Since September last year – there is a new man in charge of the VRF.

To those who don’t know the VRF stands for the Vintage Rolex Forum and is one of the most heavily visited websites dedicated to watches in the world.

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VRF gets over one million page views per month and collectors from over 158 countries around the world seek to improve their knowledge and trade with each other and discuss the most valuable watch brand on this planet, Rolex. So who is this new owner and man in charge of VRF? His name is Eric Ku.

When he was in college he started trading Rolex watches and has since become a well known ‘super dealer’ when it comes to vintage Rolex. His dealer name is 10 past ten (his website is here). Many of the great Rolex watches have past through his hands. Ever wonder who set the world record of a Jean Claude Killy Rolex ref 6036 in pink gold? It was indeed Erik Ku who will go to any measure to secure the best Rolex for his client.

To find out more about the man in charge of VRF and his advice on collecting- please read on:

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LME: Late last year you have become the new owner of VRF (Vintage Rolex Forum). Tell us more.

KU: Yes, in September of 2013, I officially took over the reigns of the VRF from Richard Carver.  I took it on as both an honor and challenge, as I know its such an important resource for many.

VRF has been instrumental in allowing me to better understand vintage Rolex watches. I never buy a vintage Rolex (if I have doubts about the watch) before checking with VRF. I assume there are many others out there who also seek VRF on a daily basis. Is this your goal?

KU: Maybe not my goal, but again it is an honor to me that this is a sentiment that many collectors share.  I see VRF as a great tool for both new and seasoned collectors to ask questions, give answers and share exciting things with like minded people. Looking at the analytics, I was surprised that VRF is viewed by collectors in 158 different countries!

Do you view VRF has primarily an educational tool? Or what else do you hope to accomplish with this network?

KU: The market for vintage watches and especially vintage Rolex watches can be a minefield.  I see VRF as a place where questions get answered, myths get debunked, debates take place about the esoteric minutiae that collectors are fixated by, and we can all share in the journey.  As well as the main forum which is an educational tool, we have a very active sales forum called Vintage Rolex Market (VRM).  It gets nearly a million page views a month, and is perhaps the safest place on the internet that people can use to find and sell their vintage Rolex related items.

You started dealing with Rolex already at University. Tell us more.

KU: I always loved watches, but through a stock market investment in college where I made a modest profit, I could finally buy what I thought was “a nice watch.”  One quickly became two, then three, then what the stock market giveth, it taketh as well, and I was left with no watches!  In this very short period of time, I realized not only did I love watches, but I also loved the mechanics of the buy and sell.  A dealer was born.

Prices of vintage Rolex were on tear last year. Is it sustainable?

KU: It always concerns me when prices rapidly increase, and the word bubble always gets tossed around. I generally am not fond of the “monetization” or “commodification” of watches, but realize that the money spent on them now is quite staggering.  I don’t have a crystal ball to predict the future, but I can say that if you buy the best examples- history has shown us that you can’t go wrong!

Rolex is a foundation and does not give information out on their vintage models. They don’t help collectors in the way other brands do by issuing certificates. Will that ever change?

KU: Doubtful.  Rolex is not like Patek Philippe- it makes a significantly higher volume of watches, and perhaps their records on older watches are not as good as they should be.

Rolex does a lousy job paying tribute to their past with the current models. Agreed?

KU: They are “In the Spirit” of the older models, but distinctly modern. Although this may not be everyone’s cup of tea, I personally find it better than the shameless “reissue” phenomenon that is gripping the watch world. Everyone keeps reaching into their history, what happens when there’s nothing else left to reissue?!

Collecting Rolex is like swimming in a tank full of sharks. Its bloody dangerous. There is more forgery in vintage Rolex than all the other brands put together. How can we protect ourselves?

KU: Know the seller and do your research! We all make mistakes and big or small, they all hurt. The best thing is to develop a relationship with a reputable dealer, and take your time.  A good dealer has nothing to hide, and a guarantee of authenticity should not have a time expiration date.

What are the most common mistakes Rolex collectors make?

KU: I think collectors now too often think with their wallets and not with their hearts or minds.  Too many times people go for “The Good Deal” and not “The Good Watch” or they end up buying the watch they thing is going to be the better investment rather than the one they really like.

With the Daytona Christies sale last year, the Daytona has become the most valuable line within vintage Rolex. Why?

KU: There has always been an allure to the Daytona. Its association with the sexy cars and celebrities like Paul Newman.  For the last 10+ years, even non watch collectors know that a steel Daytona is collectible and  worth more than what it cost. This type of awareness is something that you can’t pay for or get from an ad campaign.

What is your favorite line within vintage Rolex? Why?

KU: I have always been an Explorer I fan.  I’m a big history nut, and find the allure of Everest and exploration far too great.  It boasts no complications per-se, but the Explorer -1 is always a classic.

Why does an ideal Rolex collection look like to Eric Ku? Lets say you have  a budget of USD 250’ooo and can chose up to three watches maximum.

KU: The following three watches:

• 6241 Black 3-Color Paul Newan
• 1803 White Gold Stella with Yellow Dial
• 5510 “Big Crown” Submariner

Tell us of your most crazy Rolex story you have experienced!

KU: My first nice vintage watch I got was a 6536/1 Sub in MINT MINT condition with box and papers, which was acquired from the original owner’s son. It was purchased on the 4^th of July in 1957 and was bought as a gift to himself when he started his new life in America. I sold the watch for a quick profit and immediately regretted it. The $1,000 profit was far too great a lure for a broke college kid! Lets just say it took 14 years a lot of persistence and a big check to have it back in my possession!

What other brands speak to you as a watch collector?

KU: I am a big fan of the independents.  I love Philippe Dufour and Laurent Ferrier for the beauty of their finishing and representation of the ultimate understated dress watch.

Besides VRF what blogs and internet sites are you a user of?

KU: I consider myself lucky to be friends with Ben Clymer and I’m a big fan of his website Hodinkee. Besides watches, I love cars and read the blogs Jalopnik and Autoblog religiously.

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Now I ask Eric to chose one or the other or none.

• A Submariner 6538 or  6240 Newman?             6240 PN
• To have lunch with Killy or Newman?                Newman
• The first $1m submariner: 2015 or 2020?         Already close
• If Putin would wear a Rolex he would chose:    Green Milgauss

(For our post on the importance of social media like the Vintage Rolex Forum please see our article here)