Puzzle and Stop at the junction of the Road for an Automatic or a Quartz Movement?

                                                                   Ref 5100, Rolex Quartz   

                                                          Dismantled part of Rolex Ref 17013

                                   Note Ref 17013 escapement fork working with the energizing coil

                                             A Cal  3135 dismantled watch parts for comparison

                                                           Ref 19019 on the Left and Ref 19018 on the Right

             Some beautiful samples of Rolex Day Just and Day Date in 1980 ad.

                                                   Celibrity wearing Rolex Day Date OysterQuartz

                             Rare and beautiful Rolex Day Date OysterQuartz Ref 19028 with Walnut Dial

                         Another mint Rolex Day Date OysterQuartz Ref 19028 with Egyptian with Chinese Date

                                                 Rolex Day Date OysterQuartz Egyptian Ref 19028

 

Puzzle and Stop at the junction of the Road for an Automatic or a Quartz Movement?

Is Electronic Quartz movement a Watch Collector’s Taboo!? How About Rolex OysterQuartz Watch Day Date?

Remember one of the ways to tell a Fake Rolex is looking at the second hand, if it is jumping once per second rather than to sweep smoothly. That is a Fake Rolex! Well, to most of the people yes, but there are totally 25,000 Rolex OysterQuartz watches produces between 1977 and 2003 so far, those are the legendary Rolex OysterQuartz.

Rolex made a new technology conquering other Swiss Watches by launching a Rolex OysterQuartz which was a migration from mechanical watch into Electronics Watch, Rolex obtained the first patent mechanical Electronics Quartz Watch back to 1952. Note that we are talking about mechanical Electronics Quartz Watch!

In fact, Rolex had announced the Digital LED Sport watch under Ref 7056 prototype, don't worry, it has not been on sales ever or if you got one, you will be very Rich!

In the book written by British Collector James M. Dowling “The best of Time” mentioned that there were 21 amongst 50 Rolex patents were related to Electronic watches. Rolex had spent million dollars on research and development about mechanical Electronics Quartz Watch.

In 1970 Rolex produced Ref 5100 with Beta-21 electronic movement, but that is no being recognized to be repairable by Rolex Service Centre anymore as of today. So if you had one, probably your will be true a collector item as there are only 1,000 units made in 1970.

Rolex OYSTERQUARTZ

In 1972 Rolex began to independently develop a quartz watch, breaking away from its shared project with the Centre Electronique Horologer which had led to the creation of the Quartz ref. 5100. Thus, in 1977 the Oysterquartz line came into being; this line was equipped with calibres 5025 and 5055 with an oscillation frequency four times faster than the earlier calibre Beta 21.

The frequency of the quartz crystal is calibrated on the basis of the external temperature measured by a special sensor; however it can also be adjusted manually in anticipation of its inevitable aging.

In 1978 the high level of precision electronic movement Rolex OysterQuartz obtained by the quartz crystal was rewarded by the COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres) with the inscription of ‘Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified’ on the face of the watch at 6 o’ clock.

The Oysterquartz is produced in both Datejust and Day-Date versions with an elegant polished case, a bracelet modeled on the case and the respective punching positioned under the shoulders. Both models of the Oysterquartz line are made with sapphire crystal and have their reference and matriculation numbers engraved on the back.

Inside of Rolex OysterQuartz

First Rolex Quartz model, the Ref, 5100. built with Beta 21 in 1970, same Movement as Enicar and Omega was using. They made 1,000 pieces, afterwards, Rolex started to make Rolex’s Own Electronics Quartz movement.

After 5 years extensive research and development, Rolex finally introduced the Cal. 5035 on its DATEJUST and Cal. 5055 on the Famous Day-Date model that was 1978.

Lexus Hybrid IS600hi

Rolex OysterQuartz isn't the same animal as you think.

This are like the Lexus IS600hi Hybrid car that has motor driven by packs of battery cells and also by combustion engine for both economic, less carbon monoxide emission and at same time offer you an advantage using traditional fuel.

The heart of the time piece

Rolex OysterQuartz is an analogue thermo-compensation “11 jewel movement”; that was one of the world’s first that utilized the latest CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor technology) which has an advantage of low power consumption. And the heart of the digital time circuitry with a 32khz Quartz oscillator. That 32,768 Hz is the heart of the timing device, 32,000 Hertz means 32,000 bps (beat per second) per second, that is 32,000 x3600 = 115,200,000 cycle per hour. Comparing with the best Grand Seiko 36,000 cycle per minutes. 36,000x60= 2,160,000 cycle per hours.

That Quartz movement has a 53,333 times better in resolution.  As the resolution is the basis for the timing, that is to say it is nearly has 53 times better in the time keeping capability.

As Rolex Does not have 36,000 CPS, they have 28,800 cps, (1,728,000 ) that means for fulfilling a timing need, a Rolex Quartz is better than it Rolex mechanical watch at least 66.67 time better.

So in my experience, My Rolex Day Date Ref 19018 has an accuracy of approximately less than 2 seconds a year. By Rolex Specification, they ensure a Monthly accuracy is <0.33 Seconds that include the temperature effect.

So I had been feeling good about Rolex OysterQuartz as it is super accurate, and I think it is many times better than the Rolex Mechanical Watch of Day Date Model.

OysterQuartz Day Date

This was likely the Rolex’ most Accurate Movement. It was made under such a great care to treat it like a piece of Gem, highly polished. Beautifully insert into the Solid, Robust, Sturdy Oyster Case. I like the weight, as Ref 19018 is even heavier than a Ref 18039 Day Date, the strap gives you super comfort in wearing, the strap has a special consideration of thickness, not too thin to support the mass of the watch, yet not too thick to give you too much Gold on the strap. If I can order, I think the strap could be made even thicker by 0.5mm. It would like more in balance. And I get more gold from Rolex!

The Mechanical OysterQuartz Movement

The drive mechanism for the 5035/5055 is very similar to the design of a traditional mechanical watch escapement.  The pulse motor drives a pallet fork which in turn moves a pallet wheel.  This wheel drives the second hand at a 1:1 ratio with one tick per second.  The hour and minute hands are driven off this pallet wheel.  The loud "tick" you hear every second are the pallets engaging the pallet wheel.  That is why the tick of the 5035/5055 has such a unique sound and is very much like the tick of a mechanical watch, though at one tick per second rather than the eight ticks per second of a 28,800 bph Rolex Perpetual movement. This drive mechanism also ensures the second hand steps around the dial smartly with zero backlash since the hand is effectively locked in place by the pallet fork in between each beat.

The Datejust Oysterquartz is made in three versions:

-Ref. 17000 in steel with a smooth bezel and integrated Oyster bracelet

-Ref. 17013 in steel/gold with a ridged bezel and steel/gold Jubilee bracelet

-Ref. 17014 in steel with a white gold ridged bezel and steel Jubilee bracelet

The Rolex Day-Date Oysterquartz is available in two versions

-Ref. 19018 in yellow gold with integrated President style bracelet

-Ref. 19019 in white gold with integrated President style bracelet

Many Rolex Day Date comes with Birch, Oak, Walnut dial, and I have not seen a Lapis Lazuli Dial and I think I may have. If you get one! That will be more expensive than any other mechanical Model Ref 1803, Ref 18038, Ref 118238, Ref 18039 or Ref 18049.

So far I have Ref 17000, Ref 17013, Ref 19018 and I am long to have one Ref 19019, that is the ultimate best Watch for me!!

Price of OysterQuartz

-Ref. 17000 in steel with a smooth bezel and integrated Oyster bracelet. HKD$22,000

-Ref. 17013 in steel/gold with a ridged bezel and steel/gold Jubilee bracelet HKD$28,000

-Ref 19018 Plan Dial Yellow gold HKD$65,000

-Ref 19019 Plan Dial White Gold HKD$85,000

Special Birch, Oak, Walnut add on value min.  HKD$10,000 on the watch

I estimate that a Ref19018 with Lapis Lazuli Dial is Priced between HKD$120,000-140,000 White gold even more expensive!

My question is : Do we have OysterQuartz with Lapis Blue Dial!?

HK Snob

Rolex Day Date for Women

They are wear Rolex Day Date 36mm!

HK Snob

Rolex Day Date for Men, Lo Ban, Movie stars, Musicians, Celebrity and other widely known persons

They are wear Rolex Day Date!
Note Warren Buffett, he wears Rolex Day Date Ref 1803. Ma Yo Yo wears a White Gold Day Date.
HK Sham Shui Po Snob

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo 39mm

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex…

It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction

                                                                                              - Albert Einstein

Want a watch that's not chunky and trendy—but not so precious that you can't wear it to the bar? Wrap your wrist with the kind of simple elegance you can sport every day, everywhere, and most of the time!

Audemars Piguet Extra-Thin Royal Oak 39 mm

The new version of the Royal Oak ref. 15202 with the petite tapisserie dial that makes me crave for it very much. It is one of my favourite Watch Design.

AP also released a larger version of the Royal Oak, measuring 41 mm in diameter, however the new version of the so-called Jumbo is by far my favorite and also the new version of what Gerald Genta designed in 1972.  The ultimate luxury SIMPLE sports watch in stainless steel. A good choice for any occasion, dress or casual, work and a pleasure to wear because of its sleek design and perfectly dependable!

This Jumbo 39mm AP Royal Oak was nominated one of the top-ten best Watch of the year 2012!

Ref 150202ST.00.1240ST.01 Stainless steel 39mm HKD$138,000.  estimated subjected to discount

Ref 15202OR.00.1240OR.01 Pink Gold 39mm HKD$475,000 list price, subject to discount.

HK Snob

My Rolex Regret

           Rolex Submariner 18 KT gold with Lapis Lazuli Blue Dial.

Rolex Regret

1.       I had a 1948 Rolex 14 KT Bubble back with original dial which I bought from Kiu Tai Yu with HKD$5,500 when he came to HK from Shanghai in 1986.  After I while, I swapped with someone for a 1905 No-name 925 Silver Pocket minute repeater. It was fun to play with, but it wouldn’t last. That was 1987.

2.       We lost the Yellow Gold Solid 18KT Date Just which was the marriage gift for my first wife, that was 1989.

3.       I had an offer from Friend who showed me Ref 1803 Yellow gold with 44 diamonds on the reddish brown dial with HKD$65,000 in 2011.  Now I have started to find the watch is selling HKD$150,000 range.

4.       I missed to buy the Submariner solid gold 18KT with Lapis lazuli Dial in 2011, the offer was just HKD$120,000 instead I bought a Rolex Daytona Yellow Gold watch. Later the Submariner was sold at Auction for HKD$730,000.  My Rolex Yellow Gold Daytona is more or less the same price after two years!

Moral of the story is: Buy it When you think price is Right, Once you hesitate, it will become another History!

HK Snob

A Bridge Too Far (奪橋遺恨) and Hamilton Military Watch

                                                   1977 Movie Advertisement of " A Bridge Too Far

                                                      A Beautiful morning view of the Sun

 
  The Military Hamilton Watch appeared in the Movie, time check before the action to blow the bridge

                             2012 Hamilton Khaki Navy Pioneer

A Bridge Too Far (奪橋遺恨) is a 1977 epic war film based on the 1974 book of the same name by Cornelius Ryan, adapted by William Goldman.

The film tells the story of the failure of Operation Market Garden during World War II, the Allied attempt to break through German lines and seize several bridges in the occupied Netherlands, including one at Arnhem, with the main objective of outflanking German defenses.

The name for the film comes from an unconfirmed comment attributed to British Lieutenant-General Frederick Browning, deputy commander of the First Allied Airborne Army, who told Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, the operation's architect, before the operation: "I think we may be going a bridge too far."

In this movie, we could see they worn Hamilton Military Watch and that was a small watch about 33MM with an Arrow head at 6 o’clock position, far more comprehensible than a numeral and guaranteed to let the wearer know it was the "right way up!"

Military watch does not need to be polished, a stamped out piece of Nickel plated Steel would be good enough to make the case. Rugged design, Simple, and preferable without brand name or Serial Number as no way to trace the soldier’s identity once get caught.

Because it would be worn at sea, and corrosion from water and salty air was an issue, the case was made of Nickel Iron alloy for low cost. The numeral should not illuminate by itself at night as that will be the next shooting target at night, that is what I know about Military Watch.

So normally Military Watch collection is not as keen as other watch.

 If you crave the military look, Hamilton offers almost absurdly affordable models with the military in their DNA. Having supplied watches to British and American forces during WWII, the company has always produced classic military-style watches at sane prices, most notably the Khaki range. Recently, it added a modern version of the Frogman, inspired by the diving watches made for the US Navy in the Forties and with water resistance to 200m, as well as a high-legibility model derived from pilots watches, called the Aviation One. The company added a mouthwatering limited edition last year, the Khaki Navy Pioneer, a time-only watch with a 46.5mm case that can be worn as a wristwatch or mounted in

a gyroscopic frame as a maritime deck chronometer.

HK Snob

Love Is Blue




Add caption

 

Sad Story: handbag and Ashes 

I'm really sorry to hear that story. People can be so evil.

A story was on the news about a thief who stole an old ladies handbag and the old lady kept her husbands’ ashes in the handbag. The police did news reports and newspapers printed articles asking whoever stole the handbag to return the ashes but the thief never returned the handbag or ashes. The old lady died not long after it happened! 

Top 1 happy career

From one recent Australian survey, the best career that most people like and feel that they will feel great and happy is:

1. Pastor

2. Fireman

3. Physiotherapist

Well , I am sure that is not the choice of most HK people to be a Pastor, Probably HK people like to be work as Lawyer, Doctor and Investment manager, no one like to work as  Fireman and Pastor! That may be the least preferred job for People of HK, as HK people rate Money is the first important factor for job selection, second is Money.

But that is not the fault of the people, it is the City, and the society, hope that that is some of the imperfect side of this City. 

Blue

I Like Blue since I was very Young, and Blue may us feel warmth in Winter, and joy in Spring.,

Blue Personalities aren’t sad people, they are very love caring individuals who avoid conflicts.

They always care the feeling of others, but somehow they might be a bit satisfied with their comfort zone and sluggish to be more aggressive.

Blue Danube

The Blue Danube is the common English title of An der schönen blauen Donau, Op. 314 (German for By the Beautiful Blue Danube), a waltz by the Austrian composer Johann Strauss II, composed in 1866. Originally performed 15 February 1867 at a concert of the Wiener Männergesangsverein), it has been one of the most consistently popular pieces of music in the classical repertoire.

Blue Moon

Songwriters: Rodgers, Richard / Hart, Lorenz Blue Moon

You saw me standing alone

Without a dream in my heart

Without a love of my own

Blue Moon

You know just what I was there for

You heard me saying a prayer for

Someone I really could care for 

And then there suddenly appeared before me

The only one my arms will hold

I heard somebody whisper please adore me

And when I looked to the Moon it turned to gold 

Blue Moon

Now I'm no longer alone,

Without a dream in my heart

Without a love of my own

And then there suddenly appeared before me

The only one my arms will ever hold

I heard somebody whisper please adore me

And when I looked the Moon had turned to gold

Blue moon

Now I'm no longer alone

Without a dream in my heart

Without a love of my own

Blue moon

Now I'm no longer alone

Without a dream in my heart

Without a love of my own

Another version is Blue Moon played by Bert Kaempfert, was once my best favourite Ring tone I recorded directly from Record into my Handset.

Love Is Blue was once the most Popular hit light music in 1968.. Played by Paul Mauriat (1925-2006) he was one of my light music favourite composer, his favourite music was “Love Is Blue”, “El Bimbo”, “Penelope”…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6cPXvTqasg

Lapis Blue and Rolex Day Date Lapis Blue Dial,

I had always had a dream to own a good one, but that is not cheap, yes, good Condition Day Date White Gold is about 15%-20% more expensive than Yellow old due to scarcity.

The above picture shows some of the Blue Dial Rolex Watch.

The Submariner is Expensive, and the Day Date on Right bottom corner is Platinum, it’s HKD$250,000.

The Day Date Ref 18238 with Roman Numerals is Aventurine Dial, excellent plus condition, it is extremely rare!

HKD$135,000., it comes with paper, Box and original gold Beacelet.

The one on left bottom is an offer from an Overseas friend HKD$200,000. It is Ref 118238 with full paper, box, and everything. White Gold version is rare. A very fine collection item.

Well, all Rolex Fans for Blue Dial, pls note!!

HK Snob

King of Watch, Rolex for Lo Ban and Celebrities

Manny Pacquiao, who landed the 15th spot in Forbes Magazine’s 2012 list of highest paid celebrities, was recently spotted wearing a Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II, which is worth 5.8 million pesos.

A Perception of the Chinese to Rolex! Rolex is king of Watch!

If there is a kingdom of watches somewhere in the Swiss Alps, would its King be Rolex? I think not because the Europeans are not particularly partial to Rolex. However, if there is a kingdom of watches in Asia (Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwanese or Malaysia), its King will certainly be Rolex. This is because Asians are extremely fond of Rolex watches, especially Chinese.

In fact, the Chinese have nicknames for certain models of Rolex watches and this privilege is not extended to other brands. A "Rolex Star" is a half-gold Rolex Datejust. A "Rolex King" refers to a solid gold Rolex, usually the Day-Date or President.

To the Asian Lo Ban  (Lo Ban means "boss"), to have arrived means a Mercedes-Benz (or occasionally a Bee-M) and the inevitable Rolex, preferably solid gold or at least half-gold. Every successful or wannabe successful businessman is wearing one - from the Waiter, carpenter to the Lo Ban.   

Just look around in a Chinese restaurant running for Wedding Dinner, you can see a lot of Rolex. Rolex is of course Swiss in origin but many people think they make watches specially for the Chinese. To start with, the model numbers of the more expensive Rolex watches favoured by the Chinese Lo Ban are not offensive at all. The Chinese are very superstitious about certain numbers, particularly the number 4 which signifies “death” but they like 8 which connotes “prosperity” and 3 which is linked to “long life”. 

That is why many People also like to buy Yellow gold Rolex as it carries a translation of “You can Run the business for many years” but White Gold means : “You gain nothing”. Blue Dial on White Gold is worst as it means” Difficult to get through” Even today you go to Large Rolex AD boutique, almost 95% of Rolex is displayed with Yellow Gold Only. Of course , being a Watch lover, I like The beautiful Dial like Blue White gold. As it is Awesome and a bit in form of low profile.

That is why the hottest most popular model number of the Two Tone Datejust is Ref 16233 which loosely translated into Chinese would mean "all the way easy for long life". This model is much sought after by up-and-coming Lo Ban especially in the year 1965-1990. When Asian Four Little Dragon was  Flying Up the sky” with tremendous economic growth. These four little Dragons was Seoul, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore. The model number of the solid gold Day-Date is 18238 which again loosely translated into Chinese would mean "prosper easily, long life and prosperity".  Alfa Romeo could learn a lesson here from Rolex. Imagine calling a car model "164" which means "All the way die" to the Chinese, and The Hong Kong Car Authorized Dealer changed into “168” when car is shipped from Italy to Hong Kong,  immediately the people liked to buy!! As “168” means all the way to be Rich”!

Rolex watches are designed to be extremely ostentatious so that you can spot one on a wrist across the street. This is how the rich wants it, the perfect reflection of his wealth and the respect he should be accorded. In the Cantonese Movie, there were Ko Lo Chuen who played a Rich Business man talking to his daughter’s poor boy-friend ”I drive Rolls Royce, I wear Rolex…how about you?” How come you can marry my daughter?”

 It is known to work wonders in Chinese restaurants worldwide. Flash a Rolex on your wrist and you are assured of a better table and clockwork service. Sitting in your next table the chap is always picking his nose, I bet 90% he is wearing Rolex, as he worries his flashing Fluted bezel Gold Rolex wouldn't catch you eyesight!

I have seen 7 people wearing different Rolex watches in one queue at CitiSuper Payment counter at Ocean Centre. Rolex SHOW!?

HK Snob

How was this great name " Rolex" was created!?

Rolex is one of the best-known brands for luxurious wristwatches in the world. It is also the largest one producing about 2,000 luxury watches per day (approximately 700,000 a year). But what does Rolex actually mean? Truth is – nothing. There is no word rolex in the English language, Japanese, Chinese or Latin, or any other language!

Back in 1905 Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law Alfred Davis founded a company called Wilsdorf and Davis. These two guys were located in London, England, but were doing business by importing movements from Switzerland and placing them in quality watch cases made by Dennison etc. The watches were initially inscribed with W&D inside the caseback.

In 1908 Hans Wilsdorf registered the trademark “Rolex”. In 1915 the Rolex Watch Company Ltd. was founded. The question here is how did Wilsdorf come up with the brand name Rolex? According to the book The Best of Time: Rolex Wristwatches: An Unauthorized History by Jeffrey P. Hess and James Dowling the brand name is randomly made up.

Hans Wilsdorf  wanted his  brand name be " ... short, yet significant, not cumbersome on the dial; thus leaving space enough for the inscription of the English traders name. and above all a word easy enough to be memorized, with a pleasant sound and have its pronunciation unchanged whatever European language it is spoken" According to Redwatches.com.

According to it the naming comes from the French phrase horlogerie exquise, meaning “hoROLogical EXcellence”. What is known, however, is that Wilsdorf wanted a name that would be easily pronounced in various languages (and probably not meaning anything so that it can be original). Furthermore, it is said that according to him the word rolex sounds like the sound of a watch being wound, i.e. is an onomatopoeia? True? Never mind, the Name Rolex has been name of the luxury watch all over the world now.

HK Snob 

Investment on Watch, Pen, Wine, Vinyl, Vacuum Tubes Collection? Which one has a higher ROI for you and me?

                                                               One Case of Lafite 2008

                                                     550 Bottles of wine opened between 2005-2009

                                 One Bottle Chateau Lafift Rothschild 1899 Auction for Over HKD$1,820,000

                          Some of my Favourite Vacuum tubes Collections WE300B and ECC803S

           Some of My favourite Artists Especially Anita Mui, Teresa Tang, Louis Amstrong, Zhou Xuan

      Some of my dream Audio Equipment, John Curl Vendetta Research SCG1, Linn LP12, Marantz 8B

                                                  The Watch that Drives me crazy

Part of the Cuff link, tie clip collection

Some of the best pens, Cartier Bamboo, Shaeffer Pen For Men, Parker Duofold, Evershap Doric

     I bought the Tiffany 14KT Bamboo in last Sunday in Sham Shui Po,
    The 1950 Montblanc 144 belongs to friend of mine Mr. Hung, he Bought is with HKD$8,000 in 1992.  

Zhi Kung that keep me calm and not crazy about the Collection because I am having no money.

As many of you may know I collect Watches, Fountain pen, Vinyl, Cuff links and tie clip, Vacuum Tubes.

I drink a lot of wines that probably I had reached a point of no return.

But evertheless, I like doing so, and I think we should go doing so, remember what one says ”
We Only live once” not James bond said “ You only Live Twice!”

Amongst all I think I like Watch as much as I like listening music Analogue music, Tubes amplifier on 50’s LPs. Music would make us feeling we are Happy especially if those music is what you like most.

Amongst these hobbies

The amount of Money Earning capability in my opinion and experience is shown here in descending order:

1.       Wine

2.       Vacuum Tubes

3.       Vinyl

4.       Watch

5.       Fountain pen

Meaning that Collection of vacuum tubes has a better growth than watch, because the vacuum is a consumable item, unless someone do not use it at all, but it has no value if you do not use it.

This is the factor that make such item becoming less and less.

But the value of a Vacuum tubes is not as high as A watch, so that is why we do not see Auction on Vacuum tubes in Christies’s. They do it  eBay only.

Of course there are so many special item which is not listed here, what I am talking is average common commodities.

As For a Super tubes Telefunken ECC803 it was about HKD$4,000 a match pair in 1990, not it is selling  HKD$22,000 in a white box sealed (5.5 times).

A Watch of Daytona stainless still was selling HKD$29,500 in 1989, now it is selling $87,500 (2.96 times) 

A Vinyl of say Royal Ballet was selling About $3,000 in 1990 but now a good condition one may hit $13,000  (4.33 times)

A Montblanc Medici 4810 Series Fountain pen in 1989 was HKD$9,000  and the pen is selling now at about HKD$50,000  (5.55 times)

A bottle of Lafite 1986 was selling HKD$800 in 1990 and it is selling now as an average HKD$13,000 (16.25 times)

A bottle of Lafite 1982 was selling HKD$2,000 in 1990 and it is selling now as an average HKD$35,933 (17.96 times)

The rule of the game is whilst doing investing you can enjoy.

1.       Consumable like Wine and Vacuum tubes, price could be higher, but if you need to buy and store in a recognized place, just buy and sell, you do not see the actual wine. not mentioning to drink them.

2.       Watch is always repairable and it could live for hundred years and too much as an investment. But you can always see it, use it , show it. listen to it.

3.       Fountain Pen is limited to a smaller user society, not too many knows what fountain pen is unless you like Caligraphy.

4.       Vinyl is growing as there is a Hugh China middle class Big spenders coming up for these 60's things.

5.       Watch are usually more in amount, Christies PP are always 1M, who on earth can have money to invest on 1m Watch, less than 0.1% population.

6.       Vacuum tubes are now hard to find, at only limited sources, there are so many Fake tube in eBady!

So if you had money, in order to invest, these are the things you can consider. But if you do not use it and you do not like it, better ignore it as you do not have passion on that, you wouldn't spend time on that. And there are a lot knowledge, know-how to learn. Like Watch, I am a kindergarten student only!

So watch Collection, Vinyl and Vacuum Tube colllection is fun, Whilst I usually store the wine in my stomach instead of in UK or France!

But the Biggest problem I have is “Too many hobbies but with too little money”

Remarks price quoted above is a rough estimation only.

HK Sham Shui Po Snob

Watch Collection and Investment

Watch Collection and Investment

Watch collection for daily uses and or somehow could be a side effect to gain some money for you.  I had sold two watches recently and I get some profit, not much just to cover the inflation for 4 years. But I feel regret as I think I cannot buy that watch again with the same amount of money!

This is the love and hate of watch collection: It is hard to buy and even hard to sell.

Watch Can be an investment and somehow I learnt from guru that these are the condition and we should look at for an investment watch from Auction’

Christie’s head of watches Aurel Bacs gives his five rules for finding collectables, while three horological journalists pick the watches they think will be worth something in the future. He was appointed international co-head of Christie’s watch department in July 2003 and has overseen many high-profile auctions, including its spring auction in Geneva, where a Rolex surpassed the $1.1m mark for the first time ever at auction, and a rare Patek Philippe, sold for $3.6m.

However, in the past 30 to 40 years Bacs has noticed that there are certain parameters that are valid, and he has Five Elements that can be applied to a watch for both the short and long term to assess its collectability.

1.       As with fine art, the maker’s name stands for something.

2.       Second point is technical complexity and quality.

3.       Something that is a handmade grande complication is   important,” he says. “The human element in particular brings a level of quality and exclusivity to a piece.

4.       The third component is rarity. As Bacs explains, the auction market is just a reflection of a market and works by the same principles of supply and demand.

5.       The final element is provenance. Because the auction world is relatively close knit, people will know when an owner has shopped around a watch. “If it has been offered to 10 other people but not sold, it immediately makes a person wonder what is wrong with the piece,” says Bacs. “This will affect its perceived value.” When auctioning a watch, the Perception of Value is almost as important as the actual value.

HK Snob