As watch journalists, we do our fair share of writing about watches. In fact, it's almost all we do. And though some would say that watch journalism is dead, here at Fratello, we feel that its alive and well. And that's largely due to you, the Fratelli. It takes people who are interested in reading our work to keep us going. From quick reviews of new watches to detailed buying guides, or even deep dives into brand histories, we try to cover all the bases here. For us, it's an expression of our interest and passion for watches. We are very lucky to get to express our views and opinions to such a receptive audience. And the ultimate expression of watch enthusiasm would be to use one's acquired knowledge, put the keyboard to work, and write a proper book on a watch-related topic.Well, this is exactly what Thomas van Straaten has done. Last August, we announced the Kickstarter campaign for his first book on watches, The Vintage Rolex Datejust Buyer's Collector's Guide 1945-1990. After an extremely successful campaign and the expected period of production, printing, and shipping, the first tomes started landing in the mailboxes of those lucky enough to have backed the project. Now that the book is finally out, we thought we'd call attention to it once again. Especially as those who missed out on getting it through the Kickstarter campaign will now be able to get their hands on a copy directly from Thomas through his website. So, without further ado, let's take a look at the work of Thomas van Straaten, and his brilliant book on vintage Rolex Datejusts.
The Vintage Rolex Datejust Buyer's Collector's Guide 1945-1990Some books on watches tell stories. Others serve to call attention to a specific watch, giving a detailed breakdown of its history, references, technical aspects, and everything in between. The latter is exactly the type of book that Thomas put together. When looking to buy vintage watches, even some as well known and documented as the Rolex Datejust, there's no such thing as being over-informed. With aftermarket parts, service dials, and frankenwatches trading in the market today, you can never have too much knowledge when it comes to a specific type of watch. Thats especially true when looking for that one special piece, or even if you are a collector. Guides like Thomas's book help break down everything you might run into in the secondhand market, detailing the differences between a correct example and one that you should steer clear of.
