Rolex Sea Dweller Ref 16600 asking for its new owner

This is a dis-continued Sea Dweller Ref 16600, M-number, year 2008. excellent condition. Seldom used. Since this is supposed to be able to survive 4,000 feet below sea watch, so the Cyclops magnifying glass does not exist as it may crack under such high water pressure.
HK Snob
Ps Watch was Sold

World's First Waterproof Watch and the Watch of the Century, Rolex

Prior to the twentieth Century, men used Pocket watches and women wore wristwatches.

In the beginning of the 20^th Century, wrist watch started to gain its popularity amongst men. German Watch Expert Hans Wilsdorf started a Company on Watch sooner was named with Rolex in London n 1905.

Wilsdrof saw the public demand on high quality watch, especial for men. He started to import watch from Swiss Aeglier Company precision movement to produce watch. In 1912, Wilsdrof renamed this Watch Company as Rolex Watch Company and moved to  Geneva.

Sooner later his Watch was awarded an official chronometer certification for accurate timekeeping, the first watch to do so.

Wilosdrof , however , was still concerned with increasing his watch’s reliability. He knew that dust and moisture could cause the watch’s imprecise, and began working on developing a water proof watch. In 1926, he introduced the Oyster, the water proof wristwatch. This was followed the next year by a famous public endorsement stunt in which swimmer Mercedes Gleitze swam across the English Channel wearing the Oyster, a world first water proof watch . In !931, Rolex improved by introducing a self-winding movement, which made the water seal function even more reliable, and invented the date display in 1945.

Rolex continues to be a world leader in Watch-Making, and the Oyster was named “ Watch of the Century” by a panel of industry leaders in 1990s.

HK Snob

This is a Way to tell you Cartier is Authentic or not by viewing the Roman Figure VII. There should be a "Cartier" encripted on it. Some Cartier model has this word made on "XI",

HK Snob

Vintage Cartier lady Watch

Cartier was founded in 1847 when Louis-François Cartier, then an apprentice to Parisian jeweler Adolphe Picard, took over the business when his master passed away. By 1853, young Louis-François had become a favorite of Napoleon III’s cousin Princess Mathilde, who helped Cartier gain entry to Parisian society.

For the next quarter century, Cartier was strictly a jeweler, but in 1874, Louis-François’...s son Alfred gained the company’s reins. He in turn brought his sons, Louis, Pierre, and Jacques, into the firm—it was this third generation of Cartier that would make the Paris jeweler’s name synonymous with luxury wristwatches.

The first Cartier watches were diamond-studded bracelets for ladies, which were introduced in 1888 and languished until Parisian fashions changed enough in the mid-1890s to encourage the adornment of a bare wrist with a watch.

But the real wristwatch breakthrough came in 1904, when, according to Cartier lore, a Brazilian aviation pioneer named Alberto Santos-Dumont complained to his friend Louis Cartier of the shortcomings of fumbling with a pocket watch on a short test flight. Cartier made his friend a flat, square wristwatch called, appropriately, the Santos. In the process, Cartier popularized wristwatches in France and throughout the world until Today.

In 1912, Cartier introduced the oval Baignoire and tortoise-shell shaped Tortue models, followed in 1917 by Cartier’s most famous early wristwatch, the Tank, which was reportedly inspired by the design of Renault tanks used during World War I. Rudolph Valentino wore a Tank in the 1921 silent classic The Sheik.

In the early 1920s, Cartier partnered with fellow Frenchmen Jaeger and Breguet to produce movements for its watches. Other illustrious Cartier collaborators included Swiss makers Vacheron Constantin, Patek Phillipe, Piaget, and Audemars Piguet.

During the 1920s, Cartier started stamping its watches with four-digit reference numbers—today, knowledgeable collectors know to look for and verify these codes before purchasing an antique Cartier wristwatch. That way, they can tell for certain if the 1932 waterproof Pasha (made for the Pasha of Marrakesh) that they are about to purchase is real or a fake.

By 1940, Cartier had introduced a motoring watch, with a curved shape that was designed to be worn on the inside of the wrist—the winder was on the back of the watch, against the wearer’s skin, rather than the side. And then, in 1942, after the death of Louis Cartier, the company began several decades of stagnation.

Countless variations of the Tank appeared (in the Chinoise, horizontal bars at the top and bottom of the dial rest on the Tank’s vertical "treads"), and in 1965 there was even a watch whose body was shaped like a parallelogram. But it was not until the Must de Cartier in 1976 and the reissue of the Santos in 1978 that the firm was able to reestablish itself as a player on the wristwatch scene.

Attached is an Early 1990 model Lady Panthere, quartz movement, 18KT two tone…

HK Snob

40 Years after its birth, Royal Oak Jumbo has a price!

It has been 40 years after the likely one of most beautiful watch design was created by Gerald Genta in 1972, with continuously applause of such beautiful Watch by watch lovers all over the World, a new Memorial Royal Oak design is created in 2012.

However, the original First Generation Royal Oak indicates that there is a group of die hard collectors looking for it. It is rare as AP produced only very small number of it to test the maket acceptance for the Exquisite Sport Watch as the first time.
Since the timeless 2120 movement was introduced in its Royal Oak case in 1972, with movement thickness of 3.05mm, one of the World’s thinnest mechanical Automatic movement, it provides the Hour, Minutes and Second, Date Display function. At the same time this movement Cal 2120 was being used later on Patek Philippe Nautilus 1976 and Vacheron Constantin Model 222.

The Calibre. 2120 was actually developed by Jaeguar Le Coutre. Now after 40 years, this first generation Royal Oak had appeared in Recent Auction with final bid of HKD$311,250!

Really this is a good start, I have a 18KT Solid gold one… Don’t know how much it values? It is Lower as Some one said than the Stainless steel version, but Someone said it is more expensive!. Well, needless to argue, there I have been seeing more than one time in HK market for Stainless steel Verison, one was In Champangne Court two years back, asking for HKD$59,000.00 as the condition was not too attractive! But the next day I went there, it was sold! The second time I saw it is in auction. I had a wonderful chance to get the Gold one. It is Numbered NO.XX!

It is rare too! It comes with the International Waranty booklet!

HK Snob

Rolex Ref 18038 with Arabian Coat of Arms

Rolex Ref. 18038 Dress up in other straps. The Coat of Arms is beautiful, believe this type of watch with such a condition is extremely rare!

It really looks awesome with a navy green Nato Strap!
This was found his new owner yesterday. (Sold)

HK Snob

Sheffield Cuff Link Watch

This Sheffield Cuff link has a Swiss made manual wind Watch movement. The other one is a Photo frame with cover.

It is in mint condition, I just sent it for Stephen' Overhual, as for the first time after 55 years.

The one beside is a 1930' Masoon Club badge.

HK Snob

Rolex Daytona and Waterman Patrician

Beautiful Life nominated the Most beautiful watches that includes Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date just lady presented in BaselWorld 2010. Framing a dials of different colors from gray to chocolate is fluted or domed bezel encrusted with 24 or 46 scintillating brilliants. At 6 o’clock is the gem-set Roman numeral hour marker. Fresh, refined and extremely elegant, these new Rolex ladies’ luxury models eloquently demonstrate the gracefully feminine style pursued by all ladies’ timepieces. Top Ten Watch UK nominated these watches as the top 10 Most Desirable watch available Today. Through open vote from the people that made these 10 beautiful time pieces ever made and dating back several decades.

1. Rolex Sea Dweller
2. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph
3. Breitling Emergency
4. Panerai Radiomir 1936 Special Edition
5. Patek Philippe Calatrava
6. Rolex Cosmograph
7. Omega Seamaster "James Bond"
8. Rolex Submariner Non-Date
9. IWC Big Pilot
10. Audemars Piguet T3 - The Terminator
From these two website, we can see that out of these, Rolex plays a major role in terms of publicity, popularity, appearance, value and image… Being a Rolex Owner, you should be proud of the watch you are wearing. If you had all these watch , then you are one of the man, does not mean you are rich enough but have a good taste enough to match with tehse votes of the Website… Simply not simple!
Watch Critics March 2012 edition Alain Chung has a very good illustration of three beautiful Daytona. The Red. The Blue and Green.. Whereby the dial material is Grossular, Sodalite and Chalcedony respectively. Rolex has been the expert in employing natural gem to make the dial, and those watch value will appreciate once after the production is discontinued. Recent year Rolex seldom work on the special dial made of natural gem as that is not easy and expensive to prepare.
Imagine you have to choose the gem for the even colour, inspection for no micro crack, the gem will be lapped to a thickness 0.4 mm approximately. then screen printing on it.. Laser cut holes and opening, insert the index. It may take 30 processes in order to make one, every process make have certain yield loss. Amongst 00 Pieces of the dials, there may be only 30 pieces is acceepted for use!
And that take a lot of time, effort, skill to achieve that, I can say some time the dial costs 30% of the cost of the whole watch.

Whilst when I search for my vintage fountain pen, the Waterman Patrician has the similar colour and likewise the Charisma…
When Waterman was losing ground to the other big three (Parker, Schaeffer, and Eversharp in 1926, They invested in the design of a new Art Deco Pen Patrician which was then launched in 1929, Entirely made of Celluloid and with a solid gold emblem, a fine big nib, the colour is magnificent. The Turquoise was one of the most beautiful pens 20 Century made. And has been top of the dream pen for Collectors.
Look at these Daytona, and Patrician, they have the similarity… Size is Big, colour is absolutely eye-catching, hand made, The Celluloid tae 5 months to settle before they can put it on the machine to chase. It takes 162 process step to make Rolex Oyster Case.
Price is High, a Patrician was selling at USD$10.00 in 1929. These Three Rolex Daytona will not selling less than 1 Million HK dollar. In my opinion, they are still the most beautiful watch money can buy. And there will be only 200 pieces only for each colour.
In term of personal perference, I like Blue (turquoise the most, then Red (the Ripple Red only in prototype) and Green (Emerald). Further more, Rolex would pursuit of the jewelery artistical excellence by carefully selection of proper colour and size of gemstones in cresating these Daytona. HK Snob

Reference
http://www.beautifullife.info/fashion-design/luxury-watches-the-most-beautiful-and-spectacular-models/
http://top10.watches.co.uk/
Watch Critics Magazine by Alain Chung, March 2012

Rolex Ref 18038 Day Date with Arabian Coat of Arms

Rolex Ref 18038 Day Date With Arabian Coat of Arms.
This is a 1980’s Rolex Solid Gold Day Date With Arabian Coat of Arms. Made in small quantity specially for the Royal Family of Saudi Arabia, Watch and case is for Rolex and Strap is made by Rolex Japan.

HK Snob

Spaceman

After Men had successfully landed on Moon 1969, there are a lot of memorial products created as to celebrate this man kind breakthrough for space exploration, Parker made the first fountain pen T1 made by one piece of Titanium including the nib, the production yield was very low and very expensive and only 2,000 pieces were made.

Inspired by man’s conquest of the moon and the astronauts, Claude Lebet, owner of the Bulle based watch brand Catena asked Le Marquand to create a timepiece. Mr. Le Marquand provided him with his first wristwatch design called, what else, the "Spaceman".

Catena introduced the fleet at the Basel Fair of 1972. The large oval case appeared to be docked on your wrist held by a triple-forked Corfam strap by DuPont. The case also had a coned dome crystal half concealed by a coloured metal visor that allowed viewing of the dial to only the wearer. All hands and markers were perfectly seventies orange with models in a variety of colours only possible during that special decade. Is is power by T-25 at night.

The watches were powered by automatic and manual winding mechanical ETA movements and were distributed by a variety brands, among them Jules Jurgensen, Fortis, Tressa and Zeno. This is one of them… Automatic, Day Date! Production period is from 1972-1977, the one shown is made in 1973.
HK Snob

The Price of pre-owned Rolex in Hong Kong.

According to What I have checked with major shop of Rolex in Mongkok and Sham Shui Po area.

This is roughly the price of it. All are in Hong Kong Dollars
Please note that the price is depending on the condition of the watch, whether there is original birth certificate, box, of the watch.

Here is a roughly range of price of the popular models:

Submariner Ref 116610LN New Watch is HKD$58995, pre-owned watch is HKD$30,000 – 53,000.00

Submariner Ref 16610LV Green Dial Green bezel New is HKD$66,100, pre-owned is HKD$66,000-68,000 with original Certificate and box.

DeepSea Ref 16600 New is HKD$78,735, pre-owned is HKD$50,000- 67,000.

Explorer II Ref 16570 Black dial new is dis-continued, pre-owned one is HKD$27,000-HKD$38,000 while white dial is still slightly lower in price than white with same watch condition.

Explorer I Ref 214270 new at HKD$43,605, pre-owned one is about HKD$21,050- HKD$26,000

Daytona Stainless steel black dial Ref 116520BL new at HKD$87,500, pre-owned one is about HKD$71,.000 to HKD$85,800

Daytona Stainless steel While dial ref 116520 pre-owned price between HKD$72,500- HKD$78,000.

Yacht master 40 mm Ref 16622 new at HKD$83,125, pre-owned one is about HKD$52,000 to HKD$63,000.00

You can see the price of stainless steel Rolex is highest for Daytona, followed by DeepSea, Yacht Master, Submariner II, Black then white, Explorer I.

This is a price reference for you only. There is no idea on telling you what is best in buying in the pre-owned watch market in HK. I have seen some of the watch is selling actually almost the same price as new watch in Rolex AD. Why I have to buy in these second hand market for an used watch with such a high price!?

Also, do not forget to negotiate and some time when you keep on asking, they can allow some discount on the price for you but not much, usually it is about 3%-5% more maximum.

But one thing, you should take some times finding more shops before you buy it.
And Don't think the seller is stupid in putting good watch at low price, as old Chinese said, “There is no such big toad jumping on the road”

Happy Go Shopping Rolex….

Sham Shui Po Snob

Is Tourbillon watch more accurate!?

Tourbillon was patented by watch making Master Abraham Louis Breguet. That patent has long since expired. Tourbillon is French for "whirlwind." This is because the mechanism literally spins on itself. Breguet's ideas was essentially to house a clock within a clock.

If you have a balance wheel that rotates, rotating on itself. If you understand the concept of a balance wheel, you know that it does not just turn endlessly in one direction. Rather, it moves in a back and forth manner, like a revolving pendulum. This is often referred to as balance wheel oscillation. In fact, a balance wheel is a pendulum, and the consistency of its back and forth rotations are the basis for mechanical watch movement accuracy. Of course, if the frequency is higher, likely by right, it would be more accurate. That is why Grand Seiko has a Hi Beat of 36,000 cycles per hour.

No matter what type of tourbillon used, the purpose is the same, to counteract the effects of gravity that may alter the accuracy and reliability of a balance wheel's oscillations.

A tourbillon is a in fact a balance wheel that itself rotates, but the balance wheel rotates in one direction (not oscillation), and it typically make full rotation every 60 seconds, but some design rotates every 30 seconds. For this reason, the tourbillon is often used at the seconds counter when it is used in a watch. A convenient way of putting in a second counter.

The main theory behind how a tourbillon is supposed to work, is that the balance wheel rotates to all positions in purpose of off setting the effect gravity might have on it being stuck in one position consistently. So if the balance wheel is constantly moving, then minor deviations here and there will be canceled out. But that is purely theory, as our hands are moving in all direction, the watch is not placed in juts one position. The cancellation effect is multi-degree-variation-complex. There is no fixed rate of gravity cancellation in each of the gesture position.

Most watch manufacturer actually agree but not to admit that even if the tourbillon is able to perfectly cancelling out rate affecting effects of gravity on a balance wheel, this is not the key to ensuring accuracy.


There are researches that have shown that Breguet's theories on tourbillon’s improvement are neglectible or even not effective at all on accuracy.
This carries a result that all effort in making and implementing a tourbillon movement does almost nothing to increase accuracy. Instead, a well constructed traditional watch that is finely tuned will beat out a tourbillon based watch anytime in terms of accuracy.


Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe and Blancpain, among others headed this movement. The first tourbillon-based watches were interesting, but lacked much of what people needed in a watch. Like the AP introduced in 1985, it is delicate, semi auto-wound of low efficiency, and often not very easy to read.
20 years later, automatic tourbillon movements arrived along with a number of aesthetic and functional variations, but of course the nature of the movement provided that it would always be delicate.

As such tourbillons will always remain a piece of art and miracle for curiosity, rather than watch improving technological innovations.

There are really only two reasons for a tourbillon based watch, and neither of them have anything to do with increased accuracy or reliability. A tourbillon is interesting and excited to look at. It is always in motion and attracts attention and really makes the watch seem more alive beside tick-taks,. This is especially true with the multi-axis tourbillon movements with their constant gyration. The visual splendor is there, but arguably not worth the incredible premium. Moreover it brings us such tourbillon watch is pure showiness and prestige.

Attached is the famous Blancpain Torubillon, It is simple design, it works! Blancpain Tourbillon would give you extra viewing effect beside accurate time keeping, why not?

HK Snob

Rolex Datejust lady Ref 69173 and 79173

This is Rolex lady Datejust probably the most popular model for middle class people who wear it everyday in all occasions in Hong Kong.

Or the most favouriate choice for buying as a gift for your mother and or your 2nd wife!?
Why Do I say so as I know at least five of my friends had this watch given to their 2nd wife as a gift.
Pre-owned one with box and certificates is about HKD$33,000-37,000
That is a life time you-do-not-have-to-care-watch for women…

If you buy a Patek Philippe dress watch for a woman, especially a pretty one… likely she came back to you as a complaint as the watch was stopped because she soaked it in water when she washes hand, or dropped it in the toilet like she does with her iPhone, or let it Cleaned thoroughly in the washing machine with the clothes…. But if that is a Rolex… it will be survived!

It adds a bit elegancy to the one if she is tall and slim but not short and stalky.

attached is the Ref 79173 with mother of pearl dial for all ages and one on right Ref 69173 with diamond on dial , the later one may be perfect if you are above 35.
HK Snob

Ball Engineer Master II Diver TMT

Ball sold jewelry, silverware, clocks, and watches, from his small shop near the railroad tracks in Cleveland in the 1880s. Due to a fatal wreck in 1891 in Kipton, Ohio the General Superintendent of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad appointed Ball as Chief Inspector to investigate the industry's timekeeping practices and formulate inspection standards. He served the railroad industry well and soon, his standardization policy was in place throughout 125,000 miles of track in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Ball watches are perhaps one of the best known names in railroad watches. However, they did not make watches. Webb C. Ball, founder of the Ball Watch Co. of Cleveland, Ohio was the driving force behind the development of the extremely accurate class of watches "approved for railroad service".

In 1891, seizing the opportunity, Ball contracted with watch companies such as Elgin, Waltham Hamilton, E. Howard, Hampden and others, to provide him with watch movements that met his strict standards. He then inserted these movements into high quality cases that bore the name of the Ball Watch Company on the outside. By 1908, the Ball Watch company was furnishing high grade pocket watches to over 100 different railroad systems. Since then, pocket watches that bore the Ball watch company name have been considered to be the Rolls-Royce of Railroad pocket watches.

At BALL Watch, innovation and creativity are the cornerstones on the foundation of the corporate mission, "Accuracy Under Adverse Conditions". Continuing in the tradition of Webster Clay Ball, BALL Watch aspires to manufacture the most accurate mechanical watches on the planet, ruggedized for use by those that live / work / play in truly adverse conditions. With unlimited inspiration, BALL is today setting the standards just as Webster Clay Ball did in the late 1800s and through the early 1900s. Most of BALL Watch equipped with ETA movement modified for Ball’s tough application specification in Switzerland.

All BALL Watches are a 7,500 G force shock resistance, the -40 degree Celsius temperature rating, and a patented crown protection system.

Attached is the limited Engineer M aster II Diver TMT watch limited 2006 pieces. The sample show here is 0555, made in year of 2006. a Solid built Automatic watch strong to last, beautiful to be eye-catching, cost effective for everyone could afford. It was Sold at About HKD $12,500.00

Note the word T-25, it stands for the life time of GTLS stands for Gaseous Tritium Light Sources, these are tiny glass vials with a thin coating of Phosphorescent substance on the inside wall. Filled with Tritium gas and then sealed tight with a laser beam. Tritium (H3) is a radioactive isotope of Hydrogen, It has a half life of 12.3 years. During the decay of Tritium, a low energy electron is emitted. This process so called beta Radiation. During this process of decay the tritium molecule becomes a stable Helium molecules. The emitted electron hits the thin coating of Phosphorescent substance and is converted into visible cold light. The colour of the light depends on the types of the phosphorescent substance being used. The life time of it is 12.3x2 = 25 years, that was what it printed as T-25, Tritium 25 years!

HK Snob

Rolex Survives from the Top of the World to the Bottom of the Sea

On 23 Jan 1960, a Rolex was carried with the Trieste on his virgin historic dive to 10,916 Metres at World’s deepest place under Mariana Trench at the west Pacific Ocean, near Guam.
After 52 years, on 26 March 2012, Nat Geo Explorer in –residence James Cameron, on board the Deepsea Challenge prepared for go deeper. Another new Rolex is part of the deep dive Expedition: A Rolex Sea Dweller marked Deepsea Challenge.
Rolex builds its most popular Sport watch for many fans over the years, Submariner is still the best seller of all the professional diver watch.
The Company, Rolex itself is unique in that it is still privately owned and that the principal shareholder is a private family trust all of whose profits are given to charity. Due to this unique structure it does not have to concern itself with short-term profit goals and can therefore plan for the long term. Rolex is one of the largest producer for Hi Quality Chronometers in Switzerland after, Rolex does not have Tourbillon, nor repeater, However, Rolex is without doubt the most recognized watch in the world, what is not so well known is that the modern Rolex is the basis of almost all modern watches. The waterproof case, the self winding movement, the date window in the dial, the GMT two time zone watch and the diving watch are all Rolex inventions. Go to your near Rolex Authorized Dealer and put down your VISA Credit card then…Select a Rolex DeepSea or Submariner or you!

HK Snob