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Updates on stock – Patek Philippe, A Lange, AP and more

Patek Philippe 5059 Perpetual Calendar full set
USED in MINT condition
HKD308,000

A Lange Datograph rose gold silver white dial
A stunning beauty
Full set
HKD 275,000
 

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Bubble Bee
Full set
HKD155,000

Rolex 116710blnr
Full set
Dated Ausust 2017
Super new and fresh
HKD75,500

Rolex 16618 Onyx dial
Watch only
Ultra rare
Price on request

Which GMT Master II 116710? The Green Pointer or the Batman?

The Rolex GMT Master II – The Green Pointer vs the Batman

The Rolex GMT Master II Ceramic has been one of the most frequently seen watches on the street in Hong Kong. The 116710 Green Pointer is also the first Rolex I bought. I actually chose it over the Submariner 116610 because the watch was so much more attractive due to the oversized numbers on the ceramic bezel. The 116710 Green Pointer is a dazzling watch. A friend of mine bought two for himself and his wife last year. He has a black Daytona 116520 for himself and a white 116520 for his wife. But why did he buy two GMT Green Pointer but now one Green Pointer plus a Batman?
He said the Green Pointer looks more classic….

The two GMT Master II have different aesthetics. Or, do they? The Batman differs from the Green Pointer by having a dual color ceramic bezel, which is the only bi-color ceramic bezel on Rolex stainless steel models. The blue-black bezel symbolizes night and day. The GMT hand is blue instead of green and the letters GMT Master II are in white.
On the wrist, they really do not look very different. The same case applies to the Deep Sea black and the Deep Sea D-blue. Under certain lighting, you can even hardly notice that the Batman has a blue-black bezel.
How about the Green Pointer? It has a green GMT hand and green GMT Master II letters. Let’s not forget that the color that represents Rolex is green. However, this watch has been in production for 10 years and there are a lot of people wearing it. But of course, the price is lower than the Batman. It will feel a bit dull if you have had the watch for a bit over 2-3 years since the color scheme is not particularly attractive.

The Batman, on the other hand, offers you something more fun to see every day. The blue color of the ceramic bezel and the GMT hand and the white color of the letters GMT Master II also recall a blue sky with clouds. The Green Pointer and the Batman are equally flashy. If you have not had a GMT watch, get a Batman. But if you have the Green Pointer, keep it and wear it in good health.

Some frequently asked questions from buyers

  1. Why are the hands not in uniform color with the markers?

For T25 gloss dials with white gold markers, the hands’ color tends to be different from the markers. The hands’ color tends to be lighter. Of course, it is possible that the hands’ color is the same as the markers’. However, in most cases, it is normal to have hands with lighter color than the markers because the tritium materials used on the hands may be different.

Hands are sometimes replaced by watchmakers and sellers to achieve a uniform color for the hands and the markers. Unless you are Rolex, you will never know why some hands look lighter than the markers. Some of us think that the hands must have been replaced by the seller so that the color of the is lighter. However, it has to be noted that the situation may be actually the other way round.
2. Does your watch have a service case?
The serial numbers for a service case of Rolex are 44xxxxx. Service cases start from 4.4mil serial number until exhaustion. Some say that the 4.7mil and 4.9mil cases are also service case. Again, unless you are Rolex, you will never know. But service cases usually bear Orig Rolex Design engravings between the lugs at 12 o’ clock instead of Registered Design. People tend to avoid serials 4.4mil to 5mil as to avoid service cases. Please note that Rolex from 7mil serial year 1980 onwards bear Orig Rolex Design engravings instead of Registered Design. From the Rolex serial chart we can see that from 1970 to 1980, the Rolex serial numbers increased by 300,000 each year. From 1976-1977, the serial increases from 40xxxxx to 50xxxxx. It is believed that some of the serials are reserved for service cases. Service cases are cases replaced by Rolex if you watch case is damaged.
You can refer to the following link for the Rolex serial chart.
https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-serial-numbers
3. Is your watch polished?
Most vintage timepieces have been polished as they have gone through over 40 years or even 50 or 60 years of time. An unpolished Rolex should have very sharp beveled edges on the lugs. These timepieces often bear dearer price tags.
4. Why has price increased so much?
There is a rule in buying Rolex watches : The earlier you buy it, the earlier you enjoy it. The later you buy it, the dearer the price to pay.  Rolex has been producing less watches starting from 2017. There has been less stock than before. Rolex used to increase prices for twice a year. However, they have adopted a new strategy by producing less. Rolex watches preserve their value best because they do not go down in price at all. If you say today that a Rolex is expensive, you will not be able to get one in the future because it will only be more expensive as demand for Rolex watches will never drop. Have you ever heard of a price reduction from Rolex? Only in dreams.
5. Does this watch require a service?
A Rolex is very tough, especially for sports Rolex. Some run for 30 or 40 years before they has to be serviced. If your watch is losing or gaining too much time or does not wind very smoothly, you can opt for a service. However, if it is running steadily and wind ok, you can opt for a service later.
6. Why is the clasp not from 1977 for a 1977 watch?
The clasp has been replaced. It is nothing very special. If you damage the clasp of your Rolex, RSC will replace the clasp for you. For a vintage timepiece, it is  normal for some parts to have been replaced. The most important thing is that the dial matches the case and it has the correct bracelet and end links. You can always sell the clasp in exchange for a 1977 clasp. Nothing is perfect, especially a vintage timepiece.

Patek Philippe 5035 – The first annual calendar from Patek

Produced from 1996-2005, the 5035 was the first PP annual calendar watch. Patek decided to produce this model as a simplified version of the perpetual calendar, which many found too complicated to operate, and sometimes obsolete. The 5035 was replaced in 2005 by the 5146, which is still in production today.

At 37mm, the 5035 features the date, month and date display. At 6 o’ clock, there is a 24 hour display. This combination is not found in any annual calendar watch offered by Patek anymore.

The 5035 was produced in rose gold, white gold, yellow gold and platinum. The movement inside is PP’s 315s QA24h movement with a solid gold rotor. The finishing is superb and the winding efficiency is great due to the weight of the solid gold rotor.

Its successor 5146 features sub-dials for day, month and moon-phase and an aperture for the date. There is also a power reserve at 12 o’ clock. The 5146 is 39mm which is 2mm bigger than the 5035. It also has Arabic numerals instead of the Roman numerals on the 5035.

Although the 5146 displays more information on its dial, it is considered by some to be too busy. Not only does the 5035 have the most discrete size of 37mm, it also has the kind of sheer functionality displaying only the most essential information on the dial. It is simple and clean.

Investment value : The 5035’s price ranges from HKD140,000 to 170,000 depending on condition. Although it was produced for almost ten years, it is still a collectible piece as it was Patek’s first annual calendar model. In today’s watch world, if you can still grab a used Patek with complication at this price, it is a bargain. What you get are superb finishing on the dial, case and the movement and very practical functions from the world’s most prestigious watch brand.

Rolex Day Date 40 VS the Daytona ceramic 116500

Rolex Day-Date 40 VS Rolex Daytona 116500 ceramic   
With the new Rolex 116500ln Daytona Ceramic out, the attention of us is back to the Daytona. However, let’s not forget the brand’s most iconic model, the Day-Date. A new olive dial version has been released with rose gold case and bracelet. It is also available in white gold.
Some of you may have the same struggle – to go for the Day-Date or the Daytona?

1 Price
The Rolex Day-Date 40 is way more expensive than the Daytona as there is no stainless steel version for the DD40. With that said, you will have to pay around 190k -210k for a DD40. With the Daytona, if you opt for the yellow gold, white gold or the rose gold version, you will have to pay around 180k-210k. However, the Daytona can be had in stainless steel which is around 145k right now for the 116500ln.

  1. Practicality

The Rolex Day-Date is a way more practical watch than the Daytona. We bet you have to know which day and date it is more than to know the duration of your drive, given that most of us are not professional race car drivers? The Rolex DD40 has the date and day display which makes everyday life way more convenient than wearing the Daytona. Moreover, let’s not forget the DD40’s 72 hours of power reserve That means you do not have to wind your watch as much as the Daytona.
 

  1. Rarity

How often do you see people wearing the Daytona on the street? Very, right? But you do not see a lot of DD40. So, why wear the same watch that others are wearing? Stand out by wearing the DD40 is a good choice to show your elegance and special taste.

  1. The bracelet.

The Daytona has a Oyster bracelet which features the Easylink extension system. Most of Rolex’s sports watches have Oyster bracelet with them. Again, it might be too common. The DD40 has a President bracelet which reflects light way better than an Oyster band. The polished center links shine like nothing else. It is more comfortable as the links are smaller, they can adjust to the shape of your wrist better

Updates on Rolex prices

The prices of Rolex sports models have been rising for the last couple of months.
A 116500ln white dial cost around HKD130,000 in April. Now a used one is over HKD135,000 and a bnib 116500ln white is now around HKD150,000. Although the price is so high, there is still very limited stock. It is hard to estimate when the price of this Daytona will go down as it has always been Rolex’s most signature sports watch.
The 116610lv Hulk is now selling HKD95,000 in shops. Grey dealers are selling HKD88,000 to HKD92,000 now. Rumor has it that this model will be discontinued next year in 2018 when it will have been produced for 8 years. A used Hulk is now over HKD72,000. The list price of this watch is HKD68,100.
The 116710blnr Batman is now selling over HKD75,000 now. A used Batman is now selling at around HKD68,000 to 72,000. This is another very highly sought-after Rolex model because of its bi-colour ceramic bezel.
The other hot model is the 16610lv 50th anniversary Submariner. A “Flat 4” LV is now selling at over HKD110,000. A normal 16610lv is now selling at over HKD80,000 in shops while grey dealers are selling at around HKD76,000 to 79,000.

What to buy if you are entering the world of Rolex with a limited budget?

Rolex at entry level – the new Air-king, the Milgauss and the Explorer

 
Rolex updated its Air-King in 2016. The price of the watch is around 47k HKD. At this price point, it is definitely an entry-level Rolex. So, is it an able contender against the Explorer and the Milgauss, which have always been very iconic?

Let’s look at what the new Air-King has to offer. At first glance, I almost could not believe it is a watch produced by Rolex. Its design is unlike any other Rolex which are mostly conservatively designed. The new 116900 Air-King is a bold watch. At 40mm, the watch has a polished bezel and a dial full of fun. Some may argue that the dial is too busy. However, it is also the dial that sticks to the aviation theme. It mixes the hour markers 3,6 and 9 with the minute markers. It does look like an Explorer I 214270 with Arabic minute markers. But is this what Rolex has to offer? A modified Explorer I?

No. The new Air-King has a fun dial as I mentioned. Other than the mixture of hour and minute markers, the dial features a yellow Rolex crown, green “Rolex” letters and a green second hand. Green is the color of Rolex and this watch has a theme of green. The font of the letters Air-King is full of style as well. The watch has soft-iron case inside which makes the new Air-King anti-magnetic and truly adheres to the aviation theme.

This is quite a comprehensive package for an entry-level Rolex, isn’t it? But how does it compare with the Milgauss and the Explorer I?

First, let’s talk about the Explorer I. At a slightly higher price, you can get a 39mm watch which has very rich history. The dial of the Explorer I is much cleaner and simpler. It is also more classic, if that is the word. However, it lacks the funky elements that exist on the Air-King dial. It has the shock absorber that the new Air-King does not have. However, it is not anti-magnetic like the new Air-King.

How about the 116400GV Milgauss? The Milgauss is famous for its green sapphire crystal and its anti-magnetic capability. It is a very accurate watch. The dial of the Milgauss is not as busy as the new Air-King but it is colorful enough. It has an all polished case and polished center links on the bracelet. On the wrist, the Milgauss looks very sharp and elegant. The shades of green on the sapphire crystal keep bringing you surprises under different lighting.

If you happen to dislike the GV Milgauss, you can pick the white dial version which blends orange with white and looks stunning in the metal.

The price? It is slightly higher than the new Air-King. But I do think that the design elements of the Milgauss seem better than that of the Air-King and that makes the Milgauss my choice among the three contenders here
 
What is your choice?

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