Rolex Explorer II Polar dial

A truly tool watch is Explorer II as it has no gold version.
It has only stainless steel as I would say steel is the best material for tool watch.
No one uses yellow gold to make a diver watch unless you want to attract a shark’s attention.

This is a W series T25 dial Polar

HK Snob

Rolex Oysterquartz Ref 17000 blue dial

A blue patina star dusts dial of an Oysterquartz Rolex.
Stainless steel Oysterquartz plus blue dial is rare!

HK Snob

Rolex Date Just Ref 1601

Needless to say, just one word: beautiful!

HK Snob

Rolex Submariner Ref 5513

This is an awesome sample of Submariner gilt dial.

A perfect dial after 46 years!

Price could be very high.

This is a watch of my Singapore friend.

How do you like it?

Will you like taking it home with you?

HK Snob 

Submariner Kermit Flat Four x2

The Submariner 50th Anniversary was launched in year 2003

The speciality is a green bezel as for Rolex first trial on new colour after red, blue and black.

The early batch is flat four for certain units of F series.

There happened certain small batch under D series is also flat four.

The upper one is D whereas the lower one is F.

It comes with warranty Paper, ref tags. And box 

Do you like it?

HK Snob 

Rolex Explorer II POLAR “Happy Hour”l

Natural patina dial could be so wonderful when times go by whilst the patina grows!
This is a Polar dial with creamy dot and yellowish dial.

I like this because  the 5 O’clock hour index is darker reminding me hey “it is happy hour“
Go for beer!

HK Snob

Rolex Submariner 5513

This is a Submariner 5513

A top choice on the list of minimialist on watch as that is two liners Submariner.

An unpolished case, matching patina of hands and dial.

S/N 8.3M 

Year 1984

DAVID watch Company Hong Kong.

With Warranty paper 

Rolex Japan  service paper on 2009

Comes with original box, original dome crystal, anchor, ted tag, 

HK Snob 

Message to readers

There is problem in replying your comment
Pls WhatsApp me my HK No. +852-51229994

Kenny on your DD sale!

HK Snob

Patek Philippe Ref 5014G

 

ooo

 PP 5014 white porcelain dial manual Winding white gold dress watch.

Just been overhauled by Patek

HK Snob

Lgjnu

Buying a Patek Philippe

Buying a Patek Philippe is a life time investment. I must take it seriously.

Buying a Patek Philippe watch isn’t simple as just you have the money or a diamond credit card. 

For the most intricate styles, called Grand Complications, or the popular Nautilus and Aquanaut sport models, potential buyers must submit to an application process. The Stern family, which has owned the company since 1932, reviews each application to judge whether a prospective owner has a proven track record with the company and appreciates the fine craftsmanship of each timepiece.

In Hong Kong, only known few of my friends had successfully bought a Nautilus Ref 5712 and Ref 5711.

If you are a doctor, artists, movie star, business man, professor would be an easier way to be qualified as the buyer. The process is to leave you name card at any Patek Philippe shop and name the model

You want, they will submit to the general Manager in the Hong Kong head office to evaluate if they would sell it to you at SRP. 

Friend of mine has successfully obtained a Ref 5712R on his birthday Dec 2017 even with less ten percent discount! That was his best birthday gift! So if yuh can not get it within z6 months of two years. You may go to buy from open market with a premium. 

The auction route isn’t much easier. Patek Philippe easily beats all other fine watchmakers when it comes to record-setting hammer prices, and pieces continue to appreciate in value, as much as 100 times the original price. It’s estimated that less than one million watches have been produced since the company was founded over 175 years ago, whereas Rolex makes close to one millions watch within the years 2006. Even Rolex has reduced their production volume. Rolex still

Produces as many as 800,000 watches in 2017.

This making Patek Philippe watches among the rarest timepieces on the market.

With all the hoop-jumping required to buy the real thing, there is some fake stuff in the market.

What are the telltale signs a Patek Philippe is fake?

Firstly, many fake watch does have extra printed function on the dial whereas authentic Patek doesn’t have.

For example, platinum Patek Philippe watches carry a distinctive single diamond setting between the lugs at 6 o’clock. The brand does not expose the Tourbillon complication or even balance wheels, outside of skeletonized versions, and with the exception of rare, limited edition pieces, Patek Philippe does not use eponymous casebacks. 

Contrary to a lot of other high-end Swiss watches A Lange Jaeger Lecoutle, Patek does not blue their screws. Many counterfeits have blue screws. Simply you can see blue screw. Those are Fake Patek!

Looking at the movement of a Patek Philippe, we expect to see only the highest quality bevelling and fine hand-finishing.

Each one takes about four to twelve months of production, totaling between 50 to 200 separate assembly process, and after each step the parts are cleaned in an ultrasound bath with special

Cleaning agents. 

All modern Patek Philippe watches use sapphire crystals. The texture often found on the dials and bezels is not stamped, but will be done by hand using a technique known as guilloché. 

Most of these unique elements of quality are requirements of the Geneva Seal, as an independent Swiss agent, known for their mark of quality excellence.

Patek Philippe keeps all reference numbers and serial numbers within the watch. The watch’s reference number and serial number are engraved on the inside of the caseback. 

On Patek Philippe with sapphire crystal casebacks, the movement’s serial number and the calibre number can be seen. The watch’s reference and serial are still contained on the inside of the caseback. 

Fake Patek Philippes will often have model or serial numbers visible directly on the caseback. Depending on the age of the timepiece and the type of movement, the case should be stamped with either the Geneva Seal or their own Patek Philipe seal.

What distinguishes Patek Philippe from other watchmakers?

“Precision” Patek Philippe has mastered the art of fine watchmaking and their standards set them apart from their competitors 

Patek Philippe is still family-owned company. The independence for unlimited freedom and passion on design. Highly tradition and retaining good values.

Start to do your research and purchase a Patek for you and your family members now! 

Patek Philippe timepieces are always a classic!

HK Snob 

Watch Repair in Hong Kong

How do you feel the quality of the watch repair in your country?

There had been numerous unhappy events happened during the watch repair! 

Too expensive, too long to wait for quotation and actual unreasonable long Repair time. 

Which brand do you still

Is the best in terms of after sales service?

I have a few experience:-

In a R service Center one guy sent his pink gold Watch to Repair! And the lady checked the serial Number and model Number suing that there was no such watch in this serial number in Pink gold. The guy was not happy and ask To see the manager and the manager repeated the same story 

 He sent a mail to HQs and they replied yes there is such a watch in pink gold under than serial Number

so What has gone wrong with the clerk And manager in the office?

I was sending a perpetual calendar to

Repair at R because the watch did not able to jump from 30 ro 1 of the May or July automatically and they asked for Hk$40,000.

I negotiated for a final half price and waited for three months to Return from Switzerland that watch worked for Three months and the problem

Came back. 

I had a friend who had a perpetual

Calendar watch from The brand P and it was not running after a few years and needed for Repair. After the quotation and that repair amount is RMB$4,000,000! That is not s joke!

Another Chinese friend who sent his defective watch to repair in HK at P 

It took him two years and not yet get his watch back! I did not ask him but knowing that he was very unhappy and every the other day went to the AD GIVING them some

Lesson with with a lot of “F words!”

Friend of mine was not happy to see the repair slip of his R watch saying that the watch case is scratches and the bucket is scratched seriously as he understood that there is no standard of “Scratches” !

Ok he bought a brand new watch from an AD and immediately sent to repair by saying the watch runs and stops. To his surprise the repair slip also Written “ light scratches”

He argued with the clerk where is the scratches and the last really could find out some hair line light scratches on the NEW Watch that eyes barely could see!

Now he knows the clerk must try to write on it scratches even it is brand new 

They really got eagle eye To See find scratches.

One friend he sent his V watch to repair and the quotation took one month to him and saying that amount is more than HK$30,000. He said

he thought about it. But he forget his watch at all because he has many watches . After two year he found the repair slip and he found out he put wrong phone number on it so

No one  could call him And called the watch repair centre he did not Want to repair because too

Expensive and want to get back the watch. And V said OK. Then he wants to get his watch back

and found out that the watch was actually repaired. And this

Time. He was happy because he did. It Pay Amy money to Repair.

One close friend Who is also Watch blogger bought a Quartz gold watch at watch fair at HK$50000 and he sent to R service centre to ask for battery cell

Replacement and buy two extra link on the gold watch because he has a large wrist. 

The quotation given is Hk$56,000 Which is shocking high

Even more than the cost he spent for the watch. Because they says the movement had to be overhauled, battery cell replacement and each link of the bracket is hk$7,750, they need to change the O ring and sapphire plate so total charges is $56,000

Friend of Mine did not accept the charges. He took the watch back, 

replaced the battery cells by outsider HK$40.00

He bought two extra links from

His dealer friend with HK$5,000 and he has been using the watch without overhaul for more than five years till last week I saw his wearing it!

Conclusion

You spend a lot of money to buy a complicated watch you have to prepare a lot of money to maintain 

As they are like a Ferrari or Lamborghini comes high maintenance!

Sometimes you any feel better get it repaired outside by some watch expect if there is no parts concern.

Always buy certain simple movement watch say manual Winding or automatic 

Those Perpetual calendar and repeater is nice to play but will be charged very unfriendly when they are having problem.

HK Snob

Patek Ref 5000G

Ps

A watch of No Death (無死)

Its is like durian, some one likes it for his taste someone hates it because of its taste!

Like it because they are not as expected as “expensive” like Nautilus! And this is a limited 1000 Patek ref 5000G
In house a Patek Philippe says one of the singature movement cal.240. And it has been discontinued since 2003.

Hate it because it is only 33 mm diameters. And it is not Nautilus Sportive look that almost everyone would knees down and salutes to it!

I look at it this way, elegance comes with what you have inside. Sometimes small does not mean it is little! It is the first watch that was having second unusually positioned off-centred at four o’clock!

I like it also for one reason, though a bit superstitious, but it is true that this watch does not have “4”, in Chinese HK . That is “No 4” “ 無死”! How much the Swiss knows about Chinese superitions more I don’t know. But I feel great with this watch because of NO-4!

Well I like it because this is durian, the king of fruits and this is king of Dress watch!

Price wise, it is just 25% of a ref 5712-1a Nautilus.

And this is Patek Philippe, never go wrong!

That is why I bought also the yellow
Gold one. Ref5000R

HK Snob

A Lange Zeitwerk striking time

This is an A Lange Zeitwerk striking  time white gold watch.

The polishing works at the bottom is awesome!

I guess that this kind of watch may take one master three months to 

Complete the assembly! 

HK SNOB 

Rolex AD new practice

Start from November, all Rolex AD in HK have to
1. Full in name, date on the warranty card
2. Stickers must be removed
3. Bracelet will have to be adjusted to the wrist.
4. No ECU Box will be given.

So it is time to keep your watch with full
Sticker as they are only happens in history

HK Snob

Rolex GMT Master II

Before the white gold Pepsi and steel Pepsi, before all the hype, there was the 16710. Timeless, iconic and classy. Perfect everyday watch or to be worn on special occasions.

And this watch has the error/stick dial. What’s a stick dial? The font of the “II” of ‘GMT Master’ is in different font than usual font.

Very collectible, some rumours say only 0.5% of 16710 have the stick dial, we will never know the exact numbers. Regardless it is a very rare bird.

If you like the Pepsi insert and want a watch which not everyone has, this is it.

This watch is also in amazing condition and the bracelet is tight. And the price is much less than Jubilee Pepsi 2018.

Don’t blame yourself if this is sold, probably it takes a few
months to see another one at such a good price!

HK Snob

Rolex Submariner 50th anniversary

This is a Submariner 50th anniversary Ref 16610LV 

Z Series , 90% new 

No major dents, only hairline scratches of Normal usage.

No scratches on bezel 

Comes with purchase invoice that we bought from

the preowned shop in 2017 

Now we are asking HK$82,600 with box

HK$82000 if no box 

HK Snob 

Rolex GMT Master Ref 1675

This is a Rolex GMT MASTER ref 1675
All original Long E Mark I dial
S/N 2.9M
NFS

HK Snob

Colourful Rolex watches

All colour Day Date Date Just Precious stones.

Coral, Lapis, Marachite, Onyx, Bloodstone and tiger eyes. 

It takes us 20 years to collect these watches! 

Not many people who can have time to find this. Money is not an issue but time and passion for it.

HK Snob

Daytona new Available

These are new Daytona Panda arriving HK soon.
Will be available in November 2018
White steel 116500LN HK$180,000 (SRP $95,000)
Pink gold 116515 LN HK$209,000 (SRP $214,600)
Yellow gold 116518LN HK$201,000. (SRP $205,000)
But the warranty card will be supplied later, giving you copy of the warranty card plus the official invoice from Rolex AD.
Good for end user
The watch is brand new September 2018
HK Snob

Rolex GMT Error dial on sale

Rolex GMT Master II error  dial or stick dial.
Z series
Watch and box only.
Condition:90/100
HK$83,000

HK Snob

Patek Philippe Ref 5035J annual calendar

When you look at it at first instance ......
Agree with me or not it looks a big “crowded” at the dial layout.
When you are using it for a while well I start to know how practical approach this watch is designed to.

It is very clear to be read just one glance. This is very important design objective for dial layout as Watch function is to tell you the time by display.

The watch diameter is 37 mm excluding the crown and the dial diameter is 28mm.
Within this area we need to show these information:- Month, Day, Date, 24 hour display, hour, minutes and seconds.
Pls the layout of Roman Numerics hour indexes that occupying space!
This is a challenge and I think Patek is one of the best master in this classic display dial design.

They try to use as large as the fonts with additionally simplicity on the letters to let you have a easy reading.
for example : TU instead of TUE...

Also the Day and month display dial
Is slight beveled to add a bit isometric contrast on the dial as a whole.

I like it in yellow gold more than white gold as the ivory dial matches the yellow gold case colour perfectly!

Roman numeric is more on classic approach on the design, plus a standout look on the two lines represents the essence of the swiss best watches
“ Patek Philippe, Geneve”

This is Ref 5035J

HK Snob

Rolex price in Hong Kong

Rolex price update

The price are valid this week selling from Gray dealer to end users.

1. Daytona ceramic white 116500LN  $177,000

2. Batman GMT 116710BLNR $91,000

3. Hulk Submariner 116610LV $99,000 

4. Submariner with date 116610LN $77500

5. Submariner no date 114060 $63,000

6. Pepsi Jubilee 116710BLRO $135,000

8. Seadweller 126600 $109,000

In short 

Daytona keeps going up

Batman chases HULK

Hulk stablizies at $98000 to 99,5000

Submariner maintains

Sea Dweller drops from $114,000 to now $109,000

just a reference only coz I don’t have big data to share 

HK Snob 

Rolex HK new practice

Start immediately, Rolex HK will remove sticker on your purchased Rolex watch, adjust your length fit for your wrist, you are required to put your real name on the warranty card, and the plastic shipment box will be confiscated by Rolex, meaning that we cannot get the plastic box now.

HK Snob

Blog revived

Dear all,

It has been a while because of some technical issues that I cannotUpload picture on my blog.

I just solved it.

So I will see you all more often here at my blog.

Thanks for the past support on it.

I am the only one handle this blog and I do hope soon I can reach 3,000,000 page views soon

Of course without your support, it could not be easy!

HK Snob

Audemars Piguet WANTED

Wanted

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Extra-Thin The Hour Glass Edition (ref. 15205BA.OO.1240BA.01)

Please pm me if you want to let go this watch.

HK Snob 

WhatsApp me at 852-51229994

The comparison of GMT Master from Rolex and Tudor

Three GMT Master Musketeers and Batman

Rolex introduced GMT Master II ref 116710LN (SRP $63,200) Black Bezel black dial with green second hand in 2009, that was the first Rolex Watch made with ceramic bezel insert.

This great invention was highly appreciated by the Rolex Fans and lovers as the bezel is likely stay the same condition for the next few decades. This was walk we called “Green Pointer”.
This is still in production.

Rolex continued to research to create that a new colour combination to add half of the bezel with Blue. So this is the GMT Master Blue Black Ref 116710BLNR (SRP $67,300) so this was justified to add $4,100 on SRP over the green Pointer with blue colour, not long later people started to call this “Batman”

In 2014 I used to get it at AD with less 5% discount , well, 2015 has been quiet for a while, because Rolex created another expensive Hi End GMT Master in White Gold, Ref 116719BLRO  SRP $297,900 the Pepsi with Cherry Red and Blue.

Which is I think very beautiful, and is very heavy too. I know that not so many units were sold because people is speculating Rolex will issue a steel version of Pepsi at a lower price in next year or two. I have seen a PAL Pilot using it…

So 2016-1017 is Batman best selling period as they have no more new rival of new colour creature  created by Rolex bezel Designer.

Price of Batman was going up from $67,300 in end 2016, to up to $71,000 in beginning of 2018.

In Feb 2018, Batman price reached $78,000, in March, then went up to $80,000,  In April and May it shot up to $82,000. Now Batman market price is $88,000 to $90000.

Closely chasing the Crazy Hulk $97,000! I think it may shoot up to $90,000 because I have a lot of friends asking this watches In the last two weeks.

 This game isn’t over yet. In BaselWorld, Rolex was able to offer a totally new Pepsi in Steel, or even in Jubilee bracelet, remember in the 60’s the GMT 1675 was offered with Jubilee and Oyster Bracelet. Now this 2018 Pepsi Ref 126710BLRO at SRP $71,800, well, this is only watch that comes with Jubilee bracelet!

Many watch Critics says that is one of the “ugly” Rolex Watches made with Jubilee, and many people include of my good friend says “it is corny” “ it is a “Mixed blood” of Date Just and a Traditional Rolex Sport watch and he will never buy it…or use it…

The fact is, it is a new Pepsi, it is Jubilee of a retro type of that used to have 50 years ago. And it is steel, Don’t worry, new movement, many people will craze for buying this… Why as the White Gold Pepsi is having a SRP $297,900 , this is steel Pepsi is just 24% in price of White gold. Why not?

But once it landed HK in June, Oh, the Dealer was asking $168,000, in end June it was falling to a reasonable level of Unreasonable High $140,000 to $149,000. And the supply is so little, So many people will keep an eye watching for the net price drop… even during the Sino-US price war people, HS index dropped from 32,000 to 28350 points… but the Pepsi Jubilee price is solid as rock standing still at HK$145,000.

Why!? Because of the Rolex limited supply and because of the tempting Cherry Red blue bezel.

I believe the Pepsi Jubilee will be one of the latest hot items for all Rolex Fans.

Well, at same time Tudor, the younger brother of Rolex made a new GMT Pepsi Ref 79830RB with 72060 Rivet bracelet with 41mm with No Cyclops. That was supposed to be selling at $29,800. But immediately market search for it and short it price up to $39,000 or more.

So there are three Pepsi Musketeers:

1, The White Gold Pepsi ref 116719BLRO SRP $297,900 market price is about $250,000 hard to find!

2. The Rolex Pepsi in Jubilee Ref 126710BLRO SRP $71,800 Market price $149,000 , damn hard to get it.

3. The Little Brother Tudor Pepsi SRP $29,800 market price $38,000, easier to get comparing with the two big brothers.

What is your choice if you want to get a GMT Master?

HK Snob

Face book of HK Snob

Encountered some unresolved technical issues on google posting .

Before solution is found, you can add me at my
Face book account under name of "Paul Ip".

HK Snob

The Tudor Harrods

Bucherer is one of the oldest watch retail In Switzerland.

To celebrate 130 yearra birthday in 2018, they created a few Theme of release with “Blue” as the theme.
The Paneria PAM694 45mm with beautiful blue dial and blue crocodile strap.

The Blue Editions with Tudor partnership is the Heritage Black Bay Bronze Blue. And it's exactly what it sounds like.

Technically speaking, everything about this watch is identical to the original Heritage Black Bay Bronze that launched back in 2016.

It's still a 43mm dive watch with a special bronze case that houses the Tudor MT5601, which is a chronometer-certified, in-house movement with a silicon balance.

We get both a blue dial and a blue disc here.

The contrast with the bronze itself is high. And the watch really pops in the images.

To complement the new color scheme, there's also a new blue and gold fabric strap with bronze hardware too. On the reverse, you'll find a special engraving commemorating Bucherer's 130th anniversary in 2018.

Here are a few more photos, showing off the details on the latest iteration of Black Bay for now.



The Tudor Black Bay Bronze Blue is available from today, exclusively through Bucherer. It is priced at 3,800 CHF, which is the same as the standard Black Bay Bronze. For more, visit Bucherer online.

HK Snob

Daytona Zenith appreciate 9 times in value over the 18 years

一隻地通娜手錶的價值十八年漲了九倍

What is the best investment regarding riskless over the past 18 years?

I cannot say it is not Rolex!
This is an example .
A Daytona zenith Ref 16520 was sold at SRP $63,000 well I am sure you could get a discount of ten that was $56,700!

After 18 years that is today.
You can sell it at HK$4500,000 to HK$520,000 of course your watch should be in mint condition full set!
That is 9 times the price you bought!

What is next?

Well I am looking good at some of the rare species such as DD with Special dial, special dial GMT or Submariner.

But these are already rare. So by now I keep some of these in my safe

Submariner Kermit 16610LV full set
HULK NOS 116610LV
Batman 116710BLNR
GMT PEPSI 116710BLRO
I rather put Daytona aside coz it is already untouchable now, but if you have I should pay a Salute to you
This is purely My idea only!
What do you think?

HK Snob

Sales

These are available
1. Sea Dweller 126600 BNIB
2. Submariner Hulk BNIB x3
3. Kermit 16610LV V series full set x1
4. Kermit 16610LV Z series watch only x1

WhatsApp 852-51229994 for more

HK Snob

When East Meets West

 Ariel and Michael 

 Ariel and HK Snob

An exciting event ran by Undone to have a live fb interview of Michael Young the CEO of Undone by Ariel Adams the owner of
AblogtoWatch at HQs of Undone in HK Last Saturday 18 May 2018.

Hot item from HKWF

BNIB

HULK x3
Root beer 2018 x1
Daytona ceramic black x1
Daytona 116520 white error dial X1

HK Snob

Rare Daytona error dial 116520 white

Rare Daytona Ref 116520 white
Error Dial "Cosmogr aph"
Collector item
Condition 10/10 new
Sticker still on
Full set
2015 watch
HK$170,000

HK Snob

Super Rare Submariner Onyx

Submariner Onyx dial
Ref 16618
W series
Watch only
HK$420,000
HK Snob