Rolex with Diamond or without Diamond

Women and Diamond
Women just want to be noticed and admired. One of the easiest ways to do that is wear big old rocks that shine.

Diamond is commonly selected as for Wedding rings as Diamond is forever is the slogan. I believe Diamond is made for women, but how about men?

Men and DiamondMen and DiamondWe will almost never see a man wearing an inexpensive watch that has artificial diamond detailing. If he is wearing a watch with diamonds, it will likely be an expensive watch of a well-known brand such as Rolex, PP, VC, Cartier or AP. It takes a special character to wear the “iced out” versions with fully encrusted diamond cases that even sunglasses won’t protect you from their blinding effect.


Men and Diamond Watches

As men who have achieved a high level of social ladder and wealth will go about acquiring “the best” of everything including watches and everything else in life.

They can't wear a 5 carat Diamond with D-colour as that seems too feminine. However, they will equate “the best” of something with whichever is the most expensive and often with wristwatches. As the Wristwatch of 120 gram can have 1,500 diamonds on it. That is to say the lightest but most expensive accessory for the Rich man! With that Watch, the gold is nothing comparing with the Diamonds

Naturally, some of the most expensive top modesl of Rolex are those with diamonds. They show more discernible value to the general public as opposed to a 1 million dollar ‘Double Tourbillon grand complications’ which true watch connoisseurs will opt for over any diamond watch in a heartbeat.

Women tend to wear watches with diamonds more for the way they make them look, the aesthetics. Men wear watches with diamonds for the way they make them feel, which is all that really matters when you are picking the perfect watch for you.

Rolex
When I can afford, I used to buy Rolex with diamond on the dial and f possible on the bezel. A Vintage Rolex with and without diamond can have more value for those with diamond as it was rare to have diamond on the dial say for example.

But it might be too shinny to have too many diamonds on the watch as the watch will be no longer called “watch”!

If I could afford, I don’t mind to have diamond on my GMT Master II, I don’t mind to have full diamond dial and bezel on my Day Date….

Rolex Pricing on Diamond
Ref 118208 Rolex Day Date 36mm 18Kt gold watch without any diamond is $209,300
Ref 118208 Rolex Day Date 36mm 18KT gold watch with 10 diamond Dial on Numberal is $243,200
Ref 118398 Rolex Day Date 36m 18KT gold watch with10 diamond dial and Diamond bezel and Snug
is $392,500.

How about you!?

HK Snob

Vacheron Constantin Overseas 35mm Men' Auto Watch

Vacheron Constantin Overseas (35mm)

One of the big four Legendary design by Gerald Ganta, Patek Philippe Nautilus, Audemars Pigiuet Royal Oak, and IWC Ingenieur. The Vacheron Constantin is one of them with design on watch main base plate. Topped with a gear shape bezel with “8” teeth securely locking on the Sapphire Crystal for an air tight water proof. The Strap has an alternate square block design does have a continuity with the watch case and watch bezel.

Model Overseas 35mm

Ref 42042/423A-8890

Automatic

Stainless steel

Super-Luminova dial

150 metre water resistant
Screw Down Crown

Sapphire Crystal

Solid gold rotor for auto winding
POA
HK Snob
PS
Sold at HKD$35,000 on 9 May 2013

Authentic watches v.s fake watches

As in most industries, if you look hard enough you can find fake watches that replicate the particular expensive watch you were originally after. And although it might look like a replica from a distance, when you look at it up close, you will notice the significant differences. You’d expect this, even against genuine lower end watches from the market. If the high quality materials aren’t used in a product then it soon becomes very clear. Not only does using particular precise metals and stones in watches add the value, but they generally are made to be more secure and sturdy. Remember, when buying an authentic expensive watch you are certainly paying for quality.


Similar to buying jewelry, if you were to go out and buy a pair of precious earrings – would you buy a fake diamond? Probably not I would assume. And this is even more of a priority in watches to guarantee they are reliable and well built.

Imitation jewels are not going to act the same way in which genuine stones or metal would. Fake materials are generally not worth the $20 that you may well have paid for them. It’s so common in these fake watches that the glass will quickly break or crack. Sometimes the colours of the metals would even begin to disappear! For the duration that a quality authentic watch would last you, you could have paid the same amount in replacing your broken fake watches – and still never have had a genuine high quality watch!


Fact about fake watches and Rolex

When I say someone’s watch is beautiful, he would say, ”it is Fake” that watch is almost sure is genuine!

Same as someone says my watch is nice, I used to say, “It is fake!”

I had an experience that someone who is a technical manager of a company told me my Rolex Date Day is too light, it is a plated gold Rolex!! I know that he does not understand watch. I said, well, “ You’re Right! As it is fake!”

People says to tell the watch is fake or not, just look at the man, if would be wrong sometimes, as some people likes to wear Fake watch, he has rich to afford but he does not.


I know one friend in San Francisco, he bought 3 pieces of Rolex, Milgauss Green Glass, Submariner Black etc…all fake, but he drives LX470, S600, Evolution Gen IX, 911SC and three Boxers of different colour!

When we buy Fake Rolex, it does not matter as it is also having a passion on Rolex, and believe one day he will buy a Genuine Rolex!


When a Watch can be used every day in your life, it lasts almost forever itself, problem is just about you! You feel bore about that watch, that is why people start to buy other various models of Rolex.


Friend of mine says that Rolex gold watch is still the cheapest Gold watch money can buy base on the

Brand name, reliability, quality and service of Rolex as a long term value. As when we buy Rolex, we are buying the whole Culture of the Rolex, not just the watch it self!

HK Snob

Rolex Ref 18038 Purple Dial Day Date

This is a awesome Rolex Day Date Ref 18038, with a rare Purple dial, Not been polished at all.
Sapphire Crystal, Roman Numerals, Solid 18KT gold.
To those people who like Purple colour Like I, I think this is a good lucky watch for us!
Chinese saying, Purple is another preferred colour other than Red. When People get very famous, Purple is the word to describe!
POA
HK Snob
PS Sold on 9 May 2013

Is Rolex an Expensive Watch? What is the value of your watch you bought 36 years ago!?

                                                               Ref 1803 Crica 1977

                                                    Ref 1803 Circa 1977

Ref 1803 with Stella Red Dial

There is no definition on what watch is classified as “expensive” and “Cheap”

Definitely a watch with price tag under $100 is average watch price. In most of the available general watch category, $100 can have 60% of the watch choice in the market. Something like $20 or below is cheap watch. However, you can go to buy 5 watches with $15, that is to say, $3 for a Watch in Ap Liu Street. For the Higher end watch, I have difficulty to define, all there is difficulty to re-define the “expensive Watch” is. Someone is wearing a Richard Millie Turbillon to play tennis, some of the collector buys Patek Phillipe with $1.3M in auction. A Cartier Crash has a price tag of $70,000 is just one toy in some celebrity jewelry’s box. To them that is not expensive... to me that is the money I can make use of for my retirement!

What are expensive watches made of? Why are they expensive?!

A watch can generally be a great investment, especially if you have bought them for a reasonable price compared to their estimated market value. Particular watches that seem to hold their value well are those that contain jewels such as sapphire gems. Sapphire is one the most expensive stones in the world making watches containing them particularly expensive!

All expensive watch uses Synthetic Sapphire with second to diamond for it hardness as the crystal. Cheaper watches use a glass crystal which is prone to be scratched and worn out. Some special crystal are made to the precision of 5 microns. Cheap watch glass are made with 30 microns or even worse.

Material cost itself is nothing as more expensive to the Technology that has been used to make the watch, the Blue mainspring of Rolex, has been the known of the best material for the main spring. That is free from magnetization and insert to temperature changes, a fake Watch may just use simple steel wire.

The most expensive watches will use a variety of rare gem stones, diamonds and crystals to cover the face – ensuring durability and scratch free surfaces.

The special features of particular expensive watches

Expensive watches are generally held together with a variety of screws rather than pins. But the quality doesn’t just end there. These screws are made from the same material as the watch. For example, your Rolex Day Date use solid 18KT gold pins to lock the strap onto the watch. Everything you see on the watch is made of Solid Gold with polishing. This just goes to show the quality put into expensive watches. You really do get what you pay for!

Each expensive watch should be solid in structure. The links contained on the strap would not appear cheap, jagged and they shouldn’t be able to be physically detached.

Wearing your watch in any weather and climate can cause some low priced watches a few problems, especially in the rain! With expensive watches, there should never be this problem. They are built so precisely and securely that the tightening of all of the screens will ensure that the watches are water-resistant and ensure that water cannot enter the inner workings of your watch. However that does not imply all expensive watch, some of the expensive watch cannot have very good watch-proof. Not even sweat-proof! So don’t use the price of a watch to determine the watch-proof feature. Some of the very expensive watch does not guarantee they will never fail, especially when they are dropped.

How about Rolex?
Rolex, on the other hand is one of the most successful and most conservative Swiss watch company

They do not have produced any Tourbillon, they do not use Titanium, they do not have ceramic case… they don't make DLC diamond like coating on the cast, the most expensive Rolex are still using oldest Precious “Gold*” or Platinum* to make watch. Well, to me, it seems that insofar the watch of Gold cannot be underestimated.

What is the value of a Rolex after using 37 years?
Rolex watch uses approximately 118 gram of solid 18Kt gold for a Day Date Ref 18039.

As for a long term investment, I think Solid Gold Rolex has the best power to retain value and a hedge to gain value again the inflation.

Rolex Day Date Ref 1803 1977

If I am not wrong in 1976, A Two Tone Date Just was HKD$1,786. A Ref 1803 was about HKD$9,000, after using it for 37 years, you still can sell the watch with HKD$60,000, if you do not like the watch, you can sell it for the gold, a Ref 1803 weight approximately 133 gram, you keep the movement, dial and hands, there are still about 103 gram of gold!

With Today’s gold price HKD$14,000 a tael (38 grams), you still get CASH HKD$28,460. Don't forget that you have been using it for 37 years!  But if your one is Stella Red dial I bet you would not sell it for its gold as it is having a value of more than HKD$200,000 how!

Note*

Gold has been a valuable and highly sought-after precious metal for coinage, jewelry, and other arts since long before the beginning of recorded history Middle Easterns 6,000 BC. Gold standards have sometimes been monetary policies, but were widely supplanted by fiat currency starting 1930s. Gold is still the most welcome article in Pawn Shops in HK and South East Asia as that is almost pegged with Dollar in terms of value.

Platinum was discovered by Antonio de Ulloa (1735) the same year Jehan-Jacques Blancpain found the Watch Company “Blancpain" in Switzerland.
HK Snob

A Salesmans' Watch

I know a few business men who never wear any watch, he says, “I can use my phone to tell them time!”

Nowadays, a watch is part of your clothes, men’s accessories, women’s jewelery.

They’re often a sign of good taste and status in the social ladder.


In fact, particularly expensive watches, have retained their place in the time keeping market. Simply because they are more than just a time piece.

They are items of, often, large value which will compliment your attire and be a sign of style to those in the presence of your company.

Someone told me a Senior Germen Sales engineer always wear a good Mechanical Watch made in Germany! Being particular popular within the high rolling business sector, the benefit of wearing an expensive luxury watch can have a positive impact on business decisions. This is all due to the representation and appearance that wearing an expensive watch may demonstrate.

Some conservative sales director especially from some kind of middle scale Chinese HK or (Hong Kong Chinese) old fashion style company had warned me not to wear an expensive watch, as my customer would think that my mark up would be too high! Is that hilarious!?

I do not agree as if my product is no good, my sales will be no good, and if my sales is no good, I cannot make money, if I cannot make money I may only afford a $100 Watch…. Judging from the watch you can tell how good he is running his business as a sales. Of course he might not agree with what I say!

Never mind, I am wearing a Rolex White Gold Rolex Day Date to see my customer everyday no matter where: Prince Restaurant, Manila Hotel, Tsim Sha Tsui Pier, Chui Wah Eatery, Macdonal, StarBucks, Outback, KTV at Dundus Street, the MTR station Hang Seng Bank or Air Force One!

This is my style, I like it. And I can feel that all my customers do not think I am ripping off his money for my Rolex!

In fact I have saving up three years money for the watch! Coz I am a poor Snob from HK!
HK Snob

Ps, The one on left is $120 and the one one the right is 1,000 times more expensive.

Women's wrist watch

                                                                 Jaeger-LeCoultre Grande Reverso

 

                                                                    AP Royal Oak Automatic

Piaget Altplano

This is some of the pretty women who wear a men’s watch... seems that these women wearing a men’s watch has some kind sexual appeal. But definitely not result that some kind of Heavy Watch over 42mm and 18mm thick could achive!

Sooner later people will get bore with those oversized watch on Women as that has a sense that men can wear, women can too, what is the result?! That is a good topic on how to stop woman wearing Men's watch, or how to prevent men wear women's watch. As that is doing no good for the Watch Industry, the sales of Swiss watch will like reduce a lot in volume.


Have you ever seen a lady appealed to be charming and sexy wearing a DeepSea? Of course she would if she is Maria Sharapova who stands at 1.88M, I would be puzzled if you do not look at her face, smile and body but rather at her "watch"! In fact, Sharapova, being a celebrity, may be I am the only few that is really care about what watch she wears!

It will gradually come to a state watch size will be having moderate 34mm to 36mm as the maximum limit for size for lady especially Asian. So when you intend to buy a watch for your lady consider a moderate size. If you want them to last worth something for next coming 10-15 years, do not go to the extreme hugh watch!


These are some of the watches that women could wear and would look nice too. JLC Reverso, Piaget ultra slim ...or even an AP Royal Oak, so so it is big but not Fat; would look nice to be in and not too clumsy! In my humble opinion, the younger the age, the bigger the size can go; where as more sophisticated lady would be just nice to wear a simple lady Watch...

HK Snob

Rolex GMT MASTER II Ref 16170 looking for the next owner

This is a Ref 16170 GMT MASTER with excellent Condition, circa 1992, the owner is in need to find for it the next owner, comes with waranty paper and Box and the extra Colour ring (from Rolex).
Price is HKD$34,500.
HK Snob
PS Watch Sold on 10 June 2013 at HKD$33,000

Lung Shing Watch Price

Lung Shing Watch Price 28 April 2013 Sat,


Seems a lot of Submariners and GMT Master II Green Points are gone, not so many stock I could see only 2-3 pieces.

Sub Green bezel Ref 16610LV $52,500

Submariner No date Ref 114060 $39,500

DeepSea Ref 16660 $68,500

Explorer I ref214270 $29,800

Explorer II Ref 16570 $32,800

Explorer II white Ref 216570 $53,500

Submariner TT Ref 116613LN $78,800

Daytona White Dial Ref 116520 $83,800

Daytona Black Dial Ref 116520BL $83,800

Daytona TT ref116523 $99,800

Daytona White Gold Red hand Ref 116509 $168,800

Daytona White Gold White Dial Ref116509 $162,000

DD OysterQuartz Yellow Gold Diamond bezel and Dial ref 19018 $89,800

Most of these watch come with Paper.

HK Sham Shui Po Snob

Milus 1962 Week Date Auto men's Watch.

An old Auto Week Date Men's watch from Milus, a 25 Jewel movement made by Milus likely in the year of 1959-1970. Date Dial was advance by pushing the crown, a drawback for an accidental advance. The Watch carries the original logo of Milus at bottom. A simple function watch, an high end version of Milus in the 60's. Still looks fun to be worn nowadays! It was sold at HKD$330 in 1968.
HK Snob

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Premiere at BaselWorld 2013

                                                  New Rolex Day Date in Green with leather Strap

                                                New Rolex GMT Master II with Black and Blue Bezel

 

                                               BaselWorld 2013 Rolex New Face-lifted Oyster Perpetual

                              Rolex Day Date 1956-1985 Collectible Item for Old Cake Like HK Snob


BaselWorld 2013 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Premiere

New Day Date Ref 118138

Rolex is introducing a new version in 18 KT yellow, white or everose gold of the Oyster Perpetual DAY-DATE with luxurious colourful leather straps and matching dials. A symbol of excellence and prestige, always exclusively in gold or in platinum, the DAY-DATE was the first chronometer wristwatch to indicate the date and the day of the week spelt out in full on the dial when it was launched in 1956.

Its elegance is now expressed in a more informal manner and probably designed for the younger market. As in HK, Day Date was always renounced as “Old Man’s Watch” in Cantonese; they are called “老餅" (Old Cake!) Well, now you do not have a reason to say, as it is really a decent watch for the 30’s.

It comes with Cognac, Cherry, Chocolate, Green and Blue. Personally I like Green Most!

List price will be falling in the Range of HKD$185,000-190,800, I estimate.  A Good new selction for the younger one. May create another trendy watch for lady!


GMT master II blue Black Ref 116710 BLNR

The new GMT-Master II is presented in a 40mm 904L steel case, with a rotatable bezel featuring for the first time a two-colour ceramic Cerachrom bezel (Note*1) insert in blue and black representing day and night. The Hi-tech ceramic component with two distinct colors is actually produced as a single piece of ceramic. The Cerachrom insert was first introduced in 2005. The Movement is 3186. Price will likely under HKD$70,000.

New Platinum Daytona Ref 116506

The 2013 Rolex platinum Daytona is made for the minority Rich who may have a Day Date Ice Blue already! Rolex seems does not want consider an affordable version for the general Rolex fans! This will be an expensive Watch in price range of HKD$590,000 I guess.

Note *1

The ceramic bezel (Rolex’s trademarked Cerachrom) is virtually scratchproof, highly corrosion resistant, and its color is unaffected by ultraviolet rays. The engraved 24-hour graduations are coated with a thin layer of platinum via a PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) process.

HK Snob

Willeke Teuwissen's Vintage enamel Gold Watch

This is a beautiful watch I spotted from Willeke’s wrist today whilst I was shopping at Santis Delicatessen, Alabang.

That is a tiny tank of manual winding, in 9KT (I guess) gold case with beautifully hand crafted enamel decoration Willeke is a pretty Dutch lady and she told me she was in HK last week.
She is representing Cheeseland Inc

The watch was so small and I believe that goes to the year 1940, Willeke told me it is a family heritage, that watch belongs to the year 1930s. Imagine that such a small watch without much waterproof feature can last for 80 years, That is a treasure under the family generation of impeccable care of it. The Crown shaft seems is not the original as it is a bit too long, it was obviously an replacement part. Overall this is a charming watch for Willeke.

A good mechanical Watch in gold case can last hundreds of year.
HK Snob

3 stages of Life

When people was young, they desperately work hard and save money, they have no time to entertain themselves. When they were asked to go hiking, they said they have to work.

When They were invited to go out for drinks, they said they have to O/T .

True, they work hard and earn a lot of money, but on his wrist, I did not see anything, He said there is no

Need to any watch as he has a clock on his handphone. He does not need a Watch!

When they get old, they are going to retire, in his bank he has seven digit saving and a lot more in the stock market, every morning he as to check how much he should buy and sell in order to earn more.

When he get retired, then he feels his body has no energy to walk more than 2 Km, his knee had pain going down the stair case, he has back pain, and neck pain, his could not eat too much as he has diabetes. He needs to buy a super large screen hand phone simple he cannot read it at all.

He has to start spending money to buy back health. Bags of herbal medicine of all kinds are always standing by, he takes 2 pills before any meal, he had to put on extra sweater in the summer, He can not go out in winter. He gets weaker his bank account is getting more numbers on the contrary.

He cannot eat steam boat food as that is too “Et Hey” (hot). He has to go for some professional massage on his back twice a week. Food is cooked without salt, sugar or oil… man, what is the meaning of life, you can not feel the power of money until the moment you spend it.

I think we should work hard, but also learn how to spend hard!

As there are 3 stages of Life:
Teen Age – Has time and energy – But no Money
Working Age – Has Money and Energy – But No Time
Old Age – Has Money and Time – But No Energy

HK Snob

PS
Rolex Day Date 18KT Solid White Gold Diamond bezel and Diamond Dial with President Strap, circa 1987

18 KT solid gold Chain and Solid White Gold Diamond Cross, circa 1950

Parker Duofold foundtain pen with 14Kt Solid Gold Nib in Orange, Circa 1929

Swiss made Miniature pipe as a Tie Chain, Circa 1947 (a Real Pipe)

塵歸塵，土歸土，金錶首飾歸當舖!

Picture taken By Samsung Note II LTE Whilst Arshad paid for the Submariner Ref 111660Ln at One of The Largest Rolex AD in TST

People are jostled to earn money as to support the family expenditure…

And we have seen a lot of friends who did not actually well utilized his money, I should say they don't actually own the money, the Bank does…

That he really feel the power of money at all.

When I bought my first Rolex in 1982 wih HKD$5,025 that was a Date Just men white dial with Roman Numerals with jubilee Strap, I found that is the first time I feel “Solid Satisfaction” of Life, as that was my first job to earn my first Rolex by my own hand, I was a Radio officer with British license to send Morse on Merchant Ship.  People may say Why I am So happy to have a Rolex? Yes, of course, it is a Rolex, and I am a cheap HK Snob!

My Salary was HKD$4004 a month in 1981. I was a bit puzzled if one day I could afford to buy a Rolex Day Date! As a Yellow gold Day Date was selling HKD$24,000 in that time.

I had a lot of friends who had money after one year working on a ship, they bought house, my Captain was earning HKD$9,000 a month, after one year he save 99.99% of his salary. As he spent only HKD$0.7 for a postcard to his son studying in Boston every time when ship arrive the next port! He paid his son’s school fee and support his living in US. That is the greatest father on Earth, He never go ashore to relax, he never eat anything when we moored in Kobe. But I went to taste the Kobe Beef. 

I met my girl friend from Osaka, Still remember her name Misaho, I may be able to find her in the fb now, but who cares as if still that was some of the finest memory in my mind… time has passed, I started to buy my own Rolex Day Date back in 1998, that was an used one from friend. Since then I collected, I traded, I used Rolex when I went work, hang out, Hiking and Swimming, I found out that the MORE you use it, the more you GAIN from it, and I never keep it in the dark cool safe, though Rolex never get rusted at all in the Safe.

But what is the point that you buy a Rolex but you never use it….

As we know one day when we leave this Lovely World, I will get Nothing… May be all my loved one would still have some sweet (or Sour) memories about the time we were, but all my Rolexes will be cash for Gold or sold in the Pawn Shops!

Dust to dust, earth to earth; after the death, your Gold watch and jewelry go Pawn shop

As Hung* Said,  塵歸塵，土歸土，金錶首飾歸當舖!

That recalled someone says : 3 stages of Life:

Teen Age – Has time & energy – But no Money.

Working Age – Has Money & Energy – But No Time.

Old Age – Has Money & Time – But No Energy.

So Today, pick up your best Rolex watch and wear it tomorrow when you have Time and Money!

HK Snob

PS*  Hung is one of my friends we started to know each other since 1990., He is a Watch Collector, a Turtle Shell Spectacle and Pen Collector,  he has a lot of Patek Philippe and Rolexes!

A Vintage Milus Watch

The creation of the Swiss Milus watch was dated 1919. Milus was founded by Paul William Junod.
In 2008 the Milus International SA watch company was bought up by Chow Tai Fook (CTF) Group company located in Hong Kong.

This is a simple but beautiful Milus likely made in the year 1970-1976., manual Movement, size is quite updated with adecent dimension. The Dial is as new as it was made 40 years ago. We bought it in Ap Liu Street with merely a few hundred dollars, the ostrich strap is have 100% matching colour as the dial, This ia a lovely Remembrance of the good time in the 70s'.

The Pen is a 1960 Monblanc Model 256 and the Spectacles was a 1940 reading glasses on a pair of hand made Turtle shell frame.
HK Snob

Rolex Ref 15037 14KT Solid Gold Men's Watch

This is an 1989 Rolex Ref 15037 "Date" Solid 14KT gold with Jubilee Strap. It comes with orginal Box and Waranty papers, it was sold in USA via J. herbert Hall Co.

14 KT Solid Gold Rolex is very rare, still I have to find out why 14KT gold was being used.
It is made with special care with almost flawless black Dial and pointer, watch has not been polished.

A watch buckle with all Rolex goldsmith hallmarks and clearly stamped Rolex marks.
This is a classic Rolex "Date" , another Collection item for those Rolex Watch Fever Collectors. Friend of mine is asking HKD$57,000.00

Remarks: Though it is made with 14Kt solid gold, its weight is seemed very solid and very heavy on my wrist.

HK Snob
PS Sold ay HKD$55,000 on 9 May 2013