1881 Heritage, a new shopping atrium for watches and luxury goods

1881 Heritage , picture was taken years back when the shops are under construction.

Night view taken by Samsung Note II, 10 Nov 2013

1881 Heritage is the Former Marine Police Headquarters that has recently been rejuvenated and re-integrated as a high-end shopping site in Hong Kong.

These buildings were constructed between 1881 and 1920, and declared as monuments under the Hong Kong Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance.

The 120-year-old site occupies 12,000 sqm near Victoria Harbour in Tsim Sha Tsui and will also feature a boutique hotel.

There you has the watches you want plus all kind of Luxury goods, A Prince Restaurant which is used to be my favorite places for dinner.

We can find the watches like, Roger Dubuis, Jaeger LeCoulte, Vacheron Constantin, Panerai, Piaget, Cartier, Rolex and Tudor there.

Next time you go TST, don't miss this new tourist and shopping hub!

Tsim Sha Tsui Snob
HK Snob
Watch Fever

Torture your Rolex Watch!? You think you would break her heart? No Way!

Torture your Rolex!?

When I was in Primary 6, I bought a Rado, one way I put it in a glass of water, and put it into a refrigerator, after I took out the whole block of Ice, I still can see the watch was moving inside the Ice!

That was not enough, next day, I put the watch into the glass and I poured in boiling watch… The watch runs. And I think That was just it ran for a whilst as the crown does not have screw lock and the o-ring may likely work for that particular moment and It was not long later the watch start to slow down….

Well, there are a of mal-practice to abuse the watch…someone put the Submariner Ref 16610 into a dish washing machine and wash with 200 deg. hot water, and it was very cleaned and it was running fine afterwards.

Someone put the Submariner into a glass of watch and put in the top icy chamber of the fridge and it was changed into a cube of ice… it works normally like my Rado.

So we can say Rolex was very tough no matter icy cool water, 200 degrees hot water, it won’t hurt it?

So what is the weakest point of a Rolex….?

The Sapphire…. As it is synthetic sapphire, which has a hardness second close to diamond, by right, you cannot scratch it by using a stainless screw driver of NT cutter. But there is nothing indestructible…

If something is soft is not easily to be broken, but when something is very hard it would be very easy to be broken…

There are many cases that you $7,000 Rolex Submariner drop on to the concrete floor with the crystal facing downward, it would likely Broken…

The chance is 1 to 20 deepening the way you drop it, and depending the height you drop it and more critical how the crystal is facing downward flat or not…

My friend Conrad Lau who sold Rolex in Temple Street back in 1988, he worn a Boy Size solid gold Date Just who went into the MTR and he knocked his Rolex with the crystal facing the Stainless steel rail of the staircase. With sound of “ POPP!” he Crystal was smashed , and the dial was having damages wit few dents… he sent to Rolex Service center and Rolex replaced the Crystal and the dial free for him!!

So next time, do not think your Rolex is indestructible, the sapphire would break very easily in the right angle at the right force. That was one of the other factor people like the Plastic Crystal on a Ref 1803 Rolex Day Date as it never broken like Sapphire, it  would be get scratched much easier..

So take care your Rolex!  It is fragile sometime!

PS
When the crysal was broken, your have to pull out the crown to stop the watch or the pointers and the dial will be damaged!

HK Snob

Ap Liu Street Snob

Sham Shui Po Kong Tsan

Watch Wrestling

Watch Wrestling

I had bought a Rado Seahorse Blue dial manual winding watch, at that time it was selling at HKD$120. That was about 1975.   

I can not figure out who had invented this game. We used to make Watch Wrestling with classmates, how!?

We put the watch crown on the other crown and see which watch would stop first… of course the watch should have a second hand.

That was a common game we used to play when I was a primary 6 student.  Now I understand that a watch with heavier crown and more powerful power chain would win.

And usually The Rado is very good in winning other Citizen and or Seiko, of course that kind of game apply to non-screw lock type crown, if you use  Rolex Submariner it would never stop as it is screw locked.

HK Snob

Kowloon City Snob

The only manufacture to be 100% Poingon de Geneve certified. Roger Dubuis

The Above Italian wild bull and these two Roger Dubuis is having similar price tag!

In order to combat the abusive use of the name of Genava, which had become synonymous with First Class expertise, the Societe des Horlogers succeeded in getting the State of Genena to promulgate a law instituting the Poincon de geneve.

The was likely one of very first anti-counterfeit measures.

It officially came into forces the 1886 and was granted to only a handful of manufacturers,  with the seal or hallmark engraved directly on the movement serving as a guarantee that the mechanism was made, assembled ,polished and adjusted in Geneva and that compiled with the strictest demands and standard of watchmaking.

There are 30,000,000 watches made every year in Switzerland, only small fraction of that is certified to bear such a hallmark, that is no more than 0.08%, that is 8 in 10,000 pieces having such standard for watch making craftsmanship including 5,000 watches carefully made by Roger Dubuis!

Every Roger Dubuis watch has this “Poincon de Geneve” on the watch, I had a chance to see these likely the most beautiful and sophisticated watches Roger Dubuis made…

The Excalibur Skeleton Double Flying Tourbillon in Pink gold 45mm.  HKD$2,300,000

The Excalibur flying tourbillon mono-pusher chronograph with visible micro-rotor HKD$1,300,000

Well, I had not having the chance to see this master piece Excalibur Quatuor in "Silicon", Limited of 3 pieces and had been sold, HKD$8,500,000

Roger Dubuis Boutique at Tsim Sha Tsui 1881 Heritage

Tsim Sha Tsui Snob

Where to buy this? The Hottest Rolex Model, GMT Master II Blue Ref 1161710BLNR

Where to buy this? The Hottest Rolex Model, GMT Master II Blue Ref 1161710BLNR

Since August, this GMT Master II stainless steel with Blue and Black bezel came to Hong Kong under the Rolex Strategy: in a controlled supply.

This has made a lot of people happy; those who bought it. And at the same time a lot of people is disappointed as they cannot get one.

The price is List price HKD$65,300 no discount!

This price is higher than GMT master II green Pointer Ref 116710LN List Price $61,200 and less 5% discount; more discount to special VIP Guest.

Will that be an Indicator sooner the price of GMT Master II will take the lead to increase price? What I mean is will Submariner Ref 116610LN will be carrying a Higher price as GMT master II!?

Where to buy this GMT Master II Blue.

I have seen there are watch on sale at this Wah Hing at Mong Kok MTR Exit to Bank Centre along the Nathan Road.

HKIA Rolex AD, there will be more chance for you to get the watch Tuesday and Thursday After 4 Pm as they are replenishing new stock at that time.

Oriental Watch Company

They started to have stock, but mostly go to the top managers to entertain his VIP. And I think there will be more by end Nov for Walk-in.

Rolex AD at Canton Road like Emporer, Dickson at Landmark also have limited supply.

Discount

So far no discount, but I do think that after December Xmas time, more goods will come and very possible we should get minimum 5% discount.

WATCH OUT!

HK Snob

Timex Mechanical Watch

Timex has been producting Watch for more than 150 years, they are more focus on Quatz movement, the early Iron Man has been one of the poular models. My ex-boss has been using an Iron Man for more than 20 years till recently he changes to a Seiko.

This is a pure mechanical watch, Automatic, power reserve and a fake Turbillon, colleague of mine bought it in USA with US$120.00!

Timex has a manufacturing facilities in Cebu of Philippines focusing on electronic quartz movement using some of the most Advance Bonding Equipment mainly Supplied by ASM Pacific technology Singapore.

Some of the early wire bonding machines was installed by me in 1989, they are still running for production till now.

HK Snob
Watch fever

Rolex Ref 6605 Date Just 14K solid Gold Men's Watch

14KT solid gold Date Just is an early Example of an Awesome watch, size of 36mm. Pointed hour indexer,

Butterfly Rolex Rotor, it is a good vintage watch for both men and women.

Owner is asking for $29.5K

HK Snob

Watch Fever

Sham Shui Po Kong Tsan

LED Fever

Will Shanghai Replace Hong Kong as a National Financial Centre by 2020?

The Shanghai Free Trade Zone marks China's attempt to turn the eastern city into Asia's global business hub.(Carlos Barria/Reuter)

Will Shanghai Replace HK as a National Financial Centre by 2020?

The launch of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone marks China's attempt to transform its largest city into Asia's top global business hub. Will it work?

China’s Commerce Minister, Gao Hucheng, presided over the launch of the much-hyped Shanghai Free-Trade Zone (FTZ). Beijing had approved the zone with the full backing of Premier Li Keqiang, there had been growing speculation in Hong Kong that the former British colony’s unique role as China’s offshore financial center was in jeopardy.

Now that the 11-square-mile FTZ—which includes the tariff-free areas of Yangshan Port, Waigaoqiao Bonded Zone and Pudong Airport—is open for business, there are more questions than answers. The two big questions are: Will the zone fulfill its potential as a testing ground for bold financial reforms for the rest of the country? And, will Shanghai ever be a global financial center on par with Hong Kong?

“I don't think there is any chance that Shanghai will become a global financial center by 2020, because the country's service sector will take far longer to develop than its manufacturing sector.”

However there are the potential risks of Hong Kong,

Many post 90s generated are spoiled by their parent, too much protection becomes loss of competitions.

Hong Kong has to take a political reform for changes or the City will die, in fact we are dying now!

The last Semiconductor manufacturing company NXP has finally moves into Hui Zhou leaving only one Semiconductor equipment company ASM in Hong Kong as the government has no vision to support the hi tech industry, opposite the way Korea, Singapore and Taiwan has been doing in the past 20 year.

We had J-pop, now K-Pop, never could hear any HK-pop!

Now Four Little Dragons has change into Four Little Dragons and One Caterpillar (Hong Kong!)

The  renminbi and HK Exchange rate pull wider apart the gap between the dollar and RMB, 80% of food and major domestic utilities are imported from China, Hong Kong People is getting Poorer and poorer due to disgrace of buying power and inflation.

The confrontation between mainlander Chinese and Hon Konger is getting worse!

What Hong Kong people should do!? Nothing much to change the situation but going into state that the cases would changes their position.

Hong Kong people would one day work as a domestic helper in Shenzhen Rich Family home as they get paid in RMB.

China will import labour from Hong Kong especially middle management but remember that only those who spread good mandarin.

More Hong Kong student would rate Tsing Hwa and Beijing would be the first choice than University of Hong Kong.

More Hong Kong people would be called “Kong Tsan” (Hong Kong Pumpkins)

Rolex Advertisement in Shanghai 2005

Rolex will shift their focus from Hong Kong into China bigger city like Shanghai, GuangZhou, Beijing, Cheng Dou rather than Hong Kong.

Will Shanghai Replace Hong Kong to be a National Financial Centre by 2010, yet but almost!  May be Shanghai could replace Hong Kong by 2025!

HK Snob

Sham Shui Po Kong Tsan

Watch Fever

Meeting Philippine Movie Stars Ronnie Ricketts, Mariz, Tirso (Pip) Cruz III in Manila

Tirso (Pip) Cruz III, HK Kong Tsan Snob, Ronnie Ricketts

Ronnie is CEO of OMD, a Martial Art master, 

Charriol with diamond

Ronnie Ricketts, Mariz and Tirso Cruz III are Famous Movie Stars in Philippines.

Mariz used to wear Rolex Date Just Ref 179178. She worn a Charriol Watch Yesterday.

Mariz is wife of Ronnie Ricketts.

Manila Snob
HK Watch Fever

Is There A Free Luch!?

  Sweet and Sour Pork with Japanese Rice, Corn Soup, a Glass of house Red Wine, slices of bread with Denish Butter... HKD$78.00 (USD$9.00)! Good Deal!

Is there a Free Lunch?

Famous Dentist

There is a dentist who was known to me he changed all the front teeth of Anita Mui back with all artificial teeth in 1986.

And whenever you go into his clinic at Yan Ping Road, he would like to ask you where did you park your car? Did you come by MTR? Did you come on foot?... What is your job? Who introduce you to him? Actually he is doing customer profiling!

And if he could identify you profession, well, say, if you drive a Mercedes 500SEL coming, he would ask for a HKD$4,000 for a tooth repair whereas the same work for me that took MTR to go would be just $500!

Big Discount for Pre-owned

People told me that there is big discount about watch in one shop than others. Well, I can ask why there is big difference in price for a watch like Rolex of the same condition and same model?

The main different is their way of doing business, some of the shop is running by the owner himself, who knows watch and who has a passion of watch and he speaks well in many languages. So whatever you receive is a courtesy customer handling and if you do not buy he won’t mad with you as he knows watches. Today you don’t buy, probably you will come tomorrow.

That is Chinese saying. Using a long line for Fishing, “放長線釣大魚”

Also he is doing customer profiling to understand how many watches you have and to probe if you would come for second purchase. So he may offer your bigger discount… whereas if you don't know much about watch or you just want to buy a Rolex using for the next 15 years, then he probably would not give you too much discount…  So next time, this is your chance to do sales to the shop owner and ask for more discount… this is Counter Sales “反銷法”!

Rent

Rent in HK goes crazy as we are working to pay for Mr. Lee, Mr. Kwok as their devil hands cover 30% of the HK rest estate, if they see your business is good they will raise the rent until your profit drops to nearly zero…they won't kill you immediately but they will strangle you to half-death!

One Wanton Shop at Wanchai sells the first 5,000 wanton just enough to pay for the rent that day.

One Mong Kok street shop selling meat Ball has to sell 83,000 Fish Balls a day just enough to pay the rent.

Most of the Watch shop in HK has to pay very high rent, I believe some of the watch shop at Mong kok has a rent of HKD$350,000  a month. I am not talking about Rolex AD, just small shop with 200 square feet selling pre-owned Rolex and AP.

And what they can earn the amount of money? Big portion will be coming from your watch purchase money.

I could sometimes seeing used watch is selling the same price as the watch in Rolex AD., well, because they expect you to ask for discount. I had witness that a watch listed with price of HKD$180,000  could finally done deal at HKD$120,000 well, see how high the mark up is!!

If you do not ask for discount, they would not mind saying one more time  ”Thank you!” to you,

Next time, try say “Can you give me a Better price, this will be my 88^th watch if you offer me some discount!”

If you say’ Please give me some more discount, as this is my first Rolex!’  The chance is lower for better discount!

No price tag

Many of the pre-owned watch shop in TST area has no price tag, well, if you do not care about the price, this is the right place for you. As they are the dentist I mentioned. They don’t have a fixed price but they do have a very high price.

Buy a new Rolex at Rolex AD

It is always safe to buy a new one at Rolex AD if you do not know the watch, the shop nor the shop owner in case for an Pre-owned Rolex.

FrakenWatch

There is many people selling Frankenwatch and some of them can pass all scrutinization of watch expert.

Tyr to go with a local guy as always it is safer to buy with a local, it means he can come back tomorrow if the watch has a problem.

BMW Repair Centre, taken By HTC One XL

Watch Repair

When I saw this picture, BWM Spare part car,  it says, “Inside matters, BWM Original parts”

It reminds me watch repair must go to original watch service centre as it is always better and cheaper at the end of the day. Unless someone who you know outside and he is known to be the best in skill, but somehow he has to go to find the original part. Parts that matters!

Is there a Free Lunch?

Everything is marketing, yes, we can have cheaper lunch, but don't dream about free lunch!

As the pimp says, always choice the expensive one, there is not cheap good stuff.., they comes with AIDS!

WOW!?

HK Snob

Sham Shui Po Kong Tsan

MongKok Snob

LED Fever

Price of Rolex in Hong Kong is average 12% cheaper than that in Philippines!

These are Branded Watch Shops in Resort World, Manila.

Taken By Samsung Note II LTE

8 Nov 2013

Rolex Price in Rolex AD, Manila

I had a call from one of the friends who did not want to buy Rolex in HK as she said she can get less 20% discount in Philippines. But of course she did not mention which Rolex AD.

Recently a British Expat who asked me where to Buy Daytona White Dial, and I told him it is hard to get one in HK unless you pay deposit and wait. But there I could see Philippine Rolex AD has more chance to get one… Immediately the same day he Bought one Rolex Ref 116520 Daytona White Dial at Ayala Cebu. He did some Negotiation from list price of Peso $52,000 and done deal at Peso $500,000

In fact Today, I purposely went to another Rolex AD in Resort World Shopping arcade, near Manila  Airport.

This is what I get about price

Daytona
Ref 116520 Daytona stainless steel Black dial Peso $556,500 after 5% discount Peso $530,000  that is  HKD$101,923

In Hong Kong, we can get this watch with HKD$95,000, that is further 7% cheaper.

Ref 116520 Daytona stainless steel White dial Peso after discount Peso $520,000

The British Expat could negotiate for Peso $500,000 that is HKD$96,154

In Hong Kong, we can get the same watch with HKD$87,500,  that is 10% cheaper.

Submariner

Ref 116610LN Submariner Date Black dial Peso $395,000 less 10%  HKD$68,365 in Manila.

In Hong Kong, the list price is HKD$62,100, assume walk-in less 5% that is HKD$58,995, VIP Discount is HKD$57,632. That is 14%, 16% cheaper respectively for Walk-in and VIP discount.

Ref 116610LV Submariner Date Green Bezel green Dial Peso $420,500  no Discount.  HKD$80,865 in Manila

In Hong Kong, the list price is HKD$66,100, no walk-in and VIP Discount, which is 19% cheaper in HK.

GMT Master II

Ref 116710BLNR GMT Master II Blue bezel Peso $ 415,000 less 5%   HKD$75,817

In Hong Kong, the same watch is selling now at HKD$65,300  no discount, so that is 14% cheaper.

Sooner like December, I expect I can get some discount, so that would be 19% cheaper if we buy in Hong Kong.

The variety of Choice

Honesty, 80% of the watch available is Date Just!

More Stain less steel than gold, more DJ II than Standard DJ 36mm, mainly because Philippine people is more stocky and have rounder wrist.  This is due to the food they eat and their genes.

Sport Model

I see One DeepSea, One Submariner Date and Submariner no Date in the shop, cannot find a GMT  master II stainless steel at all.

Day Date

Forget it, only a few pieces, mainly plain one, colour is boring grey and champagne!. No white Gold, no Platinum, I cannot see one…

Lady Date Just

The common 26 mm plain one a few with Diamond Dial, I cannot see many choice for colour…

Conclusion
A. Rolex Watch price is still cheaper if you buy in Hong Kong than Philippines with a difference of 7% to 19% depending on models.

B. There is more change you can get a Rolex Daytona White Dial or even Black if you buy in Philippines but you have to pay 10%.

C. Choice for model, type, dial colour, very limited choice!

Manila Snob

HK Kong Tsan

HK Snob
LED Fever

Sham Shui Po Kong Tsan

Next Coming Posts from WATCH FEVER

Next 3 Posts.

1.  is there is a free lunch for Rolex?

2.  Dinning with Philippine Movie star and their watches, Rolex...

3.  Philippine Rolex market, prices and hot models, Buying tips!

4.  HK Recent Store that you can get GMT master II Blue


Manila Snob
HK Snob
Sham Shui Po Snob
HK Kong Tsan Snob

HKIA Comfort Room

Mosaic Picture of Victoria harbour in Comfort Room of HKIA near SIA Lounge gate 11

In the past two years, I had met two young ladis walking into this men's rest room whilse she was talking on the mobile, and eveyrtime I tapped her shoulder and she almost cry out... Not because of me, but....

One of them even talking to her boy friend may be and never noticed she went to a wrong place until she saw some organs that was not supposed to be appearring in her CR she used to go... I noticed her wearing an Solid gold Cartier Bubble!

PS, the urine basic reserved for me not because I am too short, in fact, it is because I am too long! Hmm!

HKIA Kong Tsan

Sham Shui Po Snob

Watch Fever

Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 XXL large date, Moon-Phases.

Picture taken by Samsung Note II LTE at HKIA T2

Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 XXL large date, Moon-Phases.

The Vintage 1945 XXL Collection combines proven techniques with uncluttered aesthetics to give its time indications their maximum impact.

The Vintage 1945 Large Date, Moon-Phases model indicates, as well as the hours and minutes, the date and lunar quarters also. Situated on opposite sides of the dial at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock respectively, the large date fixes the framework for the phases of the moon. The large date is displayed by means of two extremely thin disks, one for the tens, and the other for the units. The date change takes place instantly, in one ten-thousandth of a second.

The new Girard-Perregaux timepieces beat to the rhythm of the GP03300 caliber, the delicate workmanship of which can be seen through the sapphire crystal case back. Entirely designed, manufactured and assembled in the firm's workshops at La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland, the automatic mechanical movement is decorated in keeping with the time-honored requirements of watchmaking tradition.

The layout is beautiful, the Arabic numerals are floating, big date, Curvature crystal add on an Art Deco 1945. The end of WWII, the time we should celebrate. Quick glance in this Pink gold big watch has certain images of Jaeger LeCoultre’s Reverso, but the slug design is different.

Price is more comfortable for someone like me to buy, a very reasonable price for a 222 years of Heritage and history… What do you think!?

HK Snob

Watch Fever

Ap Liu Street Kong Tsan

These are the places that we could possible get a Rolex Daytona Stainless Steel watch!

“T317tairport update bought Ref 116520 Daytona Stainless Steel White face. Ayala Cebu. Asking price 556,000 peso 520,000 cash anyway settled 500,000 ask for the boss. Got It. With your help i was able to determine what was a fer price to pay. and i am very happy. Thank you once more for the great info on this site.”

A message he left in my blog, well, I had a chance visiting Fort Rolex AD, I spotted one Ref 116520 Daytona Black dial.

And this gentleman just asked me comment on where he can get one, not long later he went to Ayala Cebu to buy his Ref 116520!

Congratulation!

People waits for months and years for a Daytona, and he got it almost immediately.

Peso 500,000 is about HKD$94,300, that is about 7% more expensive than HK, in HK, A whit dial is HKD$87,500 provided there is the watch!

Three weeks ago HKIA friend told me have a Ref 116520 Daytona Black offered to us at HKD$93,000  that is a super good deal, of course the watch sold immediately after the annpouncement!

And If you had time and if you have money of course, go try these places

Makati Rolex AD,

Cebu Rolex AD.

HKIA Rolex AD.

HKIA Rolex AD

 Rolex Datejust lady 31 Ref 178245 List price HKD$210,500

Rolex Submariner Ref 116610LV HKD$63,100 net

Samsung Note II LTE 5 Nov taken at HKIA

There may be having surprise!

HK Snob

HK Kong Tsan

Sham Shui Po  Poor Snob

Cebu Snob