Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Rolex Service Centre Watch Authenticity

  
為什麼每每要買勞力士手表的人都需要到勞力士服務中心檢查那勞力士表的真偽?
 
1. 真的有很多假的手表在市場上嗎?
2. 勞力士是否真的可以判斷那手表真的百份,百原廠原裝的嗎?
3. 你可否見過一些大型有權威的拍賣行拍賣的勞力士手表不對期,並且不是原裝的,賣家為什麼不要求上勞力士行檢証?是否那權威拍賣行比勞力士更權威?我可可以肯定有幾隻錶至少幾隻見過嘅勞力士若果上行的一定比勞力士退回!咁樣呢個係代表什麼呢?勞力士店權威啲一話拍賣行權威啲呢?
你如果係拍賣行個買家買咗隻錶然後上勞力士檢証時發覺係假嘅?
咁你覺得勞力士呃一話拍賣行呃你呢?哈哈😄
我自從2014年買勞力士大約買咗都有400個掛只有一個真係想要勞力士驗證就係因為那位女仕再三要求一定要上勞力士,亦因為好多年都未上過十四樓.也順便想去見識吓純粹想去見識吓
咁樣我買咗嗰399個勞力士係咪有機會假嘅呢?我好有興趣想知道喎?但係咁多年來都冇人投訴過喎?咁有幾個可能嘅第一買家從未力上勞力士驗證。第二,買家仲未再轉賣比第二或第三個買家,而第二和第三個買家亦都冇上勞力士行驗證呢?這個機會好少喎
呢個都係有趣的問題?
4. 咁有趣嘅係有一些是香港勞力士驗證過嘅勞力士錶拿去第二個國家勞力士店驗證下,發現佢係非原裝嘅,禁樣你信邊個勞力士服務中心呢
5. 咁有人就話去表店買隻新嘅手錶一定好嘢啦掛啦!
我又見過啦,上表店買咗新錶再上勞力士服務中心當然又唔係原裝㗎喎咁點呀?當然那一家表店非勞力士特約經銷商,在這裏不便公開那店的名稱⋯⋯
 
太多有趣嘅勞力士東西,再談!
下面兩隻錶你覺得邊隻真邊隻假呢?
 
右邊那隻外殼是假的,機惢可能真的,左面外觀真的!裏面機惢可能假的,打開看看最後實際.
那你給勞力士服務中心檢查剛剛買的新表而佢地又吾開表睇。怎麼知道機惢是真的呢!勞力士有時都係作一個評估作答,用另外一句說話講,有一些過案都係斷估” !
HK Snob




Friday, July 10, 2020

Material for making watch cases

RM 011 Red TPT Quartz Automatic flyback chronograph
Courtesy picture of Quill pad

Different kinds of watch materials 

1. Stainless steel

2. Yellow gold
3. Pink gold

4. White gold

5. Platinum

6. Silver

7. Bronze

8. Sapphire

9. Aluminum

10. Titanium

11. Glass

12. Stone

13. Elastomers

14.Carbon Fiber

15. Ceramic

16. Carbonium (Roman Gauthier)

17. Forged Carbon (Audemars Piguet, Panerai)

18. TPT quartz (Richard Mille)

19. Grey Cermet (Richard Mille new RM 11-05)

 

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is the most widely used watch material, which has a composition of being an iron-carbon alloy, combined with chromium and other material.. In general, stainless steel is difficult to scratch as it’s durable, lightweight and tough is most popular for its ability to resisting corrosion, maintaining a shine for a long life and keeping intact the strength of steel. These watches can have two finishings: polish or brush. Polishing creates a shiny mirror surface, but brushing makes the surface look rugged and is more suited for outdoor type of watches. This material has its downsides as it is easily damaged and prone to scratches, dents, smudges and fingerprints, so you have to be careful when wearing it.

 

Titanium

Titanium is mainly used to replace steel to capitalize on its lightweight property. A bulky dive watch will still look great and cool but at a more manageable weight. Such as the case with this Seiko Shogun. Titanium is more expensive than Steel. The World First Titanium watch is Porsche Design Titan by IWC in 1980. The entire watch and bracelet was made with Titanium.

Another advantage of titanium is it can be used by those with steel allergies.

Sapphire is something that I’m pretty sure you’ve heard about. It’s one of the gemstones and a rarity, but in watchmaking, sapphire is not exactly what you would think it is.

 

Sapphire

It is a hard material, having a score of 9 in mohr hardness scale (with diamond at 10) so it’s very scratch resistance.

Now, although sapphire is a gemstone, mankind have been able to synthesize it, although the process is slow and expensive (but at least we will have an abundant source of the material).

It is these synthetic sapphire that was used in watchmaking. Most of the sapphire is used to make watch crystal to capitalize on its scratch resistance properties. This ensures the watch crystal is scratch free even if it’s been used for years. In comparison, the other watch crystals (glass based mineral crystal and plastic based acrylic crystal) scratches fairly easily even in normal everyday use.

Sapphire was being used for replacing the Acrylic Crystal of watch, Rolex used on his Day Date in 1977. Audemars Piguet used it on his first Royal Oak 5402 in 1972. They are commonly used as the standard crystal material now for his hardness.  Richard Milles using Sapphire to case the watch back in 2016 and Hublot is also doing this commonly now as case material with different colour. 

 

TPT Quartz

The NTPT carbon composites that came before at Richard Mille were the original drivers of development, and North Thin Ply Technologies, the company behind NTPT carbon, became an ongoing development partner.

TPT, which stands for thin ply technology, is a method for making ultra-thin unidirectional strand sheets of carbon fibers. The sheets aren’t just fibers however, they are “tapes” that are pre-impregnated (“prepreg”) with resin for more accurate and controllable application in use.

The resin is the material that works like a glue to hold the carbon fibers together; when placed under heat and pressure the resin flows between all the fibers and finally hardens to create the solid carbon fiber material we are familiar with. The TPT carbon tapes used in Richard Mille cases have layers that are, on average, around 45 microns thin, or just under two-thousandths of an inch (.002”). Moving on to TPT Quartz, the construction is the same, only it is composed not of carbon fibers, but of fused quartz fibers. These fibers start out life as purified ground quartz crystals. These crystals are fused with heat and pressure to create fused quartz rods. These rods are then drawn (pulled and squished) under an oxy-hydrogen flame to create extremely long continuous fibers of fused quartz.

North Thin Ply Technologies developed the TPT Quartz in collaboration with Saint-Gobain Quartz, who supplied the Quartzel™ 9- or 4-micron quartz fiber filament (which is thinner than human hair); Reichhold, suppliers of ADVALITE™, a monomer-free vinyl hybrid resin; and, of course, Richard Mille, who led design and validation for the new process. The result was the world’s first thin-ply quartz fiber prepreg material, which immediately won the JEC World 2016 Innovation Award. (quoted from Richard Mille Web Site).
How do I look at those new material such as Quartz TPT, or Grey Cermet, well it still has some hesitation to go for that with a watch worth more than US$180,000.

 

Traditional precious material

Yellow Gold is pure gold, which is 24 karat, that has been alloyed with other materials. This material is very gleaming and conventional, and corrosion free, but also is a very soft and may scratch and otherwise become damaged. Gold is suited for showy watches that will attract attention.  They are expensive and also heavy, not suited for everyday uses, but definitely a status symbol for high-end events.

White Gold is a pure precious metal, typically combined with silver or even palladium. It’s a very popular choice, because it looks like stainless steel, but is more discreet than watches made from yellow gold - some people may mistake the two though. This material is used in high-end, luxury or even heirloom dress watches. Watches nowadays are made of 18KT (750) white gold or yellow gold.  14KT (585) is uncommon nowadays for it gold lustre is not as good as 18KT gold. But 14KT was commonly used on watch case in 1920-1960.

 
Gold

Amongst those material, I prefer precious traditional material, steel, Yellow Gold, Pink Gold, White gold or platinum as I do feel their existence there. Well, when you try on Richard Mille, you might feel the difference in weight. Well, to be honesty light weight is more comfortable. And there is a die-hard fan for heavy stuff like the Audemars Piguet Pounder or Brick close to one pound in weight. I am still like to have old gold Watch, that is yellow gold watch, as gold is supposed to be yellow in colour.

Still today, Patek has been the one guy to insist to use these material on their watch, Yellow Gold, White gold and platinum other than steel as the main stream of material, They have been trying to use Titanium recent years, but never do it with Carbon or ceramic case yet.  As the oldest traditional watch company should be cautiously in testing the acceptance of using the new material for watch case. That may be one of the reasons people stick to Patek for their use of precious material.

On the other hand, Rolex has been following the same traditional in selecting the material Gold or steel, and never have any ceramic case not titanium case, only in exceptional case because of weight, Rolex use Titanium bottom cover on his Deep Sea model 116660, or may be doing that for skin allergy prevention.

 

Wood

Wood is a natural material available in different colors and grain types, which makes every watch unique. A wooden watch will age beautifully compared to other materials like metal, that can get damaged from sun and water. Plus, wood is an eco-friendly material, which is mostly sustainably sourced, so it doesn’t do any harm to nature. Wood is very durable and lightweight and develops a lustrous patina over the years. It also can be easily restored if it gets scratches or dents. If you like unique accessories that will stand out and haven’t been seen by most people, a wooden watch is a great option. List with the best wooden watches.

But wood is not good for dive watch and it is not easy made to go into deep water. Wood is not easy to be made thin and strong. So there is limitation.

Rolex is an expert in using wood as the dial material, birch, Mahogany, Oak is commonly used on its Flagship Day Date watch in 1980-1990. Now these are rare and expensive watches

 

Carbon Fibre
arbon Fiber is composed of carbon atoms bonded together to form a long chain. It is one of the sturdiest and lightest watch materials out there. It is, however, very expensive – so it will cost you a mini fortune to get a carbon fiber watch on your wrist. Given that carbon fiber is mainly used in leading sports instruments and even supercars, this adds a thrill and glory to the watches made of this material. Not that, once the ultimate strength of the carbon fiber is exceeded, it has a high chance of being shattered. Audemars Piguet does not product carbon fibre or forged carbon watch case anymore as it would chipped off one day, so if you are tired of the bezel which has been damaged, AP will replace a ceramic bezel for you , of course you need to pay US$2500 or more depends on model. So if your AP bezel in Carbon is still in prestige condition, it would be an good value too.

 

Ceramic

Ceramics has a composition of zirconium oxide - a hardened form of clay. There are a number of positive aspects to watches made out of ceramics as they are heat resistant and scratch proof. This material is comfortable to use and a popular choice for luxury watches due to its long lasting shine. It is also non-porous, easy to clean, and more lightweight than most materials. Though, it is not as impact resistant as steel is.  Rado used to be the first one to use Ceramic as the case material since 1980. Well, ceramic will just break leaving you with expensive repair bill, so it needs to be used very carefully. A watch made of ceramic is very expensive since it is unique and has to be custom made. Your Audemars Piguet offshore ceramic Bezel can be as expensive as US$2500 when you need to replace it if dent or broken.

 

Other

PVD Physical Vapor Deposition

This is a metal coating method with an added layer of either carbides, nitrides or oxides, which have an ionic attraction. It has a masculine black patina, but it’s not one of the most scratch proof materials as the original steel color may wear off due to friction or impacts. This material is best suited for sports activity watches. It will be worn off, beware.

 

DLC Diamond like coating

A think hard thin coating made on case of watch, for it is hard, but as the thickness is a few microns, it will be worn off also one day, Don’t rub it or polish it with abrasive material.

HK Snob

Daytona Zenith on Sale

















contact me if you are interested in this.
HK Snob

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

New Frank Mullar Watch at discount of 70%

Due to change of agency, one big AD is selling out his Frank Muller at big discount up to less 70%.
They are new, full set with Warranty. 
If you are interested in buying it, please WhatsApp me.
Also there is discount on Breitling, Chopard, Zenith, Rado etc.
HK Snob

Note, the deal was closed

Rolex Market price in Hong Kong increases in July 2020


The price of Rolex at dealer and some of the AD has been raised up a lot in this two weeks.
Some of them are going up rapidly.
Daytona Ceramic 116500LN White was $182,000 in June. 
It is $190,000 in July

Submariner Black 116610LN was $87,000 in June.
It is $89,000 in July

Submariner 116610LV Hulk was $115,000 in June.
It is $121,000 in July.

Submariner no date 116400 was $65,000 in June.
It is $67,000 in July

GMT Master II Root Beer 126711 was $130,000 in June.
It is $135,000

I really don't know what has happened and I will keep monitoring it.
HK Snob

tt


Sunday, July 5, 2020

Tudor BB58 in blue


This is Black Bay BB58 in blue, I think this is one of the most beautiful watch at the right size 39mm
launched in end June,
Still there is possibility to get it at SPR at AD Rolex/Tudor HK$27,600.
Let me know if you want one.
HK Snob

tt



what is your most desirable post?

I am thinking should I ask what is your most interesting topics you want to read such that I can focus more on that.
Give our comment by send me to my WhatsApp 852-51229994 or simply paste it here under the comment to inform me.
I do want to post something you like most.
Appreciaet your support on this blog.

HK snob

Sunday, June 21, 2020

Some miserable trade practice

In Hong Kong there are a few ways to sell your watch, fb, IG, and Carousell is the most common platform for Rolex.  Over the years, we have encountered certain unpleasant watch trades incidents, sometime it was really frustrated and or disappointed. 
Usually we can found these common incidents as real life of watch trade in Hong Kong, don’t know this also could happen in your countries?
They will ask you going RSC for authentication even you are selling your brand new watch just purchased yesterday. RSC does watch authentication and at same time check if the watch was stolen or not.
They ask you to bring cash and input to the ETC machine on his account such as to verify if your money is not counterfeits.
They used to ask a lot of questions such as where did you get the watch from, do you have purchase involve, why the warranty papers was lost!
They used to ask a crazy discount, as I had a Rolex listed HK$200,000, the buyer asked me if I can sell him at $100,000!
We are forced to mark up on the actual price of the watch because they will ask discount and after a while ask discount again.
Someone asks you if you have a shop, if not they don’t buy!
Don’t think they come out to check your watch will likely buy if, some of them just want to kill time. Usual phase to say not buying “Sorry I changed my mind”, “ Oh I just bought it yesterday”,” My wife stops me buying again.” “No, out of my budget”, “ I’d better watch for next year to consider new Rolex design”.  The worst is, they ask you a lot of pictures via whatsapp, and after you have sent them the picture… they may just keep quiet, not even bother to send you a word “thank you!”
Of course I am picking up the worst cases here, there are a lot of good people who are really want to buy from you with sincerity.
Remarks
Customer is King, why does King ask for discount?

HK Snob


Saturday, June 13, 2020

Rolex selling price up this two weeks

With the recent relief of COVID-19 in Asia, Europe, the demand of mask was becoming less, three months ago France government had ordered certain face mask that can be reused 30 times made by some of the  luxury goods company turned out to have 20 millions masks as surplus now. They urged French Government for assistance promoting and finding buyers for those unsold output of the industry's national effort.
Whereas for the Rolex watches, that was having a slow sales in Hong Kong in February to May as there is almost no tourists were coming to Hong Kong for shopping including those Chinese Visitors who are having huge buyer power on luxury watches. By then the price of Rolex market price has dropped down to a lowest level, say for example Rolex Daytona Ceramic 116500 White was $195,000 in May 2019, and it was $179,000 hitting the lowest price in May 2020, but we can see that price has been up again to $183,000 these two weeks.
Pepsi 126710BLRO was $140,000 May 2019, and it was going down to lowest $125,000 but now it climbs up to a price of $130,000.
Market price here means trading price between dealer and dealers, dealer to end users and Rolex AD selling to his end users.
MSRP is no way to get unless you are special VIP which in fact how much you have already spent in the shop  is a known to be huge before you can be a VIP customer.
So what is best to do either you buy it now before the price go up again after lock down is lifted, as after the lock down, price will be step up with another level unless there is another economic turmoil.
HK Snob
Dollars shown here is in HKD.





Sunday, June 7, 2020

Rolex Watch price has just been up in the last week

There was an sudden price up in the week, I think it is mainly due the dealer is seeing the end of the tunnel Rolex supplies is getting scarce.

if you need to buy, you got to buy. And if you don't buy, the limited stock would push the price up.

These are the price update on Rolex market in Hong Kong, all price is in HKD.

Daytona 116500 White was $180,000, now $182,000
Submariner 116610LN was $85000, now $87,000
Explorer II White 217670 was $64,700, now $66,700
Sea Dweller 126600 was $100,000, now $104,000
Submariner Hulk 116610LV was $113,000, now $115,000
Deep Sea Sea Dweller 126660 Dblue was $103,000, now $105,000
GMT Master II 126710BLRO was $128,000, now $129,000
GMT Master II Batgirl was $102,000, $104,000

These are the dealer price trade between dealers, and price for certain AD shops.
Note that only certain small number of SVIP could get MSRP on Rolex.
Those who wants to get at MSRP might be needed to put your name there waiting.

Price is estimated only as it keeps on changing, the trend is going up!

HK Snob

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Daytona Rainbow in pink gold

Rolex Daytona Rainbow in Pink Gold
Super Rare Watch available for Sale
Ref 116595RBOW Brand New Full Sticker
Jun 2019 Watch
(Sold)
HK Snob

Rolex GMT Master Ref 1675


Rolex GMT Master Ref 1675 Year 1979
With 2016 Japan Rolex Service Overhaul card
HK$12XXXX
HK Snob

Brand New Full Set Tudor BB58 On Sale


2020 BB58 Ref 79030N
HK AD 888 full set on sale
HK$28,000
HK Snob

Sold

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Rolex Price at AD Hong Kong

Rolex Price
Submariner 116610LN $84,000
Sea Dweller 126600 $102,000
Daytona 116500LN White $181,000
Daytona 116500LN Black $171,000
Explorer II 216570 White $64,700
Explorer I 214270 $51,800
Batgirl GMT 126710 BLNR $104,000
GMT Root Beer 126711 $130,000
GMT Master I 126710BLRO $127,000
Sea Dweller Deepsea 126660 Black $101,000
If you want these Watch, Whatsapp me.
Price is in HKD. Credit card or cash same price.
HK Snob   
Price updated on 21 May 2020

Buying your First Rolex

There has been a lot of enquiries about buying one's first Rolex. Most of the people would like to buy a brand new Rolex at Authorized Dealer. This is a golden rule for most of the people buying the first Rolex from AD.
Well, there is nothing wrong doing this as that may be a way to ensure a peace of mind in the purchase.
As I know there is a lot of people who is so much afraid of buying fakes from gray dealer.
However there is a smaller difference in price on hot model between Ad and Gray dealer's nowadays.
and there is about 15% different between gray dealer and AD's for common models such as Date Just, Lady Date Just or two tone date just.
In fact there is a few gray dealers who are quite reliable and reputable in Hong Kong.
Also there is still some number of gray dealer's watch are coming with unnamed card and full sticker, unadjusted bracelet available. They are really having good KwanXi with the foreign AD shops!
HK Snob

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Hong Kong Rolex Service Centre

Jardine House (Chinese: 怡和大廈), formerly known as Connaught Centre (康樂大廈), is an office tower in Hong Kong. The building is located at 1 Connaught Place, Central on Hong Kong Island. ... History[edit]. 1st generation Jardine House. This is Where the current Rolex Service Centre is. This picture was likely take in 1970, where the 14/floor of Jardine House was under construction. The building has been standing there for a Central Landmark with Circular window and I think is the building that uses the main wall as the pillar support of the building, as inside has not many pillars such to maximize the floor space. I have been to Rolex Service center twice in my life time. First time was back in 1981 I bought a solid gold vintage lady manual winding Rolex, and I brought it there for restoration.  Another time was I brought a DD 18039 Salmon with a potential watch lover to see if that is authentic... I have traded 400 Rolex but That was the only one time to use the authentication service.
HK Snob