Saturday, October 12, 2013

Watch Strap: material, Design, Price, Maintenance

 Various Type of Watch Straps

Watch Strap
Often overlooked, a strap is perhaps the least expensive but most indispensable component of a wristwatch.
Straps can be easily changed to suit moods, styles or outfits, from tactical to tasteful. While they come in a countless variety of colors, materials and styles, straps can be broken down into a few main categories.
While thick leather straps with contrast stitching are often found on beefy sports watches, such as those from Panerai, Rolex Daytona, Roger Debuis, Whilst thinner, more exotic skins are still the choice for high-end dress watches Like Rolex Cellini, Omega De Ville… AP dress watch.
The first watch straps were made of leather, a natural material that was cheap and readily available. Early wristwatches were developed for foot soldiers in the First World War, who needed to be able to quickly check the time or time enemy artillery without fumbling in a pocket for their watches. They were nothing more than pocket watches with strap bars welded on each ends, the leather strap was wrapped and riveted.

Watches continued this way for decades, but as these “wristlets” replaced pocket watches as the predominant fashion, straps evolved. They became thinner and less crude, and removable spring bars allowed for changing of straps without rivets.

Most of the straps nowadays we see have not changed much from these mid-century leather ones.

Generally, leather is more preferable as it will not cause skin allergy like those Plastic.

Now straps can be made from animal skin as the main stream like cowhide, calf leather, horsehide, crocodile, lizard, Snake skin, horse tail*,  ostrich skin, more recently, satin (Cartier and Piaget), synthetic fibre, silicon Rubber are also being used for watch strap.

We’ll call all of these “leather” straps. While thick leather straps with contrast stitching are often found on beefy sports watches, such as AP T3!  Thinner, more exotic skins are still the choice for high-end dress watches, since they tend to complement a suit with leather shoes and a belt.

NATO Strap
At the other end of the strap spectrum is the humble nylon strap. These one-piece straps, which can be bought for little more USD$10-20, were first developed for the British military. Designed to run across the back of a watch and through the spring bars, nylon straps are cheap, but they may also be the best way to save your expensive watch since, if one spring bar breaks, the watch remains on your wrist thanks to the continuous one-piece loop. The straps are often known as NATO straps because they were given a stock number by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for use by soldiers and divers.

I used to make fun on some of the people as NATO, (No Action, Talk Only!)

Ironically, NATO straps have become hugely popular with hipsters and fashionists, and are sold in a rainbow of colors and striped patterns by everyone from J.Crew to J.Press. Most noticeable sample is James Bond 007 Submariner on NATO strap. And the latest Tudor coming with Orange Grey band Nato like strap for 2013 Tudor’s diver watch.

Rubber Strap
Rubber straps have a long association with sports watches, and they lend themselves well to this use. Supple, comfortable and resistant to water and sweat, rubber straps are most often found on dive watches. In the 1960s, the first rubber straps were called “Tropic” straps, and the rubber used was stiff and often became brittle. But at the time they were a better choice than leather for obvious reasons and were cheap and easy to replace when they wore out. Now, high-quality rubber straps can be found on even expensive dive watches and can cost hundreds of dollars on their own.

Metal Strap
The last main genre of watch strap is the metal bracelet. First popularized by Rolex for its early sports watches, metal bracelets have many obvious advantages. They are very durable, resistant to anything you expose them to and nonabsorbent. They tend to be cooler and more comfortable in hot weather and can be sized to very precise fit using micro-adjusting clasps. Typically rendered in stainless steel, but also in titanium or gold, metal bracelets are perhaps the most popular kind of band on most watches
sold today.

Single or double Fold  Deployant Clasp would be equipped for more higher end watch to prevent watch drop out.
Some of the expensive Double Fold Deployant Clasp and crocodile leather can be sold as expensive as HKD$30,000 like Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Roger Dubuis. Rolex has never product the single or double Fold deployant Clasp, but I sued to customer made some like the one shown below.

Dimension
More expensive watch has safety buckle that prevents watch dropping out

In Short,  Rubber for lower cost watch, flexible, durable, water  and sweat friendly.
Silicon Rubber is the variety of Rubber, happened on latest  AP Royal Oak and Hublot Big Bang!
Leather, thicker and wider for bigger watch, while thinner for Dress watch.
Fine lizard leather is expensive to use as it will not last long, probably well taken care of, 1-2 years if you wear it every day.


Size
Size of a strap is measured in mm as the width between the two watch lugs.

Price
Genuine Rolex Crocodile strap price from HKD$1,500 onward. Some of the street shop selling Rolex leather Strap at 1/3 or ½ price but many of them are fake.
Genuine Rolex Solid 18 KT Gold Watch buckles HKD$5,000, there are a lot of fake one made of 18KT solid gold at much cheaper price.
There are also gold plated Rolex buckles selling at HKD$200. Of course Fake one, we can see a lot at SSP AP Liu Street.
Some of the branded genuine Crocodile strap selling HKD$5,000 , that is price of a Louis Vitton leather belt!
How to Choose the type of Crocodile Strap,
I always look for larger square pattern as that is more expensive area of the crocodile. And I think it can easily been told that is not Lizard which is not as durable n general as crocodile and usually cheaper.
I have seen also very expensive Lizard skin watch strap, very thin and elegant, matching with the World thinnest dress watch.
So in short the thicker the bigger works well with bigger thicker watch, while thinner one for dress watch.

Colour
Rolex Does not offer many colour other than Brown, Black, hopefully more would be offered by end of 2013 after the new BaselWorld Exposure of the latest Leather strap Rolex Day Date!

Many colour strap are now available for different size, however it has to be custom order, good quality Crocodile strap with 20mm price between HKD$600-900, three weeks delivery time.
The leather has been dipped with Water repellent liqueur and that could last longer comparing with ordinary watch strap.

Maintenance
After walking under Summer’s Sun, it would be good to use some tissues to absorb some of the sweat.
Leather loves to be cared and some of the leather nourish grease would be applied on the strap sparingly, especially on the thread and use some of the colon cloth to wipe off extra grease, then the leather will give you a shine of lustre for many years!

A Hi tech Bra would enhance your Balcony Construction with a Safe and Prominent look !

A elegant ultra thin Lizard Skin Watch Strap matches with a Dress watch profile properly.





Note.1
I still collect a NOS genuine Rolex Horse Hair watch strap, extremely Rare.
HK Snob

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Roamer Watch, a kind of popular watch in the 60s




   Ip man taught "Wing Chun' at roof top of a building at Tai Nam Street appeared at Movie "Ip Man 2"

   Donnie Yeh and Sammo Hung in the movie "Ip Man 2", the fight was a qualification test for allowing Ip man to teach Martial Art in HK.
 a 1958 Roamer Vanguard Gold plated Watch
  Back side of The Roamer Vanguard

Roamer
Fritz Meyer opened a workshop in Solothurn with half a dozen employees producing cylinder escapements in 1888.
There have been numerous classic watch made by Roamer over the years.

2009
The Swiss Watch Group acquires 50% of Roamer. Together with the Chinese distribution partner and part owner Chung Nam Corp, the brand initializes its successful re-positioning on the international watch market.  Sammo Hng was appointed as the Watch ambassador in 2009.

2010 
The nostalgia ad of Roamer Watch was appeared on “ Ip man 2, legend of the grand master” movie” played by Donnie Yeh and Sammo!

in the 60s, Roamer, Milus, Tudor Longines, Tittoni, Ernest Eborel, Rado Sandoz were some of the popular brands for HKers

HK Snob
Watch Fever 


Monday, October 7, 2013

Tag Heuer 1/10 Second Men Chronometer Quartz





Tag Heuer Quartz Chronometer with 1/10 second timing device.
Excellent Plus condition. Selling is now asking for HKD$3,000

Complete with paper and Box.

HK Snob



Tag Heuer Tiger Woods Limited Automatic men's Watch for sale








2008 Special release limited with 5,000 peices.
Tiger Woods Automatic watch with guilloche dial, Watch Resistant to a level of 200 metres.


Comes with Box and warranty card, Asking for HKD$5,000 now

HK Snob

Sunday, October 6, 2013

What Watches did Ip Man wear?






Ip Man is a legendary Fung Fu Grandmaster, that is no question about it.

Someone has asked me recently what watch Ip man was wearing when he was in Hong Kong?

I started to find friends of mine and someone who knows Ip Man.

Someone Said Omega Seamaster and someone said Ernest Borel, and from what I see on all his pictures, he seemed did not wear any watches at all.

And From all the recent five Ip man Movies I have seen including the Wong Kar Wai's latest "The Grandmasters" 
There is nothing on his wrist, may be a Real Fung Fu man needs a super tough watch and I believed his speed of straight Punch would damage any watch made at that time…
So if you know about him, or you are the student of Ip Chun, please tell me what watch Ip Man worn when he was in HK!

HK Snob
HK Watch Fever

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Fantasy Rolex Watch Picture By Maxcarper

Photography Courtesy Picture of Fantasy Rolex Watch by Maxcarper.

This is a Rolex Day Date, with Logo of Rolex located at the 6 O'clock position as the early Audemars Piguet that The " AP " is situated at 6 O'clock position.

Rolex Has never made and drop Logo design so far, will it happen one day!? Who knows.


HK Snob

How Much Gold Rolex uses up a year!?


HK Snob's Collection of Gold and Silver Tie Clip, bracelet, Cuff Links...


This is the world longest word which is non chemical, non  technical word: Antidisestablishmentarianism.
I cannot understand this word, only after I look up from the dictionary.

Then do you know how many kilo of gold Rolex uses a year?
Base on the estimation, 200,000 watches is solid gold, and about 200,000 Two tone watches.
One Standard 36mm Day Date weighs about 145 gram in weight with 110 gram the weight of gold. Rolex Produces DD II 42mm, and various size of Two Tone carries 18 KT Gold...

With an estimation:  ..36,000 Kilogram of 24K solid gold. That is HKD$350 Million of gold.

HK Snob

Friday, October 4, 2013

Rolex Explorer I Ref 14270 and Ref 214270




Matt Damon and his Explorer I Ref 14270



Two Generations of Explorer I. Which one you prefer?

Explorer I Ref 14270  (36mm)
When I travelled to Singapore, I went to People’s park oriental Watch Shop buying Four Explorer I
Ref 14270 with Each HKD$14,900. At That time, that was a hot item and not so many stock available, something like the GMT Master II Blue in HK now.
I sold One of them at Cost to one of my colleague, and three of them sold with some profit of HKD$3,000 each.

Ref 214270
Now The new face listed Explorer I Ref 214270 (39mm) is selling HKD$48,200, assuming less 10% discount, that is HKD$43,380.
Major Difference other than size of the “Explorer “ is printed at O’clock position on Ref 214270.
Both watch strap is of size 20mm, Which I think it is best matching with size of the watch on Ref 14270.
Whereas the same strap is a bit smaller on Ref 214270.
Which One do you prefer!?
1. If you are looking for long term value Ref 14270 as the market value is HKD$29,000 to HKD$34,000 whereas Ref 214270 is selling HKD$28,000-30,000 in Pre-owned Watch market.
2. Rolex Ref 14270 fits for middle size man and women.
3. Seems Ref 14270 is more classic than Ref 214270.

Find the best one that suit you, both of them is good watch.

I think Woman wears the Older version of Ref 14270 looks very charming!
HK Snob
Watch Fever

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Bo Derek and Jenny Derek, Rolex Ref 1805 and Ref 118206


 Bo Derek

Rolex Day Date Ref 1805 Platinum


Rolex Ref 1805 Vs Ref 118206, Bo Derek Vs Jenny Derek
When I was young, Bo Derek was one of the girls that often appeared in dreams.
When I was young Ref 1805 was not the watch that I could afford, it was selling at least HKD$18,000 in 1967.

Nowadays, when my capability in earning improved a lot, yet still could not afford to buy the Latest Rolex Day Date Ref 118206 HKD$430,000. They are the beauty of two era, Bo Derek in the 70’s and Jenny Derek, daughter of Bo is the super beauty of nowadays…

Jenny Derek


Rolex Ref 118206 Day Date in Platinum

When we try to co-related these two beauties, Bo and Jenny, I think of Rolex Day Date Ref 1805 and
Ref 118206  As they have the same gene, a Rolex Tradition of watch making, an illustration of Sport excellence, and class of Platinum expression!
HK Snob

Paradox of Life!?




Wishes From one of our best staff... thanks!

Can you see this picture, do you see something that is Moving!?- no, that is visual paradox.
Can you tell what is this? Money or Wallet? This is a Wallet made by bank note design washable cotton, not money.
Can you see this watch?, is that Rolex? Can you tell what is the dial display what month? What Date is that!? No, that is not Rolex!
Well, "Oct 3rd" is the display….Well, that is not paradox, that is the Birthday of HK Snob!
And Most of all, Thanks You for those who sent me wishes on my birthday.
I found myself wiser by one more year and closer one year to the end of life...and I always say One happy Today worth two unknown Tomorrow.
Anyway, thanks for the one who pass the message to me, I truely would remember that...

HKSnob


@@@
Thanks for the Birthday greeting (Comment) from one of Watch Fever friends. I had accidentally removed the comment on my Samsung handphone...!!! Very Sorry...

Rolex Submariner Ref 116610LV and Explorer I Ref 14270 on Sales


Rolex Explorer I Ref 14270

A  Human Psychological decision to take it or leave it!?
Have you ever been invited by a young and pretty lady who you know in 5 minutes in a bar to go to her house?
I bet you would not go with her!? In fact there are really many of this came into happy endings. There are 10/90 people Blood test would tell; “HIV +” the next week after.
When we get older, we are trained by our experience to alert ourselves always” Don’t go for it!”
Yes, there is no freebie in Hong Kong, but guess who that is a diamond bachelor that has good enough income to spend on these luxury items, When he got an upgrade, seem he want to let go it for cash.
When we go to buy something, when we could see too many available choice for you!
When there are too many choices, that is virtually no choice!
When we are offered good offer, people will suspect why the price is so good, why the offering price is so low!?
It happens real life…
People sell the Rolex Explorer I Ref 14270 at Price HKD$14,800? Mint with Box, certificate bought in Geneva! Do you want to take it!? That is the same price that I bought Explorer I in Singapore People's Park  1996! I bought Four one time. At that time, HKers liked that watch so much!
(Sold to Ringo on 1000, 4 Oct 2013)
Another one sells me his Ref 116610LV at HKD$64,000 but he used for four times.  Do you want to take it!?
HK Snob

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Carla Bruni and Nicolas Zarkozy




Nicolas and his Patek Philippe watch



 Nicolas and his Girrad Paragaux Annual Calendar Equation of time. He Said, " I like Something Big!"





Carla Bruni and Nacolas Zarkozy
Carla Bruni who's to many of us nothing more than an average celebrity with unsuccessful musical career and enough Italian Genes to attract the French president Nacolas Zarkozy.  

Nicolas Sarkozy's wedding to Carla Bruni was held in 2008. The first lady had had enough with the way Nicolas wearing, a Rolex Daytona, which she thought that is not classy enough for the most powerful man in France, She bought him a Patek Philipe Calatrava.

In fact Nicolas Sarkozy is quite partial to a Rolex,  Sarkozy likes chunky Daytonas and has also sported a Breitling Navitimer, as well as Breguet, Girard Perregaux,  Cartier and Pequignet watches.

HK Snob
Watch Fever

Beautiful Watch Picture.


I once had worked on a vessel and I had written something on paper slips and inserted in sealed bottle and threw into the Pacific Ocean....
Insofar, no one seems receive them...
Well, someoe said, One Today is Better than Two Tomorrow!

I will be turning in 56 in another two hours... If I could keep time in a bottle, I will put the bottle in a Safe, and only open to see it once a year...

HK Snob

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Rolex GMT Master II Ref 1167O1 BLNR Blue for Pilot and you


   Cockpit inside an Airbus A320-211, Photography Courtesy of Ismael Jorda, Airliner.net






Who should wear such a Watch: GMT Master II  BLNR?
By right is Pilot, Captain, Frequent Traveler, but now anyone who would like to wear it as it is super eye catching. With the new ceramic Blue Dial and Blue Pointer. People goes to Rolex AD would likely turn frenetic as no one could give a date when this watch would arrive his hand.
Some of the Rolex AD required to prepay 100% first, then wait for next week’s provision to arrive. This is at least able to allow you to have a chance to get the watch, not a bad idea.
No one could imagine that a commercial product could be so successful, iPhone 5S 16G Gold colour is now selling HKD$9,500. And this Rolex is selling HKD$65,300. These are the hardcore Products that no one could wait to buy nowadays.

Today the Samsung Note III and the SmartWatch has launched HK, I am afraid those electronic freak would have no time to sleep after they bought this new toy!
HK Snob

Fan Bing Bing and Rolex have one common Point; The beauty that meets the Divine Proportion!


 Fan Bing Bing

The Number 666
The number 666 is not Satan, this  Biblical number 666 may also have a relationship to the divine proportion. The number 666 is related to Phi
Revelations 13:18, speaking of the Anti-Christ, says the following:


Man in a circle illustrating proportion by Leonardo Da Vinci 1485-90 


"This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is a man's number, his number is 666"

The beast, the Antichrist, is thus related to the number 666, one of the greatest mysteries of the Bible.
Curiously enough, if you take the sine of 666°, you get 0.80901699, which is one half of negative phi, or perhaps what one might call the "anti-phi"
The sine 666° is one-half negative of 1.618. It is opposite of balance and harmony or chaos and disharmony.



Golden Rule or Divine Proportion
Face proportion so called divine Proportion was not my idea, as over many centuries, a lot of study had debine the Golden Rule of Balance.
Everything in the universe is based on the proportion: 1 to 1.618 so called Divine Proportion, as the width of the face is 1. Then the height of the head should be 1.618.

Fan Bing Bing
Elegancy is not borne to have it, as far as beauty like Fan Bing Bing, she was born as natural beauty, no plastic surgery, she is a natural creation by her parents with genes of beauty. "Bing" means Ice, and I think she is not cold as Icem but hot as Red hot charcoal... that could burn me to death!




Look at her, she has all the divine proportion!
So What kind of watch that I think best for this Chinese Beauty, Rolex …
What? Again Rolex? Yes… Because I found that the Rolex Also carry the Divine of Proportion!? Can you Find it!?

Rolex DateJust Lady Ref 178279 White Gold with Diamond 

If I were the program manager of Miss Fan, I will have no hesitation to introduce her just two watches, which would cover 70% of her usage.
One is DateJust Lady 31mm Ref 178279, White Gold with diamond bezel, and diamond “6” and “9” which is the most adorable number for Chinese beside “3” . That is also laid with sands…The strap is a President strap that could possible tell the guy on the other side of the street to tell “It is A Rolex!” give everyone a look of “ Flagship” not stainless steel, it is entire made of White Gold.


Rolex DateJust Ref 116199. SANR.L.10DIA.272BRA

Another one is the most sexiest watch for lady , only a few lucky one who could possible afford because you cannot use it every day, it has to be used on Big Day only! Especially when walking on Red carpet. or if you had too much money, buy it for going to street Market eating Fish Balls!


Price
The price of the two watches is Just HKD$1,000,000 after special Discount. It is still Cheaper to buy an Audi A8, and  MB E320. And it does not ask you to turn left always (for Entering gas station)!
Warning
Warning to the HK people who goes for a two weeks Korean Plastic Surgery,  it may destroy the proportion if not managed well, and we see why all beautiful Koreans look the same, as they all employ the same Rule, may be from the hands of the same Surgeon.
By Doing so, it gains beauty and lose the character.  And if you are painter you know that once stroke or one dot could means a lot on a Chinese Painting. So if you want the Surgeon using knife as pen to paint on you face… then I should say” Beware!”
Remarks: Courtesy of Mr. Gary Meisnerhe bible

HK Snob
Watch Fever
Sham Shui Po Snob

Note: the Rolex Dial Diameter and the Width of the bracelet agrees with the Divine Proportion.