Go High-end Watch or a Vintage Watch?

How many High-end watch Switzerland produces each year nowadays!??

Imagine an established, Swiss watch brand, located in Geneva or the Vallée de Joux. This watchmaker has done well and diversified with good marketing network now makes 40,000 mid- to high-end watches a year. (Swiss bank Vontobel recently estimated in that Audemars Piguet makes 40,000 watches a year; Breguet, 32,000; Jaeger-LeCoultre, 75,000; Roger Dubuis with 8,000, while the number at Patek Philippe is 50,000.) 

Of the 40,000 watches made by the imaginary watch company, say 20 percent are complications such as chronographs and annual calendars, but quarter of the complications output is the high-end stuff, minute repeaters, tourbillons and the like; watches with six figure price tags. So this company makes 2000 high-end complications a year. Assume a third, or 500, of those are tourbillons.

Over a decade, that would mean 20,000 high-end complications produced, 5000 of them tourbillons

by a single hypothetical company. 

With 20 companies, a decade’s worth of production is 400,000 high complications, and 100,000 tourbillons.

High complications typically starting at US$100,000, being a mere millionaire is insufficient to afford one. Only ultra high net worth individuals – those fortunate individuals with over US$30m to their name – can reasonably afford such watches. Wealth-X, a research firm specializing in rich people, estimated in early 2015 that there are just over 211,000 ultra high net worth individuals around the world.

Even if every UHNW individual on the planet bought a high-end complication over the course of a decade, there will still leftover watches.

So the answer to the question in the title is obviously yes. That’s why modern complicated watches are now faring poorly in the secondary market, as evidenced by recent auction results.

What is a collector to do?

A collector should, therefore, pursue truly rare watches. Vintage watches are often the suggestion, since their supply is by definition limited. However, the vintage watch market is frothy and fraught with danger, so prudence and specialized knowledge is required.

It never not too late to seek genuinely rare watches.

 

HK Snob

HKIA Cash Coupon Rewards 16 Jun -30 Jun 2016

Visit this HKIA Site for more reward coupon information.

https://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/shopping/cash_coupons.html

HK Snob

Up coming Hong Kong Watch Guild Show

This Show come again with dealers, collectors and individuals to trade and sell Watches.

Note the time and places above.



HK Snob

Cartier Pasha C Limited on Sale

 

Cartier Pasha C Limited Watch and Box

Condition: 90%

 

Keep Excellent Time

 

HKD$13,000

 

Valued Purchase

 

HK Snob

 

PS Sold today 22 June 2016

 



Cartier Chronograph On Sale

 

 

 

Cartier Pasha Black Dial Chronograph Limited Edition of 250 pieces (Japan)

Condition:95%
Keep Excellent Time
Watch, Box and Papers Full Set

HKD$34,000

HK Snob

PS On Hold by someone 22 June 2016

Tudor Heritage Ranger Ref.79910 On Sale

 

 

Model: Tudor heritage Ranger Ref.79910

Size:41mm

Details: Complete Box and papers

Brand new Tudor Ranger bund leather strap with original signed deployant buckle

Condition:90%, Keep excellent time

Price:HKD$17,800

 

HK Snob



Rare IWC Portugese Laureus Limited Edition on Sale

Model:IWC Portuguese Laureus
Limited Edition Ref.3742-32
Size:41mm
Details: Complete box and papers, Sunburst blue dial,
Blue croc, IWC pin Buckle
Condition:90%
Keep Excellent Time
Asking HKD$45,000

HK Snob

Rolex Day Date Ref.1803 on sale

 

Model: Rolex Day Date Ref.1803
Case: Yellow Gold 36mm
Movement: Cal.1556
Dial: Yellow Gold Pie Pan, Yellow gold with YG Stick Indeces.
T Swiss T marking
Crown: Yellow Gold Rolex Signed
Serial Number :372xxxx (1972)
Condition:88%

Keep excellent time, very even patina,
Watch only
Custom Morelli's Finish case
Price HKD$38,000

HK Snob

The Rolex GMT Master II – The Green Pointer vs the Batman

The Rolex GMT Master II Ceramic has been one of the most frequently seen watches on the street in Hong Kong. The 116710 Green Pointer is also one the Rolex I bought. I actually chose it over the Submariner 116610 because the watch was so much more attractive due to the oversized numbers on the ceramic bezel. The 116710 Green Pointer is a dazzling watch. A friend of mine bought two for himself and his wife last year. He has a black Daytona 116520 for himself and a white 116520 for his wife. But why did he buy two GMT Green Pointer but now one Green Pointer plus a Batman?

He said the Green Pointer looks more classic….

 

 

 

 

Is it true? HK Snob weighs in.

The two GMT Master II have different aesthetics. Or, do they? The Batman differs from the Green Pointer by having a dual color ceramic bezel, which is the only bi-color ceramic bezel on Rolex stainless steel models. The blue-black bezel symbolizes night and day. The GMT hand is blue instead of green and the letters GMT Master II are in white.

 

On the wrist, they really do not look very different. The same case applies to the Deep Sea black and the Deep Sea D-blue. Under certain lighting, you can even hardly notice that the Batman has a blue-black bezel.

 

 

How about the Green Pointer? It has a green GMT hand and green GMT Master II letters. Let’s not forget that the color that represents Rolex is green. However, this watch has been in production for 10 years and there are a lot of people wearing it. But of course, the price is lower than the Batman. It will feel a bit dull if you have had the watch for a bit over 2-3 years since the color scheme is not particularly attractive.

 

 

The Batman, on the other hand, offers you something more fun to see every day. The blue color of the ceramic bezel and the GMT hand and the white color of the letters GMT Master II also recall a blue sky with clouds. The Green Pointer and the Batman are equally flashy. If you have not had a GMT watch, get a Batman. But if you have the Green Pointer, keep it and wear it in good health.

HK Snob

HKWF Group

Rolex Day-Date 60th anniversary edition and our Day-Date recommendations

2016 marks the 60^th anniversary of the Rolex Day-Date. Rolex released two DD40 earlier at Baselworld to commemorate the 60^th birthday of one of the most iconic watches in the Rolex collection.

 

The two watches in white gold and rose gold both have an olive sunburst dial. The best thing is – they have arrived in Hong Kong.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The addition of the olive dial DD40 to the current lineup is absolutely a good thing given the fact that the DD40 collection offers a relatively limited range of dial options.

 

 

 

The olive dial is superb in the metal. On the rose gold model, it fully complements the warmth of rose gold making it one of the killer combos and one of the sharpest Day-Date ever made. The 3D Roman numerals give you extra shine from the dial as they reflect light together with the hands.

 

 



 



 

 

One of the best things about the Day-Date is its bracelet. One can easily recognize it. The DD40 even has ceramic parts in the bracelet making it even smoother when worn. You can easily tell the difference in terms of comfort if you have tried a DD with oyster bracelet before you try the other with President bracelet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you think that the DD is for the old, then you might want to try this new DD with olive dial. The new DD 40 with olive dial is an absolutely handsome piece that looks very good on the wrists of young people. The olive dial, the fluted bezel and the President bracelet give you very sharp reflection of light at any angle.  

If the new Day-Date 40 is not your choice, here are some recommendations for you to enter the splendid world of Day-Date.

 

 

 



1.      Rolex 118238/118235/118239

The Day-Date at 36mm is the most classic. In rose gold, yellow gold or white gold, it is a very elegant timepiece. These 36mm DDs offer you more varied dial options than the DD40. From gem stones to diamonds, there must be one dial option for you. My personal favorite is the meteorite dial with diamond markers.

 

 

 

2.      The Rolex 218238/218235/218239 Day-Date II

The discontinued DDII collection has the biggest cases in all time. At 41mm, the watch is meant for younger users who prefer bigger watches. Although dial options are not as varied as the 36mm DD, the DDII still offers some very nice designs on the dial. The size of it also makes it very hard to go unnoticed.

 

 

 

Although the collection has been discontinued, you are still very likely to find NOS or second-hand watches in good condition.

 

3.      The Rolex 1803 – the more affordable Day-Date

 

If new Day-Dates are too expensive for you, then you might look for a 36mm ref 1803. The 1803 has Plexiglas and it can be had at less than 100k and around half the price without the bracelet. You can pair the watch with different leather straps which is as much fun as wearing it on the President bracelet.

 

HK Snob

HKWF Group

 

 



Panerai PAM396

This is definitely an awesome Panerai that no one could resist.
Ceramic case, sturdy look, huge, Tourbillon, GMT two time zone display, super sportive...simple well- arranged dial design with just the right information you need.


Manual Winding, Black dial with thick matching bracelet.

The only remaining  concern is price...

and I have solved for you:-

MSRP is HK$843,600


Now less XX%

BNIB Full Set watch.

HK Snob

Should you buy a modern Submariner or a vintage Submariner? HK Snob weighs in

 

 

Many of you may have a Rolex Submariner in your collection. Being one of the most iconic watches in the world, the Rolex Submariner is often seen on the wrists of stars and celebrities. From divers to everyday users, the Rolex Submariner has always served us well as a tool watch or simply a three hander.



The current lineup of Submariners include the 116610 (Sub date), 116610lv (the Hulk) and the 114060 (no date Sub). Among them, the 116610lv is most sought-after with its green ceramic bezel and green sunburst dial. It is a watch that retains its value best among the three. Much like its predecessor 16610lv, the green Submariner released for the 50^th anniversary of the Submariner, the Rolex Green has made it very popular among collectors. However, if you already own the Hulk or even all three of the current Submariner references, what else can you buy?

 

 

 

One of the most attractive things about a Rolex is that every watch is very iconic and a Rolex seems to retain its value in time better than anything else. Therefore, if you are looking to buy a Submariner, other than the watches in the current collection which are around 50k to 68k HKD, you may look for a second-hand or NOS 14060, 16610, or even the more vintage 5513 and 1680.

 

 

 

 

 

A basic good-condition 5513 or 1680 can be found at around HKD 48-50k. The prices are rising slowly as these watches are getting rarer and rarer. It is a good investment for you.

 

 

 

However, if you do not like their Maxi dials, you can choose the more recent 14060 which is a perfect tool watch for any occasion. One of the features of the 14060 is that all of them have lug holes which are an important feature of a tool watch. The Submariner of that generation has different case shapes than the current collection which features “super cases” with more angular shapes. The 5513, 1680 and the more recent 16610, 14060 has better curves than the current 116610 and 114060 in terms of their shapes.

 

 

 

 

 

The 16610 and the 14060 are sold at around 35-45k and these watches are already out of production. Their prices will only go up as time goes by. We will go into more details of these watches in later episodes.

If you do not have a Submariner yet, do go for the 116610lv. The classic Rolex green color makes it a very sharp watch that retains its value best among the current lineup of Submariners. If you already have the “Hulk”, think of the last generation of Submariners. There is always one for you to get.

 

HK Snob

 

 

 

 

 

 



Rolex Day Date Ref.228238 BNIB Full Set

Only one HK$198,000 cash

HK Snob

AP Carbon Dive Watch Mint Full Set

 

 

AP Ref.15703AU Discontinued Item

Listing at HK$218,000

 

Mint Condition Full Set 2012 Watch

Cash HK$160,000

 

HK Snob

PaneraI PAM605 Firenze Special Edition

PAM605 BNIB Full Set HK$97,000 cash

Also PAM629 BNIB Full Set HK$110,400 cash

HK Snob

Rolex Daytona Ceramic Ref.116500LN supply status

 

Rolex is very good in marketing, as the basic rule to determine price is the relation of demand and supply.

We had experienced that with the GMT master II Blue black Ref.116710BLNR. In the first few months of launch, I even could buy at Rolex AD with 5% discount… The first one I bought for a Vietnam visitor back into 2014 July.

After two months, there we could not find any stock at Rolex AD, only from Gray Dealers!

I describe this phenomenon as “U” shapes supply cycle…

Initially Rolex will ship more in the first three months, such that more people can see this watch, there created more talks at Blog, fb, IG… provided that watch is beautiful and having a few nice feature. More and more people will try to buy… well, then we will fall into the flat or bottom minimum supply cycle, price will shoot up from gray dealer, of course we cannot get any watch at Rolex AD unless you are SVIP.

After two three years then there will be more supply as both the gray dealer price even may be  higher than you could buy in AD. As by that time, there will be new Rolex model launching in the market.

After two years the Batman was launched, Still we can hardly find any stock at AD… and with gray dealer, the price is still high between HK$63,000 to HK$65,000. (MSRP is HK$67,300)

How about this iconic Daytona, a Panda like Cosmograph with ceramic bezel, if you think Rolex will give each Rolex AD one watch a month!? That could be a dream, may be one watch in one Quarter!

As I expected that market price would be high as HKD$140,000 in my Blog post in April. it comes true today...

Now we can see the price is running between HK$138,000 to HKD$147,000!

This is the start of the “U” Cycle”, most of the Rolex AD can get one or two in a month… after a few months, we should expect less in supply or even zero… or they can ship all HK supply to other country likewise send say Singapore supply to HK one day…and keeps the Rolex Fans of HK and Singapore in Hunger!

Then the price could shoot go up more than HK$140,000!

Of course this is my guess, but if I were Rolex, I will do the same!

Note that the White one is even more difficult to get as  compare with older generation Ref.116520LN though price is same now for White or Black, in long terms I am sure White is more expensive that black!

So I think, if you can afford, but now, or you will not get it as easy as it is now!

 

For this model, I think the bottom line of the "U" cycle could last a long period of time! 

HK Snob

HK Watch Fever