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11 DAYS OF LONDONERS: Day 4 – David Silver, Director of the Vintage Watch Company 11 DAYS OF LONDONERS: Day 4 – David Silver, Director of the Vintage Watch Company

11 DAYS OF LONDONERS: Day 4 – David Silver, Director of the Vintage Watch Company

Time+Tide

Editor’s note: A few months back, we announced that former Editor of GQ Australia, Mike Christensen, was to be our first European Editor. In this series ‘11 Days of Londoners’, Mike will be sharing the stories of a few notable local collectors, starting on Day 1 with King Nerd, and with a stellar lineup still to come. Lastly, you might ask, why 11 days? That, friends, will become clearer over time … 

In the past decade, the hype around vintage watches has escalated to a point of no return. For all the woke vibes floating around the watch industry in 2020 and on people’s wrists, it’s great that the value of relic pieces has never been higher. One man knows this only too well, Mr David Silver of the Vintage Watch Company. 

David Silver

The story behind the watch I’m wearing today

I’m wearing my 1966 Vintage Rolex GMT-Master with Pepsi bezel. This watch features in the opening pages of my new book, Vintage Rolex: The Largest Collection in the World. I love to wear it on all variety of different skin straps which I have made in Italy. Each time I change the strap I feel like I’m wearing a new watch and get to fall in love with it all over again. 

What I love most about watches

I am Rolex-obsessed and that’s it – nothing else distracts me. I am a true purveyor of vintage and love the allure and history of all the pieces I come into contact with. 

David Silver

Other favourite pieces from my collection

I also have a special piece, a rare example of the Paul Newman Daytona. I had it long before his actual watch sold at auction in 2017 for $17 million. Mine isn’t worth that, but it’s special to me. 

My favourite watch from 2020 is …

One hundred per cent Rolex’s new release of a vivid yellow-dialled Oyster Perpetual. Yellow is the cover watch of my new book and, when I saw this release coincide with the publication of my book, I was gobsmacked. 

David Silver

Tell us an entertaining watch-related anecdote

Well, my favourite story happened many years ago. Leonard Nimoy (Spock) and his wife were in my store. We had promoted the idea of choosing a Rolex from his birth year or a year with special meaning. His wife then leaned over the counter and pointed to a Rolex Oyster made in 1957.

“I’ll take that one,” she said loudly. “That’s the year I lost my virginity.”

David Silver

My style is …

Pretty classic. I have a background in tailoring, having worked with Paul Smith from the age of 16. Now I tend to have clothes made in Savile Row. Anderson & Sheppard and Richard James are my go-tos and I’m also a big fan of Drake’s and Thom Sweeney. All my shoes are from George Jr at George Cleverley. 

Someone you follow who has an admirable watch collection

I admire the collections of Orlando Bloom and Ed Sheeran. They have pretty understated but rare taste. Orlando mixes his watches up with unusual strap combinations and I’m a big fan of that styling.