The Vintage Rolex of Future Generations

[capote]

I was thinking about evolution of Rolex watches. The sport models have been updated one after another with somewhat similar attributes the last couple of years. The cases and lugs have gone larger, ceramic bezels has replaced aluminum, maxi dial has replaced the regular dial etc. This is the way of things, you have to change to keep up with the current fashion/demand.

At the same time there is a large crowd who embrace the vintage sport models, with the plastic crystals, discoloration, plots without WG-boarders, matte dials, gilt dials, spider dials etc. Watches with a past, models famously wore by Steve Mcqueen and Paul Newman to name two legends.

I thought about the coming generation of Rolex fans that look into the past, what will the be into? Will the memory of Mcqeen and Newman be long gone? Would they reject the notion of a watch with plastic glass, or handwound eta-movement? If so, what would constituted vintage? Would it be the 90's or early 2000 models with lack of engraved rehaut? Classic case? none-maxi dial? green lume? Hollow center links? Maybe they would find these models dull and stick with the current vintage sport watches just like today.

Or would they be into another type, say DD or YM or maybe the Cellini line. What do you think?

[dddrees]

Too hard to say. There will be alot of the current stock out there if they wish to partake. They may not even care that much for watches in the future in the first place.

Only time will tell.

[masterserg]

I think the originals will always be special, no matter what.

[Grissom]

With our "collectibility" focus these days, when considering the purchase of a new watch, and with so many being made simply "to" collect, I doubt ANYTHING we consider to have future collectibility WILL really have such. What will become tomorrows treasures we probably think of as junk, today!

[jonathon555]

Gmt IIc will be a future classic I think, as it was a big step forward in many ways.

Maybe the bezel is a little too fussy but apart from that it is a peach of a watch with a green hand & name

[Michael M.]

As far as collectibility goes, I don't think any Rolex made in the last 10 years will become as collectible as the ones from the 1950's-1980's (i.e. 6538, 6265, 5512, 1665, 1019, etc.). I mean, if there was a eBay back then, there would hardly be any old big crowns, SS daytonas, etc. Now days, there like 100 different BNIB & used SS daytonas, they really aren't what I'd call "rare". Where as back then, there would hardly be any SS daytonas (i.e. 6262 6239 6265). JMHO

[capote]

Originally Posted by Michael M.

As far as collectibility goes, I don't think any Rolex made in the last 10 years will become as collectible as the ones from the 1950's-1980's (i.e. 6538, 6265, 5512, 1665, 1019, etc.). I mean, if there was a eBay back then, there would hardly be any old big crowns, SS daytonas, etc. Now days, there like 100 different BNIB & used SS daytonas, they really aren't what I'd call "rare". Where as back then, there would hardly be any SS daytonas (i.e. 6262 6239 6265). JMHO

Granted, I don't think the current models will become collectables unless a rising middleclass in China and India goes gaga over the 16710
But I like to think that people are interested in vintage watches because of the heritage and looks, not because they are collecting for the sake of collecting things.

[Jagatai]

I hope future collectors reject plastic crystals so I can buy a few more of those examples!

[Cabaiguan]

I'm sure Rolex buyers in the 70's and 80's didn't think their watches would be collectibles either. There's just no telling. I do think some of the current production will be sought after in the future. White Milgauss? Maybe the GV's? Who knows.

[The GMT Master]

I still think the white Milgauss has the best potential to be a future collector's item of the current range :cheer:

[rkny]

I predict the demise of the DSSD within 5-10 years, thus guaranteeing its place in graildom for future generations.