Complaint to Watch Manufactures on their trade practice

 I had sent two mails on for Rolex and one for Patek in a unhappy feeling about what we 

being a collector that I can't get the watch in weeks, nor years or even forever in the normal channel.

Whereby those grey dealer could get as many as they can at some special channel. 

Well, this is free market, I am fully aware but I am just asking them what is the proper channel to buy our watch we need to buy as a watch aficionado.

Lets see what is the response from them.

Or if you have any suggestion to get the watch we want at SRP, let me know.

You can send me private message
to my Whatsapp no. if you want.

HK Snob

Omega Premiere on 2021 novelty watches

It was my great pleasure and honour to be invited into the first session on 2021 Omega novelty started on 19 June in Central.

We have been introduced on the manufacturing process of  Omega alloy on their watch, process of manufacturing ceramic cases and the use of their own formula on precious metals to prevent tarnishing over time.

These are Omega gold alloy

Yellow gold with Au 75%, Cu 20% and Ag 5%

SEDNA Yellow gold  Au 75%, Cu 20% and Pd 1%

3N Rose gold with Au 75%, Cu 12.5% and Ag 12.5%

CANOPUS white gold with Au 75%, PD 21%, RH 2% and PT 1%

Besides, Omega is using liquids metal creating the "Naiad-Lock case back" to ensure that all engravings on the rear of the watch stay oriented correctly. the word "naiad" comes from the Greek and refers to mythological water spirits.

We were introduced with 2021 De Ville and and Seamaster watches.

The second picture are the only two pieces in Omega Hong Kong. They are Seamaster in Lapis Lazuli and malachite. 

Personally I like the Malachite more and I believe no one is using with these material as dial on their diving watch in the past 20 years other than Omega. Rolex had been using Onyx and Lapis to make a number of Submariners 16618 back in 1994-2001, I had one with Lapis and one with Onyx before.

They are fetching a very high price in auction by now with Lapis close to $1M and Onyx $700,000.

Omega had once using these material on their Seasmaster in 2018. and only few pieces were made. This material would enlighten the beauty if a gold Seamaster and that would be a future sought after and auction hot item. I was told only two pieces were available in this premiere in Hong Kong. I was lucky enough to see it.

In my opinion Yellow gold goes with Green perfectly. 

Such as those most successful introduction of Rolex Daytona ref 116508 green dial and SPR is $286,000 but now they are asking in open market of $650,000!

Latest Tudor BB58 Ref 79018V Yellow gold with green bezel and green dial. SPR $126,000 and market starts to pick up now.

Well, another one worth my consideration is a vintage look with 9K gold alloyed with bronze Seamaster 300 with sandwich dial with a awesome patina look. The SPR is $92,100.

Remarks, I could not resist the temptation, I had to take home this two beauties.

HK Snob

Unit shown here HKD$

Shall we go for New or neo-Vintage Rolex under such market changes of 2021

We have seen that there is a big change in Rolex market price in these few years.

I briefly categories them into new watches, neo-vintage and vintage watch here.

New watches are those made between 2010-2021

Neo-vintage are this made 1989-2010

Vintage watches are those made between 1988 or before.  (T <25 lume dial)

Vintage Rolex was enjoying a good days in price appreciation mainly in these years 2014-2019, as we can see price of GMT master 1675 and or Sea Dweller, 1665  was rising up 50% in these 5 year’s time and become flat after 2019 and even experienced price drop slightly in end of 2020 till now.

Rolex did announced in a form of internal memo they would stop offering free authentication service for vintage watches on 6 Dec 2020.

With this announcement, many new vintage collectors would hesitate in buying vintage Rolex as there is no way to tell his watch is made with correct period of the parts with the watch such as dial, hands, bezel and bracelet.

This will immediately created an impact to the dealer, shops as buyers are scary of the completeness of the vintage watch, so business of vintage watches dropped significantly. And those buyers or collectors would like to consider buying newer Rolex, so the new watches market would expand a lot.

Some of the private collectors would like to sell out some of his collection and switches buying new watches.

What is the best model vintage Rolex collectors would consider to buy as new watches, Daytona… so Daytona price kept going up. 

A Rolex Yellow gold Daytona 16618 was $150,000 in May 2020, and the same watch is now $230,000  (up 53%)

A White gold Daytona 116519 with black dial was $223,000 in 2019 and this is now $320,000!

You can see Daytona 116500LN white was $190,000 as an average in 2020, and was going to peak highest $320,000 on April 2021 as many of us speculated that it would be discontinued after April 2021.

After Watches and Wonders had no news of discontinuing on Daytona 1165100LN white on 7 April 2021, the price get softened and dropped from $300,000 down to $270,000 in one week, thence stabilized at the range of $260000-268,000 in these two months till now.

There used to have small number of dishonest dealer, shops and or individual fb sellers are killing the market by introduction of some of the frankenWatch to sell. So they kill the markets as no one is able to tell them officically thse are good stuff or Frankenwatches… there are still some individual expert or private company would guarantee the authentication of Rolex watches. However, no one would be more authorized as Rolex could do in the market.

More people is amazed by the new Rolex watches in these two years, and their price are keep going up. Mainly because they are more wearable comparing with Vintage Rolex.

What do you do with your cash for watches? likely buying newer watches of neo-vintage Rolex (1999-2010).

If you want to buy for daily uses as a me-too Rolex, go for new one.

If you want to buy certain watches as for investment or for your collection, get those neo-vintage, they are less complicated to choose and more repairable and wearable than those vintage Rolex. And they are more commonly been recognized as authenticated as more documented sources is available for your to learn and study about them.

So how about your treasure of Daytona 6263, Double RED 1665 Singapore Red 1680? Well, keep them and wait for next cycle to come… no one knows when may be two years or four or 8 years.

HK Snob

Units here is HKD (Hong Kong Dollars)

Looking for hidden gem

I remembered I had a month anchorage at Salalah at the gulf of Oman by 1981…when I was on board the merchant vessel “White Sea”.

Salalah is the second largest city of Oman after Dhofar, also the biggest sea port in the Arab Peninsula.

It is the birthplace of the current Omani leader, Sultan Qaboos, and is located in the Dhofar Governorate in southern Oman. From the north, the city is surrounded by a mountain range that turns green with spectacular waterfalls during the Khareef season. From the south, it has a long beautiful coast that is embellished with white sands. It is a beautiful place, but by the summer of 1981, we were awaiting for moor one month before we can moor for cargo unloading.

I had a great chance to fish, as there was much we can do in the Arab port, no one is allowed to drink as beer, whisky store was bonded by Arabian customs officers once the shipped had arrived the port. Salalah shipping agent told me that Arabians do not eat those beautiful fishes as they called them fairy because of the colourful outlook. Those are green wrasse (Choerodon schoenleinii) and they are huge easily weighed 3 to 5 kgs each.
We use crab meat as bait on a string as we did not have fishing line, just put in we could catch big green wrasse, and we could possible caught 50 big fishes in just a day… This kind of fish is expensive in Hon Kong. The meat is so tender and we used to steam and serve with soya sauce, they were very delicious… but after a week, no one wanted to eat as we had enough with breakfast, lunch and dinner going to be the same fish!

The moral of this story is…. Try to get something no one wants in one place and that possible be gems in the eyes of someone… in other words, in the world of watches try not to compete with people who is looking for Daytona while price is too competitive already. Ty something else as to get the best net profit out of it.

Omega had been producing a lot of moon watches which I am not able to tell what series and model as they are as many as Panerai produced in the past ten years… unless you are really focusing in the Omega collections. Jack of all trades but master of nothing is always right to describe.

Alaska is so cold, but this Omega is so hot

OMEGA, SPEEDMASTER PROFESSIONAL, ALASKA PROJECT, LIMITED SERIES XXX/1970, REF. 311.32.42.30.04.001.

Perhaps no other modern kind of watch has quite encapsulated the spirit of the original NASA and pre-moon Speedmasters as much as the Alaska Project Limited edition as modern Icon of Speedmaster historical importance.

The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Alaska Project was the limited edition Speedmaster watch model that Omega introduced at Baselworld 2008. It happens to have one of the most interesting "limited-edition stories" among the modern limited-edition Omega Speedmaster Moon watches.

In 1970, Omega developed a Speedmaster that was a bit different from the then current Moonwatch models. They called it the Alaska project (it had to withstand extreme temperatures, especially those on the dark side of the Moon) and therefore Omega came up with the solution of an external casing made of red-anodized aluminum. The project title Alaska was from then on used for every assignment they did for NASA, like this 1978 Alaska III project watch that was re-certified for the Space Shuttle missions.

The dial was made white so it wouldn't absorb heat, and the red anodized aluminum case protects the watch in a temperature range from -148F to +260F.  NASA never purchased these watches and the project was cancelled at the end!

No other watch has captured the hearts minds of Omega collectors and enthusiasts as much as this. The Red anodized aluminum case is 58mm in diameter and we've still to see any collector quite brave or mad enough to wear one "On the go". I did it!

Price of Alaska project Omega

It was about $60,000 in 2008.

It was about $80,000 in 2019, then we see there is demand on it in 2020 January, price rose up to

$90,000 and By May we bought one with $105,000.  And price kept rising…

It is now about $350,000!

We here we are talking about Brand new full set unused one…

Price is still going up, what is the estimated price by end of 2021? Interesting. 

What is next for Omega

Well, people asked me, I think one of the most successful project is Omega Snoopy, launched at 2003, then another one in 2015, latest one was back to 2020, the 50^th anniversary Silver Snoopy

Price is now $250,000, after goods are delivered in January 2021…. Price had been risen sharply and I really cannot estimated what price will it hit by Dec 2021…

From The past record, the 1^st generation Snoopy is now HK$160,000

The second generation is now $380,000

With the new added nice and Start trek movie feature at the back of the 3^rd generation Snoopy, I think this is the potential rising star or a hype for Omega.

I speculate that the price will overtake the 2^nd generation by 2022… and By 2024 the price could possible go to $600,000!

Of course, this is my speculation, nothing can guarantee the price will go to that level, or even go above that level.

We you have chance try to get one at your local Omega boutique for this absolutely stunning piece.

HK Snob

Units here is in HKD (Hong Kong Dollar)

Pictures 

1. 2020 50th anniversary Omega Snoopy 

2. Back side of the 50th anniversary Omega Snoopy with rotating Earth and Rocket moving along the Earth

3. Omega Project Alaska full set

4.  Anodized red case for the watch

5,6. Omega Project Alaska watch

7. Port Salalah

8. A green Wrasse

9. M/V similar as the M/V White Sea/HPDS that I worked on it 1981-1982

The Rolex Submariner "Hulk" history, current price and future value

 

Rolex is used to be so conservative in the past on sport model, however during Baselworld 2010 watch fair, Rolex released this so called “Hulk” with Green dial and green bezel! It was immediately seen as most daring design of eye-catching colour on a Submariner! At the same time, the 116610LV was an instant success upon its launch, met with great feedback and praise.

 When Rolex first introduced the Submariner in 1953, it set a benchmark and pushed the boundaries for what a serious professional dive watch is. Back in the days, the watch market looked a lot different from what it does today, a time when people used watches as a tool. Today, the majority of Rolex Hulk Submariner owners never put it into water, not mentioning diving with their watches.

Investment on Hulk

This is quite an interesting topic when it comes to Rolex, since Rolex, generally speaking, is known to be quite good investments.

Generally speaking, the secondhand value of stainless steel sports Rolex watches tend to increase in value over time. In particular when a certain model is discontinued. Looking at the past tends to give quite a good indication.

When it is practically not possible to get many of the sports models from Rolex in stainless steel from the authorized dealers due to an extreme demand and low supply, and as a result of this, it makes it a bit more difficult to predict the future and what will happen next.

Base on the trend of Sept 2020 until now, to talk a little bit about the Rolex 116610LV, it seems that this is a watch that is a good investment because the prices on the secondhand market have only continued to increase. 

Price of Hulk as of 31 May 2021

NOS 116610LV with sticker full set - $190,000

Used 95% full set 3-6 years watch $130,000 -145,000

Used 90% full set 5-8 years $120,000 approximately. 

Price of Hulk estimated by end of 2021

NOS 116610LV with sticker full set - $210,000

Used 95% full set 3-6 years watch $150,000

Used 90% full set 5-8 years $130,000 approximately

What do you think? Buy now?

HK Snob

Legend

Unit here is HKD (Hong Kong Dollar)

NOS – new old stock

 

 

 

More on Rolex GMT Master II Pepsi

Since Baselworld 2018 Rolex introduced the retro GMT Master Pepsi in Jubilee bracelet, the price was kept high until today. It was rising to HK$190000 in the first month of May 2018, and it is now still maintained at price of HK$150,000 after 3 years.

Lets see how the new movement Pepsi will be sold now in Hong Kong, this is using new movement with Ref 126710BLRO on Oyster Bracelet. Today price is HK$180,000, very high and there is not many stock available, I think the price will be moving around HK$160K-170K for a period of time. Well, that is a stainless steel GMT Master II, here I am talking about a very special Meteorite dial being housed into a white gold case with Red and blue bezel. I always like the combination of Meteorite on white gold case and Green dial with Yellow gold case, that is the best matching combinations.

Here I have two offers, one is May 2020 with sticker, new unused and one is 2021 May unused. Price is not too high as a special watch like this is concerned. 

Who know once this GMT Meteorite will be discontinued? another two years by 2023? then Definitely this watch price will be fetching close to HK$1,000,000 or more.

HK Snob

Luxury watch market amidst the Pandemic in Hong Kong

 As previously reported by friends, dealers, collectors, most people look to the secondhand market to buy their timepieces, and vintage watches pretty much dominate the sector. I should say more people go to the neo-vintage as they are tend to be more affordable.

Before the Pandemic in Q1 2020, we speculated that watch price would drop, however due to the strong Quantitative Easing by the US federal reserve, money is getting less valuable than it was before. People has money would either go for buying real estate and or certain expensive luxury watches.

That statement confirmed true after one year of the pandemic, where high-net-worth-individuals have continued to splurge on luxury items.

For example, the Sotheby's Important Watches live auction concluded on December 15 2020 and brought in $10.4 million — up 27% from 2019 — with a Patek Philippe double name Tiffany Ref 2499  selling for $818,600. Other standouts from the auction: A Cartier Ecran Mystery Clock that went for $564,500, and a Salmon Dial Audemars Piguet Royal Oak selling for $441,000.

In addition to the hype around owning a Rolex or Richard Mille, most understand that many luxury watches hold good investment value, like a Birkin or a Basquiat. These are all high-end, quality goods that have historically proved to retain the value paid for them or even become more valuable over time, often significantly.

Though Bain reported in November that the luxury goods market has fallen 23% to $265 billion this year, very expensive items such as Hermes bags relatively untouched by financial discord and market downturns. As during last weekend, the only shop that has a 20 persons queue at the entrance is Hermes at Canton Road of Tsim Sha Tsui.

Richard Mille is the Hermes of watches now. "Richard Mille is the most expensive. It's not just the craftsmanship, technology and research on material; it is the supply and demand. They only make maybe four or five thousand watches a year. You can't really get them.

Deloitte's 2019 "Global Powers of Luxury Goods" found that the average annual sales from the top 32 watch and jewelry companies topped $2 billion in 2017, and a 2018 Bain report stated that the secondhand market was worth nearly $25 billion, with watches and jewelry making up over 80% of all secondhand market purchases.

The next best investment after Richard Mille is a Patek, Audmears Piguet and Rolex. Not just because they are beautiful, but because they also retain their value. From there, Audemars Piguet — Bieber bought one in 2019 for $50,000 as a "lil wedding gift" to himself. Patek Philippe is also a solid choice — Jay-Z owns one worth at least $2.2 million. Note to take note that within these two years, we see that the demand on Blue dial Overseas Vacheron Constantin is getting higher, so as their classic pieces such as Perpetual Calendar especial housed in case of Overseas, 1921… etc.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and destabilized global financial markets, the luxury sector was still recovering from the impact of the Hong Kong protests, which saw Swiss watch imports to the region decline by 26.8% in comparison to 2018. Facing the coronavirus pandemic, the luxury watch industry was preparing for its worst year yet. However, since 1Q 2020 up to now. The Watch price has been increasing a.

Most obviously is Daytona, All Daytona price has been up more than 15-20% Q2 2021 comparing with that of Q2 2020.

The moral of the story is:-

Real estate dollar per square foot is breaking record at midst of COVID-19.

Wealthy people are still buying luxury watches and Hermes amid the pandemic.

Poor people is still suffering from either loss of job or losing pay hours!

No confirmed date of border lock down lifted even for Macao or China, not need to mention other countries such as Thailand, Singapore, or EU.

I wish that more HK people would go for COVID Vaccination free of charge, we are living in a paradise that we have millions of vaccine surplus back up by our motherland but people is hesitate to go for jab. Those poor countries have thousands of death tolls every day because of not enough vaccine!

HK Snob

 

 

Three brand new Rolex on sale

 GMT Meteorite 116719BLRO Mar 2020 Brand new un-used with sticker HK$500,000

Daytona White Gold 116509-78559 March 2020 slightly used a couple of time HK$350,000

Submariner 116618LN May 2020 brand new un-used HK$280,600

All three are HK AD watch full set paper and box.

Interested party please whatsapp me 51229994

HK Snob

How does a Tourbillon work?

Tourbillon

It was developed around 1795 and patented by the French-Swiss watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet on June 26, 1801. In a tourbillon the escapement and balance wheel are mounted in a rotating cage, in order to negate the effects of gravity when the timepiece (thus the escapement) is stuck in a certain position.

In a tourbillon, the whole assembly is constantly moving in one revolution a minute. That means no matter what position the watch is in, those timing variations gain on one side or loss on the other side are essentially canceled out.

Below sketch clearly illustrated the difference between normal watch and a tourbillon.

HK Snob

 

2021 Novelties' Breitling Premier B09 Chronograph

 This is surely an awesome design dial mainly the pistachio green is a killer.

I think 80% of people see it will like it. and I believe that is one of the hot watches in 2021 after 

The Patek 5711 and Reverso in Olive dial.  

And I had ordered by deposit at AD for two pieces and I hope I can get them both in June,

It is a manual winding  with 28 Jewels with transparent bottom on the 40mm stainless steel case, double register dial and a matching crocodile strap.

Price is also very attractive as this would not be enough to buy a Rolex Oyster Perpetual 126600 in Green.

May you you have to add another USD3000 to get it. well, what's your hesitation?

HK Snob

Buying Behaviour

When Williams-Sonoma introduced bread machines, sales were slow. When they added a “deluxe” version that was 50% more expensive, the original started flying off the shelves; the first bread machine now appeared to be a bargain.

iPhone high end version and lower version is actually similar in hardware but matter of a software to limit the available functions and set a different marketing price for what they want to get main profit margin they expect.

Tversky and Kahneman conducted the following experiment: when contemplating the purchase of a $25 pen, the majority of subjects would drive to another store 15 minutes away to save $7. When contemplating the purchase of a $455 suit, the majority of subjects would not drive to another store 15 minutes away to save $7. The amount saved and time involved are the same, but people make very different choices. Hong Kong People are known to be good at this practice… Searching in internet, Carousell, facebook Chrono24 for the lowest offers and then they select the one they want to approach.

Salvador Assael, the Pearl King, single-handedly created the market for black pearls, which were unknown in the industry before 1973. His first attempt to market the pearls was an utter failure – he didn’t sell a single pearl! So, he went to his friend Harry Winston, and had Winston put them in the window of his 5th Avenue store with an outrageous price tag attached. Then he ran full page ads in glossy magazines with black pearls next to diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. Soon, black pearls were considered precious. In short, marketing is needed for making luxury items sales possible. 

Setting a price

Every item has a price. I purposely don’t want to put an over high price tag and wait for negotiation, and I think wise buyer know the real price and low bailer will be filtered away by doing this. I think negotiation is not my style, and if one day this is likes some supermarket sales tricks buy one get one free, you had better beware on the luxury watch you bought in this offer.

HK Snob

What is the watches I should consider to buy today?

 

What is the best watch that I should consider to buy today?

There is no definite answer on it as being a watch is being used as a man's accessory. Not an investment item, well we cannot say watch investment, but in other terms, it may say alternatively while a way to enjoy your watch at same time you feel like its value is not losing too much.

From my experience there is what I interpret.

Scarcity and “beautiful” is always one of the two major key factors for it long terms value to be appreciated.

Scarcity means that is was made in small number, or it was purposely made in small number.

Remember the logic, when you buy the watch that may be already made in a lot in production, so in future that may be also a lot available the value will not appreciate too much.

The one we used to be “beautiful’ is somewhat hard to say, aesthetic is quite abstract and that also involve people influence such as what is the hype in that period of time. Remember no one wanted to buy Daytona in 80’s. and that time you can get it easier with discount. Now Daytona is what most sought after sport watch from Rolex. So if you buy Daytona 20 years ago. It will be a good return today.

Remember people did not like big watch in the 80’s they can take 34mm Rolex at most by that time and not so many people buy Rolex 36mm in that time for Date Just, now we have Date Just, Date Day of 41mm and recently it is reduced to 40mm which is ore accepted by most of the end users.

What is the best Rolex watch that we should keep an eye on?

Oyster Perpetual Series

There are a series of colour with No.1 hot is Tiffany Blue, with 126000 36mm SRP $46,400 now it worth more than $110,000 the large version of 41 mm Ref 114300 is even selling $140,000 ! 

Next is Pink, green, Red, Orange, yellow, black and silver. Black and silver is not hot at all. And Pink’s price is the second runner up after Tiffany Blue, But I am eye on the RED, as the RED is exactly the China national flag RED, if this is becoming one day the preferred watch of the Chinese.. This may flip 4X or more. Of course this is my pure guess and I think there isn’t no such possibility. Buying for speculation.

GMT Master Series

There is one watch that I think it matches the two major key factors for price appreciation, the 126710BLRO in Meteorite dial, that is a rare piece and was selling like SRP $306,000 in 2020 and I speculate that this watch will fly 2X in two years. And 4X in 6 years. The reason is that Rolex is seldom using meteorite as the dial material, only a few pieces were using this material to make the dial such as Daytona, Day Date and this first time on GMT Master II.

How about the third one?

Sea Dweller 126000- No as it is under production.

Starbucks 126610LV – NO, just been launched in Sept 2020.

Hulk 116610LV – No, as too many had been made in the past 11 years.

Daytona 116500 White – yes or no, as this current price has been up 2.5X already, room for further going up is lean, EXCEPT they are going to discontinue it by 2021…. So if we can get one below $220,000 within 2021 should be good!

I think we should go for it.

Any other more??

Let  me think of it.

HK Snob

Two Vacheron Constantin watches Tourbillon and GMT

These are two of the Vacheron Constantin, the first one is Patrimony Tourbillon manual winding with 7 days power reserve watches with crystal bottom cover that we can see through the beautiful movement.

Second one is brand new world time on Overseas which is neither too plain nor too crowded on the dial design. a low profile Overseas watch with 41mm.

These are two watches that may capture your attention. 

If you are eager to take them home, do contact me.

HK Snob

 

The Top 4 most sought after Rolex models

 The top 4 Most sought after Rolex

ROLEX DAYTONA STEEL 116500LN

During the 1970s to 1990s, the Daytona wasn’t sough-after at all.

The situation changed in 2000 when Rolex introduced its own movement, after discontinued model 16520 by 1999 creating a shortage on the steel versions of this model. The steel Daytona has been a hot commodity since the introduction of the in-house calibre 4130.

By 2016, the new Panda look ceramic LN version changed the situation, with this vintage look plus modern patent design built in, the New Daytona is a functional daily work horse for most of the younger generations. Plus the supply is in little number such as one or two in the individual AD chain a quarter.

With SRP USD 12,400, the dealer is flipping it at USD 34,000 today. 

ROLEX GMT “BATMAN” 116710BLNR and “PEPSI” 126710BLRO and

The GMT being the major 4 columns for Rolex sport watches since it was introduced in 1954. The current collection is based on the evolution launched in 2005 with the ref. 116718LN, comprising a redesigned case, maxi dials and a ceramic bezel for the first time of Rolex. Later the steel/black dial 116713LN tow tone model would follow. Still the public is not well taking these pieces as some of the most sought after Rolex until the two-tone, blue-and-black “Batman” 116710BLNR model appeared in 2013, which started to create fame around the GMT even including those vintage GMT 1675, 16710, 16760, 16750. Still I was able to get Batman with less 5% at AD by 2014. After 2015-6 sorry, price was jumping up from USD 8,600 to USD 11,540, then to USD 14,000 in 2018.

By 7 April, Rolex announced the launch if “Batman Return” with Oyster Bracelet

126710BLNR… I think Batgirl price will adjust and Batman Return will be hot again. As Most of people think that a Sport Rolex GNMT should come with Oyster Bracelet rather than a Jubilee bracelet. 

In 2015, Rolex reintroduced the Pepsi, ref 116719BLRO, a white gold version with red-and-blue bezel, faithful to the original 1954 version… it was selling $28,200 at second hand market and I had sold two to one CX and one PAL pilots in 2016 at Makati.

Rolex may feel bad as most people may expect a cheaper steel version…You got it… Baselworld 2018 saw the launch of the 126xxx series, with a new movement and mainly, the return of the Pepsi bezel on a steel watch and the arrival of the Jubilee bracelet on the GMT. No need to say, success was immediate, demand became crazy… prices too at USD 20,230 in the grey dealer when first launched into Hong Kong. 

Up to now after its introduction, the Steel Pepsi 126710BLRO is still highly sought-after, just like any steel model in the GMT line (including the older 116710LN, which are now discontinued but still able to get over retail). While the SRP is EUR 8,500 or USD 9,250, prices on the second-hand market are about EUR 17,000/ USD 18,500, again a 100% premium over retail. 

ROLEX GMT “BATgirl” 126710BLNR

Baselworld 2018, Rolex announced that the entire collection will feature two-tone bezels, thus discontinuing the LN model but updated the blue-black version BLNR, a watch nicknamed “Batgirl”. The concept was the same as with the Pepsi: new movement, new ref. number in 12xxxx, new Jubilee bracelet. And the demand for this version immediately rose, in parallel with the demand for the Pepsi. 

Reality: Just like the BLRO version, this “Batgirl” BLNR set a SRP EUR 8,500/USD 9,250. The price on the second-hand market is high, at around EUR 15,500/USD 17,300 – a bit under the Pepsi, confirming that the blue-red model is the definitive model. 

ROLEX SUBMARINER “HULK” 116610LV

Submariner is the most iconic watch in the industry.

There are multiple versions including steel, two tone, yellow gold or white gold.

Date and no date version 114060.

These three version black 116610LN date and Green 116610LV and 114060 black no date are rarely be found at retailers. 

As of today Hulk is discontinued so price is USD 19,000

Submariner new 41mm 126610LN is USD 13,460

Submariner new 41mm no date is USD 12,100 

Under Pandemic COVID-19, many people are curious why the real estate price and Rolex is never come down? Well, someone in the other side of the word is printing money at highest speed possible on the De La Rue Machines. Money is becoming less valued today as of Yesterday.

What is the best thing to buy with this money? Besides, those people buying these Rolex is not me or someone, it the top 1.5% richest people in the world. 

Model Ref

Submariner Black 40mm discon 116610LN

Submariner Black 40 mm no date discon. 114060

Submariner Hulk 40 mm HULK 116610LV

Submariner Black 41 mm new 126610LN

Submariner Black 41 mm no date 126610LN

Submariner Black with green Bezel “Starbucks” 1266110LV 

GMT Green pointer discon 116710LN

GMT Batman Blue black with oyster bracelet discon116710BLNR

GMT Pepsi Red Blue with Jubilee Bracelet 126710BLRO

GMT Batgirl blue black 126710BLNR

GMT Batman Return blue black 126710BLNR 

HK Snob

Is there better choice other than Rolex?

     We can see over the last three decades, Rolex is having certain advantages:
1.     Being recognized easily by majority of people
2.      Enter to Luxury watch category after Patek Philippe,  Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet,  A Lange, Paneria, Richard Mille, FP Journe…
3.       Demand is high so the long term value is there, limited to certain models
4.       It is reliable.
5.       What else? 
So how about its disadvantages
1.      Rolex is Lazy to take a major change in design.
They launch a new sub model with change of colour of dial, material of bezel, design of bracelet.
In 2014 September, Rolex launched the Batman 116710BLNR with Blue black bezel with Oyster bracelet, immediately created a lot of instant demad. By 2018 they introduced the Batgirl 126710BLNR with same blue black bezel with Jubilee Bracelet. Now after three years the Batman Comes back, a same design of Barman 2014 launched under model number 126710BLNR using new movement on oyster bracelet.
So what is the big deal? You’d never know what colour and combination they would introduce in 2022. 
2.       Rolex charges too much on the branding than the quality nowadays comparing with 20 years ago. 
3.       Rolex is a Mass-market product making 800,000 pieces a year. They produce in huge volume per years, equivalent to 3 times of the year production of all Patek Phillippe, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, Richard Mille, A Lange, FP Journe…added up together. Seriously a mass production item.
4.       Rolex are being aggressively counterfeited all over the world.
Someone had said in the world 90% of the watches Rolex seen in the street is fakes, I think that is a right statement.
So yours Rolex may be also spotted as an Fake watch in certain people's eyes.
5.       Dress watch SRP price has been triple over the twenty five years starting at US$20,000 now.
Rolex used to make a few pieces of Cellini which were beautifully small and elegant even some of them were made with Onyx and or Lapis on the dial, that was about HK$20,000 back then, but now the entry level of Cellini is HK$150,000 using ordinary printing dial, and nothing special to me. 
6.      Vintage Rolex is tricky
For those who ha been addicted into VR (Vintage Rolex) knows that he has to study a lot on the model breakdown variety and combination of the Rolex dial, case bezel and bracelet you have is matching the S/N of the watch or not? There is a single stain or two on the lume may reduce 15% of the value? If there is hairline scratch on the dial may reduce 30% of the Watch total value. If there is a service dial, 50% the value of that watch value will be gone, or even no one wants to buy from you.
That is before you open the case, after open you may find more surprise? So the real good VR may worth a lot a there are too many Frankenwatch VR on Earth, today you are happy with your VR known to be perfect with correct period. You are lucky.
I am collecting 30 years of Rolex and I feel scary to buy sometimes.. even the trust seller may not be aware the full details and story of his article before selling you, lucky him and unlucky you bought that watch and you may not sleep all the days of the year. In In short, I had talked to myself why Rolex?Well, friend knows me I had almost sold out all my Rolex in 2020, now leave a few pieces which are  what I really like. And I had switching to my old favourite watches.  In fact there are more better choice I should say other than Rolex.  Patek Nautilus Calatrava of the 70, Royal Oaks, Reverso, Cartier Tank Americaine,  Tudor BB58, Panerai, Older Cellini, Vacheron Constantin dress watch…etc. 

I wear what I really like and I don’t need to express to anybody by wearing a Rolex.

HK Snob

Watch Sales in Hong Kong 1H 2021

Today there are a lot of transactions about Rolex watches are focused 90% on new watches and 10% only on vintage, which loosely refers to watches 25 years or older. 

There are reasons that too risky to buy those vintage as there are too much knowledge you need to or you will lose in the game buying some Frankenwatch or low valued stuff you paid with high premium. 

I would rather spend effort on those neo-vintage such as those watches made between year 1998 to 2008 Because they seem not too old to be vintage, not too young to be modern. However over the years I see that more people will go to these watches as they are considered less in number of units available, not necessary to go for Rolex authentication, future value will be ensured to be promising.

Examples are  Daytona 116520 P series white dial, 116520 A series black dial. Patrizzi Daytona W series, Kermit submariner 16610LV, Sea dweller 116600, Single Red MK I 126600 etc...

My ten cents comment!

How about your suggestion?

HK Snob