Hamilton Khaki Flight Timer

Hamilton is an American Brand since 1892. I used to have few Hamilton Solid Gold Watches made in the 40'. Those watches were purely mechanical watches.
This Khaki Flight timers is a high function pilot watch embedded with Swiss ETA Quartz movement. New from Hamilton, result of collaboration with the Air Zermatt helicopter rescue team in Switzerland. You can see the Air Zermatt logo engraved on the caseback.
The dial is broken up into a few negative LCD screen sections and the case has a crown along with three pushers. You can still read the time easily enough, and I like the large applied metal minute/hour markers. You'll of course see that the dial is an available in a silver or anthracite tone. Skeletonized hands make it possible to see the screens below them without too much interference.
Functions include Two digital timezones, UTC time, Alarm, Chronograph, Countdown, Flight time recorder, ISA temperature display. Perpetual Calendar. Perpetual Calendar is what the Tissot Touch does not have, Tissot has the unique winning touch feature, but there is no 24 hours, no date. A deduction of a watch feature in terms of versatility.
One of the price features is log data for recording details of up to 20 flights and a total of 99 landings. It has a rotating timing bezel on the case.
The steel case is 40mm wide, water resistant to 100 meters and has a sapphire crystal.. This is a function-oriented watch and I like that Hamilton is still keen on making a lot of these pieces.
Die hard mechanical watch lovers still prefer not to use Electronics Quartz watch in professional applications. However, some of the features and functions are only achievable by means of Electronics Quartz watch module. Unless in utmost low temperature.
Hamilton will offer the Khaki Flight Timer with at least two dial options and on a rubber or leather strap. I like the Orange Strap. There is also a metal bracelet option. Prices for the leather/rubber strap models is $1,445 for just a bit more you can get the metal bracelet model for $1,495.
So if you are a Pilot, other than the Rolex GMT Master II, $ 7,800. Breitling professional Co-pilot 143A $2,475. This Hamilton is your choice too!

HK Snob

Glashjutte Original of the 60's

In the name Glashütte Original lies the history and unique heritage of a small town
in South Eastern part of Germany In the neighbors hood of Czech Republic, a small Silver, Copper and lead, iron ore mining buried in the mountains of the Erzgebirge started from 165 years ago.
In the early part of the 19th century, the citizens of Glashütte began to look for alternatives. Saxon Court, Dresden had long nourished the nascent art
and science of keeping time with the aid of clocks and pocket watches. Dresden was the splendid city on the Elbe once known as the Florence of the North.
At the same time, the excitement of the industrial revolution had captured
the imagination of adventurous thinkers and entrepreneurs all over Europe,
and Saxony was no exception.
It was this spirit of adventurous enterprise that slowly transformed Glashütte
from a remote village in the mountains into the world-class centre of handcrafted
watches that it remains today. But don’t forget it was the Eastern Germany after the WWII, and then at that period of 1945-1990, there were not to much Fancy technology in the watch marking, but to make simple, durable low cost Watches for the People of the Eastern Germany, So these are the two pieces that I bought in 1995 in a Small town of Germany,
Note that the Movement is simple, quite sturdy and there even not have any date, size was small as that was the right size in the 70. I believe the lady one was in the year is 1968-1972, and the men’s one is an automatic with 23 Rubies that goes to 1960-1968.
They were lying down in the drawing over 15 years until today I checked for some of the straps and revealed these two watches,… These are not expensive watches, but a good example to show the life style of Eastern Germany whereby they had not too much resources to make beautiful watches as the Swiss did. But these metal watches demonstrate what a watch needs is time keeping, on top of it, accuracy and reliability is important.

HK Snob

Deep Blue BlueTech AB YSS500 Diver's Watch

This new Deep blue BlueTech AB YSS500 comes with four dial colour. Blue, Black, Orange and Yellow with limited 500 pieces each Colour.
The Blue one is my favourite, next is Orange or Yellow. It measures 46.5mmx18mm and a lug width of 26mm, big enough for a six feet man.
Water Resistance up to 5mm meters. Movement is Swiss ETA 2824-2 with 25 jewels and a custom Deep Blue Rotor. USD$999.00!
I love to get one not just because of the dial is a dynamic look appearance, but a big and Sharp blue Dial!

HK Snob

US Marine Prototype Rolex Submariner

Rolex Produced some of the rarest prototype Submariner for US Marine in 1982.
However due to whatever reason that it never turned into mass production.

It features a rather unique of locking its bi-directional timing bezel, The large detachable lug hoods lift up to allow manipulation of the bezel, lower it down to secure lock.
It has a new look as the traditional Submariner design as it extend the watch it out down from the middle of the case to meet the bracelet. It is 44mm with a lug to measurement of 58mm. The example featured here was sold at auction by Antiquorum in 2004 for USD$ 72,000! I think the current price may be already go double to USD$150,000! if your wrist is small , this may not be too fit for it.HK Snob

A Fake Rolex Submariner

This is a Rolex Submariner my friend showed me yesterday, of course I did not say anything as he said he bought it recently, He asked me how is it. I said quite beautiful.
But actually I told myself this is a Fake Rolex!
First of all, this model is White gold, and his one is steel,
The weight is not as heavy as the original one.
The finishing of the body is quite rough, It does not carry that kind of elegant gloss of the Rolex. The printing on dial is rough, the Rim is not smooth, laser Marked Rolex Logo is not clear enough.

Tsim Sha Tsui Snob

Swatch new look 2012

Swatch is using plastic as the component in the movement, though Plastic is not the first time to be used for component in a watch. Tissot low cost Auto Watch used a lot of plastic gear. The light weight component has an advantage of longer serviceability. Swatch uses colourful part inside the watch. It creates colourful rainbow like movement, this example is one of the most beautiful Combination. Thin, Colour, Watch proof, acccurate, light and comfortable to wear. This is Swatch!

Picture taken by Nokia Mini 97 at Tsuen Wan MTR station.

Tsuen Wan Snob

Can you Check your Rolex Time Keeping Accuracy when you purchase?

This is a question that most of the non-jeweler Rolex AD can offer, and most of the people do not know that there is the right for them to SELECT a better Rolex when you buy new from Rolex AD.
Well, most of the WATCH dealer like Zurich, Oriental, Wah Hing can have this service. Do to forget that you are spending some money that is good for buying a used BMW, this is your customer right to ask for the Shop to provide you a Health Check on your Rolex.
As you know you Rolex is a Certificated Swiss Chronometers, that can guarantee some kind of time accuracy per day.
Usually I will buy a Rolex with +2 second per day base on a temperature of 25 deg C,
And some time you can get one like +5 seconds a day, it is still within the specification of qualify the watch to be a Chronometer.
The reason why we have to buy a watch faster a few seconds is that after a few years say three, the lubrication oil inside the jewel bearing and the minor wear and tear inside of movement will gradually add on some friction that would slow down the watch.
So when you use your Rolex it may be becoming slow after 4 year, then it is time for you to send it to Rolex Service Centre for a cleaning..
Actually the period of time for Overhauling or cleaning depending on how you use the watch, and some of my Rolex has been using for 10 years still working in perfect time keeping.
So next time when you go to buy your Rolex, ask for the time check service, of course it is Free!
HK Snob

What Rolex I should buy as an Investment item?!

If you ask me what is the best Investment Rolex we should buy now. From what I have learnt from these 30 years playing Rolex, I have firm answer is Daytona if you ask me what is the best investment Rolex as generally.
Thought its entry price is the high for Average Rolex Selling price. But that is not the most expensive series of Rolex.
Many people ask what is the best first Rolex he should consider, it is also having no definitely reply as all depends on what you wants.
For fun, What He-has-that-I-should-Have!? For Investment!? Just For use!? For Stylish fashion watch!? For his Function? Just because of Rolex?
If you are professional diver, golfer, mountaineer, I am sure that you may consider the Submariner or Explorer II. If you want to buy one just for going work, likely a Rolex Turn-O-graph is best, as most of the people would likely choose Date Just as it is so far the most popular model from Rolex, accounts for 60% of the total Sales.
If you area student, OL, I believe I would like to go for Submariner or Explorer II
Women would like to go for Explorer.
If you are borne with Silver sterling 925 spoon, well, it is out of the question, you can buy all available Rolex models and change every day, we need not to be discussed here.
If you are the CEO, CFO, COO I think a Rolex Daytona, or Day Date would be one of the choice.
So How about Daytona? well, it is hard to say as for pure function consideration, that is not too persuasive as it has no date, you know some time a frequent traveling , when you wake up in the Hotel have your experience that “ hey, what is the Day to day? That is one of the reason why I choose Day Date, or a perpetual calendar when I travelling. As it never fails to provide me the most importunate data in the morning, time for next meeting, Today is what Date!?
If you are an collector, or investor, well, that is not q question, you may go for Daytona as it is really the Icon of Rolex, the most complicated watch from Rolex, Sorry please do not compare with the triple or Grand complication watch from VC, PP or AP. That is different animals.
As from most of the previous Auctions, Daytona and Comex Submariner seems never turn out to be the Dutch Auction. So if I were asked what is the best Rolex Investment item, that is Daytona!
As what the Rolex Bible said, "Rolex Daytona" means a lot of things: it is the most desirable chronograph, it is a tool to measure time, it is a fashion object, it is a collector's dream and it is a safe investment!
There are many Daytona models whose value increases year after year. Here you can see some examples:
-Daytona Ref. 16520 in stainless steel
CATALOGUE PRICE: In1994: € 3.047,10
CURRENT VALUE: € 10.000/12.000
-Daytona Ref. 16520 in stainless steel, black dial turning into brown
CATALOGUE PRICE: In 1994: € 3.047,10
CURRENT VALUE: € 18.000/22.000
-Daytona Ref. 6239 in stainless steel
CATALOGUE PRICE: In 1966/67: € 64,04
CURRENT VALUE: € 22.000/24.000
-Daytona Ref. 6239 in stainless steel with Paul Newman dial
CATALOGUE PRICE:In 1969/70: € 67,14
CURRENT VALUE: € 65.000/70.000
-Daytona Ref. 6239 in gold 18k
CATALOGUE PRICE: In 1966/67: € 163,71
CURRENT VALUE: € 60.000/65.000
-Daytona Ref. 6239 in gold 18k with Paul Newman dial
CATALOGUE PRICE: In 1969/70: € 163,71
CURRENT VALUE: € 100.000/110.000
-Daytona Ref. 6241 in stainless steel
CATALOGUE PRICE In 1966/67: € 64,04
CURRENT VALUE: € 24.000/26.000
Daytona Ref. 6241 in gold 18k
CATALOGUE PRICE: In 1966/67: € 163,71
-CURRENT VALUE: € 70.000/75.0000
Daytona Ref. 6241 in stainless steel with Paul Newman dial
CATALOGUE PRICE: In 1969/70: € 67,14
CURRENT VALUE: € 65.000/70.000
-Daytona Ref. 6241 in gold 18k with Paul Newman dial
CATALOGUE PRICE: In 1969/70: € 163,71
CURRENT VALUE: € 100.000/110.000
-Daytona Ref. 6263 in stainless steel
CATALOGUE PRICE: In 1971/72: € 78,50
CURRENT VALUE: € 25.000/27.000
-Daytona Ref. 6265 in stainless steel
CATALOGUE PRICE: In 1971/72: € 78,50
CURRENT VALUE: € 25.000/27.000
-Daytona Ref. 6265 in gold 18k
CATALOGUE PRICE: Ini 1971/72: € 241,19
CURRENT VALUE: € 55.000/60.000
Furthermore, if the color of a Daytona's dial turn into another color, the watch will be even more valuable.
An example: the reference 6263 in stainless steel with Paul Newman dial is worth around € 70'000; but the same watch with the dial turning into brown, was sold by Sothebys on 2011, November 14th for CHF 464’500.
Reference: Rolex Daytona Story: the new book of Guido Mondani Editore.
Recommend to go for this Book as it contains numerous stories and picture of Daytona.
Image appears courtesy of Jake's Rolex blog
HK Snob

Fossil

This is just a watch electronic movement with Date Day, time., quite a Functionable watch, with a sharp Diamond Like Bezel, strap that was made to look like mother of pearl.

Super light weight for young women. I bought it brand new at one shop at the junction between TST MTR Exit and I-square. The Sales Ken had a nice chat with me, he is a serious WATCH collctor for Omega, he is collection Omega Schummerger: he has Blue, Yellow, Red...etc

Price of Fossil was HKD$1,000, less 15%. Great deal for my little Daughter for going School.

Tsim Sha Tsui Snob

Rolex Ref 216570 Explorer II Orange Pointer on Sales at Wah Hing Mongkok

We found that Mong Kong Wah Hing has stock for Selling the Famous new Ref 216570 Black and White Dial. at price of HKD$60,500
Interested parties, RolexFans should not miss it.
Address Mong Kok Too Tak Mansion, 646, Nathan Road, exit at Mong Kok MTR Bank Centre walking towards North for 20 meters approx.
Mong Kok Snob
PS Photo was taken with an iPhone4s by KF.