This week, we bring to you an interview with Paul Boutros, the International Strategy advisor for Phillips Watches. Paul has been involved for many many years with watches, having previously consulted with various brands, and also written for many publications on luxury watches. A true jack of all trades, Paul just finished photographing all the watches for the first two Phillips sales. A long time collector, Paul is passionate about not only vintage Rolex, but other brands and makes as well. Paul is the owner of a "Kew A" Rolex, which happens to be one of my personal grails, and unfortunately I haven't convinced him to sell it to me just yet! A great longtime friend, we're proud to have him as this week's Horological Minute.

After a lifetime of collecting, you recently joined the Phillips team as “International Strategy Advisor”. Can you tell us a little bit about what that position entails and what its like working “on the other side of the gavel”?

I’m supporting a superb, world-class team made up of people who are deeply passionate about watches. Together, we’re building the Phillips Watch department up from a clean sheet of paper, shaping it from the perspective of watch collectors. It’s a wonderful entrepreneurial environment with so much positive energy, and we’re all wearing many hats. In addition to helping them create and execute their digital and traditional marketing strategies, surprisingly, I also photographed the first two catalogs! I believe it’s the first time ever a collector, not a professional photographer, has photographed an auction catalog. It brought to life the vision of Aurel Bacs, who wants to present watches the way they are, without software manipulation, so collectors know exactly what they’re getting.

What was your first watch?

I’ve always been fascinated with watches. Ironically, my first watch wasn’t mechanical. When I was around four years old, my earliest memories are of me so badly wanting a digital watch. One of my parent’s friends heard my incessant begging and gave me the watch on his wrist – a Casio digital watch.

What was the last watch you bought?

One of the first three Vacheron Constantin Overseas watches ever made, and one of only four left-handed Overseas watches ever made. It was made for Johann Rupert, Chairman of Richemont and a lefty, in 1996 to commemorate his firm’s purchase of Vacheron Constantin.

Do you prefer vintage or modern?

Vintage, for sure. Anyone with enough cash can buy nearly any modern watch. Vintage watches are far more difficult and challenging to find, especially in good condition. To me, there is no greater feeling in watch collecting than finally obtaining a rare, hard to find vintage watch.

Can you remember your last great meal? Where was it and what did you eat?

It was a dinner a few months ago at Nobu in London with colleagues, a great watch collector, and his son. He ordered a selection of his favorite items off the menu for all of us to share. The food, drinks, and company were amazingly good, with all of us sharing our good and bad watch stories throughout the night.

Do you remember what watch you were wearing?

On my wrist was one of my favorite watches in the world – a Rolex Military Submariner.

What do you love about vintage Rolex?

They’re tough as nails and built like tanks. Reliable, accurate, and extremely robust, vintage Rolex sport watches are so easy to wear, and they’re perfectly sized for today’s tastes. Above all, it’s the challenge of collecting them that I find most appealing. There are no rules with Rolex, and with barely any support offered from the brand, it’s sort of “every man for himself” when it comes to acquiring and authenticating them. Understanding the subtle nuances differentiating nearly identical models makes them so interesting.

Strap or bracelet?

Bracelet. Oyster bracelet, in particular!

GMT/EXPLORER/SUB/DAYTONA or........?

The Daytona. From my earliest days of collecting, the mystique and widespread appeal of the Paul Newman Daytona has fascinated me, and will continue to do so, I’m sure.

What do you want to see come out from Rolex at the next Basel Fair?

For the official 60th anniversary of the Day-Date’s launch in 1956, I would love to see a special edition Day-Date with dauphine hands and red “Day-Date” text at 6 o’clock.

What's on your wrist today?

I'm wearing a 6263 Daytona today. It's a real icon, and I have loved these from the my early collecting days.