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

HK Watch Fever and Classic Watch Repair do facebook Live on Watch talks

For the very first time, I had made a trial run with Michael Young of Undone watch for a facebook live on watch talks last Saturday 18 July at 1330-1400.

This is a test for you know during the hard time, no one could fly as we used to do in 2019. Many people want to do some watch shopping but there is limited opportunity to do that. Why not we try to do it on facebook live?

We did it and there was good response as there are 821 views on the video up to this moment.

We shall improve as we are not setting up properly and we did not have script.... but that may be something you want.

We may do it on next Saturday, if you want to see join my facebook "Paul Ip"

HK Snob

Daytona is King of Rolex Auction

One Daytona in Platinum with Lapis Lazuli dial 16516 was sold in Hong Kong Sotheby's auction recently for HK$25,375,000. That is equivalent to US$3,253.300!.

The last one same model sold in 2018 was US$871,000 only.

So moral of this auction is precious stone Rolex price could be crazy,  such as...

1. Submariner 16618 in Lapis Lazuli.

2. Rolex Day Date 18238 in Lapis Lazuli

3. Rolex Date Just 16238 in Lapis Lazuli

Why? Very Simple, as Rolex is not doing many Lapis Lazuli on his watch in the recent 20 years.

For cost of doing that is high and there is no such need to make such a small volume to add oil to this hot Rolex hype...

HK Snob

Tudor Tigers Collection

While everyone is craze for Rolex, have you all ever thought of Tudor, as the thumb of rule is, buy when price is low. When most of the people is pouring money into Rolex, his young brother Tudor price is still on the edge of rising. I can say it is still cheap for some of the awesome coloured Tudor.

These is some of my good friend's Tudor collection, he had just bought another 16 pieces of Tudor Tiger within the last two months. I think the most after ought colour is Coral, Red, creamy yellow, and Green. Do keep an eye on these beautiful Tudor as they are still OK to buy. Price is from HK$22000, to HK$ 75,000. Within 5 years. more people will be buying these Tudor and I am sure by that time the price is 2X higher or even more. While if possible, get those with full set. Don't mind paying more 25-30% more.

HK Snob

Price of Daytona Ceramic has been risen up to another High level again

Rolex Dayona Ceramic Ref 116500LN has reached a highest level back to 2019 April record of $195,000.

Without understanding why at such a time whereby COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong, which has become unsteady with a spike of 50 new cases confirmed local infection since last Saturday 11 July.

This week, the price of Daytona Ceramic White 116500LN hit $199,000. Rolex MSRP is $102,400.

I think that is very high. This is the trading price between dealer in Hong Kong as well the selling price of certain AD to their customer. Of course this kind of sales isn't unknown to Rolex Hong Kong. They just could not control it.

Reason why? Well, we have briefly thought about it today with a few collectors.

Mainly Rolex has stopped production for a while in February to April 2020, exact days of stopping production is unknow, another reason is people started to think if that is no more new Rolex roll out news confirmed by now, why we have to wait to buy? As Daytona is always the most sough after model of all Rolexes.

Besides, The Price of Hulk Ref 116610LV Submariner is also risen to an unreasonable level HK$120,000 from a price of $116,000 back in June.

How about NOS GMT Master 116710LN Green pointer? It is selling HK$100,000 for NOS,

How about used one? It is in the range of $82000,88,000 with condition of 90%.

GMT Master two tone Root Beer 126711CHNR is now selling $135,000 with its MSRP at $115,500.

Submariner 116610LN is selling at $89,000 while its MSRP is $61,500 only.

If you can wait, let's see what new Rolex will be introduced in September, but I am sure by then all new models would be hard to get at MSRP.

Price shown here is in HKD, (1 USD=7.76 HKD)

MSRP stands for Manufacturer suggested retail price.

HK Snob

Rolex Service Centre Watch Authenticity

  

為什麼每每要買勞力士手表的人都需要到勞力士服務中心檢查那勞力士表的真偽？

 

1. 真的有很多假的手表在市場上嗎？

2. 勞力士是否真的可以判斷那手表真的百份,百原廠原裝的嗎？

3. 你可否見過一些大型有權威的拍賣行拍賣的勞力士手表不對期，並且不是原裝的，賣家為什麼不要求上勞力士行檢証？是否那權威拍賣行比勞力士更權威？我可可以肯定有幾隻錶至少幾隻見過嘅勞力士若果上行的一定比勞力士退回！咁樣呢個係代表什麼呢？勞力士店權威啲一話拍賣行權威啲呢？

你如果係拍賣行個買家買咗隻錶然後上勞力士檢証時發覺係假嘅？

咁你覺得勞力士呃一話拍賣行呃你呢？哈哈😄

我自從2014年買勞力士大約買咗都有400個掛只有一個真係想要勞力士驗證就係因為那位女仕再三要求一定要上勞力士，亦因為好多年都未上過十四樓.也順便想去見識吓純粹想去見識吓！

咁樣我買咗嗰399個勞力士係咪有機會假嘅呢？我好有興趣想知道喎？但係咁多年來都冇人投訴過喎？咁有幾個可能嘅第一買家從未力上勞力士驗證。第二，買家仲未再轉賣比第二或第三個買家，而第二和第三個買家亦都冇上勞力士行驗證呢？這個機會好少喎？

呢個都係有趣的問題？

4. 咁有趣嘅係有一些是香港勞力士驗證過嘅勞力士錶拿去第二個國家勞力士店驗證下，發現佢係非原裝嘅，禁樣你信邊個勞力士服務中心呢？

5. 咁有人就話去表店買隻新嘅手錶一定好嘢啦掛啦！

我又見過啦，上表店買咗新錶再上勞力士服務中心當然又唔係原裝㗎喎咁點呀？當然那一家表店非勞力士特約經銷商，在這裏不便公開那店的名稱⋯⋯

 

太多有趣嘅勞力士東西，再談！

下面兩隻錶你覺得邊隻真邊隻假呢？

 

右邊那隻外殼是假的，機惢可能真的，左面外觀真的！裏面機惢可能假的，打開看看最後實際.

那你給勞力士服務中心檢查剛剛買的新表而佢地又吾開表睇。怎麼知道機惢是真的呢！勞力士有時都係作一個評估作答，用另外一句說話講，有一些過案都係”斷估” !

HK Snob

Material for making watch cases

RM 011 Red TPT Quartz Automatic flyback chronograph

Courtesy picture of Quill pad

Different kinds of watch materials 

1. Stainless steel

2. Yellow gold

3. Pink gold

4. White gold

5. Platinum

6. Silver

7. Bronze

8. Sapphire

9. Aluminum

10. Titanium

11. Glass

12. Stone

13. Elastomers

14.Carbon Fiber

15. Ceramic

16. Carbonium (Roman Gauthier)

17. Forged Carbon (Audemars Piguet, Panerai)

18. TPT quartz (Richard Mille)

19. Grey Cermet (Richard Mille new RM 11-05)

 

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is the most widely used watch material, which has a composition of being an iron-carbon alloy, combined with chromium and other material.. In general, stainless steel is difficult to scratch as it’s durable, lightweight and tough is most popular for its ability to resisting corrosion, maintaining a shine for a long life and keeping intact the strength of steel. These watches can have two finishings: polish or brush. Polishing creates a shiny mirror surface, but brushing makes the surface look rugged and is more suited for outdoor type of watches. This material has its downsides as it is easily damaged and prone to scratches, dents, smudges and fingerprints, so you have to be careful when wearing it.

 

Titanium

Titanium is mainly used to replace steel to capitalize on its lightweight property. A bulky dive watch will still look great and cool but at a more manageable weight. Such as the case with this Seiko Shogun. Titanium is more expensive than Steel. The World First Titanium watch is Porsche Design Titan by IWC in 1980. The entire watch and bracelet was made with Titanium.

Another advantage of titanium is it can be used by those with steel allergies.

Sapphire is something that I’m pretty sure you’ve heard about. It’s one of the gemstones and a rarity, but in watchmaking, sapphire is not exactly what you would think it is.

 

Sapphire

It is a hard material, having a score of 9 in mohr hardness scale (with diamond at 10) so it’s very scratch resistance.

Now, although sapphire is a gemstone, mankind have been able to synthesize it, although the process is slow and expensive (but at least we will have an abundant source of the material).

It is these synthetic sapphire that was used in watchmaking. Most of the sapphire is used to make watch crystal to capitalize on its scratch resistance properties. This ensures the watch crystal is scratch free even if it’s been used for years. In comparison, the other watch crystals (glass based mineral crystal and plastic based acrylic crystal) scratches fairly easily even in normal everyday use.

Sapphire was being used for replacing the Acrylic Crystal of watch, Rolex used on his Day Date in 1977. Audemars Piguet used it on his first Royal Oak 5402 in 1972. They are commonly used as the standard crystal material now for his hardness.  Richard Milles using Sapphire to case the watch back in 2016 and Hublot is also doing this commonly now as case material with different colour. 

 

TPT Quartz

The NTPT carbon composites that came before at Richard Mille were the original drivers of development, and North Thin Ply Technologies, the company behind NTPT carbon, became an ongoing development partner.

TPT, which stands for thin ply technology, is a method for making ultra-thin unidirectional strand sheets of carbon fibers. The sheets aren’t just fibers however, they are “tapes” that are pre-impregnated (“prepreg”) with resin for more accurate and controllable application in use.

The resin is the material that works like a glue to hold the carbon fibers together; when placed under heat and pressure the resin flows between all the fibers and finally hardens to create the solid carbon fiber material we are familiar with. The TPT carbon tapes used in Richard Mille cases have layers that are, on average, around 45 microns thin, or just under two-thousandths of an inch (.002”). Moving on to TPT Quartz, the construction is the same, only it is composed not of carbon fibers, but of fused quartz fibers. These fibers start out life as purified ground quartz crystals. These crystals are fused with heat and pressure to create fused quartz rods. These rods are then drawn (pulled and squished) under an oxy-hydrogen flame to create extremely long continuous fibers of fused quartz.

North Thin Ply Technologies developed the TPT Quartz in collaboration with Saint-Gobain Quartz, who supplied the Quartzel™ 9- or 4-micron quartz fiber filament (which is thinner than human hair); Reichhold, suppliers of ADVALITE™, a monomer-free vinyl hybrid resin; and, of course, Richard Mille, who led design and validation for the new process. The result was the world’s first thin-ply quartz fiber prepreg material, which immediately won the JEC World 2016 Innovation Award. (quoted from Richard Mille Web Site).

How do I look at those new material such as Quartz TPT, or Grey Cermet, well it still has some hesitation to go for that with a watch worth more than US$180,000.

 

Traditional precious material

Yellow Gold is pure gold, which is 24 karat, that has been alloyed with other materials. This material is very gleaming and conventional, and corrosion free, but also is a very soft and may scratch and otherwise become damaged. Gold is suited for showy watches that will attract attention.  They are expensive and also heavy, not suited for everyday uses, but definitely a status symbol for high-end events.

White Gold is a pure precious metal, typically combined with silver or even palladium. It’s a very popular choice, because it looks like stainless steel, but is more discreet than watches made from yellow gold - some people may mistake the two though. This material is used in high-end, luxury or even heirloom dress watches. Watches nowadays are made of 18KT (750) white gold or yellow gold.  14KT (585) is uncommon nowadays for it gold lustre is not as good as 18KT gold. But 14KT was commonly used on watch case in 1920-1960.

 

Gold

Amongst those material, I prefer precious traditional material, steel, Yellow Gold, Pink Gold, White gold or platinum as I do feel their existence there. Well, when you try on Richard Mille, you might feel the difference in weight. Well, to be honesty light weight is more comfortable. And there is a die-hard fan for heavy stuff like the Audemars Piguet Pounder or Brick close to one pound in weight. I am still like to have old gold Watch, that is yellow gold watch, as gold is supposed to be yellow in colour.

Still today, Patek has been the one guy to insist to use these material on their watch, Yellow Gold, White gold and platinum other than steel as the main stream of material, They have been trying to use Titanium recent years, but never do it with Carbon or ceramic case yet.  As the oldest traditional watch company should be cautiously in testing the acceptance of using the new material for watch case. That may be one of the reasons people stick to Patek for their use of precious material.

On the other hand, Rolex has been following the same traditional in selecting the material Gold or steel, and never have any ceramic case not titanium case, only in exceptional case because of weight, Rolex use Titanium bottom cover on his Deep Sea model 116660, or may be doing that for skin allergy prevention.

 

Wood

Wood is a natural material available in different colors and grain types, which makes every watch unique. A wooden watch will age beautifully compared to other materials like metal, that can get damaged from sun and water. Plus, wood is an eco-friendly material, which is mostly sustainably sourced, so it doesn’t do any harm to nature. Wood is very durable and lightweight and develops a lustrous patina over the years. It also can be easily restored if it gets scratches or dents. If you like unique accessories that will stand out and haven’t been seen by most people, a wooden watch is a great option. List with the best wooden watches.

But wood is not good for dive watch and it is not easy made to go into deep water. Wood is not easy to be made thin and strong. So there is limitation.

Rolex is an expert in using wood as the dial material, birch, Mahogany, Oak is commonly used on its Flagship Day Date watch in 1980-1990. Now these are rare and expensive watches

 

Carbon Fibre

arbon Fiber is composed of carbon atoms bonded together to form a long chain. It is one of the sturdiest and lightest watch materials out there. It is, however, very expensive – so it will cost you a mini fortune to get a carbon fiber watch on your wrist. Given that carbon fiber is mainly used in leading sports instruments and even supercars, this adds a thrill and glory to the watches made of this material. Not that, once the ultimate strength of the carbon fiber is exceeded, it has a high chance of being shattered. Audemars Piguet does not product carbon fibre or forged carbon watch case anymore as it would chipped off one day, so if you are tired of the bezel which has been damaged, AP will replace a ceramic bezel for you , of course you need to pay US$2500 or more depends on model. So if your AP bezel in Carbon is still in prestige condition, it would be an good value too.

 

Ceramic

Ceramics has a composition of zirconium oxide - a hardened form of clay. There are a number of positive aspects to watches made out of ceramics as they are heat resistant and scratch proof. This material is comfortable to use and a popular choice for luxury watches due to its long lasting shine. It is also non-porous, easy to clean, and more lightweight than most materials. Though, it is not as impact resistant as steel is.  Rado used to be the first one to use Ceramic as the case material since 1980. Well, ceramic will just break leaving you with expensive repair bill, so it needs to be used very carefully. A watch made of ceramic is very expensive since it is unique and has to be custom made. Your Audemars Piguet offshore ceramic Bezel can be as expensive as US$2500 when you need to replace it if dent or broken.

 

Other

PVD Physical Vapor Deposition

This is a metal coating method with an added layer of either carbides, nitrides or oxides, which have an ionic attraction. It has a masculine black patina, but it’s not one of the most scratch proof materials as the original steel color may wear off due to friction or impacts. This material is best suited for sports activity watches. It will be worn off, beware.

 

DLC Diamond like coating

A think hard thin coating made on case of watch, for it is hard, but as the thickness is a few microns, it will be worn off also one day, Don’t rub it or polish it with abrasive material.

HK Snob

Daytona Zenith on Sale

contact me if you are interested in this.

HK Snob

New Frank Mullar Watch at discount of 70%

Due to change of agency, one big AD is selling out his Frank Muller at big discount up to less 70%.

They are new, full set with Warranty. 

If you are interested in buying it, please WhatsApp me.

Also there is discount on Breitling, Chopard, Zenith, Rado etc.

HK Snob

Note, the deal was closed