I was a vintage watch collector. I was a connoisseur perhaps, but I never wanted to be a watch dealer, maybe also because of the association that comes with it, haha.

So how did I get into this? Because of my passion for vintage watches, and the possibilities that the internet opened in these days, I created and started writing a personal blog and was active on several watch topic related fora under the name "Bullibeer". Just for fun and out of passion. As a profession I had my own Design Agency, so there was nothing more to it, it was just my way of spending my free time.

But then, it became popular suddenly, and it was then that people started to ask all kind of questions, and asked if they could buy some of my watches. I only buy high quality watches since obviously that is what I want to wear myself. So, these are easy to sell again and eagerly wanted, so when I sold some and bought new ones for my private collection, it repeated, again and again. Before I realized, Bernhard the Watch dealer was born, hahaha.

But I still have the mindset of a private collector, and I believe that was and is my success. I really think I sell great watches (but judge for yourself), and it must hurt a little bit at least when I sell them. :-) If one day it doesn't anymore, I will stop.

Next to vintage watches, I was mostly interested in the lifestyle that belongs to it. It was because of that, that I started searching for accessories that somehow appear to have "a soul", just like vintage watches do.

My search brought me to Lucca, Italy, where I visited the business partner that has become most precious to me, and today I call my friend: Jean Paul Menicucci. An artisan that knows how to bring soul into leather accessories for vintage watches, as I haven't seen like up to date.

It was a trip I will never forget, moreover because my wife Nynke joined me, as she continued doing for all the years to come and in all the steps I made with Bulang and Sons. She was a teacher that loved her work, and even gave up her job for my passion. She is my wingman that I always need by my side, preventing me from lots of stupid decisions. For example, she only allows me to spend big money on watches, because she knows I am able to sell them again!

I sold a watch for the price of EUR 185.000,- which is ofcourse a lot of money. But the thing I will always remember about this deal, is that the current owner, though living in Hong Kong, and not knowing me personally at all, transferred the amount without hesitation based on the trust I had gained by that time already.

Perhaps this does not impress you that much, but people that know me well, tell me that I always tell this story to people that ask me about my company, so I think this made an everlasting impression on me...

It were these kind of moments, that made me feel extremely responsible to our customers, being a watch collector myself. I realize that buying a special timepiece should be always a celebration, and never come with a disappointment in any sense.

The most beautiful watch? Sigh...

That would be a Rolex Daytona Newman. I have owned two myself, and even today I still regret that I sold them. :-(

And equally beautiful, a Patek 1518, but I never owned that. Need to safe some money first, haha. And if I have the money, there is still my wingman to convince...

I came to a very special deal, buying a Rolex 5517 Milsub. When I met the original owner, I immediately noticed this man had a history only few people have. We would have dinner and we hang out together that day. Having worked in the British special forces, he shared some parts of his life when on a mission.

Out of respect I will not share details here, but never before did it became that clear to me that a watch actually was considered a life saving tool that was elementary to survive in some situations. Today we consider these watches fashion statements, but this day became a true eye-opener to me, moving these same eyes a bit wet several times that day.

If I could do miracles, I would have given his Rolex Milsub a mouth, to be telling me all the adventures it had been part of.

Obviously, there was no moment I was more proud, than when my youngest Son Berend decided to join our company.

Being a watch lover himself as long as I can remember (His first word was not "Papa" but "Datejust"), and asking me tons of questions constantly, now came the moment that he had reached the age of joining in.

My biggest worry was how he would be accepted in the world of vintage watches due to his young age. To be frank, amongst vintage watch experts, you feel like walking between the gods sometimes... Now ofcourse I trusted him 100% and knew how much he already knew... Nevertheless, I wanted to be careful and have him introduced step by step.

When he joined me on a trip to the famous RollieFest in New York, I was sooooo proud to notice how naturally and warmly he was adopted by colleagues and watch passionates that I respect a great deal. He is part of the team, and an asset to our company I could not miss anymore. And he is a little bit more handsome than me. But just a little.

Everyone fantasizes about travelling with a time machine sometimes. Well, I had my personal "Back to the Future" moment!

Some person had bought a Rolex Milgaus. Now, if he had never worn it, that would have been extremely rare already. But this watch was still completely in its original state, a so-called New old stock watch. It appeared as if it was bought 2 minutes ago at the Rolex dealer!

Goosebumbs all over the place man... But the most interesting part comes now. When we had a clser look at it, we saw some details that would normally draw our attention when checking on vintage watches. For one example, the caseback was of a slightly older year than the watch itself. However, this watch was still in its original state as officially sold by the dealer.

Here was some visible evidence on how watches were sold decades ago. Watch companies did not try to make the puzzle fit according to what we would like to see today. Ofcourse the watch was perfectly correct in every sense, the caseback was perfectly fine to be used with this watch. But if it would have been worn, any vintage watch expert today might have considered the caseback to be replaced at a later stage, which was in fact not the case.

I made a video about this watch, so if you want, have a look.

Anyhow, this Marty McFly was more than proud to buy this watch.

Where I want us to be if we celebrate the next jubilee 10 years from now?

I would not immediately name one specific thing. What we did in the last 10 years is pioneering and setting standards that have been adopted in the vintage watch business worldwide.

For example, we have been asked by the several Watch Companies Musea to sell back to them one of our vintage watches (with very heavy non-disclosure agreements being signed, so unfortunately we can't share details). But this is the kind of quality we carry. Or another example, as a Designer by profession, I was the first to start making wristshots in a certain way. I was known under the name "Bullibeer", and these shots soon became popular as "Bulli shots", hahaha. We were the inventor of the most popular Ripstop Watch Strap, today being covered by many strap sellers. In general one can say, we were good at emphasizing the lifestyle around watches, not just the watches themselves. We have pushed forward the watch photography and see many have adapted those styles ;-)

That is what I wanna keep doing the next 10 years. Setting new high standards and adding unique things to the watch society, that I became to love so much.