Rolex Red Dial is Forever

                                              George Bamford Daytona Red Dial Rolex

Daytona Ref, 6263 Action price $330,000, and Tudor Prince Chronometer with Date in Red $2,500

Daytona Ref 6323 Red Dial US$330,000 Auction price,

Daytona Paul Newman, stainless steel case, Original Red dial. Rolex 6263 
is a rare species known to collectors as the "Daytona" which was produced from 1971 until 1987. This watch has an original Red Paul Newman dial with black sub-dials, stainless steel luminous markers, and screw-down stainless steel pushers.

George Bamford Red Dial US$80,000 estimated

George Bamford made this special Rolex Daytona in Red dial for Lane Crawford Hong Kong with limited edition of 8 Pieces only. The Antiquorum and Christie had a final bid of HKD$600,000.00 for this special Watch? Why people seems like to have Red as the dial for Daytona.  Who knows if this will be another Classic Collectible Daytona Tomorrow?

Red

We can find Red in Blood, it is a symbol of Life, like the Red Cross. Red was traditional associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, jealousy and love.

Red is a very emotionally intense color. It enhances human metabolism, increases respiration rate, and raises blood pressure. It has very high visibility, which is why stop signs, stoplights, and fire equipment are usually painted red. In heraldry, red is used to indicate courage. It is a color found in many national flags.

Light red represents joy, sexuality, passion, sensitivity, and love.
Dark red is associated with vigor, willpower, rage, anger, leadership, courage, longing, malice, and wrath.
Pink signifies romance, love, and friendship. It denotes feminine qualities and passiveness.
Brown suggests stability and denotes masculine qualities.
Reddish-brown is associated with harvest and fall.

Chinese and Red ColourRed, corresponding with fire; one of the Five items in the theory of Five Elements namely Earth, Fire, Metal Wood and Water. Fire, particularly symbolizes good fortune and joy. Red could be found everywhere during Lunar New Year and other holidays and family gatherings. A red envelope (Lai Shi) is a monetary gift which is given in Chinese society during new year and some other special occasions. The color of the Red packet symbolizes good luck. Red is strictly forbidden at funerals as it is a traditionally symbolic color of happiness.

SK II

SK II was once not too successful though they discovered Pitera, a kind of substance that appearing to cause the Sake Brewery lady hand smoother. Though the sales was not good under the name of Max Factor SK II,  Later on some of change the packing into Red Package and was well accepted initially by Chinese  and Taiwanese Women since then sales was moving up even taken the position of Shiseido as the No. 1 Japanese Cosmetic maker.

See how important the Colour of Watch is, Red might be the most valuable Dial for Rolex!

A Red Dial Daytona, a Stella Red Dial Day Date, or a Red Prince Chronometer if there is no budget for a Daytona!

HK Snob

Omega De Ville

The first one was my watch I bought in 1981, it a Omega De Ville, after 30 years till yesterday, a friend of my blog told me he got the same watch shown on the 3rd picture with exception the crown design is different.

I really don't know if there are two variety on the Crown? and There is another pciture should by him that there is white gold plated one?


My one is gold plated with approx 20 microns gold, it is hand winding. I can say this is a good watch also!
Do we have Solid White Gold?

HK Snob

Rolex King Midas, the first Rolex to use Sapphire Crystal

Rolex King Madas was top of Cellini line, it was Designed by Gerald Genta. The same time Gerald designed the AP Royal Oak in 1970 and Patek Philippe Nautilus 4 years later. AP Royal Oak was launched in 1972 and Patek Philippe Nautilus was launched in 1976.

He took the design from ancient Greece, the famous Parthenon temple in Athens. The King Midas were “sculptured” from a block of 18K white gold or 18K yellow gold, weighing between 150 and 190 grams, depending on the model and gold. It was the heaviest weight gold watch available, even heavier than Rolex Date Day White Gold I am using now (150g). Note that It was the first Rolex wristwatch produced with a sapphire crystal, in 1977 Rolex started to use Sapphire Crystal on the Oyster Model. The first King Midas series, ref. 9630, was produced in a limited edition of 1,000 examples and was followed by ref. 3580, also produced in a limited edition. Ref 9630 was the first and only limited edition made left handed. Additional references were produced after the Midas collection became part of the Cellini line. Like several other Rolex models, the King Midas “starred” in The Man with the Golden Gun (1974). It was worn by Bond villain Francisco Scaramanga (played by Christopher Lee). The most famous King Midas watch is one that was owned by the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. In 1970.

At that time, the King Midas was Rolex’s most expensive model. In 1970 a Rolex Day-Date retailed for $1,825 and a King Midas retailed for $2,500. In 1975 a Day-Date retailed for $3,300 and a King Midas retailed for $5,500.

King Midas is not waterproof.

PS

Elvis Plesley worn Hamilton Ventura, Gold Omega Constellation, Gold Longines, Corum and the Rolex King Midas

HK Snob

Tudor 79280 Prince Chronograph Red Face Date

Tudor 79280 Prince Chronograph Red Face Date, This watch was released in 2000. A Rare Red Dial. 40mm Tudor Prince Automatic movement, Sapphire Crystal, Date, Oyster Strap, Stainless steel case and Strap, this is more or less a Poor people's Rolex Daytona Paul Newman! And I like this more as because there is a DATE where Daytona does not have, Well, the Daytona dial design seems has no more room for a Date as it is perfectly balanced with the three dials like the reversed Chinese word "品" !!

HK Snob

Micheal Tien and His Rolex

Michael Puk Sun Tien is deputy chairman of New People's Party, and the member of Tsuen Wan District Council. He is founder of The G2000 Group and the former chairman of the board of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC).

He joined the Liberal Party in 2008, a party led by his elder brother, James Tien, a member of Legislative Council of Hong Kong. People has some criticized about he made "TV SHOW" by turning himself as working classs street wiper for three days, trying to undertand the way how the grass-root people works...I feel that is a good aproach if you really want to understand how poor people live in HK.

In his real life, he is a business man, and a politician, he wears ROLEX DATE JUST stainless steel Ref 116234.

That is a good choice for business man!
HK Snob

How Deep is your Love?

Taken on the posters, magazine of  HK, Manila Airrport, Department store by my HTC ONE

Besides the beloved Rolex Submariner, DeepSea, Sea dweller, this are some of the known best diver' watches.

Blancpain X Fathoms

The latest C Fathoms of Blancpain revisits its iconic 1953 edition. The depth gauge of max. 90 metre and maximum depth reached memory, a retrograde 5-minutes counter for decompression stops feature and three barrels ensuring a five-day power reserve marks this Blancpain the most high-performing diver watch today. The Calibre is 9918B, based on the manufacture-made Calibre 1315  which was proven of its worth by successfully powering several models in the Fifty Fathoms collection.

Omega Ceragold Sea Master Planet Ocean

With the industrial technologically breakthrough, gold is injected  into a zirconium-based bezel to make the numbers and markers appear even, last and smooth like silk for touching.  The 18Kt markers are coated with white Superluminova that emits blue light, which the minute hand and the dot on the diving bezel give you green light. This beautiful watch is equipped with Omega Co-Axial Calibre 9301, the first chronograph in the manufacture’s family of using Co-Axial movements.

IWC

IWC Portuguese Yacht Club Chronograph Editions “Volvo Ocean Race 2012”

To congratulate the start of this year’s Volvo Ocean Race and the teams taking party in the prestigious event, IWC launched the Portuguese Yacht Club Chronograph Editions “Volvo Ocean Race 2012. Touted as amongst the toughest and most spectacular competition of 73,000 KM of treacherous waters across 4 oceans and 6 continents. This robust and advance IWC-manufacture 89361-calibre movement is housed in an elegant titanium case and is made water-tight to 6 Bars, fitted with a screw-in crown with matching profile crown protection.

The Chronograph has fly back function, as well as an analogue display with two hands in a sub-dial for long-stop times.

Ulysse Nardin Champion’s Diver Plushenko Limited Edition (250 pcs)

Ulysse Nardin started their early business with Marine chronometers where the Ship captain’s  most treasureable tool on board for all distance, course, and mileage calculation.

 The Champion’s Diver Plushenko Limited Edition was designed in collaboration with Evgeni Plushenko, Russian Olympic Champion figure skater.

NU Calibre 26 is a self-winding movement with 42 hours of power reserve indicator, as a traditional application for the Brand’s Marine Collection, the stainless steel case is protected with vulcanized rubber, that could give you a pleasant smooth feeling on your wrist, and to reduce any scratches onto your hands. This watch is made as a tribute to Evgeni Plushenko…and the one who buys it.

Tudor Pelagos

Tudor Pelagos marks the first venture into high tech diving watch, it is maiden watch that is made with Titanium, which makes senses as for it lightness, durability and free from any scratches. The satin finished titanium case is water-resistant to a depth of 500 metros. With a helium escaper valve visible at the side. An unidirectional bezel in titanium with a Matt black ceramic insert hour markers is large and luminescent with hands in Tudor's "snowflakes motif.

ow deep is you love on divers Watch?

Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Chronograph

This diver watch is equipped with an operating indicators can quickly tell if the chronograph is working, that is, if it’s really measuring set time intervals, if it’s ready to be activated. And be assured that correct time was displayed on the various counters. Its employs JLC Calibre 758 which has up to 65 hours of power reserve.

Rolex Submariner

Needless to say this is by so far likely the most popular diver’s choice for both armature users  and professionals, and watch collector as of it name in the waters for the past 50 years.

If you are diver, that is the basic tool you may have already…

In terms of Value and durability, I choose Rolex Submariner, In terms of technology and function, that is Blancpain, In terms of cost performance, that is Tudor and JLC, in terms of Style and probably of its exquisite shape, I think Omega and IWC, In terms of history in the name of Marine watch and Clock, and the Small number on Earth that we can have, that is Nardin… Give no excuse not to buy all but one….without consideration of the money in my pocket, I am sure I take the Blancpain! Because it was an Iconic watch since 1953!

HK Snob

Is Thinner the better?

Royal Oak 1972 Jumbo 39mm Calibre 2121 Taken By HTC One

Since the time we had pocket watch, Swiss watch makers were doing their best to design a thinner watch to show off their technology and skill of watch-making. Gradually when wrist watch is replacing Pocket watch, this game of going thinner had been started already!!

Until the year I was borne, 1957, Piaget created the 2mm thick hand wind movement 9P. more and more watcher is going for thinner, Vacheron Constantin, Universal, JLC.

Ultimately with lot of works and experiment, Piaget invented another 2.3mm Automatic Watch movement 12P.

Then a new company Jean Lassale which was established in 1976 successfully made a thin movement to a merely thickness of about 1.2 mm. Jean Lassale created the world record of super thin Calibre 1200 in 1976 and then the automatic Calibre 2000 one year after.

Thin watch is an equivalent of better quality watch was the mindset of most of collector or connosieuer for watch. As no other small company could beat this with launch of thinner watch. So  the big player like VC, PP, Piaget kept making thin watch with 35mm dia. to satisfy the world…

1990, Panerai  swiped the market with a new wave of  “New”, “Large” and “Expensive” to bring us enter to this Happy Land of Dinosaurs, till 15 Sept 2008, Lehman Brothers went bankruptcy,… this episode carried the label of big watch back to stone age. Watch makers then issue watches with Standard, Low profile, Complicated and Traditional watch still able to take major portion of the market share. Till 2010.  Piaget perfect with an new 1208P which was modified base on the blue print of 12P, to continue the legend of a thin watch, immediately made me recalled those name of thin watch; LeCoultre, Frederic Piguet, Lemania..etc

Thinner is better but tougher, in order to maintain the accurate time keeping, thinner watch has no room for you to play around. A small second point hand wind watch may require same or even more effort to build an automatic watch that come with date! As most of the time is required to fine tune the 5 Positions precision , some times it may re-setup again and again!

Time seems has stopped by AP since 1972, as after 40^th anniversary, AP Royal Oak 39mm super thin watch still maintaining the use of 2122 movement, that has been used since 1972,  the watch has a thickness is 3.05 mm, Same movement are also being deployed by PP and VC on their watches.

This is one of the reason that man people is searching for the early AP RO using 2121 movement, and that watch has been the hot item in recent auctions.

HK Snob

No Fakes Pledge Scheme

Picture taken at HKIA by HTC One handphone

Hong Kong was known to be the Paradise for Shopping, this statement may still valid as we have the largest number of watch shops and some of the name in luxury goods per square kilometer in certain area like South Tsim Shat sui.

Some people ask me where to buy Rolex that is for sure no Fake one!

I would have to recommend them going to these “No Fakes Shops” with this label… This word “正” is a adjective means “Real” or “good” in Chinese.  

Without that, I can not say they would likely selling the fake Rolex, but they may not be recognized by the Intellectual Property Department of HK that this is a shop that selling Real good stuff. If I were you, especially foreigner, try to go to shops with this label, it should be displayed in the shops window or displayed outside the entrance.

For more, go visit www.nofakes.hk

HK Snob

The Super Early Royal Oak

The Very First Royal Oak now assigned as Reference 15400 41mm, Ever.
That is dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Royal Oak firstly introduced in 1972.
They have a ton of interesting RO's to choose from, including several LE's.  But, the two Royal Oak's from the collection that we're most excited about are relatively simple watches.  The first, as seen above, is actually the very first 41mm Royal Oak. The reference 15400 that was introduced in SIHH this year. is now ready for you to order Price HKD$132,000.
There are only limited shipment to HK, Dial colour Grey, white and Blue. Remember earlier the Auction for the original 1972 39MM Junbo watch was HKD$225,000.00!
Now you can get a new one at a fraction of the aution price!
HK Snob

The HK Master of Time

Asian's most famous watch connoisseurs Chung Wing Lun Alain died on 8 Oct in HK. He was born in 1951 in a rich family of Guangzhou, fond of writing, football, started new life in HK when he was studying  middle school, had managed Hi Fi audio business in HK in the 80's and started to publishing Watch Critics 名錶論壇 magazine in HK. Gradually becoming the leading magazine on watches. It is one of the most representible magazines of watch in Asia.

He likes wine tasting, food, cars, and fountain pen collection.

He has collection of over 400 pieces of watches and probably 300 fountain pens.

What's about this genius is his knowledge about watches and pen collection.

Though he has so many collectible watches yet what he said: It is a Kind of enjoyment whilst waiting for the next more adorable watch…” time is moving on whiles he had completed his journey on Earth, Wish he had the best in his new life.

I feel bore as we can not read anymore of his article with sharp and biting critics about watches no more!

Aftermath, I should not take too much wine, as I have similar hobby as Alain Chung; Watch, Fountain Pen, Wine, Hi Fi, Vinyl collection, calligraphy, and … of course I can not compare my watches with his collection as I am just a 2 feet dwarf standing in front of the Colossal!

HK Snob