Talking Watches With Grahame Fowler, Supreme Collector Of COMEX Rolex Divers
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- Опубликовано: 25 июн 2024
- Grahame Fowler isn't new to HODINKEE, and he certainly isn't new to watches. Far from it, in fact. He is one of the consummate watch collectors on the planet and one of the early adopters of vintage military watches as objects of collectibility. He began his career in 1980s England, at a time when old (parlance of the times) military watches were sold by the tray-load in flea markets like London's famed Portobello Road.
In this episode, Fowler - from his Long Island warehouse filled with vintage Italian Scooters - shows us his COMEX collection which ranges from the earliest to the latest days of the double stampede special divers. It's rare to see a collection this focused and we're glad to be able to bring it to you today. But don't think we sat down with the master of military watches without seeing some from his vast treasure chest. From COMEX to Mil-Spec, this is Talking Watches.
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Развлечения
4:35 "Yeah, they tell the time, but its the time that they're steeped in that is important to me"....What a wonderful quote
Even though he has mainly Rolex MilSubs & Comex Subs, I still appreciate that he is not just buying bling watches to show off. He has a passion like Seinfeld and his Porches. He also knows his stuff too, which is better than just buying a piece since it is shiny.
That omega really deserves a modern reissue. so much nicer than anything in their current lineup.
@N A Where does the helium escape valve fit into your theory?🤢
@@arnoldjenkins5455 The modern PO is one of the best looking and performing dive watch there is at this moment.
@@metinotje it's alright, i'm certainly not rushing out to buy one.
There is a reissue. There's also heritage seamaster 300 no date that's sharper and better looking imo.
I love their current line up but yes that 60’s Omega Seamaster 300 is one I’ve seen time and time again on eBay and would love to have on a bracelet. I believe Omega is on the rise in collector circles. I’m seeing them more and more. It’s nice to see them appreciated
The first Comex covered in deep sea welding splatter. COME ON! Amazing piece and a true collector.
The vintage Rolexes are in a lot of ways better looking than modern ones.
Way way waaaay better!
Those are collectable.
The new stuff is way too mass produced
The idea of never owning watches rather being the custodian really sums up why I love watches so much. For these items to even exist now is odd. Love this. There can never be enough talking watches episodes. Also the case on that comex sub is so damn crispy and sharp. its amazing.
If you guys did Talking Watches more often, gosh, that would be so lovely, great content!
A lot of vintage subs and an omega but his knowledge is so extensive. Very cool guy and nice focused collection and even a cool studio.
I've been watching Hodinkee episode: Thirteen Milsubs of Grahame Fowler over and over. Love his shop. Great to see him in Talking Watches. Great job Hodinkee team as usual.
What a wonderfully unpretentious collector. Much respect!
He makes such a good point about the dials lightening in the light and darkening in the dark because there's a lot of misinformation out there about patina and that sunlight causes it when it's the reverse (along with the chemicals used on the dial/hands I.e. tritium).
My 5513 that had been in a safe for the better part of 10 years had deep orange hands and dial but after wearing it for a few weeks it turns into a nice creamy colour and then goes orange again after a while depending on how long it is in the dark.
Love how it changes like that.
Been following him for ages on various social media platforms. Never fails to suprise you !
Out of all of these, the Omega is my favorite. Great episode!
Vintage milsubs are so amazing. Great to have Grahame Fowler on talking watches.
Pure class! Fascinating and historically very significant Mil-spec pieces. Straight 10 out of 10.
Couldn’t be more overdue! Great vid
Love Grahame’s collection. He’s very knowledgeable about his collection; A true passion for sure. Pretty Rad he has watches that have seen military conflict. Ohh and that Left hand 🤚 PVD coated … pfffffttttt ….yeah that’s a grail watch for sure.
Very interesting studio. I was hoping a for a little more montage video footage of the cool items he has collected over the years.
Scooters and watches. The man has taste. Both things I love but most will never understand the passion and joy.
Love that collection. So cool. That milsub is incredible.
very interesting. Grahame is so knowledgeable . great interaction, thank you. ~ JDS/CT
Met Fowler in 2014, and bought some boots in his old shop in Manhattan NYC. At the time he was wearing a Rolex Smurf (18K White Gold Sub). Never forget when he let me examine it.
Grahame Fowler!! what a LEGEND!! as a fellow englishman, I love this collection!!
Finally! Used to see Graham's instagram showing those beauties. Look at those vintage scoots!!
Great collection of a real watch loving gentleman.
11:07 The way he licks his lips after stating what his grail watch would be… you know he is hunting for it :) such a nice, focused collection, well done!
Awesome video and what a cool and layed back collector !
That Omega with the “twisted” lugs looks beautiful!
Great interviewee. Very modest fella.
Another Rolex collectior! That what we all needed! Thank you Hodinkee
Graham is one of those if they ever attend a watch event--will be that guy who is just in the back, people watching, unfazed by the glitz, can instantly silence the crowd with his collection. Not just the brand or how it was issued but the stories and how they're used and not safe queens.
Enjoyed this video !!
Wow, just wow!
Great episode
Good job talking watches 👍
I have two Rolex comex watch's. First I got in early 70's from Comex, but did not have the comex logo on face - it was one of five Rolex very early attempts, second I got did. The second (mid 80's) was aquired as part payment for a Mini Cooper.
I like his point about being a custodian rather than an owner. I tend to be more aware of this feeling with vintage and used watches. The history and wear is apparent the moment I receive the watch and I feel a responsibility to take good care of it for the next owner.
Interesting to get the point of view from such a great collector.
Yes! This guys collection is sick! Best vintage submariner collection I've ever seen.
A true gentleman!
Great stuff.
Gotta admit that I really like Danny Milton nowadays. That Brooke Shields-episode was great and I also liked this one. Thanks, Danny!
Have always liked Danny. Never understood the hate he got, especially for that IWC Portugeser review he did a while back
@@youraveragepasser-by7367 I think he got some hate for the sub-episode. But anyway, cool dude and seems very nice!
Love the minutiae of a talking watches like this. But the music? I can’t think of a less complimentary choice.
Fantastic
Someone so passionate about watches .. you know it’s not for status .. a lot of times you see a bunch of people here who just buy watches for status.. cuz they can afford to .. I just wonder why don’t you just keep your money .. I love that line .. “can’t be bought .. it can only be issued..”
Love how this guy for his passion of milsubs
I bought a vintage Vespa from this guy in Manhattan. He had a store in the west village that sells vintage clothing!
I watched his previous story and followed him on Instagram so I would like to watch the continuous of his story collections. Perhaps a detailed comprehensive on the next video.
Didn't pay attention to the watches. I was looking at the Lambretta Li Special Series 3 and the Vespa GS all the time. 😃
what comes after connoisseur? amazing stuff!
Wow!
John Mayer must be lovin this one
That looks like mod heaven…
this wasn’t talking watches this was reference points lol
Can we find my mans a PVD coated left hand wind 5517?
I’ve heard NOTHING about this ref/model configuration ever
Danny, this is not the Talking Watches I was expecting. This is more like look at my Subs.
8:53 So did they walk into the AD and ask for a back rub?
This might be slightly unreasonable but...if you can get John Mayer to do a talking watches PLEASE GET ERIC CLAPTON ON TALKING WATCHES THAT WOULD BE AWESOME!!! Great video as always though, keep it up👍🏻
beautiful collection … making Rolex submariner collectors jealous.
They are works of art, I agree, but they are meant to be worn!
wow those 11 minutes seemed like an hour...
So what about the basics...what is Comex? I guess this episode was for Rolex experts, as they went through the watches without really mentioning what we're looking at. No explanation as to what was meant by "issued", whom they were issued by. No explanation of who Grahame Fowler is either, though they did mention that many might not know who he is.
Would've been nice to have a look at the surroundings too, they seemed interesting.
Must've been a nice, brief episode for those into the niche of those watches and who know who Grahame Fowler is.
I think he needs more Rolex to add variety to his collection 😶
🍻
He snuck a little Alan Watts in there…”you can’t drive more than one car at once even though they be Cadillac’s”
The thumbnail make me think this was Daniel Craig.
2 talking watch episodes? Hmmm. Okay well bring back Gary Shteyngart and Alton Brown!
He sounds like Magnus Walker or is it the opposite?
Thought it was Daniel Craig
He looks like Daniel Craig in the thumbnail
Slash watch collection ???
he looks a like daniel craig from james bond
Collecting Rolex and train spotting....more or less the same isn't it 😂
First maybe
Congrats, you win the Hodinkee Travel Clock!
@@barfymann362 Rather sell that for 10K or a 31MM black dial OP.
You both sound bored. But great collection 👌
As a military man I find a non-military person's obsession over military watches to be very strange and a bit offensive.
You'll get over that when you grow up .
I understand what you mean but I think it’s a major compliment to the service you all in the military sacrificed for your countries.
@@KD__. you need to grow up.
Is Talking Watches sponsored by Rolex these days?
Even he looks bored of all those watches that look the same.
I know someone with a PVD, Left Handed 5513 Sub, but I don't think that's what Grahame is talking about here...
Interesting...
I know someone as well, is he from Vancouver by any chance...?
@@jank.2400 From, as in native-to? No. But he's lived there for a good long time now... ;)
@@TimCalvinYes, I think it's safe to assume we know the same man, a brilliant owner of this elusive Rolex that I've dubbed as "Bill-Sub". 😉
Another rich guy with a Rolex collection. Next!
I found that Omega to be the prettiest in its design. Btw. such a strange choice of words to call some countries „strange countries“, not quite noble.
I hate how when Rolex service a watch they wipe out its history and patina and rareness, heard about it plenty of times over the years, I would never send a rare watch back to them.
I wish that they just had the word COMEX and not the white background. i think it spoils the look of the watch.
Drink every time he says COMEX
For my budget it's Formex 😊
Drink 🍸 to that?
Second :)
Anyone else's blood pressure get high when people will use the term "tool watch" as they are wearing a suit or look like they've never turned a wrench or done manual labor in their life?
@@dellwright1407 If i had someone using it as a tool watch instead of influences on youtube who wouldn't be caught dead wearing a g shock or equivalent that a real mechanic or armed services member would be using today I wouldn't be so frustrated
@@codys5727 If you look at the prices of vintage Comex and MilSubs you'll see why people don't use them as tool watches now... they are pieces of art, history, design etc.
Wrenches and Manual Labor are really a direct nail on the head outlook for the term "tool." Many of the great adventurers and explorers come from wealthy backgrounds. They may very well wear Suits in their personal time or to be respectful in an interview setting, not to mention fashion tastes but can scale mountains and traverse caves that let's say a car mechanic could only dream of...
His voice sounds exactly like Magnus Walker. Is that just me or is that a regional accent?
Not really regional. Lower middle class with some acquired Americanisms. Possibly London suburbs, originally, but that sound is becoming very widespread. The dropped 't's are unfortunate.
North east England with an American twang I guess. He definitely lived in Yorkshire for a long time .
This guy hasn't a clue about military watches. Too much to explain on this comment section but he knows sweet FA about milsubs.
Very valuable collection, but as far as owning to wear..booooring!!
omg the music is terrible on this
Not wearing them is a travesty and why guys like Grahame are terrible for true rolex enthusiasts
Was that an ABU watch roll? Disgusting
Kinda tired of talking watches. Through the series basically you hear a thousand different reasons(justification) for buying an exact same watch(ap, rolex etc). I mean talk about being an original collector. Gets a little old
I mean they don’t really need you watch . You can unsubscribe without any worries .
Wow, this was boring
Why isn’t Benjamin doing these anymore? Nobody wants to see this guy
Rrrrroooollllleeexxxx. Boring.
Mehhh ... not that interesting