Hunt for the Grail

By promoting the culture of appreciating rare and heirloom timepieces, Vintage Grail has not only built a solid reputation but also a community of kindred spirits

The art of collecting fine, rare, vintage timepieces for avid collectors is a thrilling chase for the most elusive pieces out there in the market. This hunt for the grail drives the desire and passion of most collectors. They would travel the world to attend auctions, fairs and conventions to acquire must-have timepieces from powerhouse brands like Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet, or extreme sports watches made by Richard Mille.

Young businessmen and watch collectors Jesse Maxwell, Paolo Martel and Franco Varona saw this need to ease the access to these lauded brands. So, they founded Vintage Grail in 2018, building a comprehensive network of watch collectors, reputable dealers and specialists with extensive knowledge in both vintage and modern watches. By working closely with kindred spirits across the world, Vintage Grail has grown to be a reputable hub for luxury and vintage timepieces in the country.

Being a business built and centred on its founders’ passion, Vintage Grail has been the go-to place for collectors like Hayden Kho Jr, Marga Nograles and Alice Eduardo, to name a few. Kho knew Martel through their common friend, King Reyno. “I reached out to Pao by text and that same day we met and talked about watches for hours,” Kho recalls.

Eduardo, on the other hand, knew Martel even before the company was built. “I met Paolo when he organised art, watch and jewellery auctions through Finale Auctions. I would attend the previews, so naturally, as soon as Vintage Grail was conceived, they reached out to me; and I have been a great supporter since,” Eduardo shares.