After trying to clasp the watch around my ?gorilla wrist,? I realized it just wasn?t going to go. I told Ali, the person helping me, ?I need another link, maybe two. Do you have them"? ?Not here, but we?ll get them.? I was at Matthew Bain?s booth at the Antique Show in Miami Beach.
?And you?ll do that for the price you quoted"? 
?Sure.?
Finally, eyeing the beautiful, bright red and black bezel one last time, I said, ?I?ll take it.?
And just like that, my thirst was slaked. The Rolex GMT Master I?d been dreaming about would adorn my wrist within ?two weeks,? Ali assured me. I thanked her, and also Morgan and Alison, who?d also helped with the transaction.
The Original Miami Beach Antique Show is a huge trade show that?s also open to the public. Booths carry antiques of all sorts, but this is no flea market. This is where the dealers catering to the Gucci set come to shop. But, cool as they are, ten foot long museum quality models of 1900-era passenger ships are not why I was there. No, I was there for the vintage watches.

“…Paul Newman Daytonas" Scores and scores. Submariners" Like somebody spilled chicken feed in the cases. Audemars Piguet" Don?t even ask.”

 

You see, the Miami Beach Antique Show is probably two thirds vintage jewelry and watches. Since my wife and I have a side hustle selling fine jewelry by appointment, the show has been on our radar for a decade. In fact, this is our third visit in five years....