“The Vintage Rolex Datejust Buyer’s & Collector’s Guide” Book Now Lauching on Kickstarter

Producing a book on anything is not easy. Producing a book on watches is perhaps even more challenging, but producing a book on one of the most iconic watches from one of the most sought-after brands is downright daunting. And yet, that didn’t stop Thomas van Straaten, a Dutch vintage watch dealer with plenty of experience, combining his passion for watches and writing into a book on the iconic Rolex DateJust. His upcoming book The Vintage Rolex Datejust Buyer’s & Collector’s Guide will be launching through a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. 

Using his experience as a watch dealer, and thus extensive knowledge about the Crown, Thomas van Straaten is aiming to produce the definitive book on 45 years of vintage Rolex Datejust – basically all generations of full-size, lady and mid-size Datejust between 1945-1990. Most of us know the world of vintage watches can be equal parts murky, and sketchy. That is the prime reason we tend to avoid all the possible references and types of watches from the past, except for background and historical references. There are loads of examples of people thinking they buy something original, and spend hard-earned money on something, only to find out it is a Franken-watch or even a replica later on in life.

For seasoned collectors and first-time buyers, such a book would be a welcome thing to consult when hunting down a specific, original Datejust reference. What elements to look for in a specific reference, how to spot touched-up dials and hands, what exact bracelet should come with it, et cetera. Basically, all you need to confirm your next buy is, in fact, exactly what you think it is.

The book is launched through Kickstarter and combines everything you need on the subject; historical context, all possible references from 1945 to 1990, microscopic analyses of dials and hands, comparisons between various Datejust models, and much more. While the project is funded, there’s still time to back the project and secure your copy of The Vintage Rolex Datejust Buyer’s & Collector’s Guide by Thomas van Straaten. Delivery is said to start early next year.

More information on the project’s dedicated Kickstarter page.

Note: the cover presented here is a temporary mockup that will be changed once the book is about to be published.