1965 Rolex Submariner Ref 1675

This is another beautiful Colour Rolex Submariner which has a red brown Dial!
It belongs to the year 1965, after 48 years, this solid old watch is still carrying the most important element of what I like, the Colour! The price is quite reasonable.
You can biy this watch with Yen 1,098,000 in Japan.
HK Snob

The Rolex OysterQuartz Operation Manual

This is a Rolex Oysterquartz Manual that comes with the OysterQuartz Ref 19018.
The booklet was printed in year 1980.
HK Snob

Patek Philippe Nautilus , Rolex OysterQuartz and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak carry the same Case design!?

These are some of the most pretty design of Watches.
On the left is the Patek Philippe Nautilus of stainless steel.
The One on the right is Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, both watch is the design of Gerald Genta,
The One kept between is Rolex OysterQuartz Ref 18018, AP has been trying to sue Rolex for stealing the deisgn of the Royal Oak! Well, look at it carefully, we can understand why AP had such a concern.
Amongst these three, the AP Royal Oak is thinnest, (7mm). second is the PP and then the sturdy Rolex
These are three legendary watch design in the 70s! Gerald Genta has another Design; VC Ref 222 and IWC ingenieur! I hope one day I have a chance to take a picture of these Watches in one shot.
HK Snob

Rolex Ref 19018 OysterQuartz and Turtle Shell spectacles

This is the yellow gold Rolex Ref 19018 OysterQuartz with Oak Dial sitting side by side with two Turtle shell spectacles. The one on top has symmetrical pattern on left and right; it is deep red in colour. The one in the bottom is another classic turtle shell spectacles design. Nowadays, it is now allowed to trade the turtle shell products. The watch is no question one of the best Rolex Day Date.
HK Snob

What a Colour of Rolex Ref 1680 in 18KT Solid Gold!

This is a Vintage Sold 18KT gold 19780 Rolex Ref 1680 Submariner.
The Colour is so special as the Dial becomes Purple.
This watch is selling Yen 2,890,000 
The Colour is so phenomenally pretty!
HK Snob

Rolex Ref 1803 Light green Dial

This is a Vintage Ref 1803, the Dial is light green colour, Rare colour for Collector.

HK Snob

The Expensive Porsche Stop Watch

This is a Stop Watch that comes with the Porsche 911 GT3.
A watch that you have to pay for USD$400,000! Of course, it comes with a better package, "your name on back of it"... but the Watch itself may be just a simple stop watch of not more than US$200!
HK Snob

Rolex Ref 16203 Date Just Limited Edition 200 Pcs as honor of Nick Price’s Success in the PGA Golf tournament.

This is a Stainless steel and Gold Rolex, Ref 16203, Oyster Perpetual Datejust Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified. Self-winding, Centre seconds,water-resistant, 18KT yellow gold Oyster bracelet, comes with original Box and Hang tag. It comes with original Sapphire crystal with cyclops lens. White Dial with applied radial yellow gold Roman numerals, crest imprint of W.J. Golf Tours, outer minute divisions, aperture for the date. Luminous yellow gold baton hands. M. Cal. 3135, rhodium-plated, oeil-de-perdrix decoration, 31 jewels, straight line lever escapement, free sprung monometallic balance adjusted to 5 positions and temperature, shock absorber, self-compensating free-sprung Breguet balance spring, Microstella regulating screws, hack mechanism. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 36 mm. Thickness 13 mm. In Excellent Condition.  95% New.
Rolex seldom produce watch in a limited fashion. You are one of the 200 owners of this watches. Price is HKD$39,500.
FCFS
Remarks : watch was sold on 19 April 2013
HK Snob

Van Cleef Arpel's Signature Timepiece: Pierre Arpels

Van Cleef & Arpels’ Signature Timepiece: Pierre Arpels
This is an Iconic Model created by Pierre Arpels in 1949, this timepiece celebrates the innovative and Aesthetic spirit of its creator. Combining unique style with unequalled comfort and practicality, the Pierre Arpels is a masterpiece timepiece of understated elegance. Van Cleef & Arpels’ signature timepiece features a round case in yellow gold adorned with a discreet central support, a white lacquer dial and an alligator strap. Diameter: 32mm, Strap: Alligator, Movement was in fact made by Gerald Genta* marked GG. With an astonishing 35 jewels, 4 position adjusted timing on the balancing wheel, off-centre rotor, ultra thin movement cased in solid 18KT Gold. The thickness is more or less the thickness of a Hong Kong Five-Dollar-Coin.
Interesting to see that the Similarity of the watch design, in fact that is the Gerald Genta Success 2719, looking at the fonts of the dial, that is exactly the same of an Audemars Piguet… So can I say that VCA bought the watch movement from GG and the dial purchase AP to form the Pierre Arpels or the fonts of "Automatic" is just an coincidence!?

Most of the VDA movement is Quartz, this is some of the few Pieces made with GG Automatic Movement.

This is a very fine watch for your next meeting with your CEO who may be wearing a cheapo plastic watch of 32K quartz crystal powered by a 20 cents LSI chip, or a party with CY Leung, or meeting Mr. Xi in Chung Nam Hoi. But definitely not the watch for your cruise trip or any Expedition in Mt. Kilimanjaro…That would be much better to be a Rolex Submariner or even A Date Day!

Note*
Gerald Genta created the legendary designs of Audemars Piguet Royal Oak that saved the Company in 1972, another Design made for Patek Philips, the Nautilus In 1976, the Vacheron Constantin Overseas 222, IWC Ingeniuer … These are still the flagship model of these Big Four in Switzerland.
HK Snob

International Watch Company Schaffhausen Vintage of the 50's

An Awesome vintage 1950’s IWC Schaffhausen black dial manual Winding for men.

The case is almost flawless after 60 years. The Movement was made by IWC. A watch of style, and many of the Swiss brands like Hamilton, Titoni, girard-perregaux and Omega is producing their best memorable Retro of the 50’s nowadays but this is the real vintage of the IWC.
I like the bold big hands! Interesting to see the gold plated bearing bevel inserts. Now, only few exquisite brands making this now.

This Watch Sold on 10 April 2013 with $5,000

Remarks, Similar watch in Stainless steel manual winding is selling at Yen 118,000 in Japan.
another gold automatic IWC is now selling at Yen 278,000.
HK Snob

What if I buy a Rolex today and sell it in 2023? Gain or loss!?

Whilst… I fetched out the 1987 White Vinyl putting on my LP-12 to play. Through the Harbeth Loudspeaker, a familiar mellow voice of Leslie Cheung… if he is not dead, he is one year old than I….he is Really the "Kor Kor"! I am his fans and I am also Fans of Rolex too.

Rolex List price Increased by 16%-20% in two years
All by sudden, looking at the Rolex price book of Sept 2010, and check with the Today's price again I chose the most popular models and listed here for comparison after about 24 months. As I can recall that the next price Adjustment was March 2011 after Sep 2010. Total 4 times in 2011. And no price adjustment since Nov 2011 till today.

A. Submariner SS Black Ref 116610LN $53,600 now $62,100; increased by $8,500 that is 15.9%

B. Submariner Green bezel dial Ref 116610LV $57,100 now $66,100; increased by $9,000 that is 15.8%

C. Air king Ref 114200 $33,200 now $38, 500; increase $5300 that is 15.96%

D. Submariner WG Blue Dial Ref 116619LB $227,500 now $263,600’ increased by $36,100 that is 15.9%

E. DeepSea Ref 116660 $71,200 Now $82,500; increased by $11,300 that is 15.9%

F. GMT master II Ref 116710LN $52,900 now $61,200; increased by $8,300 that is 15.7%

G. GMT master II Two Tone Black ref 116713LN $78,900 now $91,500; increased by $12600 that is 16%

H. Day Date Ref 118238 Yellow gold $202,800 now $243,200; increased by $40,400 that is 20%

I. Lady Date Just Ref 179171 $57,100 now $66,100 ; increased by $9,000 that is 15.8%

J. Daytona SS White Dial Ref 116520 $75,500 now $87,500; increased by $12,000 that is 16%

Note that so far since Nov 2011, Rolex has not yet adjusted any price so far, and as an average they increase 8% a year. That is able to cover the Inflation and is better than any interests bank can offer.

Investment on A Day Date for ten years

Day Date has the biggest price mark-up for 20% in two years, probably due to the Gold Price is quite High in the past two year, in fact Gold price has been dropped about 10% from the peak in 2011..

Make a Assumption, I buy a New Day Date Ref 118238 today at HKD$ 243,200 less 10%* discount. My cost is HKD$218,880 today.

Every year Rolex Adjust 10% for the price, by 2023 the price will be 2.5973X than Today price. Ref 118238 will be marked with list price of HKD$243,200x 2.5973 , that is HKD$631,663!

The Compound growth is huge, and if your Rolex is kept in good condition, you can sell them like new.

If that is a Collectible colour or special Dial… man, the ROI is  Very Good!

How about sell your used DeepSea after ten years?

It is a pity to keep the watch in safe, how about I use the watch everyday I buy a DeepSea Today!?

Now I buy a DeepSea with Discount say 10%* my cost is $74,250 Today

After ten years, by 2023 the DeepSea will be priced at List price HKD$82,500 x 2.1589 =$178,109.

In case I use it for 10 years, and I send it to RSC for Polishing and cleaning with Today money HKD$1800.

I sell it to the used market at 45% (Depends on your negotiation skill, range bewteen 40%-55%) of the selling price, that is 178109x.45% = $80,149 -$1800= $78,349

That mean on money value I just spent $4099 for wearing a Rolex Top Line Diver’s watch for 10 years…

Is that a good deal!?  The Key Things is "Buy Low and Sell High!"

Note: Some people can get VIP docsount 8%-14% in Rolex AD HK, of course not me!
HK Snob

Gold Watch and gold Rolex Watch

Picture on Rolex Catalogue taken By Samsung II Note II

Gold Watch

It is common for us to look at a device as “Simple” as a gold watch and think you know, this gold watch is great and everything, but all it does is tell time – why on Earth is it worth so much? This is an interesting question to ask on Watch made of gold!

Of course, that’s usually a question reserved for those who aren’t familiar with watches, gold, or the watch-making process. There are many more elements that go into making a gold watch besides simply “gold”. The knowledge of watchmaking has developed for a long time over the hundreds of years, initially, watches were made only in gold as watch in the 17th Century is only be used by Royal family, kinks and Business men, very Seldom watch is found made of Stainless steel. Since then Watches have been made with many other material except gold, Platinum until recent decade, using new materials like Carbon composite, Titanium, Ceramic, etc…and it will continue to develop with new technologies and new manufacturing process available.

Gold watch means 18KT solid gold watch, nowadays it is rare to use 14K or even 9K to make watches. Gold watch means here whole block of watch case, watch strap are entirely gold. As many people mix up solid gold and Gold plated watch…. Rolex Does not produce any gold plated watches, a few models of Date just in the 60s had been found with Rolled gold, with much thicker layer of gold about 20-45 microns in small numbers.

In the 80’s Rolex was still subcontracting the strap to Taiwan and HK factories for the strap. And after some time in 1985 (If Someone can confirm me exactly when would be appreciated) Rolex makes the Watch Strap and cases 100% in Rolex Factory Switzerland.

First things first: Gold?

Normally the gold Rolex is usually min 3-4 times more expensive that the similar watch with stainless steel. And Platinum watch is also more 1.6 to 2.5 times more expensive than gold Watch. With Some exception like Rolex Day Date in Stainless steel; it is very rare and we estimate only 7 pieces made as Prototype.

Why gold?

When looking at gold watches, it might be helpful to look at gold itself – just as a commodity. Gold is one of the world’s most precious metals, a relatively rare commodity that is rarer than silver but more common than platinum. Gold is an element on the periodic table, suggests it is one of the most inert element. It is not readily to react with Oxygen to Oxidation like Copper, Bronze, Iron or Silver.

Gold is highly valuable for a number of reasons, but one of them is that gold is a highly malleable, shape-able substance. It works well in metal working, being melted down and formed to fit casings and different molds. It can also be beaten down into the ultra-thin gold leaf that is used for gilding basic structures, like structures made from wood. I was told that 1 kilogram of 24K gold can be beaten down into thin layer of gold that even cover the whole World.

Not only is gold relatively easy to work with, it is a highly durable metal that is difficult to break. This is where gold becomes an especially apt choice for the metal used in a watch. Because of gold’s durability, it can greatly enhance the worth of any watch without sacrificing any of the watch’s strength. Gold can also be fashioned into pink, yellow, and white colors for a variety of “styles” to the gold watch.


Rolex Gold and Gold Case

How is gold used in a watch? After being dug out of the ground – gold can be found in nugget form, or in lesser amounts alloyed with other metals – metal workers will melt down gold and separate it from other metals and purities. From here, gold can be transferred and melted down further to the exact shapes needed to construct a gold watch. Rolex has its own foundry to melt gold and make what possible case Design requires. It has 5 tons of Stamping Machine to punch through solid block of gold and tool 162 operations step to make one gold Solid Gold Rolex Case. For Platinum, due to the toughness of Platinum properties, Rolex has to change tools for every three cases, but for Yellow Gold Case, one set of tool can handle ten cases.

I was told that half of the gold in Switzerland was used to make Rolex! Is that an astonishing figure!?
A Rolex Day Date 36mm with full extended length of gold president strap is normally weighs about 140 grams, about 3.8 tales.
Next time when you buy Rolex, can you consider the Gold version?

HK Snob

Rolex Crown Identification on material and Design in use

The crown emblem of Rolex Crown indicated the material of the Watch made and the Type of Twinlock and or Triplock design, below the crown, there are series of “Dots”, or “Slash” as shown on the illustration.


The Rolex crown to the owner of the watch only appears to be a single knob for setting the Watch. In fact, not including the crown gasket, the crown is actually made using four parts.

There is the large crown that is used to set the time, change the date, or wind the watch, a spring, a tube that goes into the case of the watch, and the part that the stem screws into.

This part engages the small spring inside the tube of the crown. The entire crown can be taken apart. The part that attaches to the stem has two small flats that are machined into it. This part is the one that engages the spring.

Each time we service the watch, we used to replace with a new silicone O-ring of the right size, then apply some silicones grease to act as water-resistant media and at same time to act as lubrication for the shaft when we adjust it.

Most of us don't know…when we unlock the crown, like we close the screw in cover of the jar, we should rotation it half turn on anti-clockwise direction to ensure the screw threads on the crown and the gasket geared properly before we rotate it clockwise to lock it. It will reduce the wearing off of the Crown Thread, the first frontier for your Rolex Water Proof!

HK Snob

Is the Rolex of Wong Chi Yin (Ah Hoi) fake in TV Drama Series?

From What I noticed, there are some points about his watch, I was a bit slow to take out my handphone to capture more pictures.


1. I saw the Rolex Logo and “Day” “Date” Windows, and Rolex Cyclops lens and obvious that is the Rolex Day Date Design.

2. The Watch size is not 42 (DD II) or 36mm by rough estimation; it is about 39mm diameter, Rolex Day Date does not have this size 39mm.

3. The President Strap is slender from the watch case size to the buckle size from 20mm to 16.5mm

For Ref 18039 White Gold Day Date. Wong Chi Yin’s “Rolex” is straight and parallel on his strap see picture

4. There is no Rolex Crown logo on the Strap.

5. There is a flat buckle cover at the back of the Strap.

6. The Cross Section of the Rolex President Strap is a Semicircle, but Wong Chi Yin’s one is a thinner, about ¾ of a Semi-circle, that is thinner than Original President strap.

7. A Real White Gold Rolex Day Date should appear more glister under the light!

From what I see, his watch is having “Rolex Crown Logo” and a Day Date Design, but from all other aspects it does not look like an original Rolex.

Well, this is a soap drama, does not necessary to use branded watch, but why Rolex was selected. But If I were the TV General manager, I would like to instruct the production assistance to go for a genuine Rolex, not a Fake one with a lot of Rolex detail on it. This is HK 's most powerful TV station, they have the social conscience to promote the use of genuine and real brand as a means to protect the IP of others commerical products and markets.
I went to Lo Wu Commerical Centre and saw thousands of copy watch selling there, name whatever brands, models they have, at a fraction of 1/200 to 1/1000 price of the original.
That is a well known places for retail and wholesale of copy watches, Luxuary bags in China. Lots of peope from HK and other foreign countries visiting there everyday to shop. Wonder what ways we can stop that... Even in HK still we can see people are selling these goods at MK, YMT, Temple street...
HK Snob

Is Rolex a Standard item for Middle Class?

I listened about topics on "How to be classified to be HK Middle Class?" in RTHK2. I feel interested to share with you as the speaker said that in order to be qualified as a middle class you got to fulfill the following criteria:-

-Owner of the flat  with value of HKD$7 million or more.

-Wearing a Rolex, does not matter what model, even an entry model is OK

-Driving Ferrari, Porsche, Maserati

-Have a maid at home

-An Annual income of HKD$750,000 or more

-Your kid is not studying in public school

-Fly business or first class

-Use Prada or Burberry bag

-Carry your Louis Vuitton traveling bag ...because you can afford to be threw harshly and purposely by the airport porters when they see genuine Louis Vuitton bag! It does not matter you can afford to buy it or not! Of course they seldom throw the Fake one!

-A Pair of shoes of HKD$6,000

-Private fitness trainer

-You should have Champagne in your fridge, Don Perignon the best, not Tsing Tao or San Miguel beer.

-You should manage to talk some knowledge and drinking tips about red wine.

-TV size of more than 50 inch…


Look at myself

I have only a Tiny Pigeon hole in lousy hectic area still under mortgage...

I have no car, only an expensive MTR that have my Driver changed every day going to work

I am the maid at home

My Daughter is in private school, no choice as she could not study…

I Fly every week to earn Mileage enough for upgrade to C-class once in a while.

I had never had that Louis Vuitton Traveler bag, I use some Red/Blue/White plastic bag.

I wear a Valentino Shoe (Made in Italy) with RMB1,600 in Shenzhen, my sweetie bought for me, but on condition that I had to serve her three day/nights!

I need no Private Trainer as I am a Kung Fu master myself

I do not have beer in my fridge as this is the real cause for my urine-acid

I do have a few bottles of fine Pauliac wine in my house.. I used to open a 375ml with a Roasted goose left thigh on Saturday evening when I am in excellent mood… I Drink Don Perignon Champagne when I got a new PO!

My TV is 42 inch, an Hisense (highly recommended one, It was made in China) that I bought it with HKD$4,200. It operates perfectly. Hisense is Best in terms of Performance Vs Dollar.

I Think I do not have room for a 50” TV!

Well, as For Rolex. I think I have a few good one and some very fine one….

Though I failed in most of the requirement to be a “Middle-Class” may be I am a senior Glass-Root-Class in HK…!

Remarks
At least they mention about Rolex is a standard item for Middle Class! How about some watch brands which are more expensive than Rolex, that is not middle Class anymore…that is High Class! Hmm!
HK Snob