Why do we collect? For some, it is a pursuit of pure passion – those who appreciate the wristwatch as an artform: the intricacy of its mechanics, the finesse of its form. Yet for others, collecting is an investment, and a watch’s value is of as much importance as its appearance. All collectors ought to have a guide to models and market value. Rolex: Investing in Wristwatches offers detailed insights into the world of authenticating and pricing high-value wristwatches, which will be of use to collectors from amateur to connoisseur.

This publication includes the vast majority of key Rolex models, along with their relevant auction results. The timepieces featured have been carefully selected by Senior Horological Expert, Osvaldo Patrizzi. These wristwatches excel for a diverse range of reasons, including technical excellence, auction records, design and anecdotal history. A description of each watch is accompanied by its picture, reference and sales values (rights included).

A comparative analysis of auction results, compiled through close collaboration with the Sotheby’s auction house, shows, by brand and timepiece, the evolution of prices over time, leading from the Eighties up to the present day. A system to calculate the currency exchange rate at the time of auction sales will also be included in this vital work of reference.

_An important new reference for all Rolex lovers and collectors
_Written by experts Osvaldo Patrizzi and Mara Cappelletti and introduced by the Chairman of Sotheby’s International Watch Division, Daryn F. Schnipper
_385 key models, with analysis of details and prices realised at auction
_Contains a history of luxury wristwatch auctions and relevant information for collectors looking to invest
_The first part of a series, with Patek Philippe: Investing in Wristwatches to follow

About the Authors:

After graduating in 1989 from the IULM University of Milan, Mara Cappelletti attended the ‘History of Jewelry’ course and the ‘Art of Islamic countries, India, China, Korea and Japan’ short course at the Sotheby’s Institute of Art in 2005. She is founder and president of Associazione Culturale Stile e Storia, working in art, fashion and jewellery. From 2011-2012, Cappelletti was the curator and author, together with Osvaldo Patrizzi, of The Masters of Time (24 Ore Cultura): a collection of 25 monographs dedicated to the world’s finest watchmakers and founders of the greatest Maisons. In January 2020, Cappelletti was the main curator of the exhibition Stile Milano (Milano Style). She had previously curated 2015 exhibition Jewels Of Taste as part of the Expo In Citta, supported by the University of Milano, Associazione Orafa Lombarda, and The World Jewellery Confederation CIBJO.

Osvaldo Patrizzi has held a long fascination with horology. He served as an apprentice watchmaker in Milan from 1965-1973, before being employed as a restorer of antique watches. He went on to become an Expert of the italian Association of Antique Horology Dealers and a consultant for the Swiss Custom. He founded the Galerie d’Horlogerie Ancienne, which became Antiquorum in 1981. In 2007, he founded PATRIZZI & CO. AUCTIONEERS. Across the course of his long and illustrious career, Patrizzi has been responsible for selling over 75% of all the watches ever sold for over one million dollars. His ‘Grading System’ is the most reliable way for collectors to gauge the condition of their prospective investments.

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The ultimate standard work on the Rolex brand is going into a new edition. "The Watch Book Rolex" has long been undisputedly one of the best coffee-table books when it comes to the luxury watch brand. In this superlative coffee-table book, Gisbert L. Brunner, known among experts as the "watch pope", illuminates the history of the chronometric legend Rolex. In his usual artistic style, he explains what makes this brand unique and to what extent it has contributed to the technical development of the wristwatch. From the first officially certified wristwatch, to the waterproof "Oyster" case, to the technically sophisticated models of modern times, Gisbert covers everything the reader needs to know about the Rolex brand in impressive pictures and highly informative yet entertaining texts. 

In the third revised edition, the successful author has now also included the latest models of the legendary Submariner and Daytona series, the brand's traditional lines, which are already celebrating their 70th and 60th anniversaries. But in this edition, Gisbert also addresses the particular challenges facing the watchmaking trade in the advancing 21st century. The business is confronted with the increasing shortage of skilled workers. The author highlights the innovative projects and programmes with which the luxury brand is countering this trend in order to be able to maintain its own standards of guarantee and service in the future. Brand new and a special goodie for real watch fans is the additional digital content to which only owners of the coffee table book "The Watch Book Rolex" have exclusive access via the teNeues app. It can rightly be said that this impressive coffee-table book has once again managed to continue its development in the third edition. Thus, the collector's item continues to deserve an honourable top ranking among the best titles that exist around Rolex.

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Watch lovers and Rolex admirers delight! In this new edition of The Watch Book Rolex, expert Gisbert L. Brunner guides you through the wonderful world of this luxury watch brand with passion, attention to detail, and consistently impressive expertise.

The waterproof "Oyster," the "Datejust," or the more than half-a-century-old diver's "Submariner": timepiece aficionado Brunner walks readers through the innovative technology and design behind iconic Rolex models. Brand-new entries from the Rolex 2020 and 2021 collection celebrate the latest crowns of Rolex achievement.

With trilingual texts in German, English, and French and some 400 color and black-and-white photographs, this is a delight of a book for watch lovers, watch collectors, and Rolex devotees around the globe.

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Informative text and hundreds of photos are a fitting testament to the world-renowned Rolex brand Respected wristwatch expert and historian Gisbert L. Brunner shares his extensive subject knowledge once more A must-have for watch collectors, enthusiasts, and anyone wishing to become one

No doubt about it, Rolex is a chronometric legend. The company was founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf, a Bavarian marketing genius who focused on innovation. Watch enthusiasts have Wilsdorf to thank for many outstanding models and technical advances, including the first officially-certified wristwatches, the waterproof Oyster housing, the Datejust, and sports watches like the Submariner diver’s watch, which dates back more than fifty years.

Although this book gives the company’s incredible tradition its due, it also devotes ample space to the present. Crafted in-house to exacting specifications, Rolex’s breadth of timepieces combine the utmost in sophisticated luxury with advanced precision. All this and much more is yours to enjoy in the third volume of the successful The Watch Book series.

About the Author:

Gisbert L. Brunner, born in 1947, has been working with wristwatches, pendulum clocks, and other precision timekeeping instruments since 1964. During the quartz watch crisis in the 1970s, he discovered a new love for mechanical timepieces as well. His talent and passion for collecting chronographs led him to publish his first articles on the subject in magazines, including GQ, ZEIT Magazin, and Chronos, in the 1980s. He has since written more than twenty books about every aspect of the field.

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Horological trends flit by faster than ever in today’s fast-paced society. But Rolex does not rely on gimmicks; theirs is a more perennial allure, with a reputation built on traditions and hard-earned skill. A company that innovates while paying homage to their roots, every Rolex is the culmination of centuries of watchmaking expertise. Within this book you will find explanations of the making process, descriptions of the materials involved and expert commentary on what makes each Rolex wristwatch unique.

The Book of Rolex demonstrates how each model fits its social milieu, present and past. It also addresses the multitude of fakes on the market, including the so-called ‘Frankensteins’ – watches made from a mixture of real parts and forgeries, which are notoriously hard to spot – imparting all the skills needed to pick counterfeits out of a line-up. A holistic view of Rolex watches, this book promises to be as timeless as the brand itself. Should you be considering a Rolex, this book will convince you of its worth as an investment.

- An exhaustive appraisal of the Rolex watch, including studies of vintage models, current designs and special editions
- Learn how to spot fakes using the same clues as the experts
- Invaluable to any watch-lover, especially aspiring Rolex collectors

A meticulously illustrated journey through all things Rolex.

Rolex, the great creation of inventor and entrepreneur Hans Wilsdorf, is a worldwide phenomenon. This rich photobook uses images, direct testimonials, unpublished interviews, contemporaneous ads, archive materials and excellent narration to recount the path from the inception of this world-famous watch brand to the present day.

Follow the evolutionary path of the innovative techniques and extraordinary designs that made Rolex the powerhouse it is today. Discover the true and unique, inimitable Rolex philosophy – the identity at the heart of a century-long success.

Written by author and jewellery expert Maria Cappelletti, Rolex Philosophy is a meticulously illustrated journey through all things Rolex. With technical details, auction results, and background insights, this is a must-have for all collectors and enthusiasts.

- Includes images, direct testimonials, unpublished interviews, contemporaneous ads and archive materials.
- A must-have for all collectors and enthusiasts.
- Written by author and jewellery expert Mara Cappelletti.

About the Author:

After graduating in 1989 from the IULM University of Milan, Mara Cappelletti attended the ‘History of Jewelry’ course and the ‘Art of Islamic countries, India, China, Korea and Japan’ short course at the Sotheby’s Institute of Art in 2005. She is founder and president of Associazione Culturale Stile e Storia, working in art, fashion and jewellery. From 2011-2012, Cappelletti was the curator and author, together with Osvaldo Patrizzi, of The Masters of Time (24 Ore Cultura): a collection of 25 monographs dedicated to the world’s finest watchmakers and founders of the greatest Maisons. In January 2020, Cappelletti was the main curator of the exhibition Stile Milano (Milano Style). She had previously curated 2015 exhibition Jewels Of Taste as part of the Expo In Citta, supported by the University of Milano, Associazione Orafa Lombarda, and The World Jewellery Confederation CIBJO.

Travel through time with this beautifully photographed history of 90 iconic watches from expert watch collector and dealer Clément Mazarian and celebrated photographer Henry Leutwyler.

From mechanical watches to chronographs, quartz watches to divers', Exceptional Watches will transport you through time, uncovering the histories behind the most coveted watch models. Collector Clément Mazarian of Collection Personelle tells the stories of 90 era-defining watches from the early 1900s up to the present day, each one meticulously catalogued and accompanied by a stunning image from celebrated photographer Henry Leutwyler. Illustrated technical pages clearly explain the mechanics of these timepieces, while profiles of the watches give readers insight into their cultural histories. Exceptional Watches is a treasure trove for collectors and enthusiasts alike.

Featured models include:
- Rolex Submariner
- Swatch Moonswatch
- Jaeger-Lecoultre Reverso
- Cartier Santos-Dumont
- TAG Heuer Monaco
- Philippe Patek Calatrava
- Omega Flightmaster

Presented in a foil-blocked slipcase, it's the perfect gift for watch collectors and fashion enthusiasts alike.

About the Authors:

Clément Mazarian has been a collector of antique watches since he was a teenager. After several years of immersing himself in horology and travelling the world in search of the finest timepieces, Clément moved from working exclusively for dealers to creating his own concept: COLLECTION PERSONELLE. A renowned expert in collectors' watches, Clément researches and sells watches to private clients internationally.

Henry Leutwyler is a self-taught Swiss photographer based in New York. He decided not to follow in the footsteps of his printer grandfather and father, but instead to devote himself to travel and photography. Henry has photographed many celebrities and notable figures: Michelle Obama, Julia Roberts, Iggy Pop, Rihanna and Martin Scorsese to name but a few.

The history of Rolex is inextricably linked to its founder Hans Wilsdorf, who took the first steps in the world of Swiss watchmaking as he dreamed about a timepiece that could be worn around the wrist. This experimental research led Rolex to achieve its highest goals in both technological innovation and in the use of the finest materials alone. Its models have been photographed on the wrists of political leaders, sports champions, and film and fashion celebrities, transforming each Rolex into a fully-fledged status symbol, a synonym of elegance and precision. Including essays with a historical and technical slant, in-depth descriptions of the most representative pieces and a brief glossary, the pages in this book sparkle with golden hands, diamond-studded dials and patent-leather watchbands, illustrated in period photographs and macro-detail. The volume ends with a chapter dedicated to the most amazing auctions that saw the sale of the Geneva-based company’s vintage watches.

About the Authors:

Mara Cappelletti is a journalist and consultant for many publications by antiquarians and jewellery historians. She is also a professor of the history of jewellery at the Istituto Superiore di Arte Orafa Galdus. She wrote this book in collaboration with Osvaldo Patrizzi, watch collector and world-class watch expert.

The name Rolex is recognized around the world. It has become an icon of beauty, quality, accuracy, style, and taste. While there are other fine manufacturers of timepieces, none has reached this pinnacle of public respect and acclaim. The watches produced by Rolex over the last 100 years are celebrated in this lavishly illustrated classic, now in a revised and expanded third edition. Over 30 newly discovered wristwatches are included in this volume, along with new information and a revised value guide. In addition there are detailed looks at some of Rolex's legendary movements. Dowling and Hess, both acknowledged Rolex authorities, have captured the watches' beauty in color photography and present the most thorough and extensive history written of the company. The watches and the extensive information this book offeres to collectors make it a truly useful volume, one that will be cherished by watch lovers around the world.