10 QUESTIONS WITH DAVID SILVER, DIRECTOR OF THE VINTAGE WATCH COMPANY
“Mayfair is my home from home, it’s a little town in itself we all generally know each other. We are a little community that can be found in the same restaurants,same shops, same clubs, same hotels.”
David Silver
1.) Good morning David, welcome to The Mayfair Musings! What inspired The Vintage Watch Company?
Good Morning, great to welcome you. My Father started the Vintage Watch Company nearly 25yrs ago. He had sold a business and was looking for a hobby. He hit upon a unique concept and I joined about 15 years ago when we opened our first store in the Burlington Arcade dedicated solely to Vintage Rolex.
Our shared passion/goal was to create and maintain the Largest Collection of Vintage Rolex Watches on display in the world (and yes! We have achieved it).
2.) Have you always had a keen interest in vintage watches?
My true passion is retail, from the age of 16 I worked at Paul Smith in Convent Garden. I loved the interaction with people and have a strong interest in fashion and men’s lifestyle in general. The love for Vintage Rolex has grown and grown as we amassed the collection. I am well known for adding my own style to the watches by changing the straps and making them more individual and unique.
3.) Why people should consider purchasing or collecting vintage watches?
People should consider a Vintage Rolex because they are individual. Its nice to own something that not every other person has. They are also rare and growing in value and rarity the whole time.
4.) How does The Vintage Watch Company bring a vintage watch back to its original condition?
The uniqueness of our store is our workshop that has been created to support the collection. We have a team of Rolex trained watchmakers and jewellers that painstakingly clean, polish and service the watches and bring them back to their original condition. We also offer a 2 year warranty on pieces we sell and only undertake servicing on watches that have been purchased from our store.
5.) Can you tell us a little about the collection of Vintage Rolex Sports watches from c1950 onwards?
Well Vintage Rolex Sports watches are the icons of the horological world. The 1950s bore witness to the birth of the Submariner made for diving, The GMT master made for Pan Am trans Atlantic pilots, the Explorer –strapped to the wrist of Ranulph Fiennes when he conquered Everest. The 1960s then saw the next great milestone in the Sport Collection, The Daytona now made infamous by Paul Newman.
6.) What advise would you give to those shopping for special occasions / gifts?
Buy A Vintage Rolex from your or another persons year of birth- it’s a knock out gift every single time. We engrave the watches for you and box each watch up with a small plaque displaying the year so the recognition of the gift is instantaneous.
7.) In terms of aftercare, what advise do you give to people who are taking a very rare and valuable timepiece home with them?
There is no special aftercare. The watches should be worn and enjoyed, not locked away in safes.
8.) What is your favourite watch of all time?
I have a few favourites but my mainstay is a Rolex Submariner from 1965 that has changed from its original black colour to brown, a process we now call “Tropical”.
9.) What are some of the best things about working in Mayfair?
Mayfair is my home from home, it’s a little town in itself we all generally know each other. We are a little community that can be found in the same restaurants, same shops, same clubs, same hotels.
10.) When you're not busy working, what do you like to do and where can you be found?
Well when I am not working (which is most of the week (we are open 6 days ) I am spending time with my family. But before work you’ll find me in the gym training with Scott Ashley at The café Royal Hotel in, you guessed it, Mayfair!
The Vintage Watch Company, 24 Burlington Arcade, London, W1J 0PS | Telephone: +44 (0)20 7499 2032
