Will the best Rolex Buy be in Moscow?

Saint Petersburg tourist AD at HKIA



Maybe you could get very good price for your dream "Rolex" in Moscow since the Rubles has dropped by 45% in this year compare to US$.

Russian economic trends

When news reports noted the Japanese Yen depreciated more than 17%, the value of the Russian Ruble had plummeted more than 55%. Sanctions imposed by U.S. and Europe in response to Russia’s decision to send troops to Ukraine and plunging global oil prices, were the main reasons behind the Ruble’s depreciation. For a country highly reliant on imports, this will also lead to rising import costs, leading to Russia’s high luminaire costs.

So if this is the right time to go Shopping at Rolex AD at Moscow and Or, Saint Petersburg!?

Is there anybody there now can give me a update on the Rolex Watch they have, and their prices!??

This may be the coming hot spot after Japan to buy Rolex!

HK Snob

When , What, Why, Who to buy Watches



When, What, Who and Why buy Watch!?

There is a nice chatting with one Singaporean Surean about buying one branded watch in the cities. From what we know there may be a need to clarify some of the concern of what watches we should buy, when we should buy or who we should buy from?

Provided you are having no concern with money, well, you don't have to read this article as only people have limited resources for watch need to spend with caution.

Why we have to buy watches?!?

Simply because you need to buy a watch you like to have for investment, for rewarding yourself for the hard work after you get the bonus, or simply you feel itchy when seeing some of the beautiful watches at the window glass or on someone’ Swinging wrist in front of your eye contact vicinity.

When you should buy the watch?

Of source when the watch is selling at sales, typically for mid-low end one, there is Xmas sales less 30% to 40% for walk-ins, that is pretty good discount that normally we don't have mid-hi end watch, there is no special reason why they will give you special discount, so When?

Yes, when there is an exchange rate drops, such as 1997 When I was in Thailand that baht dropped 100% , I bought a Rolex lady DateJust, an AP, a Cartier at good price in one shot.

Now if you go to Japan, you should be still able to enjoy as Yen has dropped to hell low as with US  Dollar has been pegged with HK Dollars since 1985.,

And You should act fast as most of the people buys the hot GMT master II Black Blue, Daytona Black or White, Submariner Hulk or Black, after a few months, I believe there will be harder to find these watches any more.

Who to buy from?

There is people scare to buy watches from Parallel Import Source, as they feel that an office Authorized Dealer look more comfortable to you, Yes, of course, If you go to Cartier, Chanel, Rolex, Patek Philippe Boutique the way they serve you make you feel like you are King! Of course don't expect they give you a lot of discounts.

How about parallel importers of grey dealer watch? No, they are not official dealer, but as far as I know, many of them were taken out from Watch from AD!, and some of them are very powerful watch Dealer.

Their watches are authentic watches with price less 20% or even more! However they usually do not come with Box, or pay a few hundred more for a Box.

What is the concern if you buy from Grey dealers?

1. Go to shop/Person that has good reputation

2. You know him/them well/ highly recommended from Social Media

3. They usually take CASH only, no card accepted

4. Box with additional Charges,

What to buy!?

That really depends on what you are looking for!?

But One thing that can be as a hints, some of the hottest model is not necessary hot in other country, such as Deepsea, Yacht master II steel and two tone and there is a lot of DeepSea in German,  Sweden and Finland, so that you can buy at a bigger discount there.

Where to Buy?

As there is no tax for watch in HK, naturally, buying in HK might be one of your consideration

and That is why there is almost 90 AD shops selling the Rolex in HK.

So in short what is the best value buy!??

These are some of the samples

DeepSea Ref 116660 black 44mm from grey Dealer (Official List price is $88,000)

Price at AD is $83,600 (5% Disc.)

Price of parallel is about $70,000 to $72,000 (20% off) full set box included

Ref 116680 Yacht Master Stainless Steel 44mm with Blue Ceramic bezel, (official List price $145,300)

Price at AD is $138,035

Price of Parallel Watch is about $116,300 – $115,000 (less 20%)

Ref 116520 Daytona Black list price $90,000

Price at AD is about $97,000 to 98,000 (+10%)

Parallel Watch price is about $90,000 to 92,000 full set.

It is not uncommon that sometimes an official Rolex could be cheaper or similar price of a Parallel watch of hot sport model.

Note, some of the parallel watch network under promotion that offer a brand new Watch Winder as gift with watch purchase.

HK Snob

PS , this is purely personal opinion to share with you.

and the watch price quoted is an estimation for your reference only as different network may have different price.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Offshore Reference26401RO.OO.A002CA.01

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Offshore

Reference26401RO.OO.A002CA.01

If you are asked what are the most sought after brand of watch nowadays in HK and China: the Answer would likely be Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, Piaget, Rolex, Roger Dubuis and Patek Philippe.

Amongts Those, this APRO Ooffshore Chronograph is somewhat like DeepSea D- blue or Submariner Hulk of Rolex, very hot, very hard to find, and really NOT-Cheap!

These are the basic Element for Today’s Chinese looking at Watches to buy:

Got to be Iconic Design,

Brand Value,

hard to find and most of all

has to be Expensive!

Ref 26401OR is having a price tag of HKD$360,000, a Price for an Entry Level BMW or Lexus.

Why?

As it is black watch on Black Silicon Strap, added a Pink gold touch up changes the whole watch into  new look of CLASS.  It could not be mistaken not an AP!

It is Large of 44mm, and it takes 365 parts to construct this Watch.

18-carat pink gold case,

glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback, black ceramic bezel,

screw-locked crown and pushpieces, pink gold pushpiece guards

DialBlack dial with “Méga Tapisserie” pattern,

silver-toned counters, gold applied hour-markers and gold Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating, black inner bezel ring

Bracelet Black rubber strap with 18-carat pink gold pin buckle

What if you are offered a price of a Toyota Camry for this Watch!? Will you be drooling?

HK Snob

Watch Fever

My new Toy Rolex Yacht master II Ref 116680

My New YM II REf 116680

Rolex Yacht Master II White Dial Blue Bezel Stainless Steel Automatic Mens Watch 116680

Yacht Master was once not my favourite or preferred model for Rolex just because I don't have a yacht, nor I am not a master!

Until today, before a friend passed this Lovely Huge Watch to me, I took it out and look at it closely with my glasses removed. Well, I started to feel, what else Rolex Designer would make a better layout on the Dial. They are nicely arranged but it is not crowded. The Regatta Triangle Pointer starts to down counter at 10 Minutes point Clockwise, it has split second function. the Arc formed 10 minutes counter set at the middle of the dial clearly been read without difficulty at Sea, a 44mm case would be needed for such function at sea. And A Blue Ceramic bezel is beautifully set at the outer rim of the watch to tell you are about to start a yacht game at Blue sea…

Once I know how to set the Counter, I think that Rolex Engineer has done months of painstaking job in design in the sequence, on how to set the Counter with just the same Crown for setting the time.

The Early model was told having problem if you reset it at midst of the count down process, but now Rolex has totally taken care of this issue, beside, I am OK to wear this 44mm size watch which I think it is big enough to tell people 15 M away I am wearing A yacht master!

This watch is 100% Stainless steel case with a stainless steel bracelet. Bi-directional rotating bezel. White dial with blue hands and index hour markers. Minute markers around the outer rim. Dial Type: Analog. Small seconds sub-dial. Automatic movement. Scratch resistant sapphire crystal. Screw down crown. Case diameter: 44 mm. Round case shape. Oysterlock clasp. Water resistant at 100 meters / 330 feet. Functions: hour, minute, second. Luxury watch style. Watch label: Swiss Made. Rolex Yacht Master II White Dial Blue Bezel Stainless Steel Automatic Mens’ Watch with Ref 116680WAO.

List Price : HKD$145,300

Someone could possible get me at a decent discount of 2X percent, so why not!?

HK Watch Fever
HK Snob

In Time Watch Company, right at Mong Kok Shopping Hub.

Gundam Special 2,000 pieces

some other Limited Series

These are the watches I bought today the Pink Sheen is for my Daughter

In Time Watch Company

Hospitality is what consumer service industry need for, including Watch selling business.

Newsday, besides walk into Rolex AD to buy a Gold Rolex once in a few years as an exciting event, I do find interesting to talk to nice people like Will who runs this tiny shop “In Time Watch Company” opened lately at Yan On Building at Mong Kok, where those Kwai Yan and Vintage Concept is there too.

The Shop is small, but he gets what you want...

The Gundam, limited 2000 pieces at very Reasonable price.

Because of the good proice, I bought five watches todays, of course I cannot leave my daughter having no watch on her wrist…

If you have time , or I you have to buy G-shock, come to this place and talk to Will, he will give you his best knowledge and technical advice.

Beside, Casio, he carries Sunnto, Citizen. Luminox, Elegantsis, Kenneth Cole, Edwin, Giorgio Fedon.

Address:

In Time Watch Company

Unit 17 B, G/F, Yan On building, Kwong Wah Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon.

Whatsapp me to get a Discount Code : starting less 20% (with exception on Special limited models)

 

HK Snob

HK Watch Fever

Watch Movement Lubrication

Movement oil plays an important role in every mechanical movement- it acts as lubricant that reduces the friction between contact surfaces of the different small components within.

Without the lubricant, the friction created will wear out the movement and adversely affect its accuracy. Any surface contains irregularities, even when polished to a mirror finish.

When two surfaces are gently brought together, only some points on the surfaces make contact and wear against each other. With lubrication, a protective film present on each of the surfaces separates the two surfaces. The protective film adheres to each surface and must resist being sheared off or pushed aside by the movement of the surfaces, particularly under a load.

Today's commonly available lubricants are manufactured from petroleum and consist of chains of carbon and hydrogen called alkanes. An oil molecule usually has between 15 to 20 carbon atoms, while a grease molecule will have 20 to 25.

The side of the hydrogen atoms facing away from the carbon atoms has a slight positive charge, attracting it to the sea of electrons of the metals. This force will of course be considerably stronger in a longer carbon chain. The lubricant adheres to the surface yet easily slips over other lubricant molecules, reducing the level of friction as lubricant molecules rub together rather than brass and steel surfaces.

A lubricant with a longer carbon chain is less volatile, that is, it does not evaporate as easily. As the temperature rises, vibrations break apart the lubricant molecules, leaving a watch movement vulnerable to damage. Since molecules with longer carbon chains vibrate less at a given temperature, they are less likely to evaporate.

On the other hand, we must consider what happens to a lubricant in colder temperatures. In this case, the weight of longer carbon chains is no longer a benefit. Oils with higher molecular weights will thicken more rapidly and clog a watch movement.

In practice, manufacturers blend oils to modify and perfect the lubricating and thickness properties of the combined mixture. When considering how thick a lubricant to use, one must determine the thickness of that lubricant at the coldest temperature the timepiece will be subjected to.

Watches worn on the wrist under normal conditions should not be lubricated with the ultra-thin lubricants necessary in extremely cold environments.

By blending watch oils, a talented watchmaker can achieve perfect lubrication in all temperature ranges.

Our researchers at Ball Watch Company have engineered timepieces with special lubrication for expeditions in the North and South Poles. These timepieces feature specially blended Swiss watch oils that give the watches an operating temperature range from -40°C to 60°C. This special feature allows the Engineer Hydrocarbon to fulfill its promise as a dependable partner for Richard Limeburner in his search for the USS Alligator under the icy ocean.

(From Ball web site)

As for our watches, there is different kind of oil being used at different area, the amount of oil used is critical, too much will cause overflow and splash onto the coil spring, that will cause the watch to be inaccurate, or too less will have in sufficient lubrication.

We have seen a trend of moving from organic oil to synthetic oil which will not tends to get thickened and will not cause the watch to get losing time. That was the indication or alert for you sending your watch to cleaning.

That may be wise to send it to service regularly, from experience if you use the watch everyday, 5  years

If you don't use it at all, I suggest you to take it out and use it a couple of days every 3 to 6 months.

Some people put the watch on watch winder even though he is not going to use it for years, it definitely will cause more wear and tear on the parts, in my opinion, I will not do so to my watches.

Rolex recommends us to service the watch once every 5 years, the price is about HKD$1,200. Usually they will ask for other parts changed such as o rings, or even polish, the total bill will be about HKD$2,600 if you agree the requested extra services. Time, about 2 weeks.

Reference for Rolex Lubrication

http://www.horologist.com/rolex_lubrication.htm

HK Watch Fever

HK Snob

Rolex AD, Paris

This is what we could see Rolex at Paris AD, they have the black Blue GMT Master II, DeepSea D-Blue and almost everything.

HK Snob

Bucherer In Lucerne

There is Rolex you want there at price almost the same as you get in HK at less 5% of HK Rolex list price.

After tax 8% refund plus some surcharge of foreign exchange using your card, it would be better you could pay in cash or some part in cash to get a better deal.

The price is in Swiss France, which is about 8.03 HK Dollars.

Well, Friend of mine bought the Ref 116000 in Purple which is almost impossible to buy in HK there at Lucerne!

We cannot see DeepSea Ref116660 D-Blue, Daytona Black Ref 116520 and Submariner Hulk Ref 116610LV in display, but I believe they have it in the drawer if you ask them!

  

Bucherer

Schwanenplatz 5

6002 Lucerne

Lucerne

Switzerland

+41 413697700

Thanks for Watch Fever Secret Agent Susana's input.

HK Snob