A tribute to Rolex Day Date White Gold Watch

Rolex Day Date Ref 18049

I bought this watch in 2009 with HKD$105,000, I used it  almost every day as my work horse to business trip, meeting customer, bosses, colleagues, friends, even going Hiking.

It is so much beautiful, durable and until July 2013, friend of mind asked me to sell this watch to him, the final deal was HKD$120,000

Conclusion

Good Watch, after wearing for 4 years still I can make some money….

The Sketch was drawn at this Airport Lounge…not too good but I have nothing to do as the WiFi was too slow for me to browse mails…

HK Snob



Is this a Fake Rolex Ref 16610LV!?

Is this a Real Rolex!?

Today Friend of mine brought me a Picture and said how much the watch is!?

I told me it is about HKD$400 at most. He said no… this is a Rolex, I told me “No. this is a fake one!”

He said how could I tell?

The one on the left is Ref16610LV Submariner,  discontinued item from Rolex, Selling in Cebu at Peso 1,500 (HKD$250)

The one in the Right is Ref 116610LV current production selling in HK, HKD$66,100. There is Rolex and S/N number marked on the inner bezel.

Though they are of different model, but the outlook and dimension is same for the authentic one.

These are the key points we can tell about them.

A.  The While bezel Indicator should be flat, the fake one is dome shape, The White Dot should be sitting at Midst of the triangle for the real one.

B.  The Real one is 2.5X Cyclops Magnification, the fake one is just about 1.5X. So the Date looks smaller on the fake one.

C.  The Silkscreen printing of the words is too crowded for the fake one, the one on the right is clear and Sharp!

D. The Rolex Logo is laser marked under the sapphire crystal for the real one, and it should not too easy to be seen you have to look carefully under a magnifying glass. And that Logo should be sitting right at 6’ O’clock position.

The fake one appears to be printed as it looks BLACK, and it too big , shifts to the right of the 6 O’clock position.

More over the White hour Dot is bigger on the right Real  one. Overall speaking, the bezel on the right is perspective, we can feel it, the fake one is a printed on bezel.

This is the Rolex Quality that you could by with HKD$66,100!  No Compromise!

HK Snob

Watch Fever

Everybody Said Hoo! Hoo!

Everybody said hoo! hoo!

Anita Mui was a HK Legend, she is a star, and who could be the next great singer after her death?

She left so many good music and songs to us to enjoy, to recall, laugh and to wipe.

She has a large eye carrying some sort of misery,  a prominent nose, having no body shape like Pamela, but she is always the sexist woman in my mind, Yes, she is my idol!

Today I picked up her signature CDs and listened, It was a new surprise. If you had this CD, try to understand every word she sings.

Life could not be happier as all it takes is how you look at it, I like its lyrics  especially” Everybody said Hoo! Hoo!

If you had this CD, listen the song No. 3… no words could describe what Anita sings….a perfect voice, light jazz music with the way she translate on what she was thinking. A thoughtful day to me I think.

Guess what Rolex She likes Most? Yes, it is Daytona!

The CD was a 1994 Johnny Chen Production.

I am a CD and Vinyl Collector beside a Watch Collector.

HK Snob 

Watch Fever

Rolex Daytona Black Dial Ref 116520 has stock in Makati Rolex AD, Cheaper than HK!

Visited the Rolex AD today 11 Dec 2013 1900, Picture was Taken by Sansung Note II LTE.

Rolex Daytona Black dial Ref 116520 has stock in Manila Rolex AD, Cheaper than in HK

At Rolex AD, level 1, Glorietta 4, Ayala Centre, Makati City, Philippines. Look for Genny!

There is stock for Rolex Daytona Stainless steel Black dial AD Ref 116520

List price Peso $550,000. After discount  to Peso 530,000; converted to HKD by Exchange rate 5.6

Is HKD$94,642. That is Cheaper than Hong Kong, $95,000.

They have stock as of today, if you are just on trip or vacation to Makati go and buy one!

How about GMT Master II blue/black Ref 116710BLNR?

GMT Master II Ref 116710BLNR, just sold out yet, as they have one piece per month., very small number.

Price is Peso 415,000 , after discount PESO 373,500

Base on Exchange rate 1 HKD=5.6 Peso, that is HKD$74,107, That is 13.4% more than HK, $65,300.

Manila Snob

Sales Movement of Rolex GMT Master II Ref 116710BLNR in Hong Kong

Sales Movement of Rolex GMT Master II Ref 116710BLNR in Hong Kong

Since these two weeks, wars have been started, this is not the South China Sea Air Identification zone dispute between China and Japan :(

This is a Rolex fans big demand on this awesome GMT MASTTER II… :)

Thanks for the blogger fans who had successfully robbed one and telling me where to buy it….

This is the summary:

Wah Hing at Mong Kok – available and in fact I am trying to reserve one for one friend in HK, Cash $65,300,  If you use card, they will impose 3% more…That is before the negotiation. Try!

Oriental Watch  TST and Mongkok - they have too long the queue- forget it but still worth to visit as it is just opposite the Zurich AD across Nathan Road!

Zurich TST- One Malaysia friend bought on YM TT and one GMT MASTER II Blue end Last week, he can use Credit card on the amount $65,300

Another Friend who walked through the above shops and not successfully, he went to PP (Pacific Place, not Patek Philippe!) at Admiralty station’s Harvey Nichols (Precision Watch)  chatted for whilst as he saw there is watch displayed. The manager came and sold him one at $65,300 no discount… whilst was leaving airport yesterday and passed by HKIA, there is stock.. you know why, as I told you before HKIA has new stock on Tuesday and Thursday after 1600 that is when they used to replenish with new stocks!!

So next time coming to HK, try all these shops!

Well, Merry Christmas in advance and I wish everyone including myself had a such beautiful and awesome BLUE GMT MASTER II Blue!!

HK Snob
Watch Fever

Avian Influenza Invading Hong Kong now, this is H7N9!

Hong Kong confirmed its first case of H7N9, the newest form of avian influenza that first emerged in February 2013.

As of today, World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed 137 infections and 45 deaths (a concerning 33% mortality rate) and has described the new strain as "unusually dangerous" and "one of the most lethal" viruses they have faced in recent years.

Fortunately, we've yet to see a highly contagious version of the virus, and Asia has done an excellent job containing it so far. Hong Kong officials were able to isolate the latest incident by tracking down even going to origin in China and clearing 17 people who came in contact with the infected patient.

Genetic mutations are primarily random so the chances of increased transmission are low. While anything is possible, the most likely scenario is that a vaccine will be created before H7N9 is able to have a significant impact on the human population.

So That is why WHO assigned name of this H7N9 was because that time the Director General Dr. Margret Chan  Who is from HK said in the meeting this is a serious virus and very difficult to tackle!!!

In Cantonese she said, "好七難攪"  that was how this terms "H7N9" came from!...

HK Snob
Watch Fever

HK Police had successfully busted the Cities' biggest Porn Website...

Since HK Police had busted vice racket behind Hong Kong's biggest porn website Sex 141 on 5 Dec, I rather simply spend the money to Buy a Rolex GMT Master II Blue/black Ref 116710BLNR!

Of course, still there are many known website that we can get mssage and or information about the exiting night life in HK. http://www.hkglamorousgirls.com/   ,  Man169.com....

HK Kong Tsan



Rolex 2014 Calendar

There are lot of reason that watch made in Switzerland could not be copied simply if you had the MC, the mini CNC machinery, the tools and even the technique they make watch. Simple no one could copy the tradition and passion of the Swiss!

Well, something like an Iphone5S or even 6P (6P means 6 Premium, HK Snob's idea) sooner could be made 100% in China as the iPhone does not have LIFE, but Watch and WINE has!

Even after the best winery master move the sands, soil even the  grape tree tranplanted from France into somewhere with similar climate places like Sheung Du, Yantai or Some place in Shang Dong, they just cannot reproduce the same wine they make in Pauillac Bordeaux.

This is two extracted pictures taken out from 2014 Rolex Calendar in HK; Look at the place they live, water they drink and air they breathe, only under that environment could possibly create the watch SWISS MADE that no one could COPY!

Go to your near By ROLEX AD to get these calendars free!

HK Snob

Watch Fever 

A night tour to Ap Liu Street

It was a good weather to have a tour to Ap Liu Street yesterday

 Lung Shing started to close at 1830 and we should make this the first stop, then Kuen Kee

 Ka Wo Watch Shop selling Dial, part and doing some service work on Rolex, But I don't know them!

 Fook Wood Watch Shop at Exit A of Sham Shui Po MTR, I know the owner Hui Shiu Cheung. Nice Talking guy.

 Ask for less 10% to Dennis of Audio Space!

 Tim Kee Record shops, one of my source of NOS LP, the owner still holding some of the rate copies.

 Tim Kee Record

 Various Version of Tsrai Chin CD

 The Toy Shop I know, good price and I am seeing them expanding very fast, they have two shops now

 Some of the Latest toys

 R/C Tanks of all types, metal wheel chain, can have real smokes at Exhaust pipe, can fire bullet control in your Remote Controller Real Fun. If you buy, go for the latest Wheel Design with metal screw which is more durable

This is latest Tank on top weight about 4 Kgs, heavily Amoured!!  Price about HKD$1,380 quote my name try to get less 10%!

Most of the time when I am free on Sunday, going to Sham Shui Po is one of my pleasure tour.

These are the list of shops I must go: Lung Shing Watch Company, Audio Space Shop, Hi Fi Shops, The LP shop and once in a while Visit Paul’s record treasure, Tim Kee Record ( Shop for Chinese Opera Music) 粤曲專賣店,  Fook Wood Watch shop near MTR Exit A.

As I am collector of watches, LP, Vacuum Tubes, Pen, and also I am amateur R/C toys like helicopter, tanks, Aircraft… this is the night tour to Ap Liu Street last night.

Well, most of the shop will close at 7:30, Lung Shing will close at 7:00 in fact they start to pack and close the shop at 6:45, so I always start visiting Lung Shing first then Kuen Kee. If had time that day, or will go visit other shops right the way. Since most of the shop owners know me and I chatted with them for most of the updates of the things there, LP, Watches, Pen, Tubes, Hi Fi and the remote toys.

Sham Shui Po Kong Tsan

Watch Fever

What Watch Lindsey Vonn Wear?

Oylmpia Gold Medalist on skiing Wears Rolex Date Just Ref 116234,36mm  Blue Dial on Oyster Strap.

A nice match with her bodyline and taste!

Ref 116234 36mm Date Just Stainless, Blue Dial, 18 KT White gold fluted bezel with Matching Oyster Strap

HK List price 58,000

HK Snob

Chi Si Watch Company at Tsuen Wan MTR station, Tsuen Wan, N.T. HK



They have two shops in Nam Fung Shopping centre, formerly running watch shop “luk Yeung Watch Shop in Luk Yeung Galleria , they moved to Nam Fung Centre some 8 years ago.

Main Product line is Casio, Timex, Citizen, Seiko  and many fashion watches, price ranges between $200 to $4,000

They also do servicing  watch  like battery replacement with just about HKD$30.

I know the boss more than 15 years…. If you stop by for some watches, try to talk to the boss there.

Price is very competitive! And he has a lot special discounted item.

Tsuen Wan Snob
Tsuen Wan Kong Tsan
Watch Fever

Rolex Date Just Two Tone Pink Gold

Model: Ice

Still 31 mm Date Just is well fitted with tall and slim lady, there is no loss of glamour as comparing with
Bigger Watch Like Submariner, or Explorer II.

Ref 178241 31mm Two Tone Pink gold and Steel smooth bezel with oyster braclet HKD$69.000
Ref 17834131mm Two tone Pink Gold and Stee;;, fluted Bezel, VII hour mark is constructed with Diamond, 24 diamond on bezel, with oyster Bracelet HKD$99,600
These are Rolex AD List price in HK.

HK Watch Fever
Fever Ip
Tsim Sha Tsui Snob

China ‘s Emerging groups of Tu Hao (土豪) nouveau-riches

China ‘s Emerging groups of Tu Hao (土豪) nouveau-riches

Tu Hao

There is a new Chinese word created recently yet to be found in an English Dictionary but will be soon I believe!  It is “Tu Hao”!  Tu Hao or nouveau-riches who spends regardless of cost and consequence.

During the first launch of iPhone5S gold, people would have been waiting and eager to pay RMB25,900 or more to buy one gold colour and they described it as “Tu Hao Jin” (土豪金translation is nouveau-riche gold) Iphone5S  .

There is a Tu Hao bought a 13.3 carat Diamond on website with RMB 20M, this is really Tu Hao style, needless go to the shop to Scrutinize the diamond under x20 magnifying glass, who could believe something in internet that a trivial defect that could cause a drop of price from 20M to 10M for diamond! They just don’t care!

There is a Tu Hao who sends Cash of RMB 10M of uncut bank note as proposal deposit for marrying a beautiful girl!

Another Tu Hao casted a Cow weight 1 ton of solid 24K gold and mounted in his 80/floor office lobby as a Small Decorative statue. That is about 100M RMB!

Note Tu Hao's Plate Number....Five "9"!

Ma Linxiang, the deputy director of the village committee of Qingheying Village in Guangying County of Beijing, arranged a “Tu Hao Wedding” for his son.  He invited Yadan to perform for the wedding, he reserved the China National Convention Center to hold the ceremony. On the day of wedding, the bride and groom rode a Rolls-Royce followed by a BMW motorcade. , and he arranged 20M helicopter to pick up the bride.

So what is the SPECIFICATION to be classified as “Tu Hao” in China.

Age under 40

3 cars minimum: 2 B and 1 L or F: Bentley, Benz and Lamborghini, F is not Fiat of course…

Suit: Amani

Shoes: Causal low heel wearing no socks

Membership: High Class Golf Club

Hand Phone: Vertu with Diamond, Iphone5s is a gift for his friends or mistresses.

Watch: Turbillon, and watch with a lot of diamond that the watch cannot carry! Favourite Brands are  Frank Muller, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, Roger Dubuis. More Turbillons more Class, that is why someone has said, Double Turbillons or Quator Turbillons...

Frank Muller Tournillon with Diamond

Vacheron Constantin Tonneau Tourbillon Squelette

Roger Dubuis Boutique Shanghai

Roger Dubuis Excalibur Double Tourbillon Skeleton in Platinum, Tu Hao's Favourite, HKD$4,300,000

No wonder Why Roger Debuis has created the Excalibur Quatuor in "Silicon", (4 Tourbillons) Limited of 3 pieces and had been sold, HKD$8,500,000 before it is launched, I guess two of them go to the China Tu Hao! Roger Dubuis is one of the fastest growing Watch brand in China.

On April 22nd, 2013, a group of customers were squeezing their way to buy gold chains, which terrified the sales lady.

This is the life style of the new young nouveau-Riche in  China! Somewhat like the Arabians in 70’s, followed by the Russians and Indians who bought everything when they have spotted… Now it is the turn of these Chinese…

How about HK? Who can be classified as Hong Kong Tu Hao? In the eyes of China Tu Hao, probably 95% people of HK is classified as Kong Tsan港燦!

HK Kong Tsan

Watch Fever

Sham Shui Po Snob

A Watch Fever Friend Edy from Batam just Bought a Sub Hulk and Daytona Black.

Edy from Batam, a friend, Rolex Lover just bought two lovely watches, the most difficult one to get in the market nowadays;
Rolex Daytona Black Ref 116520 and Submariner Green Bezel Dial.

I Agree on what he says a while ago to me, Submariner Green is more GREEN and lovely, White Dial is better than Black on Daytona as the former one is easier to ready the time.

HK Snob
Watch Fever

Hong Kong Kong Tsan (Country Pumpkins) 港燦

 

A Contrast of Social Status at Tsim Sha Tsui

There are more and more poor people in Hong Kong, what can we do about it!?

We call this the Oriental Pearl, Hong Kong, seems full of rich people, someone said that if there is a broken window falls at one building at Central, it would hit 10 Millionaires in the street. That was true as I fact more than 2 million people is classified as Millionaires, Millionaire is classified now the poor middle class in such a weird place HK!

Every the other day, there are long queue of this silver haired people waiting for the free Metro post at MTR,  as there are discount MacDonald Coupon enclosed with the newspaper. There are poor people who search for litter bin for the paper, tin cans that they can sell it for money to exchange for food.

Some of the people who could not afford to eat pork more than once a month, there is a Primary school P4 student that has not been tasted the hamburger in HK!

However, on the other hand, one of my executives earns HKD$8,000 a hour! Who could sit down for an 6 hours meeting without saying one word, and we learn NOTHING from the meeting, but he could get his salary enough to buy a Rolex Submariner Ref 114060.

The world is not fair and it would never be fair, the Gini Index in HK getting worst, more than 1.2 Million people is suffering as they are classified as poor people, Million people is so called Middle Class but in fact a bit better than the lowest class of people., Only the top 5 % earners could enjoy the best in Town with sacrifice of the rest 95% of the people…

The case will not be changed, as there is no hope about Hong Kong’s Future, you can see more people in migrating into country like Candida and Australia, New Zealand, or even Thailand.

More Middle Aged Lady with fairly good income is now considering marriage with the Richer Chinese people. 50% of HK Man is marrying with lady of Mainland Chinese simply they want to move Northwards. The professor in Universities of HK are those Chinese Speaking Mandarin, 4 out of 10 students of the HK Universities are coming from China. 3 out of 10 homes are purchased by Chinese…

Hong Kong People once called Chinese immigrant as “Ah Tsan” is now being called as “Kong Tsan“ by the Chinese mainlander.

Don't forget to speak Mandarin when you go to Rolex AD, as you will be served with priority, if you speak "Cantonese" you will be put aside waiting!  Same thing happens in Zurich Rolex AD, Cantonese or HK English is not welcome, you should speak "Mandarin" or you will not be given a Chance to see the Daytona Black Ref 116520! Not mentioning your right to buy it.

Poor Kong Tsan's favourite "Cocktail Bun!" Each HKD$3.0, It is Cheap but I classify it the most Delicious Cocktail Buns in Hong Kong, Available at Sum Sum Bakery at Exit of Kwai Hing MTR station.

That is one of the reasons why I called my self “Kong Tsan”  (Hong Kong Pumpkins!) and the City is dying as Joe Junior said!

Tsim Shat Tsui Kong Tsan

Watch Fever

HK Snob

Rolex GMT Master II Ref 116710BLRN is apprearing to have more stock now in these Rolex AD Hong Kong

There are more stocks now in Hong Kong, started with Dickson Central and HKIA, Oriental Watch Company in Tsim Sha Tsui,Wah Hing, and this latest Purchase by Watch Fever friends coming from Malaysia. He bought two watches as shown, at Tsim Sha Tsui Zurich Rolex AD.
One Two Tone Rolex Yacht master Two Tone and the GMT Master II Black and Blue.

The price if the GMT master still at List ptice HKD$65,300 no discount.

Tsim Sha Tsui Kong Tsan
Watch Fever

Rolex Bubble Back Oyster Perpetual Watch

Wrist watch in Advertisement by Shozo Nakamura Printed by World Mook

Rolex Bubble Back Oyster Perpetual Watch

Advertisement from Rolex in 1946 

“Every hour, every minute, every second the Rolex Oyster Perpetual guards the invaluable element time… with conscious thought of its owner.

Designed with a unique and efficient reserve action… in addition to positive automatic winding when on the wrist, it will keep split second time for as long as a period of 32 hours when motionless.

It is the one perpetual which over the years has proven its dependability.

Price, $141.75 to $320 Federal Tax Included.

“Rolex Keeps Better Time”.

Rolex Watch Company, Inc., 580 Fifth Ave., New York 18, N.Y.”

Bubble Back棺材chai

The 'Bubble Back' was the first completely watertight automatic watch developed by Rolex. It was named the 'Oyster Perpetual'. “Bubble Back” was the name we called it later on. The self-winding movement was quite thick and the rounded case back was made to house it rather than the original Oyster case. This gave the name the 'Bubble Back'. Rolex only produced this watch from 1933 – 1955, one year before Day Date was created!

Price of a Bubble Back is not cheap in 1946

This is a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Bubble back watch, the $320 dollar one is Solid Gold, in converting into the money in 1946, $320 is likely 10 months’ Rent for a home, Federal Minimum hourly wages was $0.40. So a car factory worker on assembly line, say $0.5 a hour, that watch was three months’s salary for a general worker. In 1946 a new car is $1,125 that Rolex is 1/3 of the car price. It is not cheap at all. 

I am eager to look for one mint condition 14KT gold as I know the size is a concern is that is about 32x38mm.  In the market, we can get a Rolex Bubble back with about $5,200 to $9,000 depending on condition.

A 14ct gold vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual or 'Bubble Back' watch. The case measures 32 x 38 mm., with a smooth bezel. The case is signed Rolex Geneva Swiss, 14K, ref: 5015. The movement is signed Rolex Perpetual Chronometer Swiss Made with the 'Rolex Oyster' signed base cover.

The dial has gold Arabic numerals with an outside minute track and centre seconds. The dial is signed Rolex Oyster Perpetual above the centre, with Officially Certified Chronometer below.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Bubble back Ref 3130

Courtesy Picture from http://robertmaron.com/product.php?productid=18190&cat=0&page=11&sold

Movement  Automatic  Case  14K Pink Gold  Case Shape  Round  Case Size  33 mm  Crystal  Acrylic  Display  Complications  Subsidiary Seconds.  

Additional Information Rare Oyster Perpetual Bubbleback in 14k rose gold, from circa 1946, with subsidiary seconds in original condition. 

 

HK Snob

Watch Fever