I recently visited Japan and booked some time with Austin to help source a GMT. It was wonderful to have his expertise on hand to pick through a wide selection in Nakano. It was great to spend some time with him chatting watches too. Thanks again Austin.
Excellent advice, Austin. I've been in the hobby for over 50 years and the 3 things I look for are: condition, condition and condition. This requires patience and effort, but perfect neo-vintage Rolex are out there. I got my grail this year - a perfect, mint, full set 18328. Took a lot of patience and effort to acquire my grail, but it was well worth it. Cheers!
Great video! I agree with you Austin: Choosing a birth-year watch is one of the biggest mistakes "neo-vintage neophytes" make. The top three requirements for picking a pre-ceramic Rolex: condition, condition, condition.
Thank you for another banger vid Austin! Excellent video to share with anyone looking for a neo vintage Rolex. This had me thinking again if I wanted to be a traveler, explorer... until I saw that wimbledon datejust! I think that might still be my next watch.
I LOVE THE GMT MASTER 2 THE WATCH JUST LOOKS GREAT THE DATE WINDOW IS JUST PERFECT ON THE WATCH AUSTIN THIS COMING YEAR 2025 I WILL ADD A ROLEX WATCH TO MY COLLECTION AWESOME VIDEO THANKS
It depends on the model. If I was on the hunt for a Sub and found a great deal on a Sea-Dweller (or vice-versa) I might jump on it. But if the great deal was a TT Datejust, I'd walk. But on the whole I favor focusing on the goal, and not getting sidetracked.
Personally I look for #1: case condition, #2: original dial/hands condition. Tritium or luminova no big deal but I don't prefer service dials or luminova hands on a tritium dial. There's NOTHING worse than an over polished case where flat flanks and edges look rounded and "soft". Most obvious is when the case holes are not sharp and look to resemble a slight downward slope into the hole as water going down a drain and any semblance of a beveled edge where brushed meets polished is entirely gone (best description I can muster up now).
i recently went to japan , and got a 16710 all black, about 2000/2001~ very early luminova swiss made i wanted a tritium coke one, but eventually got a luminova all black one since the price was really really good with papers, condition was great, also had the serialised tag, red tag. (no box) more for "investment purpose", but i did some reading up like serial/dates/datecodes, mine was with serif on the bezel (further ones down did not have the serif) , hollow end link and with holes case. i realised that there were alot of 16710s in japan TBH, but alot of them were badly polished (esp. the better priced ones), so i guess people gotta look out for this. BTW austin, is it still as easy to get spare bezels (upon checking in with japan RSC?), i know that RSC japan has moved away from tokyo station. did anything change?
"...a lot of them were badly polished..." That's for sure! And that's my biggest gripe about watch shopping in Japan - these retailers and their 3rd party watchmakers can really do a number on a watch. It can be a real shame. "...is it still as easy to get spare bezels (upon checking in with japan RSC?), I know that RSC japan has moved away from Tokyo station. Did anything change?" Great question. I haven't been back since they moved. I really need to check out the new location.
I recently visited Japan and booked some time with Austin to help source a GMT. It was wonderful to have his expertise on hand to pick through a wide selection in Nakano. It was great to spend some time with him chatting watches too. Thanks again Austin.
Thanks Mark, and it was a pleasure! Hope your GMT is treating you well!
Excellent advice, Austin. I've been in the hobby for over 50 years and the 3 things I look for are: condition, condition and condition. This requires patience and effort, but perfect neo-vintage Rolex are out there. I got my grail this year - a perfect, mint, full set 18328. Took a lot of patience and effort to acquire my grail, but it was well worth it. Cheers!
Hello Austin , again a very informative video. Still learning a lot on every model. Thank you. 🙏🏻 😊😊
You make those steps look so simple.
In all honesty, I did gloss over the bit about checking the polishing of the case. That's the hardest part by far.
AD -you do a confirming break down - what a great professional inspector . ~ JDS/CT
Great video! I agree with you Austin: Choosing a birth-year watch is one of the biggest mistakes "neo-vintage neophytes" make. The top three requirements for picking a pre-ceramic Rolex: condition, condition, condition.
Thank you for another banger vid Austin! Excellent video to share with anyone looking for a neo vintage Rolex. This had me thinking again if I wanted to be a traveler, explorer... until I saw that wimbledon datejust! I think that might still be my next watch.
I LOVE THE GMT MASTER 2 THE WATCH JUST LOOKS GREAT THE DATE WINDOW IS JUST PERFECT ON THE WATCH AUSTIN THIS COMING YEAR 2025 I WILL ADD A ROLEX WATCH TO MY COLLECTION AWESOME VIDEO THANKS
Sensei knows his stuff 😅
Great vid Ausin I love my 1990 GMT coke with tritium its one of the best watches i own love when it patina's
Thanks Austin, always enjoy your content. That 116600 is playing on my mind, oh no…..run for the hills before I’m completely broke😂
I'm a Neopsycho is that fine?😅
No matter how many times you've covered the 16710 it never gets old.🎉
Xlnt vid, Austin prefer the 116710LN
Rolex Datejust. Ref: 126200. Champagne dial. That's my shit.
What would you do if having decided on a particular reference you came across a killer deal on another model during your search?
It depends on the model. If I was on the hunt for a Sub and found a great deal on a Sea-Dweller (or vice-versa) I might jump on it. But if the great deal was a TT Datejust, I'd walk. But on the whole I favor focusing on the goal, and not getting sidetracked.
@@watchsymposium Thanks for the reply.
What you do is arrange to meet Austin and tell him you want the best deal for a decent Rolex,let the Sniffer dog lose and be guided by him.End of:)
Lol, that's one way to do it!
Personally I look for #1: case condition, #2: original dial/hands condition. Tritium or luminova no big deal but I don't prefer service dials or luminova hands on a tritium dial.
There's NOTHING worse than an over polished case where flat flanks and edges look rounded and "soft". Most obvious is when the case holes are not sharp and look to resemble a slight downward slope into the hole as water going down a drain and any semblance of a beveled edge where brushed meets polished is entirely gone (best description I can muster up now).
i recently went to japan , and got a 16710 all black, about 2000/2001~ very early luminova swiss made
i wanted a tritium coke one, but eventually got a luminova all black one since the price was really really good with papers, condition was great, also had the serialised tag, red tag. (no box)
more for "investment purpose", but i did some reading up like serial/dates/datecodes, mine was with serif on the bezel (further ones down did not have the serif) , hollow end link and with holes case.
i realised that there were alot of 16710s in japan TBH, but alot of them were badly polished (esp. the better priced ones), so i guess people gotta look out for this.
BTW austin, is it still as easy to get spare bezels (upon checking in with japan RSC?), i know that RSC japan has moved away from tokyo station. did anything change?
"...a lot of them were badly polished..." That's for sure! And that's my biggest gripe about watch shopping in Japan - these retailers and their 3rd party watchmakers can really do a number on a watch. It can be a real shame.
"...is it still as easy to get spare bezels (upon checking in with japan RSC?), I know that RSC japan has moved away from Tokyo station. Did anything change?" Great question. I haven't been back since they moved. I really need to check out the new location.
don't you get tired keeping your arm up that way?
I have it jammed up against a wall, but yes, it can get uncomfortable.
First
Neo-vintage? No thanks, I'll stick with the new way better GMTs and watches.