Phillips Viewing Reminder

Don't forget there is viewing for your watches at Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong today and Tomorrow before the auction date 31 May.

It seems to be the most exciting watch event in town.

HK Snob

HKWF Watch gathering

Parmigiani Split second White Gold
Rolex DD OQ 19018 Birch
Cartier Japan limited edition 300 pieces Full Set (sale)
IWC Automatic with IWC bracelet (Sale)
Cartier Roadster Chronograph with FP movement (Sale)
IWC Chronograph

HK Snob

Tag Heuer Monaco Steve McQueen

Monaco Blue dial, Steve McQueen, Brand new in box Full set. MSRP HK$57,800

Calibre 12 automatic chronograph 39MM.

We have been offered a special deal for HKWF reader at a Special Price HKD$37,200 Cash.

HK Snob

Rolex Day Date Ref.1803 white Gold on sale

These are two beautiful samples of Rolex White Gold Ref.1803.

 

The Left one is a light blue matt dial of perfect condition.

 

The Right one is a Arab numeral with Arab Dial of Date and Day dial.

 

 

Interested parties please WhatsApp me for more information and price.

 

We can deliver by hand to Philippines.

 

 

HK Snob

Choosing the right dial for your Daytona

For years, the Rolex Daytona black dial has been the more sought-after version than the white dial. However, things have seemingly changed for the new 116500ln Daytona Ceramic.

Most Hongkongers preferred to buy the black dial version of the 116520 as it is a safer choice than the white dial version. However, is it really true?

A black dial chronograph has an inborn weakness – its legibility. Any watch with sub-dials is more legible in while dial than in black dial. The Daytona is no exception. Although the black dial gives the Daytona a stronger character, it also looks more dull and boring.

 

The while dial, on the other hand, is not only more legible, it is also more classy. On the new 116500ln, the white dial seems to be a wiser choice as the dial color contrasts very sharply with the ceramic bezel and the sub-dial rings. The black dial version is not too bad as the silver sub-dial rings look very sharp. However, with the black ceramic ring, there is not much contrast in colors. The whole tone is too dark.

 

 

 

The choice for a right dial for your Daytona can be even more of an issue if you are looking for a yellow gold or rose gold Daytona. The 116505 rose gold Daytona matches the ivory dial best as it provides an elegant look with great legibility.

 

If you are looking for a yellow gold Daytona, make sure you do not miss this year’s new release 116508 with a dark forest green dial. It will be surely a stunner in the metal.

HK Watch Fever Group

Should you buy the Rolex Deep Sea D-blue? Or should you go for the Deep Sea black?

To buy or not to buy. That is the question.

 

The Rolex Deep Sea D-blue, or the Rolex Deep Sea James Cameron Edition, debuted in August 2014 to commemorate James Cameron’s dive into the deepest point on Earth, the Mariana Trench, in a one-man submarine called Deepsea Challenger.

The watch features a gradient blue-black dial, symbolizing the dive from the surface of the sea to the deepest part of the ocean. The letters “DEEPSEA” is in green, the same color as the submarine James Cameron was in.

 

The D-blue retails at around slightly more than 90k HKD in Hong Kong while the Deep Sea black retails at around 70k after discounts. So, the question is, whether it is worth it to pay a premium of 20k for the dial? Having owned both versions, I can only tell that each version has its own character.

 

I purchased the D-Blue after I owned the Deep Sea Black. The Deep Sea was, and remains to be an attractive watch to me and to those whose wrists are thick enough to carry the watch.

 

You can see how thick the watch is even on the wrist of David Beckham and Tiger Woods. Its 18mm thickness is one point that makes Asians hard to wear the watch in a good-looking way.

 

I do think that the thickness and the slightly out-of-proportion design can be a feature instead of a defect. While wearing the watch tightly, you can avoid it from swinging back and forth. I have seen people with skinny wrist looking good with the Deep Sea as they wear the watch tightly with the Glidelock clasp.

 

But, is the Deep Sea D-blue worth your money? My answer is positive. The Deep Sea black has one very obvious disadvantage, its color. When looking at it, you are almost looking at a big dull diver which is way thicker than a watch is supposed to be. It is almost an instrument.

 

However, the Deep Sea D-blue is way more colorful. The blue-black dial makes the ceramic bezel look more outstanding. You can enjoy different color shades on the dial under different lighting. It can be purple sometimes and it can be almost black sometimes. It is, with only a change of the dial, a completely different watch from the Deep Sea Black. It is way more fun to wear it.

 

On the wrist, the Deep Sea black gives you a more solid feeling as a professional diver. Its all-black dial gives you a very traditional taste of dive watches. The Deep Sea D-blue, on the other hand, due to the lighter color of the dial, feel a bit less serious, in other words, less dull. It is a watch you do not see a lot on the street. If you already have the Deep Sea Black, you might as well see it for the D-blue. If you do not have a Deep Sea Black, skip it and get a D-blue.

HK Watch Fever Group

Affordable versions of the Paul Newman Daytona?

Affordable versions of the Paul Newman Daytona?

Omega may be your answer. 

At HKWF, we at times recommend affordable versions of watches that carry super high prices.

 

In this first episode, we would like to talk about the Paul Newman Daytona 6263.

 

 

A Rolex Daytona 6263 “Paul Newman” can easily cost you over 300k to 900k HKD. It is one of the most desirable watches at auctions. The panda dial on the 6263 is one of the signatures of the so called “Paul Newman” dial with three black sub-dials on a while dial.

 

 

 

If you are looking for a watch with similar aesthetics, the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch First Omega in Space may be your answer.

 

 

 

The name of the watch is quite long. At 39.7mm, the rose gold version is a numbered edition, meaning that it is not in limited production. The case is made of what Omega calls Sedna Gold. The panda dial looks terrific and its design is said to be inspired by a watch worn by astronaut Wally Shirra in 1962 during the NASA Sigma 7 mission.

 

 

 

 

 

The black ceramic tachymeter bezel complements very well with the panda dial in which an outer black ring surrounds the white dial on which three black sub-dials sit.

It does remind you of the Rolex 6263 doesn’t it? The movement inside is the manual-wound 1861 movement. The watch has a domed sapphire crystal. The rose gold version retails at around 130k HKD and HKWF offers you a good discount on this watch.

 

If paying over 100k for an Omega bothers you, let’s take a look at the stainless steel version, the Omega Speedmaster CK2998 Limited Edition watch.

 

 

 

This is the stainless steel version which basically retains all of the characteristics of the rose gold version. This watch will be produced in 2998 pieces. The bezel, the sub-dials and the chapter ring are all blue in color. The central chronograph second hand is now a lollipop hand. The bezel is in polished blue ceramic and the blue crocodile strap completes the looks.

 

 

The 2016 new release will retail at around 40k HKD. A bargain isn’t it? Given how nice looking the whole package is. 

Sometimes we can have our own fun without paying a premium for mega watches. These two Omegas will give at least half the fun as the Paul Newman Daytona but at much lower prices.

HK Watch Fever Group

 

 

 

 



A comparison of three dress watches, Chopard, Zenith and the IWC

A comparison of three dress watches: the Chopard L.U.C XPS 1860, the Zenith Elite 6150 and the IWC Portugieser Hand-Wound Eight Days.

From time to time at HKWF, we compare different watches for you. In this episode, we are comparing three dress watches from Chopard, IWC and Zenith.

 

The cases

 

At 42mm, the Zenith Elite 6150 is 2mm bigger than its two counterparts.

 

The lines of the case look a little fatter than the other two.

 

The IWC Portugieser Hand-wound Eight Days has a “thinner” case than the other two as the curves look more clean-cut than the other two.

 

The Chopard L.U.C XPS 1860 has the thickest bezel and all of the three watch cases are highly polished to a mirror finish.

 

The lugs on the IWC and the Chopard are more angular than the more classic lugs on the Zenith.

 

At 12 mm in thickness, the IWC is thicker than the Chopard, which is 7.2 mm thick, and the Zenith, which is 9.25 mm thick. The Zenith also features a dome-shaped crystal while the IWC crystal is slightly domed.

 

 

 

 

The dials

 

The dial on the Zenith has a silver tone and it has sunray pattern. The leaf-shaped hands and the markers are rhodium plated.

 

The Chopard has a silver-toned dial with sunburst satin-brush while the IWC has a white dial and Arabic numerals.

 

The Zenith’s second hand is at the center while the other two have their seconds sub-dial at 6 o’ clock.

 

The IWC has a date window at 3 o’ clock while the Chopard has its at 6 o’ clock. Worth noting is that the Zenith has no date window which makes it a purer classic.

 

 

 

The movements

 

The IWC features its in-house 59215 manual-wound movement and it provides a power reserve of eight days.

 

A power reserve indicator is located at the case back which can be seen through. All the plates are finished with Genève Stripes.

 

The Chopard features its in-house Calibre 96.01-L and its finishing is top-notch.

 

You will feast your eyes with a 22k gold micro rotor and well-polished plates and angles. Again, all the plates are finished with Genève Stripes and the movement has a 65- hour power reserve.

 

The Zenith Elite 6150 movement may not be the best decorated among the three, however, it provides you with a power reserve of 100 hours, which is approximately 4 days.

 

The price

 

The Chopard retails at around 80k HKD in stainless steel.

 

The IWC retails at around 70k HKD and the Zenith retails at around 60k HKD.

 

At HKWF, all three watches are available with good discounts.

Editor’s pick: The Chopard L.U.C XPS 1860

Reasons: The finishing of the movement is simply incredible at this price point. The dial and the case are classic and simple. Plus, the thickness is only 7.2 mm which makes it perfect for a suit wearer. It is a watch with a lot of work and sincerity.

 

Jason L

HK Watch Fever Group

 

HK Snob

 



Panerai PAM578

The latest special edition Lo Scienziato Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT from Panerai is quite special. 

 

This is due to the way the case is constructed.  Introducing the Panerai PAM 578 Lo Scienziato Luminor 1950 Tourbillon GMT Titanio for SIHH 2016,  limited to only 150 examples.

PAM578 Skeleton Tourbillon In Titanium, is the lightest tourbillon in Panerai Series.

Only 9.5gm, only one piece available in Hong Kong,

Now HKD$1,098,000

HK Snob

Introducing the Chopard L.U.C XPS 1860

Chopard’s L.U.C collection is a tribute to watchmaker
Louis-Ulysse Chopard.

To celebrate the line’s 20^th anniversary, Chopard has released the L.U.C XPS 1860 which includes two models, an unlimited edition in steel and a limited edition of 250 pieces in rose gold.

 

The rose gold version features a 40mm rose gold case which is made of Fairmined Gold. The dial is hand-guilloché with a radiating wave pattern. The case is only 7.2 mm thick and it features vertical satin-brushed sides, a polished bezel and case-back.

 

The watch might be thin, but there are a lot to admire with it see-through sapphire case back. The movement inside the watch is the Calibre 96.01-L, which is absolutely a stunner.

The movement features a 22k solid gold micro rotor. Its finishing is extremely well, with Geneva Stripes on all the plates, and beautifully polished bridges.
 

The circular graining and the swan-neck fine adjustment are also an eye candy. The movement bears the prestigious Geneve Seal and it is C.O.S.C certified. 
 

The movement provides 65 hours of power reserve with Chopard’s Twin technology (two barrels).

 

 

 

The stainless steel version has a different dial style. It features a silver tone dial with sunburst finish. Also, the movement bears no Geneve Seal and no swan-neck adjustment. However, the solid gold micro rotor remains and all the plates are well polished and adorned with Geneve Stripes.

 

 

 

 

So, the price. The rose gold version retails at around 160k HKD while the steel version retails at around 80k HKD.

Even though if you do not wear a dress watch a lot, this L.U.C XPS 1860 is offering you a lot in haute horology.

The finishing of the movement is just stunning with the 22k gold rotor. The dial has superb details and very legible. One small defect is the inclusion of the date window.
But that is also a practical move.

 

HK Snob

HKWF Group

Jason L