Buying Hi Fi equipment or Rolex watches First?

“What’s Hi Fi” had selected these few pieces of all time favourite or memorisable pieces of legendary audio equipment. No matter you have once used them or still using them now, they represent the best examples of good engineering and special designed masterpieces! Though there is arguable why not Rogers LS3/5A Loudspeakers is not included or not. Let’s not talk about your own favourite pieces first. Do we agree that these are some of the legendary Audiophile 

Equipment in the past 60 years ?

 

Have you notice that the Maclntosh MC275 was sold at US$444 in 1965 worth how much now ?

Well if a super nice condition with original component in is about $7,000!

 

Can you image if one used the US$444 to buy three Rolex GMT master 1675 and keep until

Now in super good condition worth how much now? In case of a 1960 GMT Master is kept till now probably worth US$134,615 which is 20 times more in value. 

 

The moral of this story is keep your Rolex and sell them to buy audio equipment! As most of the audio equipment will depreciate rather than appreciate over time 

 

 Maclntosh MC275

Audio Note Japan Ongaku amplifier (1991)

 

Audio Research SP10/SP-10PS pre/power (1982)

 

Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus speakers (1993

 

Burmester 808 Mk 5 preamp (1980)

 

Krell KSA50 power amp (1985)

 

Linn LP12 turntable (1973)

 

Mark Levinson No.30/No.31 CD player (1991)

 

McIntosh MC275 power amp (1961)

 

Nagra PL-P preamp (1998)

 

Naim NAP250 power amp (1975)

 

Nakamichi Dragon (1982)

Oracle Delphi Mk1 turntable (1979)

 

Quad ESL 57 (1957)

 

Tannoy Westminster (1982)

 

HK Snob 

New Group set up for Watch discussion and sales

A story started with mentorship to a young student who came to me after finding me at my Blog.

He learnt from me on buying and selling watches two years.

Now he has his own office in Tsim Sha Tsui and making ten of thousand of US dollar a month.

Readers of my fb knows about this story and started to ask for more and how about a setup in a group such as to share the technique and knowledge in making watch selling fun.

We are encouraged to set up a new chat group in form of facebook, WhatsApp group or other media for the following purposes:

1.To share watch trace secret

2. How to make a successful deal

3. What we should buy and when we should sell?

4. How to tell the fake watches from the real stuff?

5.....

Many people would like to join as we had talked about the name of the group.

name come up like; Watchohic, WTF,  Watch mentorship club, Watch fever Club, watchout,

Rolexian, Watch Snobs, and many other...

We are thinking on how to proceed and ideas is never to much, please support and we can make fun and fund from it,.

Keep you posted

HK Snob

Latest Hong Kong's Rolex Price

Price of Rolex has not been affected by this COVID-19 and bad economy locally in Hong Kong.

The price of Rolex was estimated to lower by most  of the speculators and watch dealers a few months ago but

that is not the case.

Take a few examples:-

Let’s compare the price of today with 6 months ago

 

Daytona 116500 White today price $200,000  ($185,000)

Daytona Gold green dial 116508 Today price $420,000 ($365,000)

GMT Pepsi 126710BLRO today price $139,000 ($136,000)

GMT Batgirl 1266710BLNR today price is $120,000 ( $118000)

Sea dweller 126600 Single Red $111,000 ($106,000)

Submariner 116610LN 40mm discontinued since Sept 2020 , NOS still available about estimated $98,000

Submariner 126610LN 41mm now is $115,000

These are not SPR at AD, because only a few person could get Rolex sport model with SPR in Hong Kong, needless to be discussed here.

The price here is the trading price of watch dealers in Hong Kong.

Let’s observe one more month.

 

HK Snob

Rare Rolex Day Date Coral 18208

This is Rolex Day Date coral.

No matter you like it or not, I was able to persuade Rolex Swiss to assemble one last Coral dial on to a 118238 and we bought it three years ago at AD and sold it to a HK collector at HK$2XXXXX ! 

That watch is probably worth with almost $700,000 or more now!

Now Antiquorum is carrying a 1996 ref 18208 with coral dial.

The most collectible colour is Coral, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, onyx... I still Remember someone looked at me saying too expensive as I sold one 18038 Coral with Rolex paper with certain price, half of this price 2 years ago.

Sometimes it is not hunch but knowledge that could predict what is the value of some watches in future!

The rule is how rare it was and how “ ugly” it was! After certain year peoples ’ taste would change and  it becomes how beautiful it is! 😂

HK Snob

Latest Hot Rolex Oyster Perpetual Price update

 Latest Rolex Oyster Perpetual Tiffany Blue Hong Kong market price update

1. 41 mm latest Ref 124300 $92,000- 100,000

2. 36 mm Unisex Ref 126000 $86000- 90,000

3. 31 mm lady 277200 $52,000-57,000

 

36mm Ref 126000 is the hottest as it suits both men and women.

41mm definitely fits for men for its size, but who will wear this Tiffany blue, may be Don Johnson.

It seems this is the price highest to low

1. Tiffany Blue

2. Green

3. Orange

4. Pink

5. Red

6. Shining Blue

7. Black

8. Silver

New Tiffany Blue OP is two times the SRP! 

Some people say, let’s wait and the price will drop, I think the price will be slightly adjusted but will float at +5 -10% of this price within these three months. 

HK Snob

Patek Philippe will increase price on 1 Oct 2020

This is new price book for Patek Philippe, well, no one can have any feeling at all for price increase, as you can not get a Patek with SRP at all, it take a few years before you are given a call for your Nautilus collection.

HK Snob

Hot Rolex OP colourful watch 2020

After 1^st September, there is never short of surprise, first the slightly enlarged 41mm Submariner 126610LN, 126610LV was available in the authorized Dealer (AD), actually each AD should carry one set of new Rolex in Hong Kong, but not Taiwan, Philippines, nor Thailand.

 

Price of Submariner Green bezel is highest hitting $200,000 in the first two days, people will think that price will drop one week or so to a state of $120,000!

 

It is proven wrong, as of today 13 September, the Green Bezel Submariner (it got a nicked name Starbucks) is still selling as an average $165,000.

Submariner Black with date 126610LN is $121,000

How about those OP? An oyster perpetual 36mm ref 124300 with SRP $43,400.

 

This is the known price on media like fb, IG.

 

Turquoise $77,000

Green $65,000

Yellow, Red and Orange yet to be seen and no price

Black and Silver should be around SRP.

 

I guess that orange and Red shall not be cheaper than turquoise and green.

Let’s watch out

 

We don’t have 41mm yet in the market.

If you can see those colour selling at SRP, I think you should buy, if not let me know where if that is in HK.

 

Price indicated here is in Hong Kong Dollar

HK Snob

Scammed Watch Explorer II 216570 White dial....ALERT

There is a recent case a White Dial Explorer II 216570 was sold with a fake cheque, the foreigner had reported to police and when you see this watch coming with a nice offer, please beware The Watch coems with S/N G478550, this is a case under police's investigation, if you buy this you may be also in trouble. You should not hesiate to reprot to police in case you are seeing this watch. HK Snob

Live at Face book "Paul Ip" this week

Dear All HKWF fans

Welcome to visit my face book Live at 1200 HKLT this Saturday 29 August 2020

This week topics is "Daytona"

See you then.

HK Snob

Price of Submariner

Don't believe or not, the dealer trading price for Submariner black 116610LN is HK$92,000.

The Hulk is even insane, HK$133,000!

What a price under this worldwide unstable economy and amidst of COVID-19!

What is reason for such a simple watch to shoot up to this price?

Stop production?

Rolex shipment getting slim?

or more newer collector or users are entering into hype of Rolex sport watch?

I am thinking the big dealer is stocking up Hulk as they speculate the model will soon be discontinued.

So this is the last bet before September that there is some news of new Rolex model roll out from factory?

Just called the Rolex AD, one manager told me Hulk has been stopped to produce, that they have not seen one more than three weeks
HK Snob

Rolex Watches being introduced during live fb page at 1200 15 Aug 2020

We started three rounds to have a weekly live at fb broadcast at 1200 Saturday, this is what we have done last week on GMT Master.

As there is difficulty in browsing the watch in great details, this is what we have shown during the section.

This is open to discuss on these watches. Michael Young and me had been doing this during this COVID-19 pandemic.

I hope you can join and comment on that.  fb page is under my name "Paul Ip".

Michael Young is an expert in Rolex bracelet restoration, he is owner of Classic Watch Repair and CEO of Undone (custom design watch company) 

HK Snob

How much you can expect these four Rolex watches bought three years worth Today?

This was my last post on 5 Mar 2019 forecast on a few watches such as Daytona 116500LN white

Hulk Submariner 116610LV, Submariner 116610LN, GMT Master II 116710BLNR.

This is a review on say if we bought one each in August 2017, what would be the value today?

Price on 8/ 2017

Daytona 116500LN White $128,000

Hulk Submariner 116610LV $88,000

Submariner 116610LN $67,000

GMT Master II 116710BLNR $73,000

Total amount was 356,000.

Price on 8/2020

After 3 years today price is:-

Daytona 116500 $193,000

Hulk Submariner 116610LV $120,000

Submariner 116610LN $92,000

GMT Master II 116710BLNR $100,000

Total $505,000

 

Nett profit is $149,000 if you bought these watches three years ago.

Profit margin is 41%

But as you know that is the price you can buy now at the market currently, someone may not like three years old watch so the price is lowered, but if you keep that in mint full sticker condition further would be a very good investment in future!

Money shown here is HKD.

 

Refer my post :-

https://watch-fever.blogspot.com/2019/03/investment-on-watch.html?m=1

HK Snob

Latest Rolex Market price between dealers in Hong Kong Today

This is Today's watch price between dealers in Hong Kong.

The watches are mostly hot model most people are looking for.

And most of them are not available at AD at SRP (supplier recommended retail price).

As you may know now only few AD chain is still selling Rolex at SRP.

This is all in Hong Kong Dollar and mostly in cash.

If you have concern , you can talk to me via WhatsApp 852-51229994.
Price e is fluctuation daily. So this is purely for your reference only.

Also price is obtained from more than one source with the same price, there may have other possible source with slightly highly or lower +/-HK$500 to HK$1,000 or so.

HK Snob

gg

What if COVID-19 is still with us.

What is the new norm after the COVID-19?

Well, it is hard to say as we may have COVID-20, or a new generation of pandemic diseases. This virus does not carry any nationality, ? who knows one day, that may be no vaccine to cure and all human gone in one day!

What we can see is changes:

1. Work from Home

2. Olympic games, watch show, auction go on line, soccer games without audience!

3. Watch boutique number will be reduced may be more than 60% in three years time

4. Zoom, Teams, Webex is our meeting tools

5. Good presentation material would be key selling tools for technological product sales

6, Virtual reality in luxury goods shopping

7. On line sales figure double up in 1 year

8. Instant food, delivery and medical business blooming

9. China will go de-Americanized.

10. Money value drops as many factories closed except money printing machine keeps 24/7 running

11. Goods-goods trade without money involved.

12, Many Airlines companies will diminished and closed

13. China 5G will be the most powerful tool for communications by 2023

14. China will be one of the few countries produce COVID-19 vaccine in volume.

These are my personal opinion only.

Wish all the worst time had gone, and tomorrow would be better day for the world.

HK Snob

Story of Rolex Polar

Left and the Right extreme is 16570 and the two in the centre is 16550

Story of Rolex Polar 

Introduction of Rolex Explorer II ref. 16570. 

Rolex followed up the Explorer II ref. 16550 with the ref. 16570 in 1989.  

It kept its 40mm size and stainless steel Oyster case and Oyster bracelet design, which I think a right and optimized size Rolex had an extensive study. 

New to the dial was the black outlines of the hour markers and against the cool white dial, the luminescent indexes really pop up! So called Polar! 

Also new to the Polar ref. 16570 was the movement. Early models of the 16570 are equipped with the Caliber 3185 automatic movement, while later versions are powered by the Caliber 3186. Also found on the later versions of the ref. 16570 is the “ROLEX ROLEX ROLEX” engraving on the rehaut as an anti-counterfeit measure. This particular ref. 16550 dates back to 1997/1999 so it’s powered by the Caliber 3185 and does not included the rehaut engraving. Whether opting for a new vintage or the Explorer II Polar, decide here looking at this watch.  

A Robust stainless steel oyster case coupled with a cool white dial and a bright 24-hour hand makes for a timeless sports watch that brings out one’s adventurous side.  

Both exceedingly practical thanks to its time, date, and GMT-hand functions, and impeccably designed, the Explorer II Polar is a Rolex not to be missed. And soon the 216570 will be replaced with newer ceramic Explorer II or III? Keep you vintage Polar is my advice to you. 

HK Snob.

Latest Rolex Price