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As a collector, you know the thrill of chasing down a sought-after item. Visiting trade fairs, scouring eBay listings, searching for tiny shops in back alleys. It’s all very exciting. Of course, it’s also time-consuming and quite often leads to a dead-end. This has led pre-owned luxury goods specialist, Xupes, to create ‘Hard To Find’. A curated collection of the finest and rarest items they have available. You still get the adrenalin rush of finding something special but without the hassle. Sounds almost too good to be true.
 
We recently visited the team at Xupes to learn more about their Hard To Find collection. It’s comprised of pre-owned watches, jewellery, handbags and fine art. We, of course, had to choose our five favourite luxury vintage watches from the line-up to profile for you. Xupes CEO Joe McKenzie was kind enough to explain each model in detail. Naturally, we have dedicated a separate video to each.

For ease of navigation, we’ve listed them here for you. If there is a specific watch you want to see, just click on the link to be taken straight to it:


Jaeger Vintage Hermes 18k Yellow Gold Ref 79829

Rolex Submariner “Red Depth” Units Only Stainless Steel Ref 6538

Rolex GMT-Master “Pepsi” Small GMT Hand Stainless Steel Ref 1675

Rolex Daytona Cosmograph “Big Red” Stainless Steel Ref 6263

Rolex “Paul Newman” Daytona Lemon Dial 18k Yellow Gold Ref 6264


We also spoke to Joe about the business and what the future holds for Xupes. It’s well worth watching, especially if you’re not particularly familiar with this growing, family-owned enterprise.

What Is Xupes?

If you’ve managed to resist the temptation to skip straight to the watches, well done. It’s definitely worth spending a few minutes getting to know more about Xupes. As you’re no doubt aware, vintage and pre-owned luxury watches are big business these days. Some estimates put the size of the second-hand market at around USD 5 billion a year in revenue. With new players constantly joining the fray, finding a luxury watch to buy is easy. Finding the right watch, however, is a different story. Particularly when it comes to vintage watches. How do you know who you can trust? How can you be sure the watch you’re getting is authentic?

Enter Xupes.
 

Operating out of a restored 17th century Wheat Barn in Bishops Stortford, Xupes has spent the last decade building a reputation for itself as a trusted seller of pre-owned luxury goods. In this video, Xupes CEO Joe McKenzie explains exactly how they did it:

The focus on great products with strong provenance, combined with excellent customer service, is paying off. At the time of writing Xupes has a TrustScore of 9.8 out of 10 on TrustPilot. That’s based on 823 reviews and the company enjoys a high level of repeat business. There are also significant plans for expansion in the coming 18 months.

Enough with the business talk though. Let’s get to the watches! And indeed, we have some very special pieces to show you.


Jaeger Vintage Hermes 18k Yellow Gold Ref 79829

As the only non-Rolex model in our selection, it’s safe to assume that this vintage Jaeger watch is something special. Made around 1943, it’s a collaborative piece between Swiss watch maker Jaeger and French fashion house Hermès.
 
A stunning ladies watch in 18k yellow gold, it houses the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 101. Invented in 1929, this mechanical movement is still the smallest of its kind in the world. It measures just 14 mm x 4.8 mm, with a thickness of 3.4 mm and weighs barely a gramme. Each movement is unique. The individual components must be custom manufactured and adjusted. They are then assembled by hand. Impressively, the Calibre 101 is still in production. The latest examples being Jaeger-LeCoultre’s 101 Joaillerie Collection.

This Jaeger Vintage Hermes 18k Yellow Gold Ref 79829 is available now for purchase from Xupes. GBP 39,995.

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Rolex Submariner “Red Depth” Units Only Stainless Steel Ref 6538

The Rolex Submariner Ref 6538, aka the ‘James Bond’ Rolex needs little introduction. First worn by Sean Connery in 1962’s Dr. No, this big crown Rolex, sans crown guards, is coveted by collectors. It was produced over a 4-year period (1955 – 1959) and there are at least 10 dial variations known of. Some are much rarer than others. This particular example features two lines of text. A red depth rating and no unit measurement (“200/660” instead of “200m/660ft”). Worn on a riveted link oyster bracelet ref. 7206 with ref. 80 end links, it is powered by the Rolex Calibre 1030, with 25 jewels running at 18,800 vph.

 

This Rolex Submariner “Red Depth” Units Only Stainless Steel Ref 6538 is available now for purchase from Xupes. POA.

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Rolex GMT-Master “Pepsi” Small GMT Hand Stainless Steel Ref 1675

The Rolex GMT-Master II Ref 126710BLRO Pepsi is the watch everyone is talking about at the moment. Yet, the Pepsi trend actually started over sixty years ago, with the original Ref 1675 in steel. This example, from around 1961, features an unusual small GMT hand. It also boasts a Swiss only gloss dial with gilt writing and a rare “exclamation point” at 6 o’clock. So called due to the round lume plot located under the 6 o’clock marker. Square crown guards and a beautifully aged Pepsi bezel contribute to this model’s vintage appeal.

 

This Rolex GMT-Master “Pepsi” Small GMT Hand Stainless Steel Ref 1675 is available now for purchase from Xupes. GBP 34,995.

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Rolex Daytona Cosmograph “Big Red” Stainless Steel Ref 6263

The Rolex Daytona continues to be one of the most collectible luxury steel sports watch, bar none. Sure, there’s still a very long waiting list for the brand new Ref 116500LN. Not to mention stiff competition from the Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref 5711. But quality vintage examples like this “Big Red” Ref 6263 are sought after by collectors. The rather obvious nickname comes from the large Daytona writing above the lower hour chronograph register on the black dial. This example comes complete with a full set of original box and papers dated 8th July 1981. Its value, like its popularity, is sure to continue to increase over time.

 

This Rolex Daytona Cosmograph “Big Red” Stainless Steel Ref 6263 is available now for purchase from Xupes. GBP 98,950.

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Rolex “Paul Newman” Daytona Lemon Dial 18k Yellow Gold Ref 6264

Saving the very best for last, we come to this stunning Rolex Daytona Ref 6264 with Paul Newman Lemon Dial. It’s reportedly only the 5th such example to come to market and it’s being offered for sale by the original owner. According to Xupes, there are several features that make this a lemon dial Ref 6264 including:
– pump pushers;
– square chronograph register markers;
– an outer seconds track contrasting the main dial and matching the sub-dials;
– white sub-dial hashes/squares; and
– an exotic cream or ‘lemon’ main dial colour.
Kept in a safety deposit box for the last 30 years, it is in excellent condition and looks superb in the flesh.

This Rolex “Paul Newman” Daytona Lemon Dial 18k Yellow Gold Ref 6264 is available now for purchase from Xupes. POA.

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Hard To Find

What we’ve shown you here today is a small selection from Xupes’ new Hard To Find Collection. Besides pre-owned luxury watches, the collection also includes handbags, jewellery and fine art. And according to Joe, there are many interesting additions to come. Perhaps even something from your personal collection? As Joe explains, Xupes also sells pieces on consignment on behalf of its clients:

With the business growing rapidly, one thing is for sure; they’re going to need a bigger barn.

For more information please visit xupes.com.

Tom Mulraney
Tom Mulraney
Founder & Editor
Tom likes to write about luxury watches. So much so, that he created The Watch Lounge just so he would have an outlet for his passion. Together with his team, he is dedicated to bringing you original, entertaining (and maybe even a little educational) luxury watch and lifestyle content.

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