Vacheron Constantin Triple Calendar

 One of my favourite VC dress watch.

It is simple, automatic, Blue Dial Moonphase with traditional layout and dial design.

36mm diameter excluding crown.

A lovely piece in my Vacheron Constantan collection

HK Snob

 

Collectiors' Journey with Vacheron Constantin watch makers

 It was a honour to attend the event at Prince building VC boutique on 27 Aug 2021 with Friends together.

These are the valuable watches shown top down in order

1. Jubilee 1935 $134,000

2. Stainless 1947 only 254 pcs made, Steel was a rare metal during war time $970,000

3. yellow gold $118,000

4. Pink gold $126,000

5. My friend's Rolex Stella 18039 in blue $456,000

6. Ref 4241 $290,000

7. Ref 4141 $290,000

8. VC Titanium Ref 85050/000T-9341 with 260 movement $350,000 estimated at current value

These watches will b sold at the boutique after the event on 6 Sep 2021 except item 5 and 8.

HK Snob

New Rolex Green palm motif dial Date Just 126234

When Patek’s CEO Thierry Stern had mentioned that even his son cannot get the Patek Nautilus 5711/1A-014 Green …. Made me laugh out for ten minutes!

Is that the right timing Rolex launching this super beauty to take over market loophole of the Nautilus Green? Of course its is not justify to benchmark a Nautilus with a Date Just, that is not fair for them. Or this is a sensical year after many months of stupid lockdown and our ugly two tone suntanned face when facial mask is removed?

This is an awesome year for Rolex to launch an utterly non-traditional dial on a tradition watch Date Just. I give Rolex a Thumb’s up!

For many years I wrote on my blog, Rolex is more than just bore as there were little new gadget every year when new watches were launched…

Change the colour of the dial, change the material of the bezel, enlarge the size by 1mm, not enough make it 2 mm? No, too big, let’s go back to 40mm...and made different combination on these things… What else?… May be Rolex heard us and give this new look of a green leaves on the Date Just… Please don’t put it on the Sport models and that hurts… this dial works on Date Just does not imply it looks good on a Daytona …There is 30 over Daytona variety already and so bore that is no one even knows how to use the chronograph… a boring time pieces even no date but price is up and up like the Chinese DF41 reaching 15,000km.…shoot to the tip of the atmosphere and Bloom!

I enjoy odd dial Rolex, Domino Pizza Air King, Omen Motif Date Just … and this green palm leave motif,… I am more than happy to pick up one from one ADs….Ref 126234, 36mm, 70 hours power reserve, the right size for me. A 18 KT white gold Fluted bezel and Jubilee bracelet of what the “Rolex Steel King” is used to equipped! – perfect combination.

It could be worn week day, at work, in bed, meeting with customers, watching Bikini at beaches, go to meeting Taliban friends in Kabul would not be too high profile… Join the meeting of Tsai Ing Wen in Taiwan may get a surprise kiss from her because of “Green”.

And most of all, a reasonably friendly MSRP HK$64,600…. Of course, that is what most of us could not get. Still not the insane price of Nautilus 5711 Green of US$400,000!

HK Snob

 

What kills the vintage Rolex market

What kills the VR market in Hong Kong? Actually I am a loyal fan of VR. I am expecting things will change and correct this VR Market. 

In fact since 2015, we have been anticipating a down fall of VR market in Hong Kong. The main reason is Rolex was trying to launch a lot new interesting watches to capture market of the fans. New design such as the first ceramic Daytona 116500LN,  Batgirl 126710BLNR, Pepsi 126710BLRO which are a lot more attractive than those VR especially to new players. In August 2020, Rolex announced not offering authenticating service for vintage watches, many newbies and even VR supports are so scary of buying VR. As matter of fact, 80% of first Rolex Watch buyer prefers to go to RVC for authentication… As they have been listening to a lot of stories of scammers and dishonest sellers in Hon Kong via newspaper, fb, IG… etc.

Hong Kong was notorious about selling fake Rolex in public in Ladies Street, Temple Street, later on they sold Fake watch through catalogues without actual watches in display, then they and bring you somewhere nearly to see watch to avoid customs inspectors' raid. As a Rule if there is no physical counterfeits watches, less liability to get caught. More recently these kind of  business is also dead partly there is no more tourists coming to Hong Kong after 2019 protest and even worse the COVID-19 since Nov 2019 that blocked Hong Kong totally from the tourists coming all over the outside world…

People had to switch to selling watches on internet, you can see fake watches are flooding on fb, and IG now.

People is selling fake Patek, Rolex, AP on fb… its seems fb also had technical issue to block them..

The other factor killing the VR marketing is the fact there are a lot of scammers. These are even out of your expectation on the scale and background of their companies and individuals.

Many people think that watch come with paper should impossible be stolen watches.

I told you that still have certain number of brand new full set with paper are stolen watches.. and someone are being in bail by local police for a few years. Some of my friends watches were confiscated by the principals once they found that was a stolen.

Cases about VR that is with paper, and a 1680 was re-marked with "Red Submariner” to become single red, with that operation, the price if the Watch will be two times higher.

Well, it used to be filtered out before but nowadays no one is able to authenticate them.

A factory Single red dial can inserted on a originally non single red watch that is coming with papers, they you feel happy and safe about it, but if this is under Rolex’s judgment, this is not authenticated Rolex watch at all.

Well, if Rolex does not open his data base to us, of course the would not, no one can tell if that is the original dial of watch cases on that watch? Even Auction house does not care if yours is original factory dial or not.. they just auction it as it is…

So many people are so frustrated and switched from VR to new Rolex.. that is another reason why all new Rolex are so hot and price is always up and hitting the ceiling…

Many Rolex lovers are shopaholics, why not dumping money onto newer watches that Rolex are happy to support “authentication”!

HK Snob

VR = Vintage Rolex year 1989 or before

RVC = Rolex service centre

AD = Authorized dealers

 

Vacheron Constantin Platinum Perpetual calendar watch

 This is a rare piece of  Vacheron Constantin perpetual calendar dress watch in platinum.

It was available only one piece with HKD$1,680,000 back in 1996 bought by one tycoon in Hong Kong. We are working on the archive paper from Vacheron Constantin.

If you are into VC, don't miss this holy- grail.

HK Snob

The Big Mac index and Rolex Daytona

The Big Mac index is regarded as an indicator of purchasing power and it shows us the price evolution in any given country of this exact burger. What the historical pricing data tells us is that Big Mac prices have gone up considerably and quite consistently. The average price for a Big Mac burger in the USA is US$5.66 in 2021, and it was US$5.30 in January 2018. In comparison, the same burger would have cost you only US$3.57 in 2008 and just US$2.51 in 2000.

Looking at the above 40 years chart, listing the prices for several Rolex models, the seasoned chart-ninjas among you will have noticed one key anomaly: the end of the Rolex chart is as flat as a pancake. Since 2012, prices remained mostly the same across the listed Rolex models. That is more than 5 years now that we haven’t seen any (significant) price increase for these models. Looking at all the years prior, that is a pattern that is absolutely out of the ordinary. The Big Mac price however, has gone up consistently. Comparing with year 2000 to 2021, what is the Big Mac appreciation , it is 2.25Xhow about a Rolex Daytona in 2000 a Daytona 116520 is about US$9,600.00. By 2021 if you don’t use that Daytona and keep it as it was bought , it’s a NOS, now you can sell it at $25,600. That is 2.66X.

From the curve, only Daytona can catch up with the Big Mac, second one is Explorer II 16570 say A series. It was about 2.2X  appreciation from 2000 to 2021.

Note that the price is the old watch is highest when it is kept as new (NOS) if that is being used and loss of warranty, price would be drastic reduced. 

HK Snob

Green is the new blue

Now almost every brand introduced green into the 2021 market

JLC’s Reverso, Breitling Premier green, Zenith Safari chronograph, Rolex’s Hulk is hottest cake, Tudor green with Bronze, Oris 65 dive watch green, amongst all, I think Patel Philippe Nautilus green may be the hot topics of the year.  I have ordered all these except Nautilus as that may need $3m for one!

UK media Telegraph interviewed Patek Philippe’s CEO Thierry Stern about the 2021 Nautilus 5711-1A-014 green, his answer made me think about this gentleman’s IQ again as he is insane or he is making joke or bullshitting us? As he said even his son cannot buy such a piece. Well, he is playing trick on marketing, where by just changing the colour of a Blue dial into green with other things unchanged with limited production of say a few pieces would make the world crazy ford. Antiquorum has a preview on a piece of steel 5711-1A-104 green for auction. Who are permitted not to cut the seal at AD? Who is selling this watch into hands of a special person and who this special person has guts to auction it within the same year. I comment that is only some very special people like the name I mentioned, who else? LOL…

Rolex had introduced a few colorful OP (oyster Perpetual) in Sep 2020 Price has been going up I just take a ref 126000 36Mm as an example.  SRP is $42400. Tiffany blue keeps on increasing in the open market from $80,000 to $90,000, now is $110,000. Green was $80,000 and now is about $90,000. Red was $76,000 and now case to $91,500. As I had mentioned before Red will likely be the one who may go in par with the price of Tiffany Blue as the colour Pantone is like the China national flag. One day the Chinese will flip a few times higher on this crazy red. Of course, it is still too early to see which one is the King or queen, Tiffany Blue, green or RED?

Let’s wait for COVID-19 be gone then market will tell by itself.

HK Snob

Remarks currency here is HKD

 

Watchgret

We used to have gathering and many of watch collectors came to show his timepiece at a fixed time on every Saturday… there had been a few cases that reminded me sometimes decision should be made within ten seconds, thinking too much will lose our opportunity.

1.     8 years ago, one guy showed his AP 5402 A series in the meeting and asking who would like to buy it? I was the first one say I buy not even asking the price… So I got it next day paid. That watch is still keep under custody in Philippines by my good friend. 

2.       Another occasion that one guy showed his Vacheron Constantin 222 in solid gold with request of  certain amount,  I was the first one said “I buy it!” I got this and this was my good judgement. 

3.      There is one folk asked who want to buy this Submariner 16618 with Onyx dial with HK$180,000, I hesitated a while and I passed, well, someone bought it immediately.

After 4 years, the same guy came in and ask who want to buy this Submariner 16618 with onyx dial? This time I say “I take It’ and I was able to possess such a great timepiece from Rolex.. and later we sold with 2X the price we bought after one and half years. 

Watchgret

I had a chance to buy a Rolex Submariner 16618 solid gold with Lapis lazuli dial with HK$130,000 in 2012. But I had another offer of Daytona 16528, instead what pity I was I took the Daytona… but that Sub Lapis was sent for auction 6 months later for HK$730,000. This is a big regret for me.

 HK Snob

---

Window Shopper of watch in Hong Kong

 Window shopping behavior of HKers.

Window shopping involves visiting a brick-and-mortar store to examine a product but is also done online in recent times due to the convenient availability of the internet and e-commerce. A person who enjoys window shopping is known as a window shopper.

In Hong Kong, 70% of the people enquiring in your watch are likely window shoppers.

On fb, he can talk about price of you offer in the morning, next day he will say his wife does not allow him to go for it.

On Carousell, he can ask more pictures of your watch, usually he will say “ Think about it”.

Someone will say he want to see it himself, and we meet somewhere like a restaurant, after checking the watch he would say; “ Oh , I think that is not the condition he is looking for”

These are window shoppers. They have intention to see your watch but not to buy,

So what is important is to find out the one you are talking to is not window shopper, but how?

HK Snob

 

Long term partnership

For almost every business including watches. The need to establish strong, mutually beneficial relationships with strategically-chosen partners is essential. And the longer that relationship lasts, the better for all parties. The advantages include improved performance, making long term profit, greater cost efficiency and helping businesses to develop. The most important factor is Trust built up between partners, if there is no trust, the business would not last.

There have cases that seller is selling a Rolex Daytona at a price of $100,000 to company A consisting of two business partners, One immediate marks up 5% for his own profit then pass it to his group partner for another mark up of 10%, so the final offer to end customer $115,500.

Whereas another company B has two partners also, one received the same offer and they discuss to mark up of 12%. So they offer to an overseas buyer selling at $112,000.  Customer received the same watch quote and naturally order goes to Company B. The company B will be building up capital much faster than A as they have a healthy operation and Good trust between two of the partners.

I have seen quite a few cases that dealer choose the best profit item such as Daytona Green 116508 for sell by himself and give those jelly beans such as Milgauss 116400GV or lady Date Just to his supporting partner to sell.  This is human nature and I cannot say wrong or right. But being your sub dealer would not prioritize selling effort on your product as they know profit is low, hard to sell and likely commission is small aslo. So he also puts his effort on to some other higher profit item for other dealers. Naturally this will not able to move your slow-moving watches…

I have seen a good partnership between two good friends, one is a big collector who has over 400 vintage Rolex and one is Hong Kong dealer. The watch Collector would allow his inclusive partner to sell half of his collection after probably one year or two, he will not question his selling price too much as he is supposed the best in this watch selling business, and what a mutual agreement is that he can get say 4% of the sales revenue as his commission… so this is a partnership program. Though it seems that the commission is trivial, but don’t forget the volume is huge. Assuming one Rolex is $200,000, 200 pieces is about $1.6M of commission, I believe this would have incentive driving more sales. By constantly re-assessing the relationship you have with your partner, you will ensure that any potential problems are dealt with quickly and efficiently. This will lead to a far more fruitful and enduring relationship for a long term.

Commission

I have dealt with buyer who give me 1% commission to looking for his desirable watches in the market. Looks very stingy, yes it is… however, if I can handle within a few hours or a day is OK as his watch value is High. Usually he buys A Lange, Richard Mille, Breguet tourbillon.

Also I have dealt with another seller who offer me 6% of commission on his watch. Whatever it is manageable I will handle, as I think commission is not major concern, more important is by doing so I can broaden the network of my contact. The Buyer’s recommendation to his friend and colleague would be another merit to me. Networking is the key.

HK Snob

Rolex Sophia Loren GMT Master II's five Firsts

The Fat lady carries Rolex’s five firsts on GMT Master

“Fat lady” or sometime called “Sophia Loren” stands for GMT Master Ref 16760 may be due to the profile of the watch resembles the Italian beauty.

It was a milestone piece for Rolex to create the GMT Master II version. It comes with a Black Red bezel only. That is why called “Coke”.

They have five firsts

1.  It comes with Black Red bezel as for the first time.

2.  Thicker case by 1 mm, a wider bezel and a larger crown guards than its predecessors 16750.

3.  First to use 18KT wife gold surrounding the luminous hour marker to preserve shininess and keep it beautiful for many years.

4. The first to use sapphire crystal on the dial.

5. New Rolex Caliber 3085 in use. The new generation movement allowed the center hour hand to be set independently from the arrow-tipped 24-hour hand from the minute and second hand. Therefore, when travelers arrived to a new destination they could easily set the watch to the local hours.

Fat lady was introduced first time in 1983 and last batch rolled out from Factory in year end of 1988. Only 5 years were in production.

Due to the short production time, Number of units made were small, and it was made with Tritium dial, some of the dial tends to change Tropical and that value will grow. And since this watch is made with Sapphire which is hard and scratch resistant. This is both a functional and collectible item for Rolex Collector.

Attached one is a 1988 last batch R series. Dial had been changed to slightly brown and looks great as a neo-vintage Rolex. 

Reference of GMT Master

Year 1956-1959 Ref 6542 (Blue Red) Cal. 1030

Year 1959-1980 Ref 1675 (Blue Red) Cal. 1570

Year 1981-1988 Ref 16750 (Blue Red) Cal. 3075

Year 1983-1988 Ref 16750 Fat Lady (Black Red) overlapping with 16750 Cal. 3075

Year 1988-1999 Ref 16700 (Blue Red) Transition period Cal. 3175

Year 1989-2005 Ref 16710 (Blue Red, Black Red) Cal 3186

Year 2005-2014 Ref 116718 gold Black bezel Cal. 3186

Year 2008-2019 Ref 116710LN (black bezel with green GMT pointer)  Cal. 3186

Year 2013-2019 Ref 116710LNR (Blue Black) on Oyster bracelet Naked name “Batman Cal. 3186

Year 2013-2019 Ref 116719 Blue Red in White gold Cal 3186

Year 2018 update present Ref 126710BLRO (Blue Red) Cal. 3285

Year 2019- update to now 126710BLNR (Blue Black on Jubilee bracelet) Cal. 3285

HK Snob

 

 

Points you may know for selling your watch

Selling your watches for maximum profit is definitely every seller’s intention. However it does require some strategy and plan to. A proper way will yield results includes you doing everything you can to present the watch enticingly to a group of potential buying audience.

Most people will fumble around via trial & error attempting to figure out what’s maximum price working for them. So what ends up happening? They spend a large amount of time trying to create a sales nut this is only fishing, it waste time. Should be preferred to stick to an anchor point or set of rules that have been tried and true.

These strategies are used by majority of the watch sellers worldwide. Here’s some tips to help you start selling your watches better.

Exposure

It seems obvious that in order to better your chances of getting your watch purchased, you would maximize the amount of exposure to the largest audience of buyers possible. The sad truth is, this strategy is very critical to selling success, yet very few people actually execute on this. Think about how many places you can show off your watch for sale. The effort is high to put your watches everywhere, That may not be the best too.

As you can see there is no shortage of options, and this is just a short list of many other creative ways you can get your watch noticed and let potential buyers know it’s for sale.

Take lifestyle pictures of your watch and post it on your Facebook personal page, Facebook business page, your Instagram, watch enthusiast group, Carousell, Chrono24 or eBay.

For whatever reason, whether it’s because we’re lazy, or because we just didn’t think of how to do it, people slack on giving their watch exposure which limits the amount of buyer activity on the watch. Humans have short attention spans. Shit, I can’t even remember what i had for lunch yesterday, so how can you expect a potential buyer to think about your watch if you aren’t putting it in front of their face frequently? However this still works for certain general watches.

The more efficient and creative you can get about exposing your watch to POTENTIAL buyers, the easier it will be for you to sell it. 

How you list your watches

Exposure to your watch listing is very important. What’s equally important is how you list your watch. Too often, the approach here is haphazard, and watch traders end up sabotaging themselves. A classic example I see is folks will just have their watch newly-in, and post it immediately to a trader/wholesale/Whatsapp trader group for sale. The mistake here is you end up listing for a price that is may be too high for those audiences and your watch still hasn’t sold, you lower your price to these groups and everyone thinks you’re desperately trying to sell it because you couldn’t. 

We usually start at Brand X watch enthusiast groups and watch forums at a set margin. You think enthusiast group may pay you more as they are enthusiast on your watch say Brand X.

Sometimes it may do no good as they are enthusiasts, or an expert that know the watch inside out. They are fully aware the value or the price of it.   You keep your mass market listings up at the same retail price though, because we never know when you’ll have a buyer come along who is in love with your watch. By staggering the listing price and where you post the watch, you buy yourself time and help capture maximum profit. Finally, if in another 5-10 days after posting to the enthusiast groups and forums and the watch still hasn’t sold, THEN you have to move the listing to the wholesale/watch conspiracy groups to liquidate your watch at-cost or a small profit.

By listing your watch on the mass market platforms where dealers are commonly whatsapp groups, Facebook Marketplace and Carousell. You’ll get exposure to your listing at lowest market retail price, it is uncommon to see cases is the net profit of $150-250 for a BNIB Rolex. This is your biggest margin opportunity and where people will not pay you more because they know about watches.

And media is getting transparent and they are about to do research on prices at Chrono24, watchbox, eBay and sort out what is the best buying price for his watch and comparing with your selling prices.  However, this is so far the fastest means to sell your watch if you don’t mind reducing the profit.

High price must come with reason

If you sell, must come with enough explanation on why the price is like that. We know a Rolex Watch of the same type, same year that may have a price difference of 2 time, because of the quality, you have to list down how your watch is and why it comes up with this price with supporting reason.

You are looking for certain high class buyer, forget those people who just sort out the LOWEST price on particular model on line, they may always buy a Bad watch.

Trust on seller

The #1 reason buyers make fast decisions to purchase a watch is that they trust the seller they are buying from. This is why repeat customers are fantastic for you to keep track of and sell to in the future. You’ll understand why this approach is critical to moving watches fast for serious profit.

Trust is the reason buyers will move forward with at $30,000 watch purchase from you even if you’ve taken a few crappy photos of the watch itself. If the buyer has the layer of trust that “this person would never do me wrong, and if something went wrong they would make it right”, then they remove all of their own insecurity, psychological barrier and buying hesitations. Also there is minimum price negotiations.

Through Auction

Auction is good for certain expensive watches that may catch the world wide notice, and there may have more potential collector, individual invincible investors, tycoon wants to spend money on something he may not know. There are a lot of works to do, you have to pay for the picture and catalogues, and you have to leave the watch there shown at preview. Let some idiots to fool around your watch, drop it on the desk, well, you don’t feel the pain as you are not there probably, and after the hammer price seller had to pay 15% to the auction and buyer 25%. That is a lot on top of what you get. And it takes a longer time to get your money. And if not sold, they return you the watch, after that you had to check carefully on your watch again. Unless rare and special expensive watch, this is not the best way to sell. 

Through middle man

A middle man usually has a strong connection with Buyers and he finds you the best buyer.

This save your time and keep you safe on the transaction, Money guaranteed. Yes, you have to pay him certain percentage of commission on the sales. He tends to sell as much a she can for higher commission.

Since they know the buyer.. usually transaction would  take a few minutes , no hassle, not authentication needed on the watch at stupid Rolex Service centre at all. 

Build new potential buyer

A few ways to establish trust with new potential buyers is by offering them references, connecting with them via the phone, and on social media. Do keep some of the best comment on you at certain website. From some of the famous dealer and celebrity who had wonderful experience buying experience with you. 

Enticing Photos

People purchase emotionally impulse first and justify those purchases rationally after, so use emotion to your advantage with your photos! When people see crisp, clean, high-resolution photos of watches, they feel comfortable buying. They feel like the seller isn’t hiding anything from them in the pictures. My favorite method of taking photos doesn’t require you purchasing expensive camera equipment. It just involves taking photos with a smartphone in outside natural lighting, preferably not in direct sunlight. Optimal conditions are on an overcast day or just in a light shade area when the sun is out. For product photos, shots from all different angles and focus on certain details, such as hallmarks, lug corners, bevel sharpness, dial surface stains, bracelet reference number, and printing of the dial and what’s included with the watch are key.

For lifestyle photos, get creative! You can elicit such strong emotions from potential buyers when you take amazing photos. For example, a Blue dial Rolex Submariner  in gold in the foreground with a matching blue Lamborghini in the background gets people excited about the watch, shows off how amazing the watch is, and elicits desire in them to buy. You may able to sell the Lamborghini after the Submariner.

Accessibility

Making yourself accessible to those who are asking you questions about your watch and want to buy from you is vital. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen sellers sabotage themselves by making these mistakes. When a buyer reaches out with a question and the seller responds hours or even days later. That’s a lost sale right there, and reflective of the type of customer service the buyer may expect if they move forward with that seller.  Another mistake is people who don’t make themselves accessible on social media, or via phone, Whatsapp had been turn off half day to one… Buyer will be thinking are you serious in selling.  If you’re about to wire someone $5,000 + wouldn’t you want to know who the hell you’re doing business with? I know I would. Don’t be the idiot who has a picture of their cats, a Rolex watch dial or a blank JPG as their profile picture on social media, or half face cover his hair or the dump hat, HAHA, You’re an adult, and you are a brand in this day of social information. Start representing yourself correctly.

If you want to close deals for more profit, be accessible. Encourage buyers to connect with you online, and/or call you if they have questions about your watch. This gives them that layer of comfort knowing you’re not a scammer or not going to go anywhere if shit hits the fan. Make a date to show your watch tentatively, yes, there are a lot of people who has no money but want to spend time this way meeting you for the coffee, but so far the percentage of this is still low, no one would like to come out to just to drink your coffee. Well, if he will coming out at least the chance to close the deal is 50%.

Security

Case #1

There is a story happened in 2020, a friend K of mine was about to sell his expensive Daytona, he made appointment with one potential buyer, he did not know him, well my friend K went into the window  seat of Chui Wah Eatery at Carnavon Road No.1. He sat inside of the seat… the his potential buyer came and sit beside him (Mistake 1,  we used not seat this way, must be face to face… as your buyer may block you moving out of the seat). And he started chitchatting about watch, bullshitting stuff, buyer called his another friend to come, this is common, but (mistake 2, they have not talked about this before), Mr.  K carried on talking and started showing him the Daytona, (mistake 3, If I were Mr. K I would cancel the deal).

Next happening is the guy opposite Mr. K took the watch and run! The Guy sit beside Mr. K blocked him to move… haha, exciting right like a movie theme…but it happened.

This is one example…

Case #2

Buying a Milgauss, seller is showing a Milgauss to his buyer who came with her attractive girl friend.. This happened, and whilst seller is watch the girl especially on the prominent boos, buyer said the watch is not he want and returned seller,… OK seller packed and went home still thinking about the beautiful lady. Later he found that watch is a genuine fake.  The eyes had enjoyed a lot but you had to pay with watch!

Case #3

I went to sell three Rolexes to one gentleman who is the son in law of Mr. T in Thailand… we were in Peninsular hotel and he brought his wife there, we had ordered some drinks and his wife showed me her Bloodstone Day Date 18038… I was drooling…. Well I sold him three Rolex. One is Rolex DD 1803 with buckle Bracelet. One is Purple dial Buckley Date Just in 18 KT gold… and one is Date Just blue dial in steel with paper. He told me he will send me money after the deal, I left him the watch and we left…. 

Summary

Keep these core fundamentals in mind when building out your own selling strategy.

If you do, I am confident you’ll find that you will start selling watches faster and for greater profit.

There is no standard ways to expand your sale, starting it with your way you think is best and easy to start first.

Mistakes and Experience will guide you where you should go next.

HK Snob

Remarks

Picture show three men robbed a Daytona during the watch trade at MTR

Complaint to Watch Manufactures on their trade practice

 I had sent two mails on for Rolex and one for Patek in a unhappy feeling about what we 

being a collector that I can't get the watch in weeks, nor years or even forever in the normal channel.

Whereby those grey dealer could get as many as they can at some special channel. 

Well, this is free market, I am fully aware but I am just asking them what is the proper channel to buy our watch we need to buy as a watch aficionado.

Lets see what is the response from them.

Or if you have any suggestion to get the watch we want at SRP, let me know.

You can send me private message
to my Whatsapp no. if you want.

HK Snob

Omega Premiere on 2021 novelty watches

It was my great pleasure and honour to be invited into the first session on 2021 Omega novelty started on 19 June in Central.

We have been introduced on the manufacturing process of  Omega alloy on their watch, process of manufacturing ceramic cases and the use of their own formula on precious metals to prevent tarnishing over time.

These are Omega gold alloy

Yellow gold with Au 75%, Cu 20% and Ag 5%

SEDNA Yellow gold  Au 75%, Cu 20% and Pd 1%

3N Rose gold with Au 75%, Cu 12.5% and Ag 12.5%

CANOPUS white gold with Au 75%, PD 21%, RH 2% and PT 1%

Besides, Omega is using liquids metal creating the "Naiad-Lock case back" to ensure that all engravings on the rear of the watch stay oriented correctly. the word "naiad" comes from the Greek and refers to mythological water spirits.

We were introduced with 2021 De Ville and and Seamaster watches.

The second picture are the only two pieces in Omega Hong Kong. They are Seamaster in Lapis Lazuli and malachite. 

Personally I like the Malachite more and I believe no one is using with these material as dial on their diving watch in the past 20 years other than Omega. Rolex had been using Onyx and Lapis to make a number of Submariners 16618 back in 1994-2001, I had one with Lapis and one with Onyx before.

They are fetching a very high price in auction by now with Lapis close to $1M and Onyx $700,000.

Omega had once using these material on their Seasmaster in 2018. and only few pieces were made. This material would enlighten the beauty if a gold Seamaster and that would be a future sought after and auction hot item. I was told only two pieces were available in this premiere in Hong Kong. I was lucky enough to see it.

In my opinion Yellow gold goes with Green perfectly. 

Such as those most successful introduction of Rolex Daytona ref 116508 green dial and SPR is $286,000 but now they are asking in open market of $650,000!

Latest Tudor BB58 Ref 79018V Yellow gold with green bezel and green dial. SPR $126,000 and market starts to pick up now.

Well, another one worth my consideration is a vintage look with 9K gold alloyed with bronze Seamaster 300 with sandwich dial with a awesome patina look. The SPR is $92,100.

Remarks, I could not resist the temptation, I had to take home this two beauties.

HK Snob

Unit shown here HKD$

Shall we go for New or neo-Vintage Rolex under such market changes of 2021

We have seen that there is a big change in Rolex market price in these few years.

I briefly categories them into new watches, neo-vintage and vintage watch here.

New watches are those made between 2010-2021

Neo-vintage are this made 1989-2010

Vintage watches are those made between 1988 or before.  (T <25 lume dial)

Vintage Rolex was enjoying a good days in price appreciation mainly in these years 2014-2019, as we can see price of GMT master 1675 and or Sea Dweller, 1665  was rising up 50% in these 5 year’s time and become flat after 2019 and even experienced price drop slightly in end of 2020 till now.

Rolex did announced in a form of internal memo they would stop offering free authentication service for vintage watches on 6 Dec 2020.

With this announcement, many new vintage collectors would hesitate in buying vintage Rolex as there is no way to tell his watch is made with correct period of the parts with the watch such as dial, hands, bezel and bracelet.

This will immediately created an impact to the dealer, shops as buyers are scary of the completeness of the vintage watch, so business of vintage watches dropped significantly. And those buyers or collectors would like to consider buying newer Rolex, so the new watches market would expand a lot.

Some of the private collectors would like to sell out some of his collection and switches buying new watches.

What is the best model vintage Rolex collectors would consider to buy as new watches, Daytona… so Daytona price kept going up. 

A Rolex Yellow gold Daytona 16618 was $150,000 in May 2020, and the same watch is now $230,000  (up 53%)

A White gold Daytona 116519 with black dial was $223,000 in 2019 and this is now $320,000!

You can see Daytona 116500LN white was $190,000 as an average in 2020, and was going to peak highest $320,000 on April 2021 as many of us speculated that it would be discontinued after April 2021.

After Watches and Wonders had no news of discontinuing on Daytona 1165100LN white on 7 April 2021, the price get softened and dropped from $300,000 down to $270,000 in one week, thence stabilized at the range of $260000-268,000 in these two months till now.

There used to have small number of dishonest dealer, shops and or individual fb sellers are killing the market by introduction of some of the frankenWatch to sell. So they kill the markets as no one is able to tell them officically thse are good stuff or Frankenwatches… there are still some individual expert or private company would guarantee the authentication of Rolex watches. However, no one would be more authorized as Rolex could do in the market.

More people is amazed by the new Rolex watches in these two years, and their price are keep going up. Mainly because they are more wearable comparing with Vintage Rolex.

What do you do with your cash for watches? likely buying newer watches of neo-vintage Rolex (1999-2010).

If you want to buy for daily uses as a me-too Rolex, go for new one.

If you want to buy certain watches as for investment or for your collection, get those neo-vintage, they are less complicated to choose and more repairable and wearable than those vintage Rolex. And they are more commonly been recognized as authenticated as more documented sources is available for your to learn and study about them.

So how about your treasure of Daytona 6263, Double RED 1665 Singapore Red 1680? Well, keep them and wait for next cycle to come… no one knows when may be two years or four or 8 years.

HK Snob

Units here is HKD (Hong Kong Dollars)

Looking for hidden gem

I remembered I had a month anchorage at Salalah at the gulf of Oman by 1981…when I was on board the merchant vessel “White Sea”.

Salalah is the second largest city of Oman after Dhofar, also the biggest sea port in the Arab Peninsula.

It is the birthplace of the current Omani leader, Sultan Qaboos, and is located in the Dhofar Governorate in southern Oman. From the north, the city is surrounded by a mountain range that turns green with spectacular waterfalls during the Khareef season. From the south, it has a long beautiful coast that is embellished with white sands. It is a beautiful place, but by the summer of 1981, we were awaiting for moor one month before we can moor for cargo unloading.

I had a great chance to fish, as there was much we can do in the Arab port, no one is allowed to drink as beer, whisky store was bonded by Arabian customs officers once the shipped had arrived the port. Salalah shipping agent told me that Arabians do not eat those beautiful fishes as they called them fairy because of the colourful outlook. Those are green wrasse (Choerodon schoenleinii) and they are huge easily weighed 3 to 5 kgs each.
We use crab meat as bait on a string as we did not have fishing line, just put in we could catch big green wrasse, and we could possible caught 50 big fishes in just a day… This kind of fish is expensive in Hon Kong. The meat is so tender and we used to steam and serve with soya sauce, they were very delicious… but after a week, no one wanted to eat as we had enough with breakfast, lunch and dinner going to be the same fish!

The moral of this story is…. Try to get something no one wants in one place and that possible be gems in the eyes of someone… in other words, in the world of watches try not to compete with people who is looking for Daytona while price is too competitive already. Ty something else as to get the best net profit out of it.

Omega had been producing a lot of moon watches which I am not able to tell what series and model as they are as many as Panerai produced in the past ten years… unless you are really focusing in the Omega collections. Jack of all trades but master of nothing is always right to describe.

Alaska is so cold, but this Omega is so hot

OMEGA, SPEEDMASTER PROFESSIONAL, ALASKA PROJECT, LIMITED SERIES XXX/1970, REF. 311.32.42.30.04.001.

Perhaps no other modern kind of watch has quite encapsulated the spirit of the original NASA and pre-moon Speedmasters as much as the Alaska Project Limited edition as modern Icon of Speedmaster historical importance.

The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Alaska Project was the limited edition Speedmaster watch model that Omega introduced at Baselworld 2008. It happens to have one of the most interesting "limited-edition stories" among the modern limited-edition Omega Speedmaster Moon watches.

In 1970, Omega developed a Speedmaster that was a bit different from the then current Moonwatch models. They called it the Alaska project (it had to withstand extreme temperatures, especially those on the dark side of the Moon) and therefore Omega came up with the solution of an external casing made of red-anodized aluminum. The project title Alaska was from then on used for every assignment they did for NASA, like this 1978 Alaska III project watch that was re-certified for the Space Shuttle missions.

The dial was made white so it wouldn't absorb heat, and the red anodized aluminum case protects the watch in a temperature range from -148F to +260F.  NASA never purchased these watches and the project was cancelled at the end!

No other watch has captured the hearts minds of Omega collectors and enthusiasts as much as this. The Red anodized aluminum case is 58mm in diameter and we've still to see any collector quite brave or mad enough to wear one "On the go". I did it!

Price of Alaska project Omega

It was about $60,000 in 2008.

It was about $80,000 in 2019, then we see there is demand on it in 2020 January, price rose up to

$90,000 and By May we bought one with $105,000.  And price kept rising…

It is now about $350,000!

We here we are talking about Brand new full set unused one…

Price is still going up, what is the estimated price by end of 2021? Interesting. 

What is next for Omega

Well, people asked me, I think one of the most successful project is Omega Snoopy, launched at 2003, then another one in 2015, latest one was back to 2020, the 50^th anniversary Silver Snoopy

Price is now $250,000, after goods are delivered in January 2021…. Price had been risen sharply and I really cannot estimated what price will it hit by Dec 2021…

From The past record, the 1^st generation Snoopy is now HK$160,000

The second generation is now $380,000

With the new added nice and Start trek movie feature at the back of the 3^rd generation Snoopy, I think this is the potential rising star or a hype for Omega.

I speculate that the price will overtake the 2^nd generation by 2022… and By 2024 the price could possible go to $600,000!

Of course, this is my speculation, nothing can guarantee the price will go to that level, or even go above that level.

We you have chance try to get one at your local Omega boutique for this absolutely stunning piece.

HK Snob

Units here is in HKD (Hong Kong Dollar)

Pictures 

1. 2020 50th anniversary Omega Snoopy 

2. Back side of the 50th anniversary Omega Snoopy with rotating Earth and Rocket moving along the Earth

3. Omega Project Alaska full set

4.  Anodized red case for the watch

5,6. Omega Project Alaska watch

7. Port Salalah

8. A green Wrasse

9. M/V similar as the M/V White Sea/HPDS that I worked on it 1981-1982