Chinese New Year Wishes 送你招財進寶限量版金撈發隻



May all your wishes come true, wish you all the best for a  whole year through!

送上招財進寶金撈限量版每人發隻。

祝羊羊得意,

身體健康！

HK Watch Fever

Four Reasons why I love Rolex

Four reasons why I love Rolex

Some vintage watch collectors love Patek Philippe, Jaeger Le Coultre, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet,  some love Panerai, some love IWC, some love Grand Seiko, some love Cartier, A Lange, Richard Mille, some don't care… they wear anything they can pick up for the pure function of a “Watch”.

I was about to mesmerize Rolex when I listened to the sailors talking about it when I was on board merchant vessel working as Radio officer.. .. They mentioned how much they could earn by “smuggling” legally Seiko 5 into the Africa in the 70s. And Saved up money to buy a authentic Rolex.

I saw Patek Philippe or Nardin Maritime Chronometer in the chart room behind the Bridge… but that is the ship’s basic instrument that work with Sextant to get position of the ship.

Even the Satellite, Omega and Loran is operational (these are the major Navigational aids in the 80s). Of course, Patek and Nardin Chronometers are the dream item for Maritime collector.

I met the sailors, Oiler, Carpenter, chief engineer, Second officers, Quarter masters, Chief Steward, Radio Officer, Captain… in my three ships I worked. They worn Rolex. When I asked what is your preferred watch you would like to buy most? They all seems go to one Watch : Rolex.

But Why!?

Tool Watch

The Sport Rolexes were created for rugged use and waterproof, that is so important to have a perfect water proof watch to be used on board to avoid to be corroded by Sea water.

Their movement is so strong and reliable, imagine a carpenter has been using his Date Just every day for 15 years. No watch could survive that way!

We all call Rolex as “Tool Watch”

Purpose-built

Vintage Rolex collectors love the romantic notion that so many of the classic models were created for specific, functional purposes —The Rolex GMT-Master was originally designed for PAM AM trans-continental pilots.

Milgauss (literally, ‘thousand gauss’) for engineer working in strong Magnetic field Power Plant or engineering lab.

Submariner for divers, etc….

People love wearing them as they are built for tough environment, not simply as jewellery or decoration like others.

Details

Early release “Flat 4” bezel of Submariner green bezel Ref 16610LV, ‘Underline’ Dial, Bart Simpson’ dial, Double Red, Green and Chicken Blood dial of the Day Date 1803, 2, 3 or 4 hallmarks on the watch case, plus so many other combination of dial, case, crown and Rolex logo...

There are so much fun for people to collect these watches as they carry not just a watch but the details that makes you obsessed, and the development story on WHY they were designed like that!

There are so many other interesting details that may you find from watch collector, book, Google that you can explore the reason behind, that is the funniest part of watch collection. I don’t think other watches has so much details as Rolex does.

Value

A Mint Condition of a Submariner, GMT Master, Day Date would carry a Vintage Value. Rolex collectors get excited to own a wearable investment, rather than those Stamps that has to be stored in the Safe Box at certain temperature with controlled R.H., or a Ching Dynasty Vase that people can only appreciate in your living room or museum, and you had better don't touch it!

A Real vintage Rolex has turned into a Walking Museum on your Wrist!

No Matter Submariner, Daytona, Explorer and Milgauss. Those are models that continue to grow in value faster and steadier than most other existing classic watches. I told Anthony to keep his first released Deep Sea Ref 116660 D-Blue un-used, as after a period to time, the watch may contribute certain portion of your retirement Fund.

Like those Telefunken Vacuum tubes ECC803S, ECC802S, as its value grow year by year because they will not be made again. And the company is not able to repeat the same quality if they were re-make again as compared with those they were manufactured as in the German Factory 50 years ago. A NOS in box is now value 900 times you bought in the 60s.

Nowadays

No one would not disagree that Rolex is among the world’s most recognizable luxury brands of watch.

So Do I…

HK Snob 

Rolex sale

Rolex :

Ref 116660 Deep Sea D blue Official $91,000 cash.
Ref 116660 Deep Sea Black $73,000
Ref 116610LN Submariner Date $55,000
Ref 116610LV Submariner Hulk $65,500
Ref 116713 Submariner Two Tone $75,000
Ref 116710 BLNR GMT Master II Blue Black $65,000

All in Cash HKD


HK snob

Rolex 1675 GMT Master Pepsi

Used GMT Master Ref 1675 in excellent plus condition with box but no Paper.

Asking HKD$52,000 cash.

HK Snob

 PS watch sold on 17 March 2015

Service Charge of a Swiss Prestige Watch

This watch Company was established in 1839,

They produce now about 45,000 watches a year.

Entry level is HK$84,000  for a lady model up to $2.7M as on the price book… special model is not listed here.

This is the Service Charge for their watch:

Battery Change $1,000

Standard maintenance fee for Quartz watch $4,550

Standard maintenance fee for manual wind watch $5,800

Standard maintenance fee for automatic watch $6,650

Primary complicated Watch Maintenance fee $8,750

Secondary Complicated Watch maintenance fee $12,500

Triple Complication watch maintenance fee $ TBA

Watch over 20 years of usage maintenance fee $ TBA

Inspection fee $1,000

Archive check on watch $900

Some of the complication watch may have to be serviced in Switzerland $TBA

Polishing case (all model) $1,000

Polishing Case and Bracelet (all model) $2,000

Nautilus Case $1,400

Nautilus and Bracelet $2,800

The Above price is in HK Dollar, purely for your refernece only, exact price will be quoted by Patek Philippe

Service Duration 2 months to 1 year.

HK Snob

Don't Miss the boat!

 Patek Philippe Ref 5711-1A

Many people were surprise about 20% price reduction for a Swiss prestige watch company wasn’t common in the past.

Base on what we know that PP isn’t that insane, well, knowing that HK is one of the World largest hub for PP official and grey dealers. There is an estimated HKD$490M worth PP Stock., assuming an average price of HKD$200,000  that may have a number of 2,450 watches…it is a lot as PP produces thousands of watches a year.

So treat this as a Special Offer from PP, if you want to buy a PP, it is a great opportunity to buy Now!

For your reference, PP will have such a price adjustment on the following countries:

Switzerland Decrease by 5%

EUR Countries Increase by 7%

Great Britain unchanged

Asia-Pacific decrease by 3%

Hong Kong decrease by 7%

Japan increase by 5%

Americas  decreased by 7%

And I think PP is using this to Clear off the existing stock of the grey dealers, makes them unsalable, offset their profit margin to zero or even negative percentage.

90% of HK grey dealer PP is from Europe, 7% price of increase will block the grey dealer watch import from some of these countries like Italy, or at least reduce their profitable margin. 

We don't feel surprise that PP will likely increase big percentage the price sometime later or on June 1 2015!

Let’s Watch out.

In NYC

NYC Biochemistry PhD student bought with USD$26,000 (HKD$202,020) at PP AD.

In HK

If a PP 5711-1A was HK$220,000  before 10 Feb, the new price is HK$ 172,800 now.

HK Snob

Shocking News, Patek Philippe Reduces Price by 20 Percents effective Today!

Effective immediately, Patek Philippe reduces Price of all old models 20%.

Whereas they reduce 7% to 8 % on all 2013 and 2014 models.

This is a shock to me as Patek Philippe should not go that far for 20% price reduction.


HK Snob

After Panerai, Patek Philippe will likely reduce the price tomorrow

After Japan had increased the price of Rolex 4% to 10%.

Audemars Piguet increased some HK$ 6,000 on model like 15202ST , follow by Germany with adjustment of 7% on 1st Feb,.

Panerai reduces all model by 5%.

There is rumour that The prestige line of Swiss most renowned brand of watch Patek Philippe will reduce their watch price by a few percents on 10 Feb. Let's see if that is true and how much.

I heard that UK will increase price of Rolex on 1st June.

So we can tell that Market of luxury watch is slow. we don't know when Patek Philippe price will be increased?


HK Snob
Watch Fever

Three Iconic Stainless Steel watches with Blue Dial that you may need to wait for months

What kind of watch that you may not able to buy even you have money!?

Well, these are three of them:

Patek Philippe Nautilius Ref 5711-1A Blue Dial or grey dial.

It has been discontinued,  I should say super rare though is still in the PP price book with List price HKD$220,000 as of today.

Someone who waits 8 months and 3 years in Hong Kong and New York respectively. 

Audemars Piguet Ref 15202ST Blue Dial 39mm 1972 Drop logo "AP" Retro.

The Logo AP is situated at 6' oclock position
List price $178,000

Ademars Piguet Ref 15400 ST Blue Dial 41mm
List Price $140,000

Each of them carry a story and I believe most of the watch collectors may have at least one or more than one fo the above watches.


HK Snob

Swatch Fever is Back

This is Tresor Magique, which means MagicTreasure.

I have been collecting Swatch since 1990 to 1993.
Hocus Pocus, Golden Globe, Gold Jelly, People, of course, I did not have Puff nor Kiki Picasso....

Recently, I saw someone' s collection, I feel like
"back to future"!

These are some of his collections.

The Tresor Magique is Platinum watch, first time for Swatch to use such precious metal on their watch.


HK Snob

WFC HI TEA TODAY 6 FEB 2015

We have nice gathering  today, these are the watches we have:

Rolex Seadweller Ref 116600
(watch for low profile business practitioner)

Rolex Date Just II Ref 116333 two tone.
(watch for young and stylistic)

Cartier Crash 18KT white gold with Diamond
(for die hard fan of Cartier, and celebrity)

Cartier Crash 18KT in yellow gold. (ditto)

Rolex Daytona Ref 116509 18KT white Gold.
(for those who can appreciate the essence of what Real Rolex stuff is)

Rolex Ref 17014 Oyster Ouartz in steel,
(for those who knows oysterquartz)

Roger Dubuis Much More
(for those who always forget what date is today like I)

Thanks to you all, it made me drooling this whole afternoon.

HK Watch Fever
HK Snob

Some Rolex Watches are Available for sales

Rolex Parallel (Cash)
Deepsea D-blue Ref 116660 $90...
GMT Master II Blue Black Ref 116710BLNR $ 66...
Daytona White Ref 116520 $90...

 
Rolex Official (Card)
Daytona Black Ref 115620 black $98...

HK watch Fever

Official Rolex Daytona black and Submariner Hulk is available now

It was.....

Rolex Daytona Black Ref 116520  $98...

Submariner Hulk Ref 116610LV $68...

Limited supply is available now.

HK Snob

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Patek Philippe Nautilus,or IWC Ingenieur SL

Patek Philippe Nautilus

IWC Ingenieur SL

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Platina Dial



In the 1970s, this gentleman designed four of my or your favorite integrated bracelet watches which include the Patek Philippe Nautilus, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, and IWC Ingenieur SL.

All three watches have become highly collectible and continue to rise in value due to their rarity and timeless design. The Nautilus and Royal Oak are still produced today but the earlier design of the 1970s are very expensive.

The IWC Ingenieur SL has been discontinued...

He was one of the most important watch designers of the 20th century. He was born in Geneva, Switzerland in 1931 and started his career at the age of 20 working with Universal Geneve. He was one of the first watch designers behind the scenes that he was well known, and he eventually made his own watches and created his own brand.

He contributed to designs for many watch brands besides the above mentioned Big Four.

Cartier, Omega, Breguet, Chaumet, Bulgari, and many others.

He designed all the wristwatches for Audemars Piquet from 1953 up to the Royal Oak in 70s and the company. Now Audemars Piguet is likely one of the most prestige watch companies in Switzerland.

He redesigned the Omega Constellation for Omega in the 1960s and collaborated with Cartier in the design of the Pasha in 1997.

He had very important clients including professional athletes, rappers, movie stars, lawyers, politician and royal families.

He is a name that we should think of when you look at your Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo or Patek Philippe Nautilus…

As a Watch Fanatic, or Watch Fever I call myself, I have to pay Tribute to this Colossal of Watch Designer of the 20th century.  “Gerald Genta”!

Gerald Genta 1 May 1931 to 17 Aug 2011 (Age 80)

PS

Except IWC, all the other two watches has no second hand, a typical Minimunist's design.

Which One you like most!?


HK Snob
HK Watch Fever

Watch Fever Club HI TEA 31 Jan 2015

There were lot of fun for such gathering to share watch collection experience.
Exchange of some of the buying tips on watches, know how on buying and selling watches.
One could learn a lot from each of us.

Like wine tasting, there were is no fun at all to drink alone home!
This is limited Sinn 250 pieces with Titanium case.

Kowloon Watch Company watch that its watch owner bought it with HK$25 in 60s'.

Limited 175 pieces Audemars Piguet Wempe Royal Oak Offshore.

Tudor Heritage Black Bay, the workhorse of a Muay Thai Boxer.

HK Snob
Watch Fever Club

Recent Price War of Watches in Hong Kong

After Japan Rolex prices soared up 4% to 10% January, there is Rumour that Germany will increase price in Feburay.
Parallel watch importers are flying to Germany to snap all popular models back HK in the past two weeks.


After 15 Jan., most of the Hot items are not able to be found in Rolex AD and hands of the parallet watch dealer, likely this is purely business decision to keep the Watches for the Rolex official Price Adjustment in Febuary. Who does not want higher profit waiting for two weeks!?



So if you want to buy Rolex sport model you might have to look for a few more shops.

That is a bit surprise that Panerai had reduced price of ALL their model by 5% last week.

That is a Marketing decision, I think Panerai shouldn't reduce price as people dislike price reduction of luxuary watches.

In January, AP has already increase watch price by HKD$6,000 for all steel model such as 15400ST.

Patek Philippe had no changes of price as of this moment, may be after Chinese new years?

Lastest news that report by good freind who is now in Germany, Rolex has increased 7% on Rolex in Germany stariting 1 Feb 2015.

And It might be wise if you want to buy your favourite watch, got to be make a decision and got to be fast.

HK Snob