A night tour to Ap Liu Street

It was a good weather to have a tour to Ap Liu Street yesterday

 Lung Shing started to close at 1830 and we should make this the first stop, then Kuen Kee

 Ka Wo Watch Shop selling Dial, part and doing some service work on Rolex, But I don't know them!

 Fook Wood Watch Shop at Exit A of Sham Shui Po MTR, I know the owner Hui Shiu Cheung. Nice Talking guy.

 Ask for less 10% to Dennis of Audio Space!

 Tim Kee Record shops, one of my source of NOS LP, the owner still holding some of the rate copies.

 Tim Kee Record

 Various Version of Tsrai Chin CD

 The Toy Shop I know, good price and I am seeing them expanding very fast, they have two shops now

 Some of the Latest toys

 R/C Tanks of all types, metal wheel chain, can have real smokes at Exhaust pipe, can fire bullet control in your Remote Controller Real Fun. If you buy, go for the latest Wheel Design with metal screw which is more durable

This is latest Tank on top weight about 4 Kgs, heavily Amoured!!  Price about HKD$1,380 quote my name try to get less 10%!

Most of the time when I am free on Sunday, going to Sham Shui Po is one of my pleasure tour.

These are the list of shops I must go: Lung Shing Watch Company, Audio Space Shop, Hi Fi Shops, The LP shop and once in a while Visit Paul’s record treasure, Tim Kee Record ( Shop for Chinese Opera Music) 粤曲專賣店,  Fook Wood Watch shop near MTR Exit A.

As I am collector of watches, LP, Vacuum Tubes, Pen, and also I am amateur R/C toys like helicopter, tanks, Aircraft… this is the night tour to Ap Liu Street last night.

Well, most of the shop will close at 7:30, Lung Shing will close at 7:00 in fact they start to pack and close the shop at 6:45, so I always start visiting Lung Shing first then Kuen Kee. If had time that day, or will go visit other shops right the way. Since most of the shop owners know me and I chatted with them for most of the updates of the things there, LP, Watches, Pen, Tubes, Hi Fi and the remote toys.

Sham Shui Po Kong Tsan

Watch Fever

What Watch Lindsey Vonn Wear?

Oylmpia Gold Medalist on skiing Wears Rolex Date Just Ref 116234,36mm  Blue Dial on Oyster Strap.

A nice match with her bodyline and taste!

Ref 116234 36mm Date Just Stainless, Blue Dial, 18 KT White gold fluted bezel with Matching Oyster Strap

HK List price 58,000

HK Snob

Chi Si Watch Company at Tsuen Wan MTR station, Tsuen Wan, N.T. HK



They have two shops in Nam Fung Shopping centre, formerly running watch shop “luk Yeung Watch Shop in Luk Yeung Galleria , they moved to Nam Fung Centre some 8 years ago.

Main Product line is Casio, Timex, Citizen, Seiko  and many fashion watches, price ranges between $200 to $4,000

They also do servicing  watch  like battery replacement with just about HKD$30.

I know the boss more than 15 years…. If you stop by for some watches, try to talk to the boss there.

Price is very competitive! And he has a lot special discounted item.

Tsuen Wan Snob
Tsuen Wan Kong Tsan
Watch Fever

Rolex Date Just Two Tone Pink Gold

Model: Ice

Still 31 mm Date Just is well fitted with tall and slim lady, there is no loss of glamour as comparing with
Bigger Watch Like Submariner, or Explorer II.

Ref 178241 31mm Two Tone Pink gold and Steel smooth bezel with oyster braclet HKD$69.000
Ref 17834131mm Two tone Pink Gold and Stee;;, fluted Bezel, VII hour mark is constructed with Diamond, 24 diamond on bezel, with oyster Bracelet HKD$99,600
These are Rolex AD List price in HK.

HK Watch Fever
Fever Ip
Tsim Sha Tsui Snob

China ‘s Emerging groups of Tu Hao (土豪) nouveau-riches

China ‘s Emerging groups of Tu Hao (土豪) nouveau-riches

Tu Hao

There is a new Chinese word created recently yet to be found in an English Dictionary but will be soon I believe!  It is “Tu Hao”!  Tu Hao or nouveau-riches who spends regardless of cost and consequence.

During the first launch of iPhone5S gold, people would have been waiting and eager to pay RMB25,900 or more to buy one gold colour and they described it as “Tu Hao Jin” (土豪金translation is nouveau-riche gold) Iphone5S  .

There is a Tu Hao bought a 13.3 carat Diamond on website with RMB 20M, this is really Tu Hao style, needless go to the shop to Scrutinize the diamond under x20 magnifying glass, who could believe something in internet that a trivial defect that could cause a drop of price from 20M to 10M for diamond! They just don’t care!

There is a Tu Hao who sends Cash of RMB 10M of uncut bank note as proposal deposit for marrying a beautiful girl!

Another Tu Hao casted a Cow weight 1 ton of solid 24K gold and mounted in his 80/floor office lobby as a Small Decorative statue. That is about 100M RMB!

Note Tu Hao's Plate Number....Five "9"!

Ma Linxiang, the deputy director of the village committee of Qingheying Village in Guangying County of Beijing, arranged a “Tu Hao Wedding” for his son.  He invited Yadan to perform for the wedding, he reserved the China National Convention Center to hold the ceremony. On the day of wedding, the bride and groom rode a Rolls-Royce followed by a BMW motorcade. , and he arranged 20M helicopter to pick up the bride.

So what is the SPECIFICATION to be classified as “Tu Hao” in China.

Age under 40

3 cars minimum: 2 B and 1 L or F: Bentley, Benz and Lamborghini, F is not Fiat of course…

Suit: Amani

Shoes: Causal low heel wearing no socks

Membership: High Class Golf Club

Hand Phone: Vertu with Diamond, Iphone5s is a gift for his friends or mistresses.

Watch: Turbillon, and watch with a lot of diamond that the watch cannot carry! Favourite Brands are  Frank Muller, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, Roger Dubuis. More Turbillons more Class, that is why someone has said, Double Turbillons or Quator Turbillons...

Frank Muller Tournillon with Diamond

Vacheron Constantin Tonneau Tourbillon Squelette

Roger Dubuis Boutique Shanghai

Roger Dubuis Excalibur Double Tourbillon Skeleton in Platinum, Tu Hao's Favourite, HKD$4,300,000

No wonder Why Roger Debuis has created the Excalibur Quatuor in "Silicon", (4 Tourbillons) Limited of 3 pieces and had been sold, HKD$8,500,000 before it is launched, I guess two of them go to the China Tu Hao! Roger Dubuis is one of the fastest growing Watch brand in China.

On April 22nd, 2013, a group of customers were squeezing their way to buy gold chains, which terrified the sales lady.

This is the life style of the new young nouveau-Riche in  China! Somewhat like the Arabians in 70’s, followed by the Russians and Indians who bought everything when they have spotted… Now it is the turn of these Chinese…

How about HK? Who can be classified as Hong Kong Tu Hao? In the eyes of China Tu Hao, probably 95% people of HK is classified as Kong Tsan港燦!

HK Kong Tsan

Watch Fever

Sham Shui Po Snob

A Watch Fever Friend Edy from Batam just Bought a Sub Hulk and Daytona Black.

Edy from Batam, a friend, Rolex Lover just bought two lovely watches, the most difficult one to get in the market nowadays;
Rolex Daytona Black Ref 116520 and Submariner Green Bezel Dial.

I Agree on what he says a while ago to me, Submariner Green is more GREEN and lovely, White Dial is better than Black on Daytona as the former one is easier to ready the time.

HK Snob
Watch Fever

Hong Kong Kong Tsan (Country Pumpkins) 港燦

 

A Contrast of Social Status at Tsim Sha Tsui

There are more and more poor people in Hong Kong, what can we do about it!?

We call this the Oriental Pearl, Hong Kong, seems full of rich people, someone said that if there is a broken window falls at one building at Central, it would hit 10 Millionaires in the street. That was true as I fact more than 2 million people is classified as Millionaires, Millionaire is classified now the poor middle class in such a weird place HK!

Every the other day, there are long queue of this silver haired people waiting for the free Metro post at MTR,  as there are discount MacDonald Coupon enclosed with the newspaper. There are poor people who search for litter bin for the paper, tin cans that they can sell it for money to exchange for food.

Some of the people who could not afford to eat pork more than once a month, there is a Primary school P4 student that has not been tasted the hamburger in HK!

However, on the other hand, one of my executives earns HKD$8,000 a hour! Who could sit down for an 6 hours meeting without saying one word, and we learn NOTHING from the meeting, but he could get his salary enough to buy a Rolex Submariner Ref 114060.

The world is not fair and it would never be fair, the Gini Index in HK getting worst, more than 1.2 Million people is suffering as they are classified as poor people, Million people is so called Middle Class but in fact a bit better than the lowest class of people., Only the top 5 % earners could enjoy the best in Town with sacrifice of the rest 95% of the people…

The case will not be changed, as there is no hope about Hong Kong’s Future, you can see more people in migrating into country like Candida and Australia, New Zealand, or even Thailand.

More Middle Aged Lady with fairly good income is now considering marriage with the Richer Chinese people. 50% of HK Man is marrying with lady of Mainland Chinese simply they want to move Northwards. The professor in Universities of HK are those Chinese Speaking Mandarin, 4 out of 10 students of the HK Universities are coming from China. 3 out of 10 homes are purchased by Chinese…

Hong Kong People once called Chinese immigrant as “Ah Tsan” is now being called as “Kong Tsan“ by the Chinese mainlander.

Don't forget to speak Mandarin when you go to Rolex AD, as you will be served with priority, if you speak "Cantonese" you will be put aside waiting!  Same thing happens in Zurich Rolex AD, Cantonese or HK English is not welcome, you should speak "Mandarin" or you will not be given a Chance to see the Daytona Black Ref 116520! Not mentioning your right to buy it.

Poor Kong Tsan's favourite "Cocktail Bun!" Each HKD$3.0, It is Cheap but I classify it the most Delicious Cocktail Buns in Hong Kong, Available at Sum Sum Bakery at Exit of Kwai Hing MTR station.

That is one of the reasons why I called my self “Kong Tsan”  (Hong Kong Pumpkins!) and the City is dying as Joe Junior said!

Tsim Shat Tsui Kong Tsan

Watch Fever

HK Snob

Rolex GMT Master II Ref 116710BLRN is apprearing to have more stock now in these Rolex AD Hong Kong

There are more stocks now in Hong Kong, started with Dickson Central and HKIA, Oriental Watch Company in Tsim Sha Tsui,Wah Hing, and this latest Purchase by Watch Fever friends coming from Malaysia. He bought two watches as shown, at Tsim Sha Tsui Zurich Rolex AD.
One Two Tone Rolex Yacht master Two Tone and the GMT Master II Black and Blue.

The price if the GMT master still at List ptice HKD$65,300 no discount.

Tsim Sha Tsui Kong Tsan
Watch Fever

Rolex Bubble Back Oyster Perpetual Watch

Wrist watch in Advertisement by Shozo Nakamura Printed by World Mook

Rolex Bubble Back Oyster Perpetual Watch

Advertisement from Rolex in 1946 

“Every hour, every minute, every second the Rolex Oyster Perpetual guards the invaluable element time… with conscious thought of its owner.

Designed with a unique and efficient reserve action… in addition to positive automatic winding when on the wrist, it will keep split second time for as long as a period of 32 hours when motionless.

It is the one perpetual which over the years has proven its dependability.

Price, $141.75 to $320 Federal Tax Included.

“Rolex Keeps Better Time”.

Rolex Watch Company, Inc., 580 Fifth Ave., New York 18, N.Y.”

Bubble Back棺材chai

The 'Bubble Back' was the first completely watertight automatic watch developed by Rolex. It was named the 'Oyster Perpetual'. “Bubble Back” was the name we called it later on. The self-winding movement was quite thick and the rounded case back was made to house it rather than the original Oyster case. This gave the name the 'Bubble Back'. Rolex only produced this watch from 1933 – 1955, one year before Day Date was created!

Price of a Bubble Back is not cheap in 1946

This is a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Bubble back watch, the $320 dollar one is Solid Gold, in converting into the money in 1946, $320 is likely 10 months’ Rent for a home, Federal Minimum hourly wages was $0.40. So a car factory worker on assembly line, say $0.5 a hour, that watch was three months’s salary for a general worker. In 1946 a new car is $1,125 that Rolex is 1/3 of the car price. It is not cheap at all. 

I am eager to look for one mint condition 14KT gold as I know the size is a concern is that is about 32x38mm.  In the market, we can get a Rolex Bubble back with about $5,200 to $9,000 depending on condition.

A 14ct gold vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual or 'Bubble Back' watch. The case measures 32 x 38 mm., with a smooth bezel. The case is signed Rolex Geneva Swiss, 14K, ref: 5015. The movement is signed Rolex Perpetual Chronometer Swiss Made with the 'Rolex Oyster' signed base cover.

The dial has gold Arabic numerals with an outside minute track and centre seconds. The dial is signed Rolex Oyster Perpetual above the centre, with Officially Certified Chronometer below.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Bubble back Ref 3130

Courtesy Picture from http://robertmaron.com/product.php?productid=18190&cat=0&page=11&sold

Movement  Automatic  Case  14K Pink Gold  Case Shape  Round  Case Size  33 mm  Crystal  Acrylic  Display  Complications  Subsidiary Seconds.  

Additional Information Rare Oyster Perpetual Bubbleback in 14k rose gold, from circa 1946, with subsidiary seconds in original condition. 

 

HK Snob

Watch Fever

Watch and Personality

The watch and personality

Rolex- showy, bossy, hi profile sometimes lovey, sportive, doctors, professionals, executives, explorative spirit, sexy, sentimental watch…

Patek Philippe- low key, older man usually, stubborn top executives, successful business man, serious collectors’ watch.

Audemar Piguet- Daring, bold, innovative people, designer, mechanical engineers.

Vacheron Constantin- Elegancy, baby bloomer’s favourite, Middle class, Picky people, Romantic

Panerai- trendy people below 50s, showy, singers and movie stars.

Jaeger LeCoutle- vintage watch lover, classy people, mostly more than 30 year old, Educated

Seiko- practitioners, young energetic people, super rich people usually likes the Quartz Seiko

Cartier – mostly richer people, designer, lawyer, people appreciate beautiful stuff like woman

Frank Muller- Explorer, dynamic and energetic, 30-55 rich middle class.

IWC- standout with its class, no me-too watch, someone appreciate authentic mechanical design, middle class people.

Sandoz – 80’s Nostalgia feeling about the precious time I bought Sandoz when I could not afford a Cartier Tank with limited budget. A style of over buoyant watch for those people who could not possibly to buy a Diamond Rolex but want to try something.

Tudor- face-lifted in the recent years, a good new choice in the sport series, Tudor has effectively removed the “Second Rolex” Images… more more younger people like going for Tudor new watches.

Note the new changeable colourful NATO strap!

Rado- a class of hi technology manufacturing since 1985, unchanged over the year, new watch ambassador could change the “older” look of watch mages… fast emerging watch, especially the White for lady with quartz.

Tissot- naughty, tech freak’s favourite, sportive watch for energetic you and her.

HK Snob 

Rolex Daytona Ref 116520 new and pre-owned watch in HK

More About Price of Daytona Stainless Steel

Well, I had a chance to get two brand new Rolex Daytona Stainless steel black and one white dial watches at same time in one Rolex AD since last Saturday and I had hold it for 4 days up to this moment.

Ref 116520 Black and One White as I posted last week, the response is not as good as I expected…

Well, I feel confused as many people asked me for that watch, but when I get it no one seems interested anymore… I wonder should I ask for Submariner Blue/black!? "No!" is the answer to me.

I already said "thanks!"  to my friends and let go to other Rolex Daytona Lovers a few minutes ago.

I had a chance to go to Lung Shing at SSP that was the finding on last Sunday 1 Dec

Daytona Black one piece. Not box no paper HKD$75,550

Daytona Black one piece, newer, no box no paper HKD$78,800

Submariner Ref 116610LV Hulk green dial and green bezel HKD$61,800

A friend of mine, a restaurant Boss who had bought an AXXXXX Ref 116520 In 2000, with box and Paper, he is asking me for HKD$100,000!

FYR

HK Snob

Lee Kar Shing’s watches; Patek Philippe, Seiko, Citizen and Casio

After starting with a loan from his family in the early 1950s, Li’s first business venture was a factory making cheap combs.

He upgraded to the hugely profitable plastic flowers business. He used to have a Patek Philippe when he was changed himself from rags-to-riches in 80’s. A few years whilst he was able to gain his fortune ten folds, he changed his watch to a Seiko, a plain stainless steel watch he has been wearing for over 25 years… recently reporter has seen his new watch is a black plastic Casio.

Everyone knows he spends money in a very calculative way, once he was interviewed that he dropped on dollar into a sewage, he took out one hundred dollar to his staff as a rewards for him to find one that one dollars, Lee’s philosophy was: he cannot afford this one dollar as if he did not find it this one dollar will be lost in the world forever…

So this is one likely the richest man in Asia has a very different way to choose his watch; when he get richer, his watch is getting cheaper… I think we know why he changed Patek Philippe to Seiko as he might not want to hear people's comment about the Richest man and the most renowned watch are linked up together. As in HK the poor peoples start to hate the richer people! and The Rich people dislike the poor people, Like I go out into the street, people gives me dirty eyes as i wear cheap clothes, and a low taste Watch, worst is I go to work by MTR, whereas friend of mine driving a decent X5!

When people get richer, there is a tendency for low profile in personal belonging. Same for Lee Kar Shing's car, a Camry…however his house is big, expensive and strong like an invincible fortress.

As once in 1990s he wore a $5400 timepiece from Citizen Watch Co. and still is not a brand conscious man. It seems he is the true follower of the saying “simplicity is the best policy”.

No one knows in details why he changed his watch from Seiko to Casio, may be from what I guess, he is going to go for some changes from White to Black for superstitions. Or simple his Seiko was damaged and could not be repaired, he just picked up the watch from a street shop.

I am an admirer of Mr. Lee as he is not well educated and he could show that the best in class does not ensure you could be sucessful in the soscity. Preparation, hard working plus some luck would possibly help you to get some good fortune

Well, someone may say "richman isn't necessarily the sucessfully man! 

But I am sure a poor snob like I is definitely a loser!

 

HK Snob
Watch Fever

How Did I Start Collecting Vintage watches!?

How Did I start Collecting Vintage watches?

Well, when I was young, I lived in Kane Road, I was not supposed to have dinner every night…

If not, then my mother would bring me walking up across the road and there, at a small lane, we could see some of the rich families having dinner, a long table that we could see a few people taking their dishes, under the warm white cozy lighting, as what Chinese say “One soup and four dishes”

OMG, in my child’s days, we hardly had a “One Soup and Four dishes”… We used to have one or for better days additional one more dish, that was it…

That was all my days I could remember when I was in primary school as a kid.

Sooner later, when I was out for School, I was given 1.4 dollar a days, I spent 30 cents for Bus No. 13 from Kowloon City to Prince Edward Road where I studied in Queen Elizabeth Secondary school for the F1 and F.2 as our school was not completed yet, That was my glory days as when Friends of mine asked me where I was going, I said, “Queen Elizabeth School” Loud enough to let more passerby heard about it… In fact My school badges written : “Kwun Tong Government technical School” which I believed no one heard of…

Yes, I am the first year student of this school. I still could remember we had two students entered the University of HK… at that time… this was the University everyone was dreaming of. I had no luck …

I never took bus as I walked from Kowloon City to Mongkok twice a day in order to take the 30 Cents bus money, Our classmates used to eat Pork Chop noodle Shanghai Style that was $1.2, whilst I used to take Yeung Chun Noodle (pure noodle) as it was only 60 cents at that time…

I kept saving money to buy my toys, since than I could not feed my stomach by I was very happy as I had some of the wonderful toy I could dream of; the Hood, The Blue Devil, or later on the Yamato warships.

That was my days when I was young, until one day my father bought us a British made “Bush “  Black and white TV, I remembered my old man told me , it was HKD$1,100. That was quite a bit of money at that time, as we could possible buy a Rolex Date Just two tone Pink gold and steel with HKD$1,760 back in 1967.

Nowadays the kids are spoiled by their parents as it seems many of the people are living much better than that time we were 40 years ago. My daughter had just talked to me why I did not Change the Samsung Note III from II and she was in many cases, signaled me to buy a new house in a better environment, she Told ne somewhere is Kowloon Tong is very quiet and nice to stay… I was unable to tell as under this pay-cut hay days, I could possible sell my last kidney for paying the rent… how dares she could talk to me to change a new home!? She dare as there is no cost incur with it... but I have…

However, when I could recall, I feel that the time when I was young was so nice, simply because I was poor and I treasure everything I could afford to buy, since that I started a hobby to keep the best toys I had, and sooner the best Watch I could buy… That is what I always proud of and I still keep some of the Old Watch I bought, Like the First Rolex Orchid Watch for my mother… this watch has a special meaning to me. I gave to my mother, and later she gave it to my first wife, and sooner later after ten years, I gave it to my second wife… not long ago I returned to my mothers. And now my mother is quite old and she does not need a Rolex with some sands at the bezel, she gave it back to me…

That is why I started to have passion to collect old vintage watches as it always bring me a lot of Nostalgia and tenderly feeling about the good time I had …

HK Snob

Watch Fever 

Reminder; there is Rolex Daytona Ref 116520 For sales, Brand new offer from Rolex AD, Both White and Black at market price

Refer to my earlier post yesterday

Mail me for more information...


HK Snob

Go for the BEST!

When I was young, a 50 Cent pineapple bun would be the nicest snack after school… it would be an extravaganza if I could have another 20 Cents Pepsi.

When you grow up, I could afford to buy myself a Rolex Date Just, that seemed one of the greatest moment in life as I they counted the cash of HKD$5,025 , as at that time my month salary was just HKD$4,000.

But when we had achieved something, even man is trying to find all excuses to buy gift for himself, many people told me work hard and play hard… well, they play hard, not pay hard… in many cases I see many people buys unnecessary stuff aimlessly. They work not too hard, but they really pay hard…

Many people have a lot of credit debt. And I can assure that it kills you, I once had HKD$600,000 credit card debt, that was high in comparing with my income.  Luckily I made up my mind to let go some of the watches to pay the money back to the Bank… since then I cut the AMEX, Diner, MC and leaving two Visa cards. I was a free man since then, I believe this is a good practice to control not to over spending. 

When we grow up, we gradually find out that we started to appreciate more about Quality of living,

What is said to be good watch, finery fountain pen, good wine with Value for Money, a nice car!

What I am trying to say is that people do not need too many watches, but they need a few good watches.

Next time when you want to buy watch, think again, is that necessary!? I had a Black, do I need a White of the same model?

Yes, if you had a ref 116250 Daytona Black, you do not need a White?

If you had a White Gold Submariner, forget all the Black, green, Two tone… as the white gold stands out itself…!

Buy for the BEST, not the REST!

HK Snob

IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XVII IW326501

World release starts now, you can book this beautiful Watch at HKIA IWC Boutique and IWC 1881 TST.

Price is HKD$41,500 no discount, Limited production 1,000 pieces.

I think that Hong Kong may have 250 pieces. Movement is ETA, but this is a good looking watch.

The Blue dial with white numerals have a good contrast. Don't miss this, a Nice Christmas gift got your kid, wife or even father.

Look for Douglas Mak the Boutique Sales Associate.

Ship 186A Unit 6E, Terminal I, HK International Airport.
Tel: +852-22612701

HK Snob