Rolex

amanico
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Modern and Vintage.

I for one wouldn't create an opposition between the Modern and the Vintage.

First of all, what do we mean by Vintage, here?

Vintage is the contraction of the french " vingt ans d'age ", which means 20 years old.

So, watches till 1990 are to be considered as Vintage?

If yes, a lot of break the opposition between the modern and the Vintage, such as the 16600, 16610, 16700 / 710 / 760, 16 570 and so on.

To me, Vintage watches are up to the early 80ies, and for a Purist, it would be watches which are up to the 70ies, watches with only 4 digit number, such as the 1675, 1680, 5513, 1665 and so on.

We could also say, which will recover this last approach, that Vintage watches are watches which fill a certain number of criterias, such as radioactive indexes ( tiritium or radium ), and a plexy glass, which is, I think the best approach if we want to give a definition of Vintage watches.

But, in this case, a 16 750 ( Transitional GMT from the early 80ies ) would make an excellent exception to the " Purist " definition ...



That being said, I wouldn't separate the Vintage and the Moderrns, as I often love both of them for different reasons, sometimes for common reasons.

When I see a Yachtmaster, for example, which is undisputably a modern Rolex, I fall in love, because of its great charm, its perfect construction, its great presence, its sublime look.

Same for the Explo II white tritium dial.

When I wear my Rasta Milgauss, I appreciate its madness, its originality, and, like the YM, its quality.

With Vintage watches, I feel their presence, but also their soul.

Soul, it may be what distinguishes more the Modern and the Vintage.

But, here again, I'm not so sure we have to be so sure, because some modern Rolex watches have a lot of soul:

I love both of them, and I'm able to fall for an Explo II Transitional Cream and Rail Dial, as well as for a Daytona Zenith, which both offer a lot of charm, and which both develop a superb patina.

You see, common reasons for both modern and vintage Rolex watches, and, finally, it is not that evident that we have to mae an hermetic separation between them.

Best,

Nicolas

This message has been edited by amanico on 2010-09-03 01:28:53

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