Some of my best Rolex friends are Italians! Not a surprise when you consider that the italians invented watch collecting many years ago. Their eye for detail and beauty has always inspired me to go deeper into our beloved passion. During my personal quest for more information, my italian friends never disappointed me and helped me understand the miracles & little secrets they discovered way before the rest of the world even cared about it. For years now great italian collectors have dictated us with their excellent tast by buying all the rare stunners that come to the market. The most important books about vintage watches are 'Made in Italia' & dedicated to those knowledgeable friends that put so much time and effort to fully discover the world of vintage Rolex. I'm VERY grateful to all of YOU for this!



One of the reasons why I made this trip was to meet up with Mr. Daytona alias Pucci Papaleo. His latest masterwork about the history of the Rolex Daytona, The Ultimate Daytona Book got collecting Rolex to a new, even higher standard. As i'm a big fan about more information for everyone interested in understanding vintage Rolex, I had a long talk with him about his new book and the important knowledge thats been written in it exclusively for 599 owners only. Happily I could convince him to come up with a Iphone Application of his Ultimate Daytona Book so that in the near future everybody has the opportunity to study it all!



So here are some of my impressions of yet another wonderful Rolex Passion trip to Italia. Many thanks my great friends! I loved the dinners, your passion, the drinks, the fun, your watches but mostly the kind feeling you all give me as non speaking italian to be part of your 'secret' community, something I cherish a lot!




Hotel L'Orologio in Florence of important watch collector Sandro Fratini ...




































































Million tourists everywhere..








Rolex on Ponte Vecchio















Madonna was in town..





































Bistecca Fiorentina..








Highspeed train to Roma..





The real Vintage Concept Store


















Early 'Underline' Black Cosmograph..










Pink gold Patek Philippe ref 3970, black diamond dial and luminous hands!


First time ever... Pucci with a Submariner, lol!






Prototype Daytona..


Best RCO in the world of a BIG friend!








Gold Tiffany PN beauty!









Smart Brabus, best possible transportanion in Roma, small & fast even with 3 people, haha!


Spectacular non dish bakelite bezel insert..



Prototype Daytona..



RCO wrist shot...



I'm in LOVE with it's simple design!



Me & Mr. italian movie star...



Tropical brown GMT Master..




Tropical brown Daytona index Big red






Caramel Oyster Daytona..










Heading back home, mille grazie!!!



Rgrds.Philipp

...... wow what a fun and watches to die for...


......the PN RCO
......the black Prototype Daytona

- simply breathtaking !!!

....and the Hotel in florence is for sure my next target.

And I Need this bathroom fittings



Regards
Matthias

I have never seen such wonderful tiles on the floor, great report as always
best Ray

nt

So jealous I couldn't join but looks like you managed haha!
Great shots showing the atmosphere

Ciao, D

I want to go to Italy tomorrow!! The Horology Hotel in Florence (room #6062 please!), some good pasta and cold beer, mmm! Its nice to see Corrado smiling, his Dubai vacation must have been good. The original Vintage Concept store looks very cool, I guess I will have to go to Rome as well!

Thank you for making me jealous (again).

MW

Next stop Firenze!

That hotel is out of this world! Those taps!!

Book me a room Any room for a Prince??

Julian

Reading this post Philipp, is like going on an insane magical trip. Great shots and content, love the way the Italians present things, like you said it is all in the detail. I just wish they start making beautiful Lancia's again !

Those prototypes are just the dog's nuts!

Cheers,

Is.

Great post Phillip.

of the food and the faces enjoying it are lessons in how to live well and be happy. The buildings and the watches were tributes to the human hand...some more examples of women would have been appreciated.

Warmest regards,

John Ireland

Thank you for sharing this wonderful experience!

Can you provide move information about the watches shown in Photo 27?

All the best, vlydog

as passionate or stylish when we play them in the Euro quarters on Sunday.

awesome pictures,

thanks,

Steve

Daytona is my favorite Rolex line.
Truly inspiring !

Cheers,
Paul

I'm starving after looking at those pics...for food not watches ! LOL

G.

Cool trip.

Magical tip, report, food, watches, people, you keep topping yourself! That hotel is unbelievable, so beautiful, a monument to passion!

.

Thank you Philipp for this great moment !

Best regards from Brussels

Michel

Carbonara, beer, Rome, Florence, Mozzarella & the occasional Rolex........... what could be nicer? Great photo spread, thank you.

Men who guide the destinies of the world wear rolex watches

is that a red PN on one of the later pictures on the bottle neck?

Thanks for sharing, makes me wanna go to italy just now.
Hans

Please put me down for room 6200

Thank you for taking the time to post it.

Would love to hear the details about it as my friends family have invested too much on it.. Thanks T

Instead its called red presidential
perfect for Roma's scooters & beach, lol!

Ciao

Edit for picture, even Mr.Fratini likes to dream about it although he knows it's not rolex dial

Ciao Philipp

...simply incredible. What a trip, and what a great report. No words needed....
And good to see you even went to church on sunday...LOL

cheers,
Mark

The hotel is incredible. How I would love to visit someday!

Aloha!

Gary

....us along....great pics and report!!

Always love these "I think I've died and gone to Heaven" posts!






Todd B. in the OC

Thanks for the travellog - I always enjoy these travellogs with focus on watches, food and good friends.

And I agree - enjoy life, good food, good wine and if time your watches


Thanks again

/Jan J