Ball Trainmaster Cleveland Express Power Reserve

A Ball Trainmaster Cleveland Express Power Reserve That we bought it in Manila, price is SGD$

5,000 which is more or less same or similar as we buy in Singapore. Stainless Steel case and 18 Pink gold index marks.

It as a big date which has two disks with one of top the other, a Power reserve for 48 hours.

Big second hand, waterproof screw crown for down to 50M, Sapphire bottom, leather straps that add a bit of classic elegancy. An Accuracy of +/- 4-6 seconds a day which is a standard of Swiss chronometer.

It is a time piece that you can consider to be equipped after your Rolex Submariner.

HK Snob

Calibre de Cartier

If you are poisoned by Cartier's design, you do not mind the calibre is made by Cartier or someone else.  If you like Cartier design which is likley 50% of your money goes to... Like this Calibre de Cartier,  is it Beautiful?  This is Cartier Calibre with a see-through Sapphire for you to take a bit closer look to the precise Swiss Cartier movement in motion.


Product Details:

Brand: Cartier

Model: Calibre de Cartier  1904 MC

Diameter: 42mm

Movement: Automatic – Self Winding

Case: Steel

Bracelet: Stainless Steel

Dial: White, Roman

Glass: Sapphire Crystal

Waterproof: Up to 100 metres

HK Snob

Most Fasinative Dials of Rolex

No one would disagrees if I say Rolex has built world’s most number of different dial in past 50 years. And there are numerous designs, use of material, printing technique making those fasinative dials.

Well, no one would not appreciate if a good watch should be have pleasant outlook after a precision movement was hand assembled by the Swiss watch smith.

Rolex has tried using different material like gemstone, jade, gold, copper, platinum, mother of pearl, diamond, Ruby, Onyx, stone, wood, metal, ceramic to make the dial, and each masterpiece was a result of impeccable tedious works. The case and strap of older Rolex was made in HK and Taiwan some time back in1980, but the dial has to be made in Rolex Factory in Switzerland. From a recent published "Rolex Dial Museum" printed in Japan, it showed almost all the available dial that has been found in Japan but I did not see any thing about the Stella Red, light creamy Blue, and or Yellow…Well, if you have Rolex with this dial, they are very rare,…. If you do not mind, show me some of the rare Dials I have never seen!

HK Snob

Rolex 16030 Datejust

I had been replaced Rolex Lizard skin watch Strap for my Rolex Ref 16030... this is the new look of this beautiful simple Watch.

HK Snob

The beautiful Watches

Since my father bought me the first watch which was a hand wind Citizen stainless steel, he spent HKD$35 to buy that watch for me when I entered form 1 school. I started to get hocked with watches, and since then, I keep my eyes on all kind of watches... well, until I could afford myself to buy my very first Rolex: A Date just Stainless steel back to year 1980 with HKD$5025.00, I started crush on Rolex...well, I had many Rolex.. and Seems Rolex is my watch, and my watch is Rolex....
Attached is some of the watches that I like, AP, PP, Rolex, Cartier etc....
I hope if one day I can have some more sophisticated watches....
HK Snob

Rolex Ref 16800 Submariner

Rolex Ref 16800 is classifed as one of the most beautiful submariner in terms of Size proportion of cases to strap, the layout of the dial design, and the size of the index, it is a classic Submarine, It is the first Submariner using sapphire crystal.

Normal Prce for Excellent condition Ref 16800 is about HKD$30,000.00 to HKD$42,000.00
Mint Condition goes up to min. HKD$52,000.00!

Attached below is the model of Rolex Submariner,

Ref.         Model                                           Calibre                     Production Yrs   

6204         First Submariner                          9 3/4'" A.260             1953 - 1954
6205         First Submariner                          9 3/4"' A.260             1954 - 1955
6200          Mercedes Hands - Coroncione  10 1/2"' A.296            1954
6538         Big Crown                                    1030                          1954 - 1959
6538A       Military Submariner                     1030                          1954 - 1959
6536         Small Crown                                1030                          1955 - 1959
6536/1      Chronometer                               1030                          1955 - 1959
5508         Small Crown                                1530                          1957 - 1961
5510         Small Crown                                1530                          1958
5512         Chronometer- The Cornini          1530-1560-1570        1959 - 1978
5513         First Crown Guard                       1520-1530                 1962 - 1989
5514         Comex Submariner                     1520                           1969 - 1977
1680/8       First DATE in Yellow Gold          1575                           1969 - 1978
1680         First Submariner Date                 1575                          1969 - 1979
5517         Military Submariner                      1520                           1977
16808        DATE  Sapphire crystal Gold      3035                          1979 - 1987
16800        DATE  Transitional model            3035                         1979 - 1988
16803        DATE  Sapphire crystal SS/YG    3035                         1983 - 1988
16610        DATE  Superluminova Dial           3135                         1986** - 2008
16613        DATE  Superlum. Dial SS/YG      3135                         1986** - 2008
16618        DATE  Superlum. Dial Gold          3135                          1986** 2009
14060        First with Sapphire crystal            3000                          1988*- 2001
14060M     Updated Automatic Movement      3130                           2001 - Today

Auction Price Ref. 16800 Transitional Model
Christie's $4,828 29 May 2008 Sale 2612
Sotheby's $4,828 13 November 2007 Lot 56

Worth Buying?
Most collectors feel 16800 is not attractive probbaly they can't tell the difference between a 16800 and a later 16610 so they would rather have newer 16610.

Ref  16800 is what is commonly referred to as a transitional Submariner because it was the first Rolex sport model to have a Sapphire crystal along with the introduction of high beat movement. All the added new features while retaining the original matte dial. Later 16800's were less transitional because the matte dial were replaced with a glossy finish and hour markers surrounded with white gold.

Personally, I prefer the very early 16800's (79-83) with matte dial and tritium hands.

If you found one for a good price, Buy it. It is a great watch and has significance in the evolutionary history of the Submariner development as well as being a great all around watch.

Attached one is some friend offering at HKD$38,000.00
(Sold!)
HK Snob

Locman Stealth

This is a Locman Stealth Watch. It is very comfort to wear.  You can see the design of the case is very similar as Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 39mm Jumbo design.  Quartz Movement, a style with a touch of sport as the dial is somewhat carbon fibre look. The Sapphire Crystal was made by CNC cutting to make the Cyclops magnifying glass as Rolex's design.
HK Snob

Prototype Miyota Watch

Miyota Watch Website

http://www.citizen.co.jp/miyota_mvt/index.htm

Miyota is a Subsidiary under Citizen watch Japan, specializing in the watch movement manufacturing.

Their mechanical watches are assembled in Japan.

Attached is the sample prototype watch for sending to Miyota customers, nothing is on sales for this type of watch,  The number indicates the movement being installed in the watch.

The Watch has 21 jewels, 21,600 vibrations per hour , running time 40 hours. Accuracy from their catalogues ois -20 - +40 seconds a Day, but the actual time keeping accuracy should be much better than the specification.

New Technology

What's SHOCK DETECTION?
The new IC is designed for detecting external shock, and blocking second hands from skipping.

HK Snob

Haurex Italy San Marco

Haurex Italy San Marco Mens Watch 1A311USS Black hard Anodized Stainless steel case with a rubber bracelet. Fixed stainless steel bezel. Black dial with luminous hands and stick hour markers, Arabic numerals at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock hour markers. Minute markers around the outer rim. Luminescent hands and dial markers. Month displays above the 9 o'clock position. Three sub-dials displaying: 24 hours, date and day of the week. Quartz movement. Scratch resistant mineral crystal. Stainless steel engraved screw case back. Case diameter: 48 mm. Case thickness: 14 mm. Deployment clasp. Water resistant at 100 meters / 330 feet. Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, month-day-date, 2nd time zone. Retail Price USD$500.00. HK Snob

Audemars Piguet Thin Automatic men's Dress watch

This is an AP thin Watch, automatic winding with date, That may be installed with the famous movement 2120 as the first generation of Royal Oak used. 12 facet back cover screw in type, perfect for a men with a lot of sweat in Summer time of HK! Friend of mine asking me for HK$27,800.
HK Snob

Rolex Ref 16030 Datejust

I had bought a Rolex Ref. 16030 intended to give my daughter for her daily use, Ref 16030 is all stainless steel, Even the bezel is stainless steel, not white gold as on Ref 166234. It is very sturdy as it is stainless steel. I bought this watch with HKD$2,500.00
HK Snob

Cortebert 1968 manual Winding Watch

Cortébert has a very poorly documented history. The brand name is currently owned by Italian watch manufacturer Perseo, and production under the Cortébert brand name has stopped in the mid-1970s. Cortébert used to be one of the highest regarded premium watch brands, manufacturing their own movements, supplying movements to other brands such as Rolex and introducing the jump-hour arrangement. When the quartz crisis hit the industry in the '70s, the majority of prestige brands ceased production including Cortébert. Others have already been resurrected (Baume et Mercier admits, while most companies like to pretend their production was continuous) and today Cortébert is the only remaining brand that has potential to be restored to its historic status.

This is one of my Cortebert I got from the HK Watch Guru Kiu Tai Yu in 1986, this is a gold bezel watch, manual winding watch, I have not been cleaned this watch over the last 28 Years. I have not wiped this watch and I seldom wear it.. or hardly wore it at all.

This is one of the Old good watch that brand has gone with the wind… it brings me only memorial and sweet story of my life back into 1980! This is a re-conditioned dial, funny part of it is the Chinese wrote it : "unbreaxable Sping!" Wrong spelling!!

HK Snob

Glashütte Spezimatic

Glashütte is a town in Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge, Free State of Saxony, Glashütte means “Glass House” in English…This is situation at Eastern border of Germany, which was the birthplace of the German watch making industry. The city has a population of about 7,139 in Dec 2010.. Historically it was first mentioned in a document around 1445. In January 2008, the former municipality Reinhardtsgrimma was merged into Glashütte.
Watches currently made in this location include:

• Glashütte
• A. Lange & Söhne
• Bruno Söhnle Uhrenatelier Glashütte
• Glashütte Original
• Nautische Instrumente Mühle
• NOMOS / Wempe Chronometerwerke
• Union Glashütte

Attached is a 1961 Spezimatic 26 Rubies watch, gold plated version. That was almost the most extravagant version with plated gold n the early Eastern Germany monarch.

However German engineering is so good and preow any cise, the watch is so accurate…

• I have another Chronometer, and that is evenr more accurate… if you open , you may shut: Oh ,… an simple polished finishing watch as it does not show any shinning glister of the latest A Lange & Sohne is used to have.. in fact, A Lange & Sohne was started in this Glashütte factory.

So sometimes, branded watch is good to have, but unbranded watch does not mean the watch is no good, in fact there are so many unnamed good watch being made in the last Century! This is one of them, note the design of the hands that echoes with the white indexers. The big thick sturdy design, the watch is about 39mm, no big and massive.

It is Not easy to find one with good condition now.

HK Snob

Oris

Oris is situated in the picturesque village of Hölstein in the North-west of Switzerland. The location was chosen by Paul Cattin and Georges Christian, watchmakers from Le Locle, when they founded the company in 1904. Oris is the name of a brook and valley close to Hölstein. It has its origins in the Celtish ‘Aurisa’ and Roman ‘Orusz’ meaning watercourse.
Orsi is still making their watches in the same building, which has expanded to accommodate the growing company.
Attached is a 1992 Oris Automatic watch, that size is too small as seen from eyes of Today, but it is a durable watch, never been serviced after 20 years, It was only HKD$1,200 at that time.
HK Snob

Direct Translation

This will tell the time, but there may be problem for those who may not read English. Well, think of it for the Mechancial Watch display in this manner!? How Do They Do it?
HK Snob

Audemars Piguet 18KT gold for my daughter

This was the very first lady watch for lady I bought in Bangkok World Trade Centre during 1997 Asian Financial crisis. As on that few days I remembered Thai baht dropped from three Baht to 7 Baht Vs one HK dollar in three days, I bought a few watches in one day. One Rolex Datejust lady two tone with diamond on Red dial. One Cartier Santos two tone auto and this lovely Audemars Piguet in 18KT gold… At that time I was prepared to give this to my elder daughter when she would grow up a bit.. and I just ttook back for cleaning in HK. This is a small, Elegant yellow gold watch with a touch of Art Deco design pattern on the perimeter, extremely fine manual winding mechanism, silent, and accurate.
HK Snob
PS Audemars Piguet produces an average of 30,000 watches a year with a team of 450 staff in Switzerland nowadays.