Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Patek Philippe Ref 5014G




 

ooo
 PP 5014 white porcelain dial manual Winding white gold dress watch.

Just been overhauled by Patek

HK Snob


Lgjnu


Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Buying a Patek Philippe



Buying a Patek Philippe is a life time investment. I must take it seriously.

Buying a Patek Philippe watch isnt simple as just you have the money or a diamond credit card. 

For the most intricate styles, called Grand Complications, or the popular Nautilus and Aquanaut sport models, potential buyers must submit to an application process. The Stern family, which has owned the company since 1932, reviews each application to judge whether a prospective owner has a proven track record with the company and appreciates the fine craftsmanship of each timepiece.
In Hong Kong, only known few of my friends had successfully bought a Nautilus Ref 5712 and Ref 5711.
If you are a doctor, artists, movie star, business man, professor would be an easier way to be qualified as the buyer. The process is to leave you name card at any Patek Philippe shop and name the model
You want, they will submit to the general Manager in the Hong Kong head office to evaluate if they would sell it to you at SRP. 
Friend of mine has successfully obtained a Ref 5712R on his birthday Dec 2017 even with less ten percent discount! That was his best birthday gift! So if yuh can not get it within z6 months of two years. You may go to buy from open market with a premium. 

The auction route isnt much easier. Patek Philippe easily beats all other fine watchmakers when it comes to record-setting hammer prices, and pieces continue to appreciate in value, as much as 100 times the original price. Its estimated that less than one million watches have been produced since the company was founded over 175 years ago, whereas Rolex makes close to one millions watch within the years 2006. Even Rolex has reduced their production volume. Rolex still
Produces as many as 800,000 watches in 2017.

This making Patek Philippe watches among the rarest timepieces on the market.
With all the hoop-jumping required to buy the real thing, there is some fake stuff in the market.

What are the telltale signs a Patek Philippe is fake?

Firstly, many fake watch does have extra printed function on the dial whereas authentic Patek doesnt have.

For example, platinum Patek Philippe watches carry a distinctive single diamond setting between the lugs at 6 oclock. The brand does not expose the Tourbillon complication or even balance wheels, outside of skeletonized versions, and with the exception of rare, limited edition pieces, Patek Philippe does not use eponymous casebacks. 

Contrary to a lot of other high-end Swiss watches A Lange Jaeger Lecoutle, Patek does not blue their screws. Many counterfeits have blue screws. Simply you can see blue screw. Those are Fake Patek!

Looking at the movement of a Patek Philippe, we expect to see only the highest quality bevelling and fine hand-finishing.

Each one takes about four to twelve months of production, totaling between 50 to 200 separate assembly process, and after each step the parts are cleaned in an ultrasound bath with special
Cleaning agents. 

All modern Patek Philippe watches use sapphire crystals. The texture often found on the dials and bezels is not stamped, but will be done by hand using a technique known as guilloché. 

Most of these unique elements of quality are requirements of the Geneva Seal, as an independent Swiss agent, known for their mark of quality excellence.

Patek Philippe keeps all reference numbers and serial numbers within the watch. The watchs reference number and serial number are engraved on the inside of the caseback. 

On Patek Philippe with sapphire crystal casebacks, the movements serial number and the calibre number can be seen. The watchs reference and serial are still contained on the inside of the caseback. 

Fake Patek Philippes will often have model or serial numbers visible directly on the caseback. Depending on the age of the timepiece and the type of movement, the case should be stamped with either the Geneva Seal or their own Patek Philipe seal.

What distinguishes Patek Philippe from other watchmakers?
Precision Patek Philippe has mastered the art of fine watchmaking and their standards set them apart from their competitors 

Patek Philippe is still family-owned company. The independence for unlimited freedom and passion on design. Highly tradition and retaining good values.

Start to do your research and purchase a Patek for you and your family members now! 


Patek Philippe timepieces are always a classic!

HK Snob 

Watch Repair in Hong Kong

How do you feel the quality of the watch repair in your country?

There had been numerous unhappy events happened during the watch repair! 
Too expensive, too long to wait for quotation and actual unreasonable long Repair time. 
Which brand do you still
Is the best in terms of after sales service?

I have a few experience:-

In a R service Center one guy sent his pink gold Watch to Repair! And the lady checked the serial Number and model Number suing that there was no such watch in this serial number in Pink gold. The guy was not happy and ask To see the manager and the manager repeated the same story 
 He sent a mail to HQs and they replied yes there is such a watch in pink gold under than serial Number
so What has gone wrong with the clerk And manager in the office?

I was sending a perpetual calendar to
Repair at R because the watch did not able to jump from 30 ro 1 of the May or July automatically and they asked for Hk$40,000.
I negotiated for a final half price and waited for three months to Return from Switzerland that watch worked for Three months and the problem
Came back. 

I had a friend who had a perpetual
Calendar watch from The brand P and it was not running after a few years and needed for Repair. After the quotation and that repair amount is RMB$4,000,000! That is not s joke!

Another Chinese friend who sent his defective watch to repair in HK at P 
It took him two years and not yet get his watch back! I did not ask him but knowing that he was very unhappy and every the other day went to the AD GIVING them some
Lesson with with a lot of “F words!”

Friend of mine was not happy to see the repair slip of his R watch saying that the watch case is scratches and the bucket is scratched seriously as he understood that there is no standard of “Scratches” !

Ok he bought a brand new watch from an AD and immediately sent to repair by saying the watch runs and stops. To his surprise the repair slip also Written “ light scratches”
He argued with the clerk where is the scratches and the last really could find out some hair line light scratches on the NEW Watch that eyes barely could see!
Now he knows the clerk must try to write on it scratches even it is brand new 
They really got eagle eye To See find scratches.

One friend he sent his V watch to repair and the quotation took one month to him and saying that amount is more than HK$30,000. He said
he thought about it. But he forget his watch at all because he has many watches . After two year he found the repair slip and he found out he put wrong phone number on it so
No one  could call him And called the watch repair centre he did not Want to repair because too
Expensive and want to get back the watch. And V said OK. Then he wants to get his watch back
and found out that the watch was actually repaired. And this
Time. He was happy because he did. It Pay Amy money to Repair.

One close friend Who is also Watch blogger bought a Quartz gold watch at watch fair at HK$50000 and he sent to R service centre to ask for battery cell
Replacement and buy two extra link on the gold watch because he has a large wrist. 
The quotation given is Hk$56,000 Which is shocking high
Even more than the cost he spent for the watch. Because they says the movement had to be overhauled, battery cell replacement and each link of the bracket is hk$7,750, they need to change the O ring and sapphire plate so total charges is $56,000

Friend of Mine did not accept the charges. He took the watch back, 
replaced the battery cells by outsider HK$40.00

He bought two extra links from
His dealer friend with HK$5,000 and he has been using the watch without overhaul for more than five years till last week I saw his wearing it!

Conclusion
You spend a lot of money to buy a complicated watch you have to prepare a lot of money to maintain 
As they are like a Ferrari or Lamborghini comes high maintenance!

Sometimes you any feel better get it repaired outside by some watch expect if there is no parts concern.

Always buy certain simple movement watch say manual Winding or automatic 
Those Perpetual calendar and repeater is nice to play but will be charged very unfriendly when they are having problem.

HK Snob

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Patek Ref 5000G

Ps

A watch of No Death (無死)

Its is like durian, some one likes it for his taste someone hates it because of its taste!

Like it because they are not as expected as “expensive” like Nautilus! And this is a limited 1000 Patek ref 5000G
In house a Patek Philippe says one of the singature movement cal.240. And it has been discontinued since 2003.

Hate it because it is only 33 mm diameters. And it is not Nautilus Sportive look that almost everyone would knees down and salutes to it!

I look at it this way, elegance comes with what you have inside. Sometimes small does not mean it is little! It is the first watch that was having second unusually positioned off-centred at four o’clock!

I like it also for one reason, though a bit superstitious, but it is true that this watch does not have “4”, in Chinese HK . That is “No 4” “ 無死”! How much the Swiss knows about Chinese superitions more I don’t know. But I feel great with this watch because of NO-4!

Well I like it because this is durian, the king of fruits and this is king of Dress watch!

Price wise, it is just 25% of a ref 5712-1a Nautilus.

And this is Patek Philippe, never go wrong!

That is why I bought also the yellow
Gold one. Ref5000R

HK Snob

A Lange Zeitwerk striking time




This is an A Lange Zeitwerk striking  time white gold watch.
The polishing works at the bottom is awesome!

I guess that this kind of watch may take one master three months to 
Complete the assembly! 

HK SNOB 


Monday, November 12, 2018

Rolex AD new practice


Start from November, all Rolex AD in HK have to
1. Full in name, date on the warranty card
2. Stickers must be removed
3. Bracelet will have to be adjusted to the wrist.
4. No ECU Box will be given.

So it is time to keep your watch with full
Sticker as they are only happens in history

HK Snob

Rolex GMT Master II


Before the white gold Pepsi and steel Pepsi, before all the hype, there was the 16710. Timeless, iconic and classy. Perfect everyday watch or to be worn on special occasions.

And this watch has the error/stick dial. What’s a stick dial? The font of the “II” of ‘GMT Master’ is in different font than usual font.

Very collectible, some rumours say only 0.5% of 16710 have the stick dial, we will never know the exact numbers. Regardless it is a very rare bird.

If you like the Pepsi insert and want a watch which not everyone has, this is it.

This watch is also in amazing condition and the bracelet is tight. And the price is much less than Jubilee Pepsi 2018.

Don’t blame yourself if this is sold, probably it takes a few
months to see another one at such a good price!

HK Snob

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Rolex Submariner 50th anniversary


This is a Submariner 50th anniversary Ref 16610LV 
Z Series , 90% new 
No major dents, only hairline scratches of Normal usage.
No scratches on bezel 
Comes with purchase invoice that we bought from
the preowned shop in 2017 
Now we are asking HK$82,600 with box
HK$82000 if no box 
HK Snob 



Rolex GMT Master Ref 1675






This is a Rolex GMT MASTER ref 1675
All original Long E Mark I dial
S/N 2.9M
NFS

HK Snob

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Colourful Rolex watches



All colour Day Date Date Just Precious stones.
Coral, Lapis, Marachite, Onyx, Bloodstone and tiger eyes. 
It takes us 20 years to collect these watches! 
Not many people who can have time to find this. Money is not an issue but time and passion for it.

HK Snob

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Daytona new Available





These are new Daytona Panda arriving HK soon.
Will be available in November 2018
White steel 116500LN HK$180,000 (SRP $95,000)
Pink gold 116515 LN HK$209,000 (SRP $214,600)
Yellow gold 116518LN HK$201,000. (SRP $205,000)
But the warranty card will be supplied later, giving you copy of the warranty card plus the official invoice from Rolex AD.
Good for end user
The watch is brand new September 2018
HK Snob

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Rolex GMT Error dial on sale




Rolex GMT Master II error  dial or stick dial.
Z series
Watch and box only.
Condition:90/100
HK$83,000

HK Snob

Patek Philippe Ref 5035J annual calendar



When you look at it at first instance ......
Agree with me or not it looks a big “crowded” at the dial layout.
When you are using it for a while well I start to know how practical approach this watch is designed to.

It is very clear to be read just one glance. This is very important design objective for dial layout as Watch function is to tell you the time by display.

The watch diameter is 37 mm excluding the crown and the dial diameter is 28mm.
Within this area we need to show these information:- Month, Day, Date, 24 hour display, hour, minutes and seconds.
Pls the layout of Roman Numerics hour indexes that occupying space!
This is a challenge and I think Patek is one of the best master in this classic display dial design.

They try to use as large as the fonts with additionally simplicity on the letters to let you have a easy reading.
for example : TU instead of TUE...

Also the Day and month display dial
Is slight beveled to add a bit isometric contrast on the dial as a whole.

I like it in yellow gold more than white gold as the ivory dial matches the yellow gold case colour perfectly!

Roman numeric is more on classic approach on the design, plus a standout look on the two lines represents the essence of the swiss best watches
“ Patek Philippe, Geneve”

This is Ref 5035J

HK Snob

Rolex price in Hong Kong


Rolex price update
The price are valid this week selling from Gray dealer to end users.
1. Daytona ceramic white 116500LN  $177,000
2. Batman GMT 116710BLNR $91,000
3. Hulk Submariner 116610LV $99,000 
4. Submariner with date 116610LN $77500
5. Submariner no date 114060 $63,000
6. Pepsi Jubilee 116710BLRO $135,000
8. Seadweller 126600 $109,000

In short 
Daytona keeps going up
Batman chases HULK
Hulk stablizies at $98000 to 99,5000
Submariner maintains
Sea Dweller drops from $114,000 to now $109,000

just a reference only coz I don’t have big data to share 

HK Snob 

Rolex HK new practice


Start immediately, Rolex HK will remove sticker on your purchased Rolex watch, adjust your length fit for your wrist, you are required to put your real name on the warranty card, and the plastic shipment box will be confiscated by Rolex, meaning that we cannot get the plastic box now.

HK Snob

Monday, October 29, 2018

Blog revived

Dear all,

It has been a while because of some technical issues that I cannotUpload picture on my blog.

I just solved it.

So I will see you all more often here at my blog.

Thanks for the past support on it.

I am the only one handle this blog and I do hope soon I can reach 3,000,000 page views soon

Of course without your support, it could not be easy!

HK Snob