Many of the forum membersSpecial WatchesThey know Antonio Torres, if not by his name, then by his nickname: ToniT. Since his beginnings in the Forum back in 2007, this vintage Rolex collector has been participating in the Rolex subforum, where he has carved out a niche for himself as an expert in the complicated and sometimes dangerous world of vintage. A 46-year-old Valencian and an economist by profession, he has been dedicated to collecting watches for more than 25 years and almost 10 years advising other collectors like him, guiding them in an exciting but also extraordinarily complex world where the originality of the pieces, their contemporary nature and their provenance make the difference between an old watch or a “Holy Grail” worthy of being treasured.
Some of the most important watches owned by Spanish collectors have passed through his hands, many of them fromSpecial Watches, in a search process that he compares to hunting: “wait for the right specimen to appear, be in a good position, sharpen your aim, take a deep breath and go for it!” A passion for acquiring good trophies that has more followers every day, “they must be things of age,” he says.
He insists that it is a complicated world but not inaccessible, today there is a lot of information available for anyone who wants to enter it, increasingly accurate technologies are available to analyze pieces and fans have discussion forums beyond specialized fairs. He says that a few years ago knowledge was acquired through yearbooks, specialized books and pilgrimages to trade fairs in addition to visiting the few establishments that had this type of watches in their catalog. The Internet has emerged as the second source of information, only surpassed by the meticulous study of the piece when you physically have it in your hands.
Today Antonio, or Toni to his friends, has begun a new stage in the universe of timepieces. It has crossed the line that separates the collector from the professional and has become part ofIcone Watchesto develop the firm's vintage area. One of the consequences of this change and therefore of its greater availability, is thatSpecial Watches will be able to count on your expert adviceat Rolex for the “use and enjoyment” of forum members. The help that it has previously been offering to any forum member who requests it is now formalized with a collaboration agreement with RE so that from the forum we can not only count on its opinion whenever required but will regularly prepare opinion articles to try to bring this exciting world closer to all interested parties.
This way,Icone Watches, who is already present in RE as Mercante, joins the list of collaborators with whose contributions we will enrich both the forum and the forum members with content based on the experience accumulated over the years, the result of this passion that unites us. This is going to be not just the beginning but the continuation of a long friendship, you'll see.
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