Adorned Tonneau of VDB

Since it was a trend for men to use lady watch or small size invented “Boy Size”  in 80’s

After 10 years till 2000, the smaller size watch still in position, but after 2000, there is a sudden changes, a Big changes. The watch was changed to a Huge size that no one could imagine before, followed by “Big Date”, and then “Power Reserve”, then “Retrograde”

And the latest Hit of “Tourbillon”. Till 2010, more we can see is “Tonneau” A French means Barrel. Looks at Frank Muller's latest offer, mostly are Tonneau Design.

Swiss VDB (Van Der Bauwede) makes the Tonneau to a way of setting standard, The 4^th generation successor Maxence Van Der Bauwede modified the 1990 Tonneau profile to establish the primary Standard of “Legend” and “Magnum” series, Look at the new “ Four Seasons Automatic Cal. 14 has all the essential feature of  the beauty of a Tonneau Watch.

The 4 Seasons Automatic cal. 14 model comes in steel case that features a newly Tonneau with delicate and refined finishing, including a gem-set Louis XV style crown. The new 4 Seasons Automatic is an elegantly masculine model produced in a limited edition. Its flinqué-finish dial with Roman numerals comes in white and black, with a date window at 6 o’clock. Its engine-turned case-back is engraved with the Van Der Bauwede crest, while its crocodile leather strap is fitted with a folding clasp.

We Can visualize the design of such a watch, raised Roman numerals on dial, the Date at 5 and 6 oclock position., Black dial has deep hidden meaning of Deep Thought, The Louis XV crown is matching perfectly with the Tonneau shape with echo effect.

The Large size of the watch with touches of elegant, bold and comes with Alligator strap!

This Tonneau would likely set a New standard in Watch trend 2012 and onwards.

Technical details
Movement
Automatic, VDB Cal. 14
Central hours, minutes and seconds
Date window at 6 o’clock
25 ruby

Case
316L steel
Sapphire crystal
Engraved, limited edition
VDB coin back
Water-resistant to 3 atmospheres

Crown
“Louis XV” with ring
Black gem-set

Dial
-vertical “flinqué” motif: black with raised Roman numerals
-vertical “flinqué” motif: silver-coloured with raised Roman numerals

Hands
Hours and minutes: Breguet-shaped with openwork point
Seconds: serpentine-shaped

Strap
Crocodile leather, 20/18mm
Pin buckle with raised Van Der Bauwede crest

HK Snob

What watch I wear to work?

Someone asks me what kind of “Equipment” I used to wear to work!?

These are my standard equipment when I go to work, a Rolex Date Day 18 KT White Gold with Diamond bezel, A 18KT Piaget Wrist Chain, and a 18KT white gold Chain with a Holy Cross I bought in Regensburg. As I am Roman Catholic and I believe that Holy Cross has been keeping me safe all the time during travelling. A rare 1946 Parker 51 Sterling Silver Cap Fountain pen as it has a superb fine nib that could write beautifully.

I have some kind of passion on White gold as it is white that stand for purity and eternity, it is a precious metal that is strong enough to resist scratches, of course it would be severely damaged if it crashed by a passer by wearing a massive Panerai made of ceramic! White gold to me carries also an image of strength and Power that only demanding watch connoisseur who knows about it. Someone says why not Platinum, yes, but it is more expensive that gold and it has a light grey colour texture. White gold is low profile and matches best with white diamond. It is massive as the watch is about 140gf in weight, the Piaget weight about 40grams and the white gold chain weighs about 30 grams, total of 210 grams. I think that if necessary I Can try my luck at Hotel Lisboa Macao by putting the Rolex on the table for black jack, Rolex's value is like Cash! Like what we have seen about Sean Connery removed his Longines putting it on the casino table to be accepted as betting cash! (1986 Longines TV ads).

HK Snob

More Celebrities go for Rolex

Rolex may not be the best watch in the world, but likely the most commonly known most successful watch from Switzerland.
Daytona, a name of car racing, a name for racing car endurance competition, a result of high tech mechanization, fuel studies, aero-dynamics and the drilling skill that 20ms would make a big difference between life and death! That is alos why car racing is likely top ten men’s best favourite sport. Daytona, the Rolex best design Cosmograph which is used for the precise timing for such kind of races, an icon for energetic, daring, dynamic sportsman’s watch. A watch that many of the known celebrities would wear, Steve Mcqueen, Beckam, Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, Jet Li. etc… Other than Daytona; Milgauss, Date Just and Submariner is also watch of the masterpiece from Rolex.
HK Snob

Fly back Second Chronometer

This is a Hong Kong design with ETA quartz movement, installed in a case of 39mm, with an unique fly back second, balanced layout for the timer displays.
HK Snob

Tourbillon Watch

This is a stainless steel skeleton watch with a Tourbillon, likely made in China, Price is affordable for me. The tourbillon is copy exact of Blanpain design. Time taking is quite accurate, size of about 38mm.
HK Snob

Mint Plus Rolex Ref 16018 Oynx Dial Yellow Gold with paper

This is a mint plus condition Rolex Ref 16018, friend of mine is asking for HK$45K! The Warranty paper states the watch comes with leather strap, the Rolex Label is firmed stuck on the bottom of the watch untouched!
What HKD$46 K could buy now is Probably a Stainless steel watch that Contains an ETA movement Packaged with a Swiss Brand name! This is a Solid Gold Rolex with Onyx dial Date Just for men!
HK Snob
PS Sold at 2130 18 Aug 2012

Most Beautiful Patek Philippe Chronometer

I met one gentleman who showed me one of of his collection, this is his watch.... I compare it with book of Patek Philippe and I found out that there are something different. Can you tell what is that!? How Much the one on the left should value!?
HK Snob

Some of the killer Rolex watches

These are rare killer Rolexes I have seen, have worn and always wanted to possess in the past two years.
The Lapis Blue Dial Rolex Yellow Gold Submariner, very rare, someone asked me to buy but I was late to reply and was gone... Recently sold in auction for HKD$700,000.00
Rolex Ref 1803 Stella Red dial, friend of mine always show me but never want to sell.
One Dutch Friend showed me his Red Coral dial Rolex, asking for about USD$25K or more, mint condition!
Light blue Rolex DD Ref 1803.
One Dream Day Date Onyx dial With 24 rectangular Baguettes of almost idential size mounted on the bezel.
Ref 1803 Red dial with a lot of diamond on dial!
DD is my favourite... how can I resist them? 
HK Snob

The Most Successful Sales Slogan for Watch

Patek Philippe has been very successful selling the Watch to the rich and famous celebrities, Politicians, business men with a Sales slogan:

“You never actually own a Patek Philippe; you merely look after it for the next generation”

As a good mechanical watch can last a few centuries with good services and maintenance.

Patek Philippe is still maintaining the watch record back to 1896 years, they are still maintaining spare part back to watch of early1900.  Even the part is used up, the make it.

So when you buy a Patek Philippe, it is a real Investment. It will last forever, value is always there! Of course, it is not cheap to maintain a watch like this!
HK Snob

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