Wednesday, July 31, 2013

King of Watch, Rolex for Lo Ban and Celebrities

Manny Pacquiao, who landed the 15th spot in Forbes Magazine’s 2012 list of highest paid celebrities, was recently spotted wearing a Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II, which is worth 5.8 million pesos.
A Perception of the Chinese to Rolex! Rolex is king of Watch!
If there is a kingdom of watches somewhere in the Swiss Alps, would its King be Rolex? I think not because the Europeans are not particularly partial to Rolex. However, if there is a kingdom of watches in Asia (Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwanese or Malaysia), its King will certainly be Rolex. This is because Asians are extremely fond of Rolex watches, especially Chinese.
In fact, the Chinese have nicknames for certain models of Rolex watches and this privilege is not extended to other brands. A "Rolex Star" is a half-gold Rolex Datejust. A "Rolex King" refers to a solid gold Rolex, usually the Day-Date or President.
To the Asian Lo Ban  (Lo Ban means "boss"), to have arrived means a Mercedes-Benz (or occasionally a Bee-M) and the inevitable Rolex, preferably solid gold or at least half-gold. Every successful or wannabe successful businessman is wearing one - from the Waiter, carpenter to the Lo Ban.   
Just look around in a Chinese restaurant running for Wedding Dinner, you can see a lot of Rolex. Rolex is of course Swiss in origin but many people think they make watches specially for the Chinese. To start with, the model numbers of the more expensive Rolex watches favoured by the Chinese Lo Ban are not offensive at all. The Chinese are very superstitious about certain numbers, particularly the number 4 which signifies “death” but they like 8 which connotes “prosperity” and 3 which is linked to “long life”. 
That is why many People also like to buy Yellow gold Rolex as it carries a translation of “You can Run the business for many years” but White Gold means : “You gain nothing”. Blue Dial on White Gold is worst as it means” Difficult to get through” Even today you go to Large Rolex AD boutique, almost 95% of Rolex is displayed with Yellow Gold Only. Of course , being a Watch lover, I like The beautiful Dial like Blue White gold. As it is Awesome and a bit in form of low profile.
That is why the hottest most popular model number of the Two Tone Datejust is Ref 16233 which loosely translated into Chinese would mean "all the way easy for long life". This model is much sought after by up-and-coming Lo Ban especially in the year 1965-1990. When Asian Four Little Dragon was  Flying Up the sky” with tremendous economic growth. These four little Dragons was Seoul, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore. The model number of the solid gold Day-Date is 18238 which again loosely translated into Chinese would mean "prosper easily, long life and prosperity".  Alfa Romeo could learn a lesson here from Rolex. Imagine calling a car model "164" which means "All the way die" to the Chinese, and The Hong Kong Car Authorized Dealer changed into “168” when car is shipped from Italy to Hong Kong,  immediately the people liked to buy!! As “168” means all the way to be Rich”!
Rolex watches are designed to be extremely ostentatious so that you can spot one on a wrist across the street. This is how the rich wants it, the perfect reflection of his wealth and the respect he should be accorded. In the Cantonese Movie, there were Ko Lo Chuen who played a Rich Business man talking to his daughter’s poor boy-friend ”I drive Rolls Royce, I wear Rolex…how about you?” How come you can marry my daughter?”
 It is known to work wonders in Chinese restaurants worldwide. Flash a Rolex on your wrist and you are assured of a better table and clockwork service. Sitting in your next table the chap is always picking his nose, I bet 90% he is wearing Rolex, as he worries his flashing Fluted bezel Gold Rolex wouldn't catch you eyesight!
I have seen 7 people wearing different Rolex watches in one queue at CitiSuper Payment counter at Ocean Centre. Rolex SHOW!?
HK Snob

How was this great name " Rolex" was created!?


Rolex is one of the best-known brands for luxurious wristwatches in the world. It is also the largest one producing about 2,000 luxury watches per day (approximately 700,000 a year). But what does Rolex actually mean? Truth is – nothing. There is no word rolex in the English language, Japanese, Chinese or Latin, or any other language!
Back in 1905 Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law Alfred Davis founded a company called Wilsdorf and Davis. These two guys were located in London, England, but were doing business by importing movements from Switzerland and placing them in quality watch cases made by Dennison etc. The watches were initially inscribed with W&D inside the caseback.
In 1908 Hans Wilsdorf registered the trademark “Rolex”. In 1915 the Rolex Watch Company Ltd. was founded. The question here is how did Wilsdorf come up with the brand name Rolex? According to the book The Best of Time: Rolex Wristwatches: An Unauthorized History by Jeffrey P. Hess and James Dowling the brand name is randomly made up.
Hans Wilsdorf  wanted his  brand name be " ... short, yet significant, not cumbersome on the dial; thus leaving space enough for the inscription of the English traders name. and above all a word easy enough to be memorized, with a pleasant sound and have its pronunciation unchanged whatever European language it is spoken" According to Redwatches.com.
According to it the naming comes from the French phrase horlogerie exquise, meaning “hoROLogical EXcellence”. What is known, however, is that Wilsdorf wanted a name that would be easily pronounced in various languages (and probably not meaning anything so that it can be original). Furthermore, it is said that according to him the word rolex sounds like the sound of a watch being wound, i.e. is an onomatopoeia? True? Never mind, the Name Rolex has been name of the luxury watch all over the world now.
HK Snob 

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Investment on Watch, Pen, Wine, Vinyl, Vacuum Tubes Collection? Which one has a higher ROI for you and me?

                                                               One Case of Lafite 2008
                                                     550 Bottles of wine opened between 2005-2009
                                 One Bottle Chateau Lafift Rothschild 1899 Auction for Over HKD$1,820,000
                          Some of my Favourite Vacuum tubes Collections WE300B and ECC803S
           Some of My favourite Artists Especially Anita Mui, Teresa Tang, Louis Amstrong, Zhou Xuan
      Some of my dream Audio Equipment, John Curl Vendetta Research SCG1, Linn LP12, Marantz 8B
                                                  The Watch that Drives me crazy


Part of the Cuff link, tie clip collection
Some of the best pens, Cartier Bamboo, Shaeffer Pen For Men, Parker Duofold, Evershap Doric

     I bought the Tiffany 14KT Bamboo in last Sunday in Sham Shui Po,
    The 1950 Montblanc 144 belongs to friend of mine Mr. Hung, he Bought is with HKD$8,000 in 1992.  



Zhi Kung that keep me calm and not crazy about the Collection because I am having no money.

As many of you may know I collect Watches, Fountain pen, Vinyl, Cuff links and tie clip, Vacuum Tubes.
I drink a lot of wines that probably I had reached a point of no return.
But evertheless, I like doing so, and I think we should go doing so, remember what one says ”
We Only live once” not James bond said “ You only Live Twice!”
Amongst all I think I like Watch as much as I like listening music Analogue music, Tubes amplifier on 50’s LPs. Music would make us feeling we are Happy especially if those music is what you like most.
Amongst these hobbies
The amount of Money Earning capability in my opinion and experience is shown here in descending order:
1.       Wine
2.       Vacuum Tubes
3.       Vinyl
4.       Watch
5.       Fountain pen

Meaning that Collection of vacuum tubes has a better growth than watch, because the vacuum is a consumable item, unless someone do not use it at all, but it has no value if you do not use it.
This is the factor that make such item becoming less and less.
But the value of a Vacuum tubes is not as high as A watch, so that is why we do not see Auction on Vacuum tubes in Christies’s. They do it  eBay only.
Of course there are so many special item which is not listed here, what I am talking is average common commodities.
As For a Super tubes Telefunken ECC803 it was about HKD$4,000 a match pair in 1990, not it is selling  HKD$22,000 in a white box sealed (5.5 times).
A Watch of Daytona stainless still was selling HKD$29,500 in 1989, now it is selling $87,500 (2.96 times) 
A Vinyl of say Royal Ballet was selling About $3,000 in 1990 but now a good condition one may hit $13,000  (4.33 times)
A Montblanc Medici 4810 Series Fountain pen in 1989 was HKD$9,000  and the pen is selling now at about HKD$50,000  (5.55 times)
A bottle of Lafite 1986 was selling HKD$800 in 1990 and it is selling now as an average HKD$13,000 (16.25 times)
A bottle of Lafite 1982 was selling HKD$2,000 in 1990 and it is selling now as an average HKD$35,933 (17.96 times)

The rule of the game is whilst doing investing you can enjoy.
1.       Consumable like Wine and Vacuum tubes, price could be higher, but if you need to buy and store in a recognized place, just buy and sell, you do not see the actual wine. not mentioning to drink them.
2.       Watch is always repairable and it could live for hundred years and too much as an investment. But you can always see it, use it , show it. listen to it.
3.       Fountain Pen is limited to a smaller user society, not too many knows what fountain pen is unless you like Caligraphy.
4.       Vinyl is growing as there is a Hugh China middle class Big spenders coming up for these 60's things.
5.       Watch are usually more in amount, Christies PP are always 1M, who on earth can have money to invest on 1m Watch, less than 0.1% population.
6.       Vacuum tubes are now hard to find, at only limited sources, there are so many Fake tube in eBady!

So if you had money, in order to invest, these are the things you can consider. But if you do not use it and you do not like it, better ignore it as you do not have passion on that, you wouldn't spend time on that. And there are a lot knowledge, know-how to learn. Like Watch, I am a kindergarten student only!

So watch Collection, Vinyl and Vacuum Tube colllection is fun, Whilst I usually store the wine in my stomach instead of in UK or France!

But the Biggest problem I have is “Too many hobbies but with too little money”
Remarks price quoted above is a rough estimation only.

HK Sham Shui Po Snob

Watch Collection and Investment

Watch Collection and Investment
Watch collection for daily uses and or somehow could be a side effect to gain some money for you.  I had sold two watches recently and I get some profit, not much just to cover the inflation for 4 years. But I feel regret as I think I cannot buy that watch again with the same amount of money!
This is the love and hate of watch collection: It is hard to buy and even hard to sell.
Watch Can be an investment and somehow I learnt from guru that these are the condition and we should look at for an investment watch from Auction’
Christie’s head of watches Aurel Bacs gives his five rules for finding collectables, while three horological journalists pick the watches they think will be worth something in the future. He was appointed international co-head of Christie’s watch department in July 2003 and has overseen many high-profile auctions, including its spring auction in Geneva, where a Rolex surpassed the $1.1m mark for the first time ever at auction, and a rare Patek Philippe, sold for $3.6m.
However, in the past 30 to 40 years Bacs has noticed that there are certain parameters that are valid, and he has Five Elements that can be applied to a watch for both the short and long term to assess its collectability.
1.       As with fine art, the maker’s name stands for something.
2.       Second point is technical complexity and quality.
3.       Something that is a handmade grande complication is   important,” he says. “The human element in particular brings a level of quality and exclusivity to a piece.
4.       The third component is rarity. As Bacs explains, the auction market is just a reflection of a market and works by the same principles of supply and demand.
5.       The final element is provenance. Because the auction world is relatively close knit, people will know when an owner has shopped around a watch. “If it has been offered to 10 other people but not sold, it immediately makes a person wonder what is wrong with the piece,” says Bacs. “This will affect its perceived value.” When auctioning a watch, the Perception of Value is almost as important as the actual value.
HK Snob

Argument on Rolex

An interesting article I extracted from Website on two different Opinions, One is more pro Rolex and One is no. How about you? Which Side you are A or B?

A.
Rolex is arguably the most popular name in watches -- certainly when it comes to luxury watches. Classically Swiss, since 1915 Rolex has been producing watches designed for comfort, function and style. Today, Rolex is one of the most powerful luxury brands in the world working hard to retain its status. Rolex focuses on a few key watch lines that are quickly recognizable and highly desired the world over. Image aside, Rolex watches have a reputation for being very well manufactured -- despite what Dwayne Smith will tell you in his Arguments Against Rolex Watches -- lasting decades or more with simple care.   
Rolex watches are classic
You’ll see below that most Rolex watches are archetypes: The Rolex Submariner is the classic diver’s watch, The Rolex Datejust is the classic formal men’s watch of the last half century and The Rolex Daytona is the classic sports chronograph. Rolex has benefited from keeping its product line simple and consistent. Instead of releasing brand new models, it keeps refining existing designs. This is extremely important because each watch contains the suggestions and wearing experiences of countless people who together have helped create timepieces that look good and work well.
Take the Rolex Submariner line as an example. Based on the classic “Oyster” water-resistant watch cases, the timepiece is specifically designed to be easy to read in most conditions, to be hardy and have a comfortable and reliable construction. The Submariner design has achieved an almost impossible task: to look good on almost every person, on any occasion, regardless of age or outfit. Other Rolex watches edge close to this ideal as well. You have to ask yourself the question of whether that is due to something about the design of these watches or rather because we have been seeing them on important wrists our whole lives, and they simply mentally fit these positive watch stereotypes.
James Bond wore a Rolex
Omega doesn’t want you to know this, but the original James Bond watch was a Rolex Submariner. Creator Ian Fleming wrote that Bond was wearing the timepiece, while Sean Connery in the role brandished his Submariner proudly. Countless actors, celebrities and politicians have also been known to be Rolex men. Take the popular line of Paul Newman Daytona watches, or the Rolex Day-Date nicknamed the “President,” because many U.S. presidents (and otherwise) during the 20th century were known to wear the watch. Wearing a Rolex and being associated with these people and personalities.
   
Rolex watches are the ultimate status symbol
Wearing a Rolex watch communicates to people that you are successful enough to have rewarded yourself with the luxury of a nice watch. Rolex watches are not the only luxury watches out there by far, but they are the most well-known. From basic entry-level luxury models to diamond-encrusted gold watches for the ultra-privileged, a Rolex is so much more than a mere timepiece. It is a statement about your way of life and taste. Some people take it even further; the world of aftermarket Rolex watches feature decorated brims and jewel encrusted designs, suggesting that telling time becomes a mere afterthought.
Other watches also want to be like Rolex, whose designs are the most copied the world over. Most of these watches legitimize “homage” timepieces with a different brand name, but there is of course the dark underworld of fakes as well. You’ll find at least a little of Rolex design in the majority of nice watches out there. So, even if you don’t have a watch with the Rolex name, chances are there is a bit of Rolex influence. You can’t deny that even if Rolex watch designs don’t move you, a big part of you wants one.
Rolex watches have excellent movements
Being a company that makes all of its own parts (rare in the watch world), it goes without saying that Rolex makes each of its own movements (historically, this was not always the case), excluding other watch companies from using Rolex mechanical movements. While Rolex is not known in the modern sense for having particularly complex movements (it offers basic watches with features such as the time, date, day, or a chronograph), it is preferred by watch makers to work on being so well designed, easy to fix and highly reliable. As such, almost every Rolex movement sold is COSC certified Chronometer attesting to its accuracy.
Rolex watches hold value
Among the few truly collectible watch brands from a value perspective are Rolex timepieces. It has been said that you can buy a new Rolex Submariner today, wear it for five years, and then sell it in good condition for close to the original purchase price. Like cars, most other watches lose a chunk of their value after being sized and put on a buyer’s wrist. There are also the investment-grade Rolex watches that achieve stellar auction results yielding some of the most impressive prices ever known at an auction. This is due to the power behind the Rolex name and brand, as well as the world’s fervor for these “gold standard” super watches. 

Disagree? Someone comment
B.
Let’s get one thing straight: Rolexes are for people that know names but don’t know watches. For the price Rolex charges, you can buy dozens of other watches that are better looking, more accurate, much less common, and don’t make you look like you're an overweight white man coming off the golf course. Consider this: When former model Carla Bruni hooked up with newly minted French president Nicolas Sarkozy, the very first thing she did was make him swap out his gold Rolex for a much more refined Patek Philippe. Rolexes reek of desperation.
No one in their right mind should spend their hard earned money on a new Rolex. Here's why.

Rolex movements are over-hyped
First, the movement quality of your run-of-the-mill Rolex is nothing special. In fact, many much more affordable Swiss watches use movements that keep time just as well. To add insult to injury, there are even some Chinese, Japanese and Russian movements that are just as -- if not more -- accurate as a standard Rolex movement.
Rolex watches look stale
Rolex’s designs are stale. This brand hasn’t released a truly new model in over a decade, and the majority of the watches it makes today are exact duplicates of the watches it made half a century ago. In fact, the biggest innovation it has made in recent years is a new metal called “Rolesor,” which is heavily advertised as a great new substance for watchmaking. Guess what; it’s just steel and gold.
Rolex stories are nothing but a myth
All those stories you hear about Rolexes being chosen as the watch for great adventures are only half true. For example, Rolex claims Sir Edmund Hillary wore an Explorer when he scaled the summit of Mount Everest for the first time. This is not the case. In fact, he only carried the Explorer until he reached the summit and then put on a watch from a small British company called Smiths*. Hillary even wrote a signed letter endorsement to Smiths stating: “I carried your watch to the summit and it worked perfectly.” Rolex also submitted a watch to NASA in the early ‘60s to be considered for use in the moon missions. We all know how that turned out.

Rolex watches are for seniors or rappers
It is rare for a brand to be considered both stodgy and lame and ghetto fabulous at the very same time, yet Rolex has done it. If you ask one person on the street what they think of Rolex, they’ll tell you their elderly grandfather wears one in between rounds of golf and his daily 2 p.m. nap. If you ask another, they’ll tell you the only people that wear Rolexes are athletes and rappers. So which are you, a sleepy 85-year-old bald man or an 18-year-old athlete from the hood trying to prove his worth to the world?

My Comment
True that Smiths was the watch to be used up Mt. Everest.
Well, President does have not just Rolex I believe, PP, AP, VC, More to come, does not mean that he changed a PP will mean anything.
Rolex is unquestionable successful that is why a lot of uncompromising attack, but, one may feel that Why I have to wear Rolex when everyone in your sales group wear one. That is why people tend to keep a few pieces of Watches, not just Rolex.
Rolex Movement is accurate,  I think it is not just accurate, but it is very sturdy.
I think some of the Chinese Watch can be made with very accurate, but do not know how long it could last. 1-2 years May be?

Rolex isn’t expensive
Comparison a Solid gold top of the lie Day Date is about HKD$230,000
Whereas as a Solid Gold AP Royal Oak Drop Logo 39 mm HKD$475,000
An PP Nautilus Solid gold is also at least two time more expensive than Rolex
About Submariner, I had published another article that Rolex is amongst the three lowest price of all.
Anyway, watch is your personality, make a best choice you like would be fine. And of course if you want to make choice for using for twenty or thirty years, the service charge should be considered.
Rolex is one of the lowest in service charge
Rolex Service for cleaning the movement is about HKD$2,750  3 weeks
How about others?
PP may be HKD$18,000
AP may be HKD15,000
Roger Dubuis is $40,000

Of course the service charge depends on the typs of watch, complexity of the watch and types of service, anyway Friend told me PP changes HKD$500 for switching one leather strap inot another, Which I can make it in two minutes. Rolex may be free!?
 
And most of all, the PP, AP, VC, RD can not deliver you in weeks., they do Months
Well, think about the Cost of Ownership for long term. Rolex is not best but not bad!

How to prevent your Expensive Watch being Scratched!?

                A BWM being scratched by some one at BMW Boutique  I saw Last Week

                                                            A badly scratched Oyster Bracelet
Wear an Old torn Jean, why not wear an old scratched watch?
When I was young I used not to wear brand new shoes as classmate will find a way an excuse to step on them, especially the White Sport shoes (白飯魚) we used to painted it white by “White Rabbit Paint”.
Stonewashed jean
Jean manufacturer uses Laser to burn the jean create some random worn-out pattern on it, put them into an industrial washing machine and stonewash put in the washers with tennis ball sized pumice stones. The pumice stones are lightweight and have a sandpaper-like surface, as the fabric tumbles through the wash, the pumice stones scrape away some of the dyed surface threads, allowing the lighter colored threads to show through. That is ways to make the jean look old and worn off.
So How about your watch I think no one need a Stonewashed Watch, I am sure. If you want, you can follow the same method to handle your jean.
Why one is so cautious not to make any scratches on your watch?
Do you like your expensive watch to have scuffs and Scratches!?
People do:
1.       Stick on the Buckle of Rolex with 3M Transparent tape, many people does.
2.       Put a transparent Nitto transparent tape on the Crystal
3.       There was product that like the Face Mask of the Kando to put onto the Watch to stop impact and scratches from Casio in the 80s.
4.       Dragon Shield WIPE-ON ARMOR Nano Liquid Screen Protector (2 ml) it is abrasive proof but the goods is discontinued.
5.       Casio Protrek PRW-2000Y Screen Protector 34mm

I believe no one likes, and as a matter of fact many people does not wear it because so afraid of being be SCARCTHED buy some other people…
So most of people does not like watch being scratched, some of them keep them in the dark cold safe. But I think we can use it everyday, with some of the prevention we can avoid serious scratches or dents, which is un-repairable, thin hair line scratches can always be polished and removed in the Watch Service Centre.
Since Rolex watch glass is Sapphire which is very hard and scratches resistive, only the case is prone to be scratched.
People say my watch look like new even after many year of usage. Simply I care about it and Pay attention on it.
Don’t
Rub, clean with tissues paper, Shirt as it is embedded with tiny abrasive particle that would scratched your polished watch.
Blow off the sand on your watch after going to beach water it under lukewarm water and soap before it is cleaned by cloth, or he sand particle will scratch your watch and leaving permanent scars.
But a Sheep skin at about HKD$180 that is being used for watch cleaning. It could be washed clean, dry and re-use… the best for cleaning your watch.
Don't Drop your hand with the Expensive watch moving in the MTR, I used to put my wrist with my watch placed in front of my belly. Sometimes I cover the watch with my Right Palm.
Don’t close the door of the car using your left hand, friend of mine had a thin Concord of about 2mm thick banned by the door of the Taxi and the watch was bent!
If possible use your hand holding the handle of the MTR or train as it is safe when the watch it is up.
Beware backpacker’s backpack which can easily chip away 5 micron or more of gold from your watch surface when it was swung and hit on your watch purposely or unintentionally.
HK Snob

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Rolex Ref 1803 Day Date

Oliver People Glasses, Tiffany 14KT Solid Gold Banboo Pen and Rolex DD Ref 1803

Rolex Day Date Ref 1803 is a all time versatile watch for men. A solid built, beautiful and stylish watch for all weather and occassion.
HK Snob

Technomarine Watch for you and her


An 39mm Technomarine with real diamond bezel with weight of 1 carat of diamond. Swiss Quartz Movement.
HK Snob

Rolex GMT Master Solid 18KT Gold with Rivet Rolex Oyster Strap




This is a awesome Solid gold Rolex GMT master with Solid gold rivet Oyster Strap,a Superb condition and a good watch for your daily usage! This is not my one! This belong to one of the Rolex Collectors in Hong Kong!
HK Snob

Hi Tea Watch Gathering

A Saturday watch gathering with three of the watch fans, we had had some of the watches here:
My RD Muchmore, Rolex Day Date Aventurine Dial, Rolex Solid Gold GMT Master Ref16718 with Rivet Oyster Strap. Patek Philippe Calendar. Technomarine with diamond weight of 1 Carat.
HK Snob

Rolex Ref 18238 Day Date with Aventurine Dial

                           The White dot apperaing on the dial was just reflection from my Handphone


                        Ref 18238 Day Date with Aventurine dial and Tiffany Sixteenth 14KT solid gold Ball Pen




Green Aventurine


Blue Aventurine
Aventurine (砂金石) is a form of quartz, characterized by its translucency and the presence of platy mineral inclusions that give a shimmering or glistening effect termed aventurescence.
The most common colour of aventurine is green, but it may also available in Blue, Yellow, Orange, Brown,  or Grey. Chrome-bearing fuchsite (a variety of muscovite mica) is the classic inclusion, and gives a silvery green or blue sheen. Oranges and browns are attributed to hematite or goethite. Aventurine is a rock, its physical properties vary: its specific gravity may lie between 2.64-2.69 and its hardness is somewhat lower than single-crystal quartz at around 6.5.
Blue Aventurine can help with addictions, large and small, by allowing spiritual energies to come into the Third-Eye and Throat Chakras, to be processed by the subconscious mind. This action enables one to understand that the addiction is a symptom of a deeper problem, and that it is an attempt to fill a void better soothed by spiritual development.
Blue Aventurine can be used to help overcome selfishness, childishness, and passive-aggression. Blue Aventurine is helpful to those who find themselves stuck in an immature state of development, by clearing old, stagnant energies, and opening one up to inner growth and spiritual work.
Rolex is No longer making this kind of watch with Aventurine Dial especially Blue, this watch has a long and winding history, as owner sent this watch to RSC for regular service, they found a very very tiny hairy crack line on the dial. He Requested Rolex to replace and there it took three months to change with $13,800 but the RSC staff said that there is some “issue” that we believed the watch smith had an accident that he broke the dial again. This is the last Dial RSC HK has after another one month!
In short, the use of Aventurine is rare for Rolex and this is likely the last watch that HK RSC can offer a replacement of such a dial, this is a very rare watch and the dial is very beautiful of course!
The Watch comes with Full wooden box, Warranty paper, operation manual and other accessories.
Are you interested to buy something like this!?
HK Snob

Thursday, July 25, 2013

How Much does Rolex spend for Advertisement and Promotion?


More successful firms spend more resources on propaganda, advertisement and Promotion for more sales.  For magazine TIME or NEWSWEEK, you can see there is always the most expensive advertisement space goes to Rolex.
Rolex have largest advertising budget of any watch brand, thus everyone hear of Rolex, not know some better brands, since they not advertise much. Here are some figures of 2007 USA advertising budgets of some watch brands. Amount shown here is in US dollar.
1. Rolex - $47,100,000
2. Breitling - $27,070,000
3. TAG Heuer - $24,730,000
4. Citizen - $19,850,000
5. Movado - $15,870,000
6. Cartier - $15,040,000
7. Seiko - $11,020,000
By now 2013, I don't know the exact data, I think Rolex spends $80,000,000  a year for advertisement.
Rolex is connected with Yacht, Golf, Tennis tournament, Motor racing. The famous one is the 24 Hours of Daytona, currently known as the “Rolex 24 At Daytona” for sponsorship reasons, is a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is the first major automobile race of the year in the United States.
The race has had several names over the years. Since 1991, the Rolex Watch Co. is the title sponsor of the race under a naming rights arrangement, replacing Sunbank (now SunTrust) which in turn replaced Pepsi in 1984. Winning drivers of all classes receive a stainless steel Rolex Daytona watch.
HK Snob

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

What is the price level of Rolex Iconic Submariner, on the lower or higher side comparing with other similar Hi End Watches?


Friends of mine told me Rolex is the costliest watch brand and knowing that many people seem to agree with that.
Base one a price information between the most popular Sport model  Submariner and some of the market available iconic sport model of the luxury Brands.
We could see that the price of Rolex is not the highest. It is on the lower side of them.
Panerai Luminor Marina Automatic PAM 000104 $55,000
IWC-ingenieur-mens-watch-3234-03- $56,000
Rolex Submariner Ref 116610LN $57,630
Glashutte Original "Sport Evolution M" $74,000
Frank Muller 9880 SC CRO Black PVD steel Watch $76,000
Breguet Marine II Big Date Strapwatch $78,000
Ulysse Nardin "San Marco" $48,000
Vacheron Constantin Overseas stainless steel Black dial Automatic 47040/b01a-9094 $92,000
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Self-winding 15400ST.OO.1220ST.01 41mm Stainless steel Automatic $110,000
Blancpain’s big introduction at Baselworld this year Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe. It is presented in a 43 mm x 13.4 mm case and comes in brushed satin steel for $85,000 or ceramized titanium for $96,000
Patek Philippe "Nautilus Stainless steel $195,000
In Short, Rolex is not Highest price Watch amongst these Swiss Watches; it is one of the lower side.
Note that the above price is rough estimated only as every dealer has some price variation.
So, which one you would choose!?

Price shown here are all in HK dollars.
HK Snob