Time and Tide Watches

Australian Watch Authority

  • Home
  • Shop
  • Reviews
  • Watch Fairs
    • Baselworld 2019
    • SIHH 2019
    • Baselworld 2018
    • SIHH 2018
    • Baselworld 2017
    • SIHH 2017
  • Club
  • Partners

13.05.2018
Andy Green

WHO TO FOLLOW: @VintageRolexMania

Lex Kittichoke is a Thai businessman with a love for family, travel, and a huge passion for vintage timepieces. You might know him on Instagram under the handle @VintageRolexMania.

Hi Lex, what’s your daily watch and why?
I don’t have a daily watch, I change my wristwatch every day. It brings me joy to see a different watch, and take the time to look at the dial and case under the loupe. To me, that’s the ultimate experience.

What else is in your collection? Have you got a favourite?
In case of watches collection, when I got new one whatever expensive or cheap, That’s means I fall in love with it. Not only Vintage Rolex, I love all watches that make me stunning, such as Omega, Patek or Seiko.



What is it you love about vintage Rolex?
About 15 years ago, whilst I was at the park with my family, I saw a foreigner wearing a nice patina’d ‘Red Sub’ (Rolex Submariner Reference 1680). He saw my Green Submariner (50th Anniversary ‘Kermit’) and showed me his watch. At that moment I fell in love and it was the exact moment I decided to change my collection to focus on vintage.

Do you remember your first piece, the one that started it all?
My first piece was a Rolex Datejust reference 16233, from my mum in 1991. My first sports Rolex that started it all is Rolex GMT 16710 with a black bezel. I still have the Datejust that my mum gave me, and plan on giving it to my son when he grows up. And I ended up selling the GMT to a friend, as I’m addicted to vintage Rolexes, and it was too new to me.

Is there a vintage piece that you’ve been lusting after, yet unable to find?
I think I can find all the pieces that I want, but now the price has gone too far to reach it. For example, the Rolex Daytona Reference 6263 ‘Paul Newman’, a Rolex Submariner 5517 ‘Milsub’, or a Rolex Submariner reference 6538 ‘Big Crown’ — are all pieces I’d love to own. As I said, the prices on these models are now unfortunately too far out of reach.

What is the most prized piece in your watch collection?
I have two. My Rolex Submariner reference 5514 ‘Comex’ and Rolex Daytona reference 6262 ‘tropical’.



I purchased my 5514 Comex from a dealer about five years ago. It’s a cool watch and unique — aside from being rare in today’s vintage market, it was never a model that was offered to the public for sale. These were tools Comex gave their divers. The number engraved on the caseback is different and still a mystery to me.

On the other hand, my 6262 Daytona was purchased just eight months ago. I love the character of the dial, it’s just so different. It’s got this tropical brown fade to it that’s just stunning to look at.


How have you seen the vintage Rolex landscape change since you started collecting? The good and the bad?
I love to collect timepieces. I’m not a dealer — I don’t buy them with the intention of selling. Since I first started collecting, I’ve seen prices increased more than 300 per cent, so I guess you could say my way of collecting is not good! I don’t buy to sell!



Lastly, can you please tell me about your custom Tudor Black Bay? What is the story there? I understand it’s limited to 16?
At the start of 2016, my watch-lovers group wanted to have a special timepiece to commemorate the group. We chose the Tudor Black Bay and decided to customise the dial. We changed it to look more tropical and changed the font to simply read the water resistance. It was a great experience to make it for the 16 members, and each got their name engraved on the caseback with a big ’16’.

We used a local Thai watchmaker to assemble them. The dial was sent to a factory for customisation in Switzerland. 

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Email
46 Shares

BECOME A SUBSCRIBER

Don't miss any of the action! Join the community to get access to our weekly news round-up, behind the scenes stories, and entrance into exclusive competitions.


SIGN UP NOW
BRANDS
A
A. Lange & Sohne
Aegir Instruments
Akrivia
Alpina
Angelus
Apple
Aquadive
Archimede
Audemars Piguet
Australian Brands
Autodromo
B
Ball Watch Co
Bamford Watch Department
Baume et Mercier
Bausele
Bell & Ross
Blancpain
Breguet
Breitling
Bremont
Briston
Bulgari
Bulova
C
Cartier
Casio
Chanel
Chopard
Christopher Ward
Corum
Creux Automatiq
CT Scuderia
Cvstos
D
Dan Henry
Dior
Doxa
E
Edox
Erroyl
Eterna
F
Farer
Filson
Franck Muller
Frederique Constant
G
Gavox
Girard-Perregaux
Glashütte Original
Glycine
Gorilla
Grand Seiko
Gucci
H
H. Moser & Cie.
Haigh & Hastings
Halios
Hermes
Hublot
HYT
I
Ianos
IWC
J
Jaeger-LeCoultre
Jaquet Droz
L
Linde Werdelin
Longines
Louis Vuitton
Luminox
M
Martenero
Maurice Lacroix
MB&F - Maximilian Büsser & Friends
Melbourne Watch Company
Mido
Ming
Monta
Montblanc
N
Nodus
Nomos
O
Oak & Oscar
Omega
Oris
P
Panerai
Parmigiani Fleurier
Patek Philippe
Perrelet
Piaget
R
Rado
Ralph Lauren
Raymond Weil
Ressence
Richard Mille
Roger Dubuis
Rolex
S
Seals
Seiko
Sevenfriday
Sinn
Spinnaker
Stowa
Swatch
T
TAG Heuer
Tangramatic
Tiffany & Co
Tissot
Tudor
U
Ulysse Nardin
Undone
Unimatic
Urwerk
V
Vacheron Constantin
Van Cleef & Arpels
Victorinox
Z
Zenith
Zodiac
  • Company
  • The Team
  • Contact
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Refund and Exchange Policy
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

The original content on Time and Tide Watches is copyright protected. Please email us before re-posting our content elsewhere. When sharing our images on Pinterest or Instagram please use the credit ‘via Time+Tide' THANK  YOU

TIME+TIDE | MELBOURNE | AUSTRALIA | INFO@TIMEANDTIDEWATCHES.COM

© COPYRIGHT 2019 TIME+TIDE

  • Home
  • Shop
  • Subscribe Now!
  • Reviews
  • Video
  • Club
  • Partners
This site uses cookies as outlined in our cookie policy. Find out more.