Not too late but too expensive. Wasn't long ago I could buy 14060's all day long at the AD in Cebu City Philippines for $1900 when the Peso was weak. Second hand I was still paying less than $2000 for them there in 2017.
You're right. Modern Subs are better in every way. Better water resistance, better lume, better bracelet and clasp, scratch resistant bezel etc..
Say what you will about contemporary Rolex and their business practices... but that's one well-designed and proportioned watch. I definitely got into this hobby too late. I sometimes daydream about selling off most of my collection and just picking up a 1513 or 1680.
How's the vintage watch hunting game looking in the Philippines these days? If only I'd been into watches when my wife and I used to visit more frequently back in the early 2000s!
It might be getting better for foreigners to do business, or give competition to locals for purchasing items like used watches now that the psychotic killer of a president has left office. He's the reason we left and came stateside, along with wanting our kid to start attending USA schools. However with the current president being, incredibly, a marcos who knows. We still have our crew there of relatives that buy and send us interesting watches but for a foreigner to be knocking around the big cities buying for himself like I was doing is still a bit risky.
I guess I should put my dreams of chasing down cheap, vintage rolexes aside and just find a quiet, uncrowded beach when we finally visit again.
Oh I wouldn't put your ambitions of finding some cool watches on the cheap there aside, so long as you are not going to take up residence and do it for a prolonged time. One could easily and safely hunt around, find some stuff to buy and then head out as a tourist. No one would regard you as a threat to their business. It's the expats-foreigners who reside there and do business, especially anything jewelry/watch related that need to watch out who they upset. The massive pawn shop operations there, where there is practically two or three per block, don't like outside competition. Part time deal hunting fun is fine in the Philippines. However I would not suggest Manila no matter what. Leave that place for the Filipinos to rule. If you ever do consider going for vacation then certainly contact us as we have been everywhere in those 15+ years we lived there, and can steer you in the right direction to good watch hunting grounds as well as beach spots for family style vacations.
How is it to your advantage to let the car salesman know you've got plenty of money and like to throw it around?
Well, I prefer vintage...
When I see a modern Sub...
Blingy dreck (my opinion only of course)...
I bought my Rolex Submariner in 1989/90, just walked into a shop, paid £1100 and walked out with the the watch. I could have bought more than one if I wanted..
I bought my Rolex Submariner in 1989/90, just walked into a shop, paid £1100 and walked out with the the watch. I could have bought more than one if I wanted..
Also us young regular people who just wish the prices weren’t so inflated so we could buy nice watches.
