does it have the stay power to become a vintage in its own right though.

So what ones do you think will make the vintage cut?

For that matter which ones definitely won't make it.

Interested in in the responses here..

[Martin]

I think everything Rolex makes will be collectible in the future. But of course there are a few models that will be more exclusive. My picks would be:

White gold sub:


the everrose daytona with brown dial


The colorful perpetuals:


and the early versions of the DDII, especially the platinum ones:

[Imitation of Life]

Does anyone have any idea of what Rolex and Tudor production were numbers back in the day? I doubt many modern models will be as collectible because the quantity produced is much higher.

[OrangeSport]

I think a few will, but maybe a little different to those already listed..

The last 36mm Explorer. Almost perfect.
The 14060m Sub. Last of the slim cases with pierced lugs. No date.
Milgauss GV.
Hulk.
The last 40mm Polar Explorer II.

[Chase]

Does anyone have any idea of what Rolex and Tudor production were numbers back in the day? I doubt many modern models will be as collectible because the quantity produced is much higher.

There were a lot that they didn't keep track of back in the day, especially the Tudors.

today with Rolex pumping out an estimated 800,000 pieces a year, and I don't know how many from Tudor, the watches in discussion will have to have real staying power as I doubt many will be considered rare by volume alone.