Saturday, April 15, 2017

Hublot Boutique 2017 Novetly Event



Invited by Maxime, the Boutique manager of Hublot Hong Kong to have a wonderful tour to the watches at Hublot Today.

Me, being a watch lover and Blogger have brought some of the members of HKWF Club there.

From left to right: Maxime, Jason (watch collector, English Teacher and writer), HK Snob myself, Sam (Real estate management, Watch Collector, Vinyl collector)




MP-05 "LaFerrari




Hublot defied every convention in 1980, when Carlo Crocco created the gold Hublot watch with the first natural black rubber bracelet in the history of watch making. It has now become the inspiration for a watch making style famous everywhere.

Started with Classic (37mm), migrating to Big Bang (44mm),
Classic Fusion (45mm), transforming into larger format of King Power (48mm), then Big Bang Unico (45mm).
There are all the series created by Hublot, the art of Fusion!



First unveiled Hublot LaFerrari in Sapphire 

Unveiled in 2013, the MP-05 "LaFerrari", created as a tribute to the eponymous supercar, showcased its unique and ultra-complex architecture. The lines of the MP-05 LaFerrari are the result of close collaboration between the designers and watchmakers working on the Hublot movement and Ferrari's design director, Flavio Manzoni. The movement itself was fully designed, developed and produced by the Hublot Manufacture engineers and watchmakers.




A record-breaking technical feat. Its tourbillon boasts an impressive 50-day power reserve – thanks to its 11 series-coupled barrels set in a spine formation down the centre of the watch. Its movement broke the record for the highest number of components for a Hublot movement to date – 637 in all. Boasting a futuristic design, the construction showed off the bold shape of its movement, even in its original version.

While the original design of the MP-05 “LaFerrari” was created to show off the beauty of its movement, its alter ego – with its case carved out of sapphire – is a movement which appears to be literally suspended in mid-air. All the details of this record-breaking movement can be admired from all angles. With the MP-05 “LaFerrari” Sapphire, Hublot takes us into a supernatural world. A material presence which is almost intangible.










With the MP-05 “LaFerrari” Sapphire, Hublot is writing a new chapter in the history of the brand. The three-dimensional construction of the case middle, in sapphire, provides an exceptional setting for the movement. The movement can now be admired from every angle. It appears to be suspended in mid-air in this bespoke setting carved from sapphire.

In fact, this movement finally has the sculptured bodywork it deserves! An ambitious project. The sapphire case middle is composed of 7 components machined from 7 blocks of sapphire and involved over 600 hours work. Carving the case's ultra-complex architecture out of sapphire using 3D machining presented a further challenge. The result of 18 months' development weighs, a 53.5 grams case on the wrist.









Only Limited to 10 pieces, this is No. 09, the only piece happened to be seen in Hong Kong Today. Those lines on the case is actually the transparent tape that was used to protect the watch.
Price is HK$3,970,000  approx.





Special mini electrical winder for wind up the 50 days power at the end of the watch! Amazing tool! I believe it is a free accessory when you buy the "LaFerrari" as it may take you half an hour to wind up the power plant of the watch by hand manually.

 


With its new Manufacture Piece (MP), Hublot is pushing back the boundaries in terms of multi-axis tourbillons. The MP-09 Tourbillon Bi-Axis is thus the result of a powerful idea: to provide a maximum of visibility on the tourbillon—and its fascinating double rotation—by designing a fine watchmaking movement devoted to this objective, and then creating an original case that highlights the 100% manufacture calibre. Here, the function defines the form. This perfectly reflects the prevailing philosophy in the design of all of Hublot’s “MPs”, namely to develop an exclusive movement dedicated to a function and to design specific external parts to highlight this motor.
“With our Manufacture Pieces, we are taking the expression of our watchmaking savoir-faire very far and making the most of it to give each watch a specific aesthetic”
Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot






MP09 is limited to 50 pieces
Specification
Bi-Axis Tourbillon
Titanium case,
49mm
Manual Wining
5 Days power reserve
356 parts
43 jewels
216,00 CPH

List Price : HK$1,200,000


Jason with a welcome Smile with a 4M Watch on his wrist.


This Hublot is paved with a lot of diamonds, and I am sure you don't need to tell the time as no one will really need to read the time.  HK$3,950,000.





This is something I like and I am thinking that the price is also very affordable for a working class like I. Very heavy piece of solid gold to house the beautiful movement. It tells you the Month, Day, Date and the Moonphase, a very Classical approach of an contemporary brand of Hublot!





A collaboration between Pied De Poule, Rubinacci (Italian Tailor) and Hublot to create this authentic fabic "Rubinacci "Prince of Wales" suit.... a very unique and beautiful piece like no others.  A typical vibrant yet classic dress watch.






Unico Titanium
411.NX.1170.RX

Unico King Gold
411.OX.1180.RX



Just reached HK yesterday after BaselWorld. New Hublot with the case made of Sapphire! In Blue


In Red

Thanks for the invitation and we are really open eyes to see so many glamorous luxury watches like the MP-09. And MP-05 with sophisticated design by adopting new Swiss watch manufacturing technique with innovative technologic achievement.

Sometimes it is needed to consider to change, by wearing watch of the contemporary design on the alternate days!
Probably it will make my life more interesting and less boring!

HK Snob


PS you can also contact Mr. Maxime Castric (the Boutique Manager) for Hublot watch information, news and prices.


Hublot Boutique IFC Hong Kong
T: +852 2116 3708
F: +852 2881 0813
Add: Shop 1002A, Podium Level 1, ifc Mall,1 Harbour Street, Central, Hong Kong



Friday, April 14, 2017

Hong Kong Watch Fever Goes Instragram and Facebook

Besides, Blogging, I actively engaged in facebook and Instragram,

You can add me for chatting and more direct sharing.

My Instagram is hk_rolex_fever





My facebook is:  Snob HK





My other facebook purely for watch : Rolex HK Snob






See you there

HK Watch fever
HK Snob
HK watch Fever's

Monday, April 10, 2017

What's new about Rolex in April 2017?


 







A Like New Submariner 16610LV Flat Four


There has been quiet for a period of time Jan to March as people are watching what new stuff will be launched at BaselWorld.


Well, Rolex will produce a Sea-Dweller Single Red Ref 126600 and prices at CHF10.800 .

New feature are 43mm case, It’s got a Cyclops for it’s 50th anniversary 1967-2017. I think when it is available price must be higher than HK$110,000.


And I have heard that Rolex has discontinued the production of current Ref 116600 Sea-dweller. So there is a surge of Gray dealer price HK$63,000 last week up to now HK$67,000 this week!


So if you have a BNIB Sea-Dweller. Please keep it and it may hold the price for a period of time and Rise again to above HK$75,000.



Daytona ceramic  2016

Daytona Ceramic Ref 116500LN white stands still at price HK$131,000 where black is HK$126,000 (average)

 

Submariner

More obviously that I see rise of demand on Submariner 50th anniversary Ref 16610LV Kermit, as In Mong Kok Watch shop, like Kwan Yan, P n F, London’ s watch, Wing Kwong, I have counted there are about 12 prices, these are their prices.


Ref 16610LV NOS or Mint Flat Four full set : HK$110,000

Ref 16610LV sharp four paper and box :HK$71,000

Ref 16610LV sharp four watch only HK$57,000 to $66,000

Price: on the rise.


Submariner Ref 116610LV Hulk

I have noticed that there is little supply at Gray dealer, and price is going up.

Noticeably the gray dealer price is HK$69,000 to HK$71,000

So in my experience, the price of such rise of Hulk indicating lesser supply, I speculate that the Hulk will be also be “Discontinued” soon.


So if you can get a Hulk BNIB at HK$70K, I suggest buy before too late.

HK Snob

 

 

Rolex Submariner Kermit Ref 16610LV on sale




Rolex Submariner Kermit, Ref 16610LV dated Oct 2003, FLAT FOUR bezel, collectible New Vintage.
Full Set, Red tag, Paper, box, booklets, HK AD 888 Watch...

High collectible

HK$103,000

HK Snob



Rolex Daytona Ref 116508 mint condition on sale





Rolex Daytona Ref 116508 Mint condition full set dated Dec 2016 asking HK$212,000 Cash

HK Snob


Rolex New Vintage on Sale



New Vintage
Rolex Submariner Ref 16610LV Flat Four Full set at near Mint condition HK 888 HK$1005,000
Rolex Submariner Ref 16610LV Sharp flu Full Set at 90% used condition Paper and Original Box unpolished HK$68,600
Rolex Submariner Ref 16610LV Sharp Four 95% condition watch only, HK$58,000
Rolex GMT Master 16700 1994 Pepsi with paper and box HK$54,000


New Series
Rolex Date Just II Ref 116334 with Diamond dial in grey dial full set 2014 HK 888 watch
HK$53,000


Omega CK2998 Speedmaster Full Set BNIB Limited 2998 pieces HK$46,000


HK Snob

Saturday, April 8, 2017

Vacheron Constantin "Phidias" 18 KT solid Gold full set







Model #48010/967J Retail USD$17,000
Measurement Case 33mm excluding Crown x 40mm lug tip to lug tip.
Come with Full Set, extra link paper and box.

Watch in like new condition, running perfectly.
Wight about 120 grams
HK$62,500

HK Snob

Rolex Date Just II Ref 116334 Full Set Available












Rolex Date Just II 41mm with fluted bezel in 18KT white gold.
2014 watch, Like new, seldom used Full Set.

Grey dial with Diamond, HK AD List Price HK$80,800.

Now only HK$53,500

HK Snob

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

T25 Dial of a Vintage Rolex







For Vintage Rolex (VR) freak, the right Luminous material on your Rolex dial and hands is a decisive buying consideration.

Over the decades, Rolex had been using different types of luminous material on the luminous dots of the dials and hands.

It is crucial for a Collector that the illuminant used corresponds to the year of the watch (refer to my last posted article).

And it is important to have the same luminous material on the dial, hands and bezel… and if possible, still in the same colour!

Since the previous used luminous material ages severely and they changed brownish and yellowed. Those are described as Tropical dial.

When your Rolex is repaired at RSC, they usually replace the hands and dial to a newer version…

As there is a policy that the hands and dial coated with Tritium MUST be replaced and disposed of because of health hazard for the watchmakers.


There is always a risk that your watch looks new after the repair… coz they have taken away your original T25 dial and hands….

VR collectors should always safe guard his Rolex being ripped off the Original T25 dial and hands…


Friend of mine Allan had beated a 60s Submariner Tritium with HK$800,000 from an auction, later on found that the hands are of later version… meaning that he lost approximately HK$300,000 the value of his watch… so the uniqueness, colour of dial and hands of a VR is very critical to determine overall value of the VR.

In order to preserve the watch value, you should not ALLOW Rolex to change with news hands…Or you should not go to Rolex for servicing VR.

By Right and nature of the material T25 is always preferred as  the new watch with Luminnova or Super Luminnova material always shine, but it must be charged before it glows by a light source, such as LED torch. This luminosity diminished over time in the dark.

This is somewhat we should be aware…
HK Snob

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

T Swiss Made T" or "Swiss T 25" : what does it mean ?



In order for timepieces to be read in the dark or diving under the sea, a luminescent material is laid on the dial indexes and hands.
Generally speaking, the emission of light is either of radioluminescent type (determined by the radioactivity of the material) or of photoluminescent type (determined by a exciting luminous radiation).

Timepieces featuring radioluminescent emission are mostly designed for very specific uses : military watches, professional divers watches, etc. In this case, the use of radioactive material is strictly defined by ISO 3157 Standard which allows only two types of radionucleides : tritium (3H) and promethium (147 Pm). It is important to specify that these radionucleides emit a radiation of low energy.
ISO 3157 Standard allows an optional marking for timepieces emitting less than a certain value. The marking may be made on the dial as follows :
deposits activated by tritium : T
deposits activated by promethium : Pm

On the other hand, timepieces with a higher value, such as divers' watches, must be marked as follows :
deposits activated by tritium : T 25
deposits activated by promethium : Pm 0,5

The indication "T Swiss made T" means that the watch is Swiss and contains a certain quantity of tritium that emits less than 227 MBq (7,5 mCi).

The indication "Swiss T<25" means that the watch is Swiss and contains a certain quantity of tritium that emits less than 925 MBq (25 mCi).

Most of the Swiss watches use a light emission of photoluminescent type. Some of them bear the optional marking "L Swiss Made L" to indicate it.


The light emitted by the hands and index of the dial is the radiation energy deposited in the luminescent crystals by alpha and/or beta particles. Next to no light is due to gamma rays.

Dial is made with Radioluminescent paint consisting of certain radioactive material mixed with a luminescent crystalline powder. The first radioactive material was radium-226 (Ra-226), but it hasn't been widely used.

Tritium (H-3) and promethium-147 (Pm-147) are the radionuclides of choice.

Other radionuclides have also been used such as strontium-90 (Sr-90) and carbon-14 (C-14).
Zinc sulfide powder has been the most widely used luminescent material.

TRITIUM
Tritium (H-3) is a low energy beta emitter with a 12.3 year half-life. It does not emit gamma rays.
So Rolex T<25 dial means it will last for 24.6 years only.
(less than 25 years!)


Luminova and then Superluminova were developed to avoid the use of any radioactive materials whatsoever. Their intent was to replace tritium lume outright.
Rolex Sports or Professional watches (except the Daytona) generally have <T25 and dress watches like the Date-Just are marked T Swiss T.
This is basically down to the amount of luminous material applied to the dial. The more paint, means more Tritium meaning more radiation as minimal as it is.




Swiss
Luminous Material Radium
Used until 1960
Radioactive


Swiss- T<25
Luminous Material Tritium
Used from 1960 -1998
Radioactive, Radioactivity less than 925 MBq (25 mCi)



T Swiss T
Luminous Material Tritium
Used from 1960 -1998
Radioactive, Radioactivity Less than 277mBq (7.5 mCi)


SWISS
Luminous Material Superluminova
Used from 1998 till 2000
Not Radioactive


SWISS MADE
Luminous Material Luminova (Green
Used from 2000
Not Radioactive


SWISS MADE
Luminous Material Chromalight (blue)
Used from approx. 2008
(introduced with DeepSea)
Not Radioactive


These are what I have researched and may not be all correct , however I hope this give a simple illustration on the type of Rolex Dial being used on your and my watch...


I hope it helps for one of my bog fans asking on this... So now you know T<25 dial on Submariner I always prefer for VR (Vintage Rolex) as all are made on the Golden Period of Rolex. 1960-1998.

HK Snob






Saturday, April 1, 2017

Rolex Watch For You





From Left to right:
1. Rolex Sea-Dweller Ref 1665 Double Red - Full Set
2. Rolex Submariner Kermit Ref 1661LV- with paper
3. Rolex Submariner Kermit Ref 16610LV- Watch
4. Rolex GMT Master Pepsi Ref 16750- With Warranty Paper


These are on sale.
Call me for more information if you are interested in these Rolex Gems...


K Snob

Rolex Date Just Ref 16018 in Solid Yellow Gold with Warranty Paper on Sale








Rolex Date Just Ref 16018 with Warranty Paper, Rolex Service Paper for Case Clean.

Asking HK$43,000

HK Snob