Tag Heuer Monaco

The original Tag Heuer “Monaco” racing watch worn by Steve McQueen in the 1971 film Le Mans was sold at the Los Angeles “Profiles in History” film memorabilia auction. The timepiece, which is both an iconic piece of film memorabilia, as well as an important part of the Tag Heuer brand history, and watchmaking on the whole, sold for a final hammer price of $799,500. If you think that is a bit too expensive, why not buy a retro Monaco with about USD$5,000.00?
Steve McQueen was also a lover for Rolex Submariner.
HK Snob

Design In HK, Made in Hong Kong, Watch for Export

Designed in HK, Made in China Factory under HK Management, watch for export to Europe: Italy, Germany, France...etc
The Design is unque and fashionable...
HK Snob

Seiko and the Grand Seiko

Will you spend HKD$40,000 to buy an Automatic Stainless steel Seiko!?

Yes, there are people who are truly watch collector as they are not ordinary Seiko, it is grand Seiko Hi beat, the frequency of the watch is 36,000 cycle per minute which will bring a mechanical watch to a higher accuracy than ordinary Watch.

In Order to move at such high frequency, there are a lot of challenges such as lubrication, wear and tear of the jewels and pin-lever-encapement. Seiko has successfully solved this problem by introducing the GS Seiko in 1970’s

This is the beloved item for Japanese and now they are open to Asia and US market.

Go and see, find a plain, stainless steel watch in a form of Pure Mechanical Art.

HK Snob

Collecting Rolex Watch

When we buy Rolex, try to keep all document and invoice as it can tell the history of that watch probably can last for generations.

This is Ref 1601 Date Just two tone Pink Gold bought in 1976, at that time the price was HKD$1,872, now this new watch is about HKD$70,000,  Capitol was a big watch shop that time, now it has been the history, but the watch can be a witness about the time.

Another one was Ref 15000 stainless steel only HKD$9,090 when it was sold in 1989., now it become a collectible watch as it is made of the famous cal. 3035, a superb watch made by Rolex,

Now a new watch of this likely about HKD$50,000.00.

The Precious metal will keep value better as there is less units were made, if there is a White Gold Rolex Day Date 1957 with Blue Dial, by now it can be a big fortune for sure.

Next time when you buy a Rolex, Keep everything, including the warranty card, box, Rolex Chrometer Seal and Invoice. It is about passion of being a Rolex lover and a passion to appreciate one of the Finest Swiss Watch! And a passion to keep the best value of your investment!
Look at that Size comparison with the Daytona!

HK Snob

KL Watch Market

Rolex is still the most popular watch. Other than Rolex Cartier , Rado, Tag Huer is the frequent watch we can see in Malaysia, and as similar as  Thailand Rado had a rather good promotion in the 60’s to 70s;. They are quite popular in the mid range.

Pricewise is complex, many friends told me cheaper, 5 -6% than HK, and Of course that may be the time lag when Rolex Increases price by 4% and KL is slow to respond on the change of price, but this can be significant if we are buying Gold Rolex… 5% is a great Saving! Watch Out!

KL Snob

Breguet Watch at HKIA

Watch has been changing from a time keeper instrument into an accessories, personal identity and status. See these Beautiful Naked Breguet watches and their mechanical movement hand crafted in Switzerland, I took these pictures every time when I passed by HKIA arrival Hall.
HKIA Snob

Omega and Omega Constellation

Came Across a Super Blog about Omega Constellation. From there I can learn a lot on Omega and many other things about watch. Worth your time to go and look at it. There are a lot of interesting way to maintain and service your watch too!

http://omega-constellation-collectors.blogspot.com/

PS. The bottom left Omega is Fake!

HK Snob

Cartier

In 1847, Cartier established his name in providing jewelry to the Royal family in Paris. Cartier's jewelry was characterized by a light, airy touch, in contrast to the overly formal and overwrought ornaments of the period. In early 20^th century, watch was produced

In 1904, Louis Cartier met the Brazilian aviator, Alberto Santos-Dumont, who complained of the unreliability and inconvenience of pocket watches in flight. Cartier rose to the challenge, designing a flat wristwatch with a distinctive square bezel. This watch was not only a hit with Santos-Dumont, but also with Cartier's many clients. Thus, out of this timeless design, the "Santos" watch was born. Incredibly enough, this Cartier “Santos” watch is still produced today in much the same form.

The introduction of the Baignoire and Tortue Cartier watch models (both of which are still in production today) took place in 1912, followed by the Tank model's debut in 1917. In 1932, the watertight watch, made especially for the Pasha of Marrakesh, raised the bar even higher. Needless to say, the innovations, both in terms of design and technology, continued apace.

Today, Cartier's best-sellers is "Tank" watch ; the hot and fashionable "Tank Francaise", a distinctive sports watch similar in concept to the Santos; the "Pasha" watch, which has become a very fine watch for ladies; and the "Panther" watch , which features a beautiful bracelet available in 18K gold, stainless steel and gold, or stainless steel. The Santos 100 is also one of the hot models for Cartier.  

Amongst the recent Cartier watches, Santos 100 solid Pink gold is my favourite, it is priced at HKD$184,000.00.

HK Snob

Rolex Platinum Day Date Ref 118260

Platinum is the rarest of all the major precious metals. It is the heaviest and most dense of all precious metals. It will neither oxidize nor easily deform by itself.

When the Metre system was introduced, the standard reference for both the meter and the Kilogram were produced in a platinum-iridium alloy so as to make them as impervious as possible to chemical and physical deformation. Twenty tons of ore must be extracted at depths ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 metres underground to accumulate enough platinum to make one Rolex Day Date Ice blue watch case!

Platinum is particular heavy and resistant, it is extremely arduous to work. The Hugh specific gravity platinum makes great demands on the skill and experience of watchmakers. To ensure a fully watertight oyster case, for instance, they must adjust its parts to within one-hundredth of a millimeter! 

The fabrication of a mere five watchcases in platinum results in as much wear on tools as fabricating some one hundred gold cases. Though they are milled and cut by CNC (computer numerical control machine). That is tedious to monitor the tool life and also take much work to perfect the final polishing by hand.

In short, a Rolex stainless steel Oyster Perpetual Date Just watch is selling $X, a solid yellow gold Day Date is selling 4X, and a platinum Day Date Ice-blue is selling about 9X! You can see what value is Platinum is!

Rolex Ice Blue Day Date is my dream Rolex watch, as it is Grey-white, purity, sleek look on smooth polished bezel, low-profile, solid and elegant, heavy, and Most of all, it can be used in all occasions!  

Ref 118206-83206 Rolex Day Date Ice-blue Platinum is now selling at HKD$430,000.00, subject to 5% discount in HK Rolex AD.

HK Snob

Vacheron Constantin dress watch of the 80s

Vacheron Constantin was one of the lines of hi end brands in HK in Early 80s.  Patek Philippe, Audemar Piguet, Cartier, Vacheron Constantin, Rolex and Omega,

2^nd line is Chopard, Tag Huer, Longines, Jaeger LeCoultre, Tudor, Ebel, Juvenia, Sarcer

Followed by Ernest Borel, Titoni Cyma, Rado, Seiko, Sandoz,

There are many many good watches available but the advertisement and the marketing media of the watch dealer will more or less determine how successful the watch sales could be accepted by their target customers. Of course, there are no short cut for success, Quality!

Vacheron Constantin is one of the say top Four in 80s’ PP, AP, VC and likely Rolex.

ThiS is a watch fully planted with diamonds VC 25510/000R 8.1272, price is about HKD$680,000 bling bling! 

HK Snob

Glashutte 22 Jewels Vintage Automatic

This is another chronometer made by early factory house of Glashutte in Eatern Germany, where the current Glashutte is still there.
This is a high quality watch in the early 60s' gold plated, very large size of 38mm. It belongs to Stephen who is a collector for early Glashutte!
HK Snob

IWC Schaffhausen

IWC, a name in Switzerland who is carrying passion for creation a style, a trend, and pursuit of impeccable Quality watch with Swiss culture.  
HK Snob

Tag Heuer Calibre S

Tag Heuer has always been known for their top-notch diving and formula car race timer watches, with many of their watches ranking among the top watches in the world. Somehwat like the Monaco, that is one of the beautiful watches from Tag Heuer. With the Calibre S Chronograph, TAG Heuer stepped it up a notch or two. This watch is specifically and masterfully designed to be the best watch TAG has ever made. A new way to display the chronograph, powered by a super precision Quartz engine. very massive case as it is made of high quality stainless steel, smooth and comfortable to wear but the watch will not move around your wrist. Battery can likley last for 5 years in normal use, unless your set your chronograph frequently.
HK Snob

Hamilton's latest Release, the IntraMatic

Hamilton was founded in 1892 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA. 120 years long and eventful travel from Lancaster in the US to Biel the world capital of watchmaking in Switzerland. Hamilton watches combine the American spirit with the unrivalled precision of the latest Swiss movements and technologies. Known for its innovative design, Hamilton has a strong foothold in Hollywood, with products appearing in 400 films. The brand also boasts a strong aviation heritage. Hamilton is a member of the Swatch group, the largest watch manufacturer and distributor in the world with 160 production sites in Switzerland.

EXPLORE THE DEEP ROOTS OF THE HAMILTON WATCH

The new Hamilton IntraMatic takes its inspiration from a namesake Hamilton timepiece dating from the 1960s. After the exposure at Baselworld, March 2012, lot os people is asking of when this watch is available/.  Its styling reminisces of the first timepiece’s slender dimensions, as it measures about 7 mm in height not including the dome lens. The original watch was equipped with a Büren micro-rotor automatic movement. Today’s interpretations use an ultra-modern, high-performance ETA 2892-2 with 3.8mm thick. automatic movement with power reserve of 42 hours and highly resistant materials that are definitely here to stay. And in tune with the times, the 2012 Hamilton IntraMatic comes in a 38 mm and a 42 mm version to cater for evolving tastes and diverse wrist sizes. Available in steel or gold PVD plating, in two case sizes: 38 and 42 mm. Black leather strap. Recently, IntraMatic is very popular in Japan and in HK.
HK Snob

 

Face Lifted Rolex Explorer I

This is a 39mm new face lifted Explorer I, ref 214270 it was made larger to a size of 39mm. Which looks a bit more updated to the new age people for demand of a bigger size! Well, the movement is still the same: good sturdy accurate Movement...made by Rolex
Price is HKD$43,605.00
HK Snob

Patek Philippe Geneve

After the first Book “Patek Philippe Geneve” was published by Alan Banbery, there were  numerous requests for the second book. This is the second “Patek Philippe Geneve” published solely to Patek Philippe collectors.

I bought this book at Swindon book store at Lok Road, Tsim Sha Tsui in 1987. The price was HKD$1,380. I believe that is not cheap at all, and I do not know if we still can buy this or not?

It is all about Patek Philippe history, important creation, important Watches, Prototype watches, how do some of the watch works, such as Automatic, Perpetual calendar mechanism, spilt second and Repeater and some of the new development of Patek Phlippe watches.  A good reference book for Patek Philippers.

HK Snob