Rolex was once called "Five Match Sticks" in China

These are some of the Chinese Made Watches, usually they are the basic Calibre with 17 jewels, hand wind, not quite accurate, easily gain or slow about 30-45 seconds a day, in 1980’s a good Shanghai watch with 19 jewels was about RMB250, a Pheonix bicycle was about RMB200, at that time a worker earned about RMB36 a month. It was not easy to own a watch, needless to say Rolex.  At That time the watch are “Shanghai”, “Dong Feng”, “You Yee” and “Ji Nin” whereas “Shanghai” was one of the best watches.

In 1980.when China was open for foreign investment, when we spent FEC (Foreign Exchange certificate) in China, Many of the Chinese started to know what a Rolex looks like, at that time local Chinese Sometimes called Rolex as “Five Match Sticks”;  that was what the “Crown” looks like!

There are quite a few brands of Chinese Made Watch was using “ Crown” as the logo for their watch, of course they are printed with Chinese name, Not Rolex...
This is a good NOS (new Old Stock Shanghai 19 Jewels) watch, it was selling at about RMB 125 in 1980., now it is about HKD$800 only! TIme changes.... if that is a Rolex Oyster Date just Rolex, it was sold about HKD$5,025 in 1981. now if that is a NOS, it is able to sell at least HKD$20,000. But a Superb quality of 1980 is just a few time more expensve than it was worth. negleting the depreciation of Money over the years.
So All it matters is Brands for Watches!
HK Snob

London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Omega as Official Timekeeper

London 2012  

In 2012, London will host the Olympic Games for the third time, the only city to do so. London welcomed the world to the first post-War Olympic Games in 1948. The Organizing Committee triumphed in bringing together 4,000 athletes from 59 countries who competed in 117 events. The Olympic Games were not only once again the greatest sporting spectacle on Earth but a powerful symbol of a world at peace.

When the last Olympic Games took place in London in 1948, Omega was there as Official Timekeeper. Omega is looking forward to returning to London where, for the 25th time, we will assume our Olympic timekeeping role.

The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games have special significance for Omega. It has been 80 years since the brand first served as Official Olympic Timekeeper at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games. It will also mark the 25th time Omega has assumed this enormous responsibility.
.

1948 – The birth of modern sports timekeeping and Seamaster

Times have changed considerably both for athletes and for timekeepers since 1948. That was the year that OMEGA helped to usher in the birth of modern sports timekeeping.
This year in London, Omega new equipment will include a highly advanced timer and an updated athletics starting block. But these, and the rest of our devices, have the same aim as the chronograph stopwatches used to time each event at the Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Games: to record for posterity the extraordinary performances of the best athletes in the world.

Remarkable Omega for a spectacular event

1948 was important for Omega not only in terms of Olympic timekeeping but also because the brand launched the Seamaster line that has been such an important part of its product offering ever since. The Seamaster 1948 ‘London 2012’ Limited Edition to honour the Olympic Games is based on the design of that very first Seamaster, which is as stylish now as it was more than sixty years ago

Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 44mm
To commemorate the Games, Omega has also created the Seamaster Aqua Terra 44mm London Chronograph in two configurations. One features a bicolour case crafted from 18 Ct red gold and stainless steel and presented on an integrated blue leather strap. The other is made of rugged stainless steel and is presented on a matching bracelet.

This is a grand huge picture I took yesterday at Hang Lung Centre to the Opposite Omega AD. This is a new design That I will be feeling new, more polished facets, more angular profile giving me a sense of strength, solid and shaper look! I like this design, and probably I will consider to get one too. It would be more of a marketing gadget and value if Omega would design more  colourful dials with different material for our choice…Like what Rolex has been adopted in the concept of the dial design.

HK Snob

Boucheron's Swan

The Cypris Tourbillon is set with 852 gems, including 290 blue sapphires, 313 black soinels and 190 round diamonds, Two Blue sapphire oval cabochons for the eyes and an Onyx piece forms the beak.

Boucheron brings the majestic bird to life in the Cypris Tourbillon, a jeweled timepiece that is fitted with tourbillon movement with three golden bridges, ensconced in diamonds and gemstones for the ultimate of jewellery and watchmaking!

Price is not a concern for those who will drive a vintage 1956 Porsche to attend a ball…

I seldom admire watch that is made with more jewellery than a watch itself, but somehow there is exception.

HK Snob

Some of the most sucessful watches in the past 40 years

Written by HK Snob using a Montblanc 1972 masterpiece Model 82 Fountain Pen on Blank Paper..

HK Snob

Rolex Submariner 16610LV

A Limited Green Bezel made of ceramic Rolex Submariner, first time for Green bezel, It was almost no way to get one a few years ago. This is a pre-owned one friend of mine wants to trade in...(Sold finally)
HK Snob

Uylsse Nardin Porto Bello 1708 Platinum Automatic Enamel Watch

This is Uylsse Nardin enamel dial handcrafted for the British vessel Porto Bello 1708, 

This is a limited production item of Platinum case time piece containing an Automatic movement.

Brand new with S/N 00, the retail price over HKD$800,000. Now the owner is looking for the buyer at a very attractive price, serious buyer and Lover for Nardin can contact me and I can refer you to the collector.

HK Snob

James Bond and His Rolex Submariner in Live and Let die

Last bond Episode of Bond's action.

Bond (Roger Moore) and Solitaire (Jane Seymour)  entered Kananga's (Yaphet Kotto) subterranean lair by tapping on one of the gravestones, and Bond fought off a few henchmen guards. They raced through a network of underground caverns, but were overtaken by guards and confronted by Kananga himself. The villain described how heroin was transported from his hideaway in large watertight metal canisters (containing 20 cans of 25 pounds each). The couple were tied together, and Bond's forearm was sliced to draw blood and lure "diners" (sharks). The two were to be lowered into Kananga's pool and served up as bait for his pet sharks. 007 employed the magnet on his Rolex Submariner watch to snag a CO2 shark bullet (he hid it in his mouth), and then used the Rolex buzz-saw gadget to cut himself free.

When "lover" Solitaire was released and asked: "Where's Kananga?", Bond quipped in a sense of humour: "He always did have an inflated opinion of himself." They escaped the lair on Kananga's monorail.

James Bond Rolex has two major functions, when it switched on by rotating on bezel, it generate strong magnetic flux that can attracts gun into it. When it is switched on with other function, the bezel becomes a spindling saw!

In this Movie James Bond has shown to us more than 8 times his Rolex Submariner.

The recent auction this Submariner was sold for about US$300,000.00

HK Snob

Ball Trainmaster Cleveland Express Power Reserve

A Ball Trainmaster Cleveland Express Power Reserve That we bought it in Manila, price is SGD$

5,000 which is more or less same or similar as we buy in Singapore. Stainless Steel case and 18 Pink gold index marks.

It as a big date which has two disks with one of top the other, a Power reserve for 48 hours.

Big second hand, waterproof screw crown for down to 50M, Sapphire bottom, leather straps that add a bit of classic elegancy. An Accuracy of +/- 4-6 seconds a day which is a standard of Swiss chronometer.

It is a time piece that you can consider to be equipped after your Rolex Submariner.

HK Snob

Calibre de Cartier

If you are poisoned by Cartier's design, you do not mind the calibre is made by Cartier or someone else.  If you like Cartier design which is likley 50% of your money goes to... Like this Calibre de Cartier,  is it Beautiful?  This is Cartier Calibre with a see-through Sapphire for you to take a bit closer look to the precise Swiss Cartier movement in motion.


Product Details:

Brand: Cartier

Model: Calibre de Cartier  1904 MC

Diameter: 42mm

Movement: Automatic – Self Winding

Case: Steel

Bracelet: Stainless Steel

Dial: White, Roman

Glass: Sapphire Crystal

Waterproof: Up to 100 metres

HK Snob

Most Fasinative Dials of Rolex

No one would disagrees if I say Rolex has built world’s most number of different dial in past 50 years. And there are numerous designs, use of material, printing technique making those fasinative dials.

Well, no one would not appreciate if a good watch should be have pleasant outlook after a precision movement was hand assembled by the Swiss watch smith.

Rolex has tried using different material like gemstone, jade, gold, copper, platinum, mother of pearl, diamond, Ruby, Onyx, stone, wood, metal, ceramic to make the dial, and each masterpiece was a result of impeccable tedious works. The case and strap of older Rolex was made in HK and Taiwan some time back in1980, but the dial has to be made in Rolex Factory in Switzerland. From a recent published "Rolex Dial Museum" printed in Japan, it showed almost all the available dial that has been found in Japan but I did not see any thing about the Stella Red, light creamy Blue, and or Yellow…Well, if you have Rolex with this dial, they are very rare,…. If you do not mind, show me some of the rare Dials I have never seen!

HK Snob

Rolex 16030 Datejust

I had been replaced Rolex Lizard skin watch Strap for my Rolex Ref 16030... this is the new look of this beautiful simple Watch.

HK Snob

The beautiful Watches

Since my father bought me the first watch which was a hand wind Citizen stainless steel, he spent HKD$35 to buy that watch for me when I entered form 1 school. I started to get hocked with watches, and since then, I keep my eyes on all kind of watches... well, until I could afford myself to buy my very first Rolex: A Date just Stainless steel back to year 1980 with HKD$5025.00, I started crush on Rolex...well, I had many Rolex.. and Seems Rolex is my watch, and my watch is Rolex....
Attached is some of the watches that I like, AP, PP, Rolex, Cartier etc....
I hope if one day I can have some more sophisticated watches....
HK Snob

Rolex Ref 16800 Submariner

Rolex Ref 16800 is classifed as one of the most beautiful submariner in terms of Size proportion of cases to strap, the layout of the dial design, and the size of the index, it is a classic Submarine, It is the first Submariner using sapphire crystal.

Normal Prce for Excellent condition Ref 16800 is about HKD$30,000.00 to HKD$42,000.00
Mint Condition goes up to min. HKD$52,000.00!

Attached below is the model of Rolex Submariner,

Ref.         Model                                           Calibre                     Production Yrs   

6204         First Submariner                          9 3/4'" A.260             1953 - 1954
6205         First Submariner                          9 3/4"' A.260             1954 - 1955
6200          Mercedes Hands - Coroncione  10 1/2"' A.296            1954
6538         Big Crown                                    1030                          1954 - 1959
6538A       Military Submariner                     1030                          1954 - 1959
6536         Small Crown                                1030                          1955 - 1959
6536/1      Chronometer                               1030                          1955 - 1959
5508         Small Crown                                1530                          1957 - 1961
5510         Small Crown                                1530                          1958
5512         Chronometer- The Cornini          1530-1560-1570        1959 - 1978
5513         First Crown Guard                       1520-1530                 1962 - 1989
5514         Comex Submariner                     1520                           1969 - 1977
1680/8       First DATE in Yellow Gold          1575                           1969 - 1978
1680         First Submariner Date                 1575                          1969 - 1979
5517         Military Submariner                      1520                           1977
16808        DATE  Sapphire crystal Gold      3035                          1979 - 1987
16800        DATE  Transitional model            3035                         1979 - 1988
16803        DATE  Sapphire crystal SS/YG    3035                         1983 - 1988
16610        DATE  Superluminova Dial           3135                         1986** - 2008
16613        DATE  Superlum. Dial SS/YG      3135                         1986** - 2008
16618        DATE  Superlum. Dial Gold          3135                          1986** 2009
14060        First with Sapphire crystal            3000                          1988*- 2001
14060M     Updated Automatic Movement      3130                           2001 - Today

Auction Price Ref. 16800 Transitional Model
Christie's $4,828 29 May 2008 Sale 2612
Sotheby's $4,828 13 November 2007 Lot 56

Worth Buying?
Most collectors feel 16800 is not attractive probbaly they can't tell the difference between a 16800 and a later 16610 so they would rather have newer 16610.

Ref  16800 is what is commonly referred to as a transitional Submariner because it was the first Rolex sport model to have a Sapphire crystal along with the introduction of high beat movement. All the added new features while retaining the original matte dial. Later 16800's were less transitional because the matte dial were replaced with a glossy finish and hour markers surrounded with white gold.

Personally, I prefer the very early 16800's (79-83) with matte dial and tritium hands.

If you found one for a good price, Buy it. It is a great watch and has significance in the evolutionary history of the Submariner development as well as being a great all around watch.

Attached one is some friend offering at HKD$38,000.00
(Sold!)
HK Snob

Locman Stealth

This is a Locman Stealth Watch. It is very comfort to wear.  You can see the design of the case is very similar as Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 39mm Jumbo design.  Quartz Movement, a style with a touch of sport as the dial is somewhat carbon fibre look. The Sapphire Crystal was made by CNC cutting to make the Cyclops magnifying glass as Rolex's design.
HK Snob

Prototype Miyota Watch

Miyota Watch Website

http://www.citizen.co.jp/miyota_mvt/index.htm

Miyota is a Subsidiary under Citizen watch Japan, specializing in the watch movement manufacturing.

Their mechanical watches are assembled in Japan.

Attached is the sample prototype watch for sending to Miyota customers, nothing is on sales for this type of watch,  The number indicates the movement being installed in the watch.

The Watch has 21 jewels, 21,600 vibrations per hour , running time 40 hours. Accuracy from their catalogues ois -20 - +40 seconds a Day, but the actual time keeping accuracy should be much better than the specification.

New Technology

What's SHOCK DETECTION?
The new IC is designed for detecting external shock, and blocking second hands from skipping.

HK Snob

Haurex Italy San Marco

Haurex Italy San Marco Mens Watch 1A311USS Black hard Anodized Stainless steel case with a rubber bracelet. Fixed stainless steel bezel. Black dial with luminous hands and stick hour markers, Arabic numerals at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock hour markers. Minute markers around the outer rim. Luminescent hands and dial markers. Month displays above the 9 o'clock position. Three sub-dials displaying: 24 hours, date and day of the week. Quartz movement. Scratch resistant mineral crystal. Stainless steel engraved screw case back. Case diameter: 48 mm. Case thickness: 14 mm. Deployment clasp. Water resistant at 100 meters / 330 feet. Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, month-day-date, 2nd time zone. Retail Price USD$500.00. HK Snob