It all starts
from passion.
The love for guitars came first. Twelve years ago I began buying and selling vintage instruments — not as a business, but because I could not stop. The thrill of finding the right piece. The satisfaction of placing it with someone who understood what they were holding.
Know Your Vintage Guitars grew out of that obsession. And somewhere along the way, I noticed the same feeling on my wrist. The same discipline. The same eye. The same refusal to compromise.
KYVW is not a pivot or a side project. It is the same philosophy applied to a different passion. Every watch in this collection was selected the way I select guitars — because it stopped me cold the moment I held it.
I have built one trusted boutique. I intend to build another.
I don't sell objects.
I pass them forward.
What I find fascinating about both watches and guitars is how timeless the designs are. A Submariner today looks essentially like a Submariner from decades ago. A Les Paul has not changed much either. These things were conceived so right from the start that there was never a real need to reinvent them.
I think of myself as a caretaker more than a dealer. The pieces I sell have had owners before me, and will have owners after. I am just somewhere in the middle of a longer story. And honestly — I find that a nice thought.
Not technology that becomes obsolete. A mechanical watch from decades ago runs on the same principles as one made today.
The value is real — but the point is the pleasure. The weight on the wrist. The ritual of putting it on in the morning.
In a world of things that lose value the moment you buy them, these gain it — because of what they are, not because of speculation.
Bert Mengels
Certified watchmaker
Some people discover watches. Bert was born into them. Growing up literally surrounded by timepieces — his family's passion became his craft, and his craft became his life's work.
As the certified independent watchmaker behind every KYVW inspection, Bert brings a level of expertise that is simply rare at his age. Every piece goes through a point-by-point inspection — movement, case, dial, provenance. Nothing escapes his eye. You receive a full report with every purchase.
If Bert doesn't sign off on it, it doesn't enter the collection. That's not a formality. It's the foundation of everything we promise.
Five steps.
Zero surprises.
You enquire
Message, email or WhatsApp. I respond personally within a few hours — not a bot, not a team.
We talk
Questions about the piece, its history, its condition. No pressure. A real conversation between people who care about watches.
Full documentation
You receive the certified inspection report, photos and provenance before any commitment.
Secure delivery
Fully insured, tracked and packaged the way a watch at this level deserves to be delivered.
14-day guarantee
If anything is not as described, you return it. Full stop. No small print, no exceptions.
What makes
the cut.
Most watches we look at do not make it into the collection. Here is what we look for — and what makes us walk away.
Original parts
Original dials, matching references, untouched components. Authenticity is non-negotiable — every part tells part of the story.
Verifiable history
Where possible, we want to know where it has been. Papers, service records, original owner — the more provenance, the stronger the piece.
1 year guarantee
Every watch sold by KYVW comes with a one year guarantee. If something is not right, we make it right. That is not a promise — it is a policy.
The gut feeling
After twelve years of selecting exceptional objects, there is a feeling you cannot explain. If it is not there, we pass.
A watch at this level
deserves a real conversation.
Whether you are looking for a specific reference, want advice on your first serious purchase, or simply have a question — reach out. I pick up.