Sunday, July 28, 2013

Argument on Rolex

An interesting article I extracted from Website on two different Opinions, One is more pro Rolex and One is no. How about you? Which Side you are A or B?

A.
Rolex is arguably the most popular name in watches -- certainly when it comes to luxury watches. Classically Swiss, since 1915 Rolex has been producing watches designed for comfort, function and style. Today, Rolex is one of the most powerful luxury brands in the world working hard to retain its status. Rolex focuses on a few key watch lines that are quickly recognizable and highly desired the world over. Image aside, Rolex watches have a reputation for being very well manufactured -- despite what Dwayne Smith will tell you in his Arguments Against Rolex Watches -- lasting decades or more with simple care.   
Rolex watches are classic
You’ll see below that most Rolex watches are archetypes: The Rolex Submariner is the classic diver’s watch, The Rolex Datejust is the classic formal men’s watch of the last half century and The Rolex Daytona is the classic sports chronograph. Rolex has benefited from keeping its product line simple and consistent. Instead of releasing brand new models, it keeps refining existing designs. This is extremely important because each watch contains the suggestions and wearing experiences of countless people who together have helped create timepieces that look good and work well.
Take the Rolex Submariner line as an example. Based on the classic “Oyster” water-resistant watch cases, the timepiece is specifically designed to be easy to read in most conditions, to be hardy and have a comfortable and reliable construction. The Submariner design has achieved an almost impossible task: to look good on almost every person, on any occasion, regardless of age or outfit. Other Rolex watches edge close to this ideal as well. You have to ask yourself the question of whether that is due to something about the design of these watches or rather because we have been seeing them on important wrists our whole lives, and they simply mentally fit these positive watch stereotypes.
James Bond wore a Rolex
Omega doesn’t want you to know this, but the original James Bond watch was a Rolex Submariner. Creator Ian Fleming wrote that Bond was wearing the timepiece, while Sean Connery in the role brandished his Submariner proudly. Countless actors, celebrities and politicians have also been known to be Rolex men. Take the popular line of Paul Newman Daytona watches, or the Rolex Day-Date nicknamed the “President,” because many U.S. presidents (and otherwise) during the 20th century were known to wear the watch. Wearing a Rolex and being associated with these people and personalities.
   
Rolex watches are the ultimate status symbol
Wearing a Rolex watch communicates to people that you are successful enough to have rewarded yourself with the luxury of a nice watch. Rolex watches are not the only luxury watches out there by far, but they are the most well-known. From basic entry-level luxury models to diamond-encrusted gold watches for the ultra-privileged, a Rolex is so much more than a mere timepiece. It is a statement about your way of life and taste. Some people take it even further; the world of aftermarket Rolex watches feature decorated brims and jewel encrusted designs, suggesting that telling time becomes a mere afterthought.
Other watches also want to be like Rolex, whose designs are the most copied the world over. Most of these watches legitimize “homage” timepieces with a different brand name, but there is of course the dark underworld of fakes as well. You’ll find at least a little of Rolex design in the majority of nice watches out there. So, even if you don’t have a watch with the Rolex name, chances are there is a bit of Rolex influence. You can’t deny that even if Rolex watch designs don’t move you, a big part of you wants one.
Rolex watches have excellent movements
Being a company that makes all of its own parts (rare in the watch world), it goes without saying that Rolex makes each of its own movements (historically, this was not always the case), excluding other watch companies from using Rolex mechanical movements. While Rolex is not known in the modern sense for having particularly complex movements (it offers basic watches with features such as the time, date, day, or a chronograph), it is preferred by watch makers to work on being so well designed, easy to fix and highly reliable. As such, almost every Rolex movement sold is COSC certified Chronometer attesting to its accuracy.
Rolex watches hold value
Among the few truly collectible watch brands from a value perspective are Rolex timepieces. It has been said that you can buy a new Rolex Submariner today, wear it for five years, and then sell it in good condition for close to the original purchase price. Like cars, most other watches lose a chunk of their value after being sized and put on a buyer’s wrist. There are also the investment-grade Rolex watches that achieve stellar auction results yielding some of the most impressive prices ever known at an auction. This is due to the power behind the Rolex name and brand, as well as the world’s fervor for these “gold standard” super watches. 

Disagree? Someone comment
B.
Let’s get one thing straight: Rolexes are for people that know names but don’t know watches. For the price Rolex charges, you can buy dozens of other watches that are better looking, more accurate, much less common, and don’t make you look like you're an overweight white man coming off the golf course. Consider this: When former model Carla Bruni hooked up with newly minted French president Nicolas Sarkozy, the very first thing she did was make him swap out his gold Rolex for a much more refined Patek Philippe. Rolexes reek of desperation.
No one in their right mind should spend their hard earned money on a new Rolex. Here's why.

Rolex movements are over-hyped
First, the movement quality of your run-of-the-mill Rolex is nothing special. In fact, many much more affordable Swiss watches use movements that keep time just as well. To add insult to injury, there are even some Chinese, Japanese and Russian movements that are just as -- if not more -- accurate as a standard Rolex movement.
Rolex watches look stale
Rolex’s designs are stale. This brand hasn’t released a truly new model in over a decade, and the majority of the watches it makes today are exact duplicates of the watches it made half a century ago. In fact, the biggest innovation it has made in recent years is a new metal called “Rolesor,” which is heavily advertised as a great new substance for watchmaking. Guess what; it’s just steel and gold.
Rolex stories are nothing but a myth
All those stories you hear about Rolexes being chosen as the watch for great adventures are only half true. For example, Rolex claims Sir Edmund Hillary wore an Explorer when he scaled the summit of Mount Everest for the first time. This is not the case. In fact, he only carried the Explorer until he reached the summit and then put on a watch from a small British company called Smiths*. Hillary even wrote a signed letter endorsement to Smiths stating: “I carried your watch to the summit and it worked perfectly.” Rolex also submitted a watch to NASA in the early ‘60s to be considered for use in the moon missions. We all know how that turned out.

Rolex watches are for seniors or rappers
It is rare for a brand to be considered both stodgy and lame and ghetto fabulous at the very same time, yet Rolex has done it. If you ask one person on the street what they think of Rolex, they’ll tell you their elderly grandfather wears one in between rounds of golf and his daily 2 p.m. nap. If you ask another, they’ll tell you the only people that wear Rolexes are athletes and rappers. So which are you, a sleepy 85-year-old bald man or an 18-year-old athlete from the hood trying to prove his worth to the world?

My Comment
True that Smiths was the watch to be used up Mt. Everest.
Well, President does have not just Rolex I believe, PP, AP, VC, More to come, does not mean that he changed a PP will mean anything.
Rolex is unquestionable successful that is why a lot of uncompromising attack, but, one may feel that Why I have to wear Rolex when everyone in your sales group wear one. That is why people tend to keep a few pieces of Watches, not just Rolex.
Rolex Movement is accurate,  I think it is not just accurate, but it is very sturdy.
I think some of the Chinese Watch can be made with very accurate, but do not know how long it could last. 1-2 years May be?

Rolex isn’t expensive
Comparison a Solid gold top of the lie Day Date is about HKD$230,000
Whereas as a Solid Gold AP Royal Oak Drop Logo 39 mm HKD$475,000
An PP Nautilus Solid gold is also at least two time more expensive than Rolex
About Submariner, I had published another article that Rolex is amongst the three lowest price of all.
Anyway, watch is your personality, make a best choice you like would be fine. And of course if you want to make choice for using for twenty or thirty years, the service charge should be considered.
Rolex is one of the lowest in service charge
Rolex Service for cleaning the movement is about HKD$2,750  3 weeks
How about others?
PP may be HKD$18,000
AP may be HKD15,000
Roger Dubuis is $40,000

Of course the service charge depends on the typs of watch, complexity of the watch and types of service, anyway Friend told me PP changes HKD$500 for switching one leather strap inot another, Which I can make it in two minutes. Rolex may be free!?
 
And most of all, the PP, AP, VC, RD can not deliver you in weeks., they do Months
Well, think about the Cost of Ownership for long term. Rolex is not best but not bad!

How to prevent your Expensive Watch being Scratched!?

                A BWM being scratched by some one at BMW Boutique  I saw Last Week

                                                            A badly scratched Oyster Bracelet
Wear an Old torn Jean, why not wear an old scratched watch?
When I was young I used not to wear brand new shoes as classmate will find a way an excuse to step on them, especially the White Sport shoes (白飯魚) we used to painted it white by “White Rabbit Paint”.
Stonewashed jean
Jean manufacturer uses Laser to burn the jean create some random worn-out pattern on it, put them into an industrial washing machine and stonewash put in the washers with tennis ball sized pumice stones. The pumice stones are lightweight and have a sandpaper-like surface, as the fabric tumbles through the wash, the pumice stones scrape away some of the dyed surface threads, allowing the lighter colored threads to show through. That is ways to make the jean look old and worn off.
So How about your watch I think no one need a Stonewashed Watch, I am sure. If you want, you can follow the same method to handle your jean.
Why one is so cautious not to make any scratches on your watch?
Do you like your expensive watch to have scuffs and Scratches!?
People do:
1.       Stick on the Buckle of Rolex with 3M Transparent tape, many people does.
2.       Put a transparent Nitto transparent tape on the Crystal
3.       There was product that like the Face Mask of the Kando to put onto the Watch to stop impact and scratches from Casio in the 80s.
4.       Dragon Shield WIPE-ON ARMOR Nano Liquid Screen Protector (2 ml) it is abrasive proof but the goods is discontinued.
5.       Casio Protrek PRW-2000Y Screen Protector 34mm

I believe no one likes, and as a matter of fact many people does not wear it because so afraid of being be SCARCTHED buy some other people…
So most of people does not like watch being scratched, some of them keep them in the dark cold safe. But I think we can use it everyday, with some of the prevention we can avoid serious scratches or dents, which is un-repairable, thin hair line scratches can always be polished and removed in the Watch Service Centre.
Since Rolex watch glass is Sapphire which is very hard and scratches resistive, only the case is prone to be scratched.
People say my watch look like new even after many year of usage. Simply I care about it and Pay attention on it.
Don’t
Rub, clean with tissues paper, Shirt as it is embedded with tiny abrasive particle that would scratched your polished watch.
Blow off the sand on your watch after going to beach water it under lukewarm water and soap before it is cleaned by cloth, or he sand particle will scratch your watch and leaving permanent scars.
But a Sheep skin at about HKD$180 that is being used for watch cleaning. It could be washed clean, dry and re-use… the best for cleaning your watch.
Don't Drop your hand with the Expensive watch moving in the MTR, I used to put my wrist with my watch placed in front of my belly. Sometimes I cover the watch with my Right Palm.
Don’t close the door of the car using your left hand, friend of mine had a thin Concord of about 2mm thick banned by the door of the Taxi and the watch was bent!
If possible use your hand holding the handle of the MTR or train as it is safe when the watch it is up.
Beware backpacker’s backpack which can easily chip away 5 micron or more of gold from your watch surface when it was swung and hit on your watch purposely or unintentionally.
HK Snob

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Rolex Ref 1803 Day Date

Oliver People Glasses, Tiffany 14KT Solid Gold Banboo Pen and Rolex DD Ref 1803

Rolex Day Date Ref 1803 is a all time versatile watch for men. A solid built, beautiful and stylish watch for all weather and occassion.
HK Snob

Technomarine Watch for you and her


An 39mm Technomarine with real diamond bezel with weight of 1 carat of diamond. Swiss Quartz Movement.
HK Snob

Rolex GMT Master Solid 18KT Gold with Rivet Rolex Oyster Strap




This is a awesome Solid gold Rolex GMT master with Solid gold rivet Oyster Strap,a Superb condition and a good watch for your daily usage! This is not my one! This belong to one of the Rolex Collectors in Hong Kong!
HK Snob

Hi Tea Watch Gathering

A Saturday watch gathering with three of the watch fans, we had had some of the watches here:
My RD Muchmore, Rolex Day Date Aventurine Dial, Rolex Solid Gold GMT Master Ref16718 with Rivet Oyster Strap. Patek Philippe Calendar. Technomarine with diamond weight of 1 Carat.
HK Snob

Rolex Ref 18238 Day Date with Aventurine Dial

                           The White dot apperaing on the dial was just reflection from my Handphone


                        Ref 18238 Day Date with Aventurine dial and Tiffany Sixteenth 14KT solid gold Ball Pen




Green Aventurine


Blue Aventurine
Aventurine (砂金石) is a form of quartz, characterized by its translucency and the presence of platy mineral inclusions that give a shimmering or glistening effect termed aventurescence.
The most common colour of aventurine is green, but it may also available in Blue, Yellow, Orange, Brown,  or Grey. Chrome-bearing fuchsite (a variety of muscovite mica) is the classic inclusion, and gives a silvery green or blue sheen. Oranges and browns are attributed to hematite or goethite. Aventurine is a rock, its physical properties vary: its specific gravity may lie between 2.64-2.69 and its hardness is somewhat lower than single-crystal quartz at around 6.5.
Blue Aventurine can help with addictions, large and small, by allowing spiritual energies to come into the Third-Eye and Throat Chakras, to be processed by the subconscious mind. This action enables one to understand that the addiction is a symptom of a deeper problem, and that it is an attempt to fill a void better soothed by spiritual development.
Blue Aventurine can be used to help overcome selfishness, childishness, and passive-aggression. Blue Aventurine is helpful to those who find themselves stuck in an immature state of development, by clearing old, stagnant energies, and opening one up to inner growth and spiritual work.
Rolex is No longer making this kind of watch with Aventurine Dial especially Blue, this watch has a long and winding history, as owner sent this watch to RSC for regular service, they found a very very tiny hairy crack line on the dial. He Requested Rolex to replace and there it took three months to change with $13,800 but the RSC staff said that there is some “issue” that we believed the watch smith had an accident that he broke the dial again. This is the last Dial RSC HK has after another one month!
In short, the use of Aventurine is rare for Rolex and this is likely the last watch that HK RSC can offer a replacement of such a dial, this is a very rare watch and the dial is very beautiful of course!
The Watch comes with Full wooden box, Warranty paper, operation manual and other accessories.
Are you interested to buy something like this!?
HK Snob

Thursday, July 25, 2013

How Much does Rolex spend for Advertisement and Promotion?


More successful firms spend more resources on propaganda, advertisement and Promotion for more sales.  For magazine TIME or NEWSWEEK, you can see there is always the most expensive advertisement space goes to Rolex.
Rolex have largest advertising budget of any watch brand, thus everyone hear of Rolex, not know some better brands, since they not advertise much. Here are some figures of 2007 USA advertising budgets of some watch brands. Amount shown here is in US dollar.
1. Rolex - $47,100,000
2. Breitling - $27,070,000
3. TAG Heuer - $24,730,000
4. Citizen - $19,850,000
5. Movado - $15,870,000
6. Cartier - $15,040,000
7. Seiko - $11,020,000
By now 2013, I don't know the exact data, I think Rolex spends $80,000,000  a year for advertisement.
Rolex is connected with Yacht, Golf, Tennis tournament, Motor racing. The famous one is the 24 Hours of Daytona, currently known as the “Rolex 24 At Daytona” for sponsorship reasons, is a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is the first major automobile race of the year in the United States.
The race has had several names over the years. Since 1991, the Rolex Watch Co. is the title sponsor of the race under a naming rights arrangement, replacing Sunbank (now SunTrust) which in turn replaced Pepsi in 1984. Winning drivers of all classes receive a stainless steel Rolex Daytona watch.
HK Snob

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

What is the price level of Rolex Iconic Submariner, on the lower or higher side comparing with other similar Hi End Watches?


Friends of mine told me Rolex is the costliest watch brand and knowing that many people seem to agree with that.
Base one a price information between the most popular Sport model  Submariner and some of the market available iconic sport model of the luxury Brands.
We could see that the price of Rolex is not the highest. It is on the lower side of them.
Panerai Luminor Marina Automatic PAM 000104 $55,000
IWC-ingenieur-mens-watch-3234-03- $56,000
Rolex Submariner Ref 116610LN $57,630
Glashutte Original "Sport Evolution M" $74,000
Frank Muller 9880 SC CRO Black PVD steel Watch $76,000
Breguet Marine II Big Date Strapwatch $78,000
Ulysse Nardin "San Marco" $48,000
Vacheron Constantin Overseas stainless steel Black dial Automatic 47040/b01a-9094 $92,000
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Self-winding 15400ST.OO.1220ST.01 41mm Stainless steel Automatic $110,000
Blancpain’s big introduction at Baselworld this year Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe. It is presented in a 43 mm x 13.4 mm case and comes in brushed satin steel for $85,000 or ceramized titanium for $96,000
Patek Philippe "Nautilus Stainless steel $195,000
In Short, Rolex is not Highest price Watch amongst these Swiss Watches; it is one of the lower side.
Note that the above price is rough estimated only as every dealer has some price variation.
So, which one you would choose!?

Price shown here are all in HK dollars.
HK Snob

Monday, July 22, 2013

Sixty and Going Strong, You are Ready!

 

“There are 1000-year old trees in the mountain, but not many 100 year-old people”

At the most, you live until 100 years old (only 1 in 100,000).
If you live until 90, you only have 30 years.
If you live until 80, you only have 20 years.
Because you don’t have many years to live, and you can’t bring along things when you go, you don’t have to be too thrifty.
Spend the money that should be spent, enjoy what should be enjoyed, donate what you are able to donate, but don’t leave all to your children or grandchildren, for you don’t want them to become “parasites”.
Don’t worry about what will happen after you are gone, because when you return to dust, you will feel nothing about praises or criticisms.
Don’t worry too much about your children for “children will have their own destiny and find their own way. Don’t be your children’s slave”
Don’t expect too much from your children. Caring children, though caring, would be too busy with their jobs and commitments to render any help. No need to Learn Lee Kar Shing who is working for their sons.
Uncaring children may fight over your assets even when you are still alive, and wish for your early demise so they can inherit your properties.
Your children take for granted that they are rightful heirs to your wealth; but you have no claims to their money.
60-year olds like you, don’t trade in your health for wealth anymore;
Because your money may not be able to buy your health.
When to stop making money, and how much is enough (hundred thousands, million, ten million)? “Out of thousand hectares of good farm land, you can only consume three quarts (of rice) daily; out of a thousand of mansions, you only need eight square meters of space to rest at night”.
So as long as you have enough food and enough money to spend, that is good enough.
So you should live happily. Every family has its own problems. Just do not compare with others for fame and social status and see whose children are doing better, etc. but challenge others for happiness, health and longevity. 
Don’t worry about things that you can’t change because it doesn’t help and it may spoil your health.
You have to create your own well-being and find your own happiness; As long as you are in good mood, think about happy things, do happy things daily and have fun in doing, then you will pass your time happily every day.  
One day passes, you will lose one day;
One day passes with happiness, and then you gain one day.
In good spirit, sickness will cure; in good spirit, sickness will cure fast; in good spirit; sickness will never come.
With good mood, suitable amount of exercise, always in the sun, variety of foods, reasonable amount of vitamin and mineral intake, hopefully you will live another 20 or 30 years healthy life.
Going 60, but still Strong!
The Motto of the Story is: When We can have time, money and energy, try to help people, share the joy with your loved ones. And when there is surplus, treat yourself a bit better by a Bottle of Petrvs 1989; Mouton 1945 or Latour 1959.
Take out your vintage Collections of Telefunken EC803S, WE300B, or Gold Lion KT77 to replace those Chinese or Russian made cheapo on your amplifier. Buy a Killer Rolex that is not just telling time, but the History!
You Are Ready!
HK Snob

PS the above story was a translation from a Chinese Article, forwarded from a friend from Singapore

Hi Zenrai Gunnm,
His is the Chinese original Article

六十而不惑.. 
山中也有千年樹,世上難逢百歲人。”
最大限度,你也只活到百多歲(十萬人中才有一個)。
能活到九十歲,只有三十年;
能活到八十歲,只有二十年。
因為剩下的日子不多,你臨走時什麼都帶不走,你不必太節省。  該花的錢要花,該享受的要享受,該捐助的要捐助;惟獨不能留這筆錢給兒孫,把他(她)變 “寄生蟲”!  
不必對死後的事考慮太多,因為變成灰的你,對表揚與批評已無感覺。
不必對兒女的事考慮太多,“兒孫自有兒孫福,休為兒孫做馬牛”。
不要對兒女幻想太多,孝順的兒女有孝心,但工作太忙,幫不了你!
不孝的兒女也許(在你活著時就搶奪)盼著你早死,好早日繼承你的財產。  
你的錢財,兒女認為給他們是天經地義;
兒女的錢,卻不是你的錢,你想要卻十分困難。  
六十歲的你,再也不要用健康去換取身外之物,
因為此時,你用金錢已未必能買到健康  
錢掙到何時、何數(十萬,百萬,千萬……)才算夠?“良田萬頃,日食三升 ;大廈千間,夜眠八尺”,夠吃夠用就行了。 
你要愉快地活著,雖然家家都有一本難念的經,你不要再和別人比名利地位、兒孫如何有出息……等等,而要比誰活得更愉快、健康、長壽! 
你無力改變的事,就不必太操心,因為操心也無用,反而影響了自己的健康。 
幸福靠自己努力創造,快樂要千方百計去尋找,
只要心境好,每天想愉快的事,做愉快的事,自己找樂趣,就能天天都過得高興。  
過一天,少一天
過一天,樂一天;樂一天,賺一天  
精神好,病能好;精神好,病早好;精神好,病不倒
心情愉快,適當運動,常見陽光,食物多樣化
保證多種維生素和微量元素的合理(適度而不超量)吸收,盼能健康地再活二、三十年。

Friday, July 19, 2013

Rolex Day Date Lapis Blue for those who admires True Value of Watch Immortality

                                  A Sphere of Lapis Lazuli of 70mm wit Price of US$1,700
                            Dalai Lama Wearing a Rolex Day Date Yellow Gold with Lapis Lazuli Dial
     Ref to jakes Rolex Blog for more  http://rolexblog.blogspot.hk/2012/04/dalai-lama-rolex-keeping-time-of-his.html

                A Rolex Day Date With Lapis Lazuli Dial, a Belgium Collector who Bought it March
2013
                                                           



Colour Blue and the Personality
Color blue as your favourite colour you are conservative, reliable and trustworthy. You are
genuine and sincere, and you take your responsibilities seriously.
Having a personality color blue means you have a deep need for peace and harmony in your everyday life.
Azula means Blue
The euphonious name is composed from 'lapis', the Latin word for stone, and 'azula', which comes from the Arabic and means blue.
Lapis lazuli is an opaque rock that mainly consists of diopside and lazurite. It came into being millions of years ago during the metamorphosis of lime to marble. Lapis lazuli might have come straight out of deep blue night with golden inclusions of pyrites which shimmer like little stars.
It has fascinated both men and women for thousands of years with its fabulous colour and those cloudy golden points of light.
Uncut lapis lazuli is matt and of a deep, dark blue colour, often with golden inclusions and whitish marble veins. Their cause is iron. The blue colour comes from the sulphur content of the lazurite and may range from pure ultramarine to a lighter blue., this stone is among the less hard gemstones at between 5 and 6 on the Mohs scale.
Afghanistan has the best reserve of Lapis Lazuli
The best raw stones still come from the steep Hindu Kush in the north-east of Afghanistan back in 5,000 years ago. The lumps of blue rock, extracted from the inhospitable mountains by blasting, are brought down into the valley in the summer months by mules. Nature also created deposits in Russia, to the west of Lake Baikal, and in the Chilean Andes, where the blue rock often has white or grey lime running through it.
Holy Stone, First Gemstone for jewelry
Lapis Lazuli was among the first gemstones to be worn as jewelry. The deep blue stone was already popular thousands of years ago among the people of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persia, Greece and Rome. It is said that the legendary city of Ur on the Euphrates plied a keen lapis lazuli trade as long ago as the fourth millennium B.C., the material coming to the land of the two great rivers from the famous deposits in Afghanistan. In other cultures, it was regarded as a holy stone. Particularly in the Middle East, it was thought to have magical powers. Countless signet rings, scarabs and figures were wrought from the blue stone which Alexander the Great brought to Europe. There, the colour was referred to 'ultramarine', which means something like 'from beyond the sea'.
This beautiful gem represents both mystics and royal families. Why would lapis lazuli be the choice for those who have external power, as well as those who focus on its internal counterpart?
Value
The worth of this stone to the world of art is immeasurable, for the ultramarine of the Old Masters is nothing other than genuine lapis lazuli. Ground up into a powder and stirred up together with binding-agents, the marble-like gemstone can be used to manufacture radiant blue watercolours, tempera or oil-paints. Before the year 1834, when it became possible to produce this colour synthetically, the only ultramarine available was that valuable substance made from genuine lapis lazuli that shines out at us from many works of art today. Ultramarine blue was not only precious and so intense that its radiance outshone all other colour; it was also very expensive. But unlike all other blue pigments, which tend to pale in the light, it has lost none of its radiance to this very day. Nowadays, the blue pigment obtained from lapis lazuli is mainly used in restoration work and by collectors of historical paints.
That is why the prices of jewelry with lapis lazuli vary very widely. The prices of this gemstone are largely dependent on the beauty and intensity of the colour. The most popular is an intense, deep blue. Finely and evenly distributed crystals of pyrites which shimmer in gold and look like sequins will increase the value, whilst a restless, rough or blotchy grain will reduce it.  A sphere of Lapis Lazuli with diameter of 75mm is selling about US$1,700. Of course value changes on different colour, density, the fine distribution of the Gold Dust.

Stone of Friendship and Truth
Lapis lazuli is regarded by many people as the stone of friendship and truth. The blue stone is said to encourage harmony in relationships and help its wearer to be authentic and give his or her opinion openly.
Energy of Cosmic Wisdom
Among the many properties ascribed to lapis lazuli is the energy of deep calm and a strong connection to cosmic wisdom. A connection that helps one aligns with a universal quality of truth and integrity. The deep cobalt blue of lapis lazuli has a royal presence, powerful and mysterious.
Lapis lazuli is not a stone one usually likes right away - its deep, mysterious energies can be veiled for a long time until one's mind is ready to be still, be open and have the courage to discover the mysteries of the universe in silence.
Because of its connection to cosmic and heaven energies, lapis lazuli is also believed to provide protection and shield the wearer from negative influences.
The Lapis Lazuli zodiac, myth and legend
The blue stone is reputed to promote harmony in relationship, lapis lazuli is considered a stone of truth and friendship.
In Middle Ages, people believed that the cosmos was reflected in gemstones. Lapis lazuli is assigned to the planet Jupiter. The esoteric movement revived the ancient belief and the gem industry made it another marketing tool to promote certain gems.
The healing powers of gems remain a controversial issue, but are mentioned for centuries by healers, shamans and medicine men. Whether it’s a fact or a placebo effect doesn’t matter, if it helps. The safest approach is to wear the gemstone in skin contact to the troubled part of the body. Lapis lazuli is said to be of help for headaches, sore throat and varicose veins.
Rolex and Lapis Lazuli
We can see many people, scholars, professors, leaders is fond of Colour of blue.
Many people refer Blue is the Colour of Monarch, Royalty, See How Many national Flag come with Blue?
As for the French National Flag consists of three bands of Blue, White and Red colour, the blue indicates Vigilance, Truth and Loyalty, Perseverance and Justice. So as for US National Flag: Blue is the color of the Chief, and signifies Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.
Blue has been my best loved colour since I was young, I still remember when I was in Primary school, I used to wear the thick Blue Blazer. I  brought me warmth and comfort. Blue is my first choice for clothes and trousers, and it might be bore to someone. I like it as I have loyalty to my colour.
Is that Lapis Lazuli Dial my preferred Choice?
Rolex Watch with Blue dial is always the first choice of Hong Kong Snob, I don't care what people say about the meaning in Cantonese “Lan Lo!” and Someone says the worst combination is White Gold with blue Dial. But I am not that superstitious!, White Gold Indicate Purity, and Blue represents Vigilance, Power and Bravey!
For Submariner, I like Blue Dial blue Bezel
For Day Date, I like Blue dial, best is Lapis Lazuli dial, Diamond or no diamond does not show significant influence. Without diamond would be better as there is more space to display the beautiful Arabian Night with those little golden shimmer. A cloud of illusion made up of my personal thought of loss and mystery in life. The essence of harmony and seems I can hear the last section of Beethoven’s Symphony No., 9. “Ode to Joy”!
Today, when you can spot a Good Condition Rolex Day Date Ref 1803, 1804, 18038, 18049, 18238… or even Date Just…with Lapis Lazuli dial, go and buy it as it state the true value of What Beautiful watch should behave, and perhaps you will feel regret if not today. A True Rolex Collector should not ignore these watches.
Rolex Blue dial, Ice Blue dial, Lapis Lazuli dial…
““Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.”
― Dalai Lama XIV
Attached picture shows Dalai Lama who was wearing a Rolex Day Date with Lapis Lazuli Dial.
Ps
A Brand new Rolex Datejust NOS two tone 36 mm is still available in Rolex AD with $77,000!! Cheap!
A superb condition Rolex Day Date Ref 1803 Yellow Gold 36mm with Lapis Lazuli dial with diamond dial will require you to pay for $150,000, White Gold will be even more expensive.
A pre-owned Rolex Day Date Yellow Gold Ref 18238 With Lapis Lazuli Dial without diamond valued between $150,000 to 250,000.
A pre-own Rolex Day Date Platinum with Lapis Lazuli Dial with Diamond bezel and Dial can have a stunning price of $600,000, But I cannot find it on Rolex Catalogue.
I am a looking for a Rolex Day Date Ref 1803 Yellow Gold version, Lapis Lazuli dial with a Lot of gold dust!
As you know always I am a Sham Shui Po* Snob when I am asked to pay, Only I am a HK Snob When I dream to buy my Rolex!
Sham Shui Po is a district of low income in general in the mid of the Kowloon city, but people are usually more friendly than any places of Hong Kong.
HK Snob