My Personal Favourite from Rolex Baselworld 2017 : Sky Dweller

The bezel serves a function, you get dual-timezones, full calendar references, and it wouldn't looked out of place in a formal setting as those whom were not in the know, would simply assume that it was a Datejust with complication. Now in Rolesor material, this is one Rolex that I am looking forward to adding into my collection in the near future.

Mamak, Teh Tarik Dua!

I would be travelling abroad again shortly, and were looking to retrieve my 2 fave watches for  adventuring travels- namely the Sub Hulk and G-Rangeman. In fact, as I looked at the winder last night, I found that I had somehow flipped the watches such that there were in pairs again. This had happened quite a few times across various brands, for watches transiting in and out of my collection. It's almost as though the watches were able to able to find their own pairs somehow.

The modded Turtle LE pair were truly different from the different :

The Omega pair covered both the ocean and the space :

And the Rolex pair had been featured so much more on this blog, that we shall let sleeping dogs lie. Indeed, my watches are like wolves; and they always hunt in pairs.

In-coming : Zelos Avant-3

Zelos is a micro-brand from Singapore, that was established in 2014. This micro-brand loved to experiment with materials such as bronze and carbon-fibre, and reliable Japanese movements from Seiko and Miyota. When they decided to move higher-up the food chain with Swiss ETA 2824-2 and Selitta SW200 movements in their Avant-3, I decided to order a piece to review it over this blog. Keep your eyes peeled hereabouts for the review pursuant to my receipt on the said watch.

In the meantime, here's what we could expect :

2013 - 2017 : The Flip List

This was the list of the watches that had been flipped since the start of this blog in 2013. Most were bought new, while some were bought pre-owned. And if you were starting on the pre-owned route, one golden tip to strictly adhere to, was to always buy the seller and not just the watch. I sometimes buy watches just for catch-and-release, so that I could view, hold and write about them; then they move on to real owners whom would give them wrist times.

Current :

1)   1978 Pagol Sub-Second Date 3055;
2)   2013 Rolex Submariner 116610LV;
3)   2014 Panerai Luminor Marina Logo Acciaio 00005;
4)   2015 Omega Speedmaster Panda;
5)   2015 Casio G-Shock Rangeman Wave-Ceptor;
6)   2016 Rolex Sea-Dweller 116600;
7)   2016 Ball Engineer ii Genesis LE;
8)   2016 Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean;
9)   2017 Seiko Turtle Emerald LE #2;
10) 2017 Seiko Turtle Blue Lagoon LE (SharkOne);
11) 2017 Zelos Avant-3 (pending arrival).

Previously-flipped :

Vintage (prior to 1983) :
1)  1972 Rolex Datejust 1601;

Diver :
2)   2006 Omega Seamaster Chronometer James Bond;
3)   2007 Seiko Perpetual Calendar SNQ043;
4)   2012 Ball Hydrocarbon John Hembel LE;
5)   2012 Rolex Submariner 116610LN;
6)   2013 Seiko Monster Dracula;
7)   2013 Omega Seamaster Chronometer Planet Ocean XL;
8)   2013 Tudor Pelagos Ti5;
9)   2014 Citizen Eco-Zilla;
10) 2014 Citizen Eco-Zilla Suppa;
11) 2014 Seiko Diver SKX009J1;
12) 2014 Orient Mechanical Force;
13) 2014 Steinhart Ocean Vintage Military;
14) 2014 Steinhart GMT-Ocean Ceramic;
15) 2014 Steinhart Ocean Forty-Four;
16) 2014 Oris Aquis Date;
17) 2014 Edox GMT-Class 1 Ti;
18) 2014 Glycine Combat Sub;
19) 2014 Tudor Heritage Black Bay;
20) 2014 Seiko Prospex Kinetic GMT;
21) 2015 Maranez Rawai;
22) 2015 Citizen Promaster DepthMaster Suppa;
23) 2015 Seiko "Bluefin" Tuna 50th Anniv #1;
24) 2015 Seiko "Dracula" Tuna 50th Anniv;
25) 2015 Seiko "Bluefin" Tuna 50th Anniv #2;
26) 2016 Prometheus Poseidon Bronze;
27) 2016 Magrette Vantage Bronze LE;
28) 2016 Lum-Tec M60 GMT LE;
29) 2016 Seiko Turtle Pepsi K1;
30) 2017 Seiko Turtle Emerald LE #1;
31) 2017 Seiko Turtle Blue J1;
32) 2017 Seiko Turtle PADI SE #1;
33) 2017 Seiko Turtle PADI SE #2;
34) 2017 Seiko Turtle PADI SE #3;

Aviation :
35) 2013 Seiko Sportura Aviation Alarm Chrono;
36) 2014 Bell & Ross BR01-97 Reserve De Marche;
37) 2014 Seiko Prospex Field Monster LE;
38) 2015 Archimede Flieger A Heritage;
39) 2017 Omega Speedmaster Professional Hesalite;

Other Genres :
40) 2005 Tag Heuer Kirium Ti5;
41) 2012 Rolex Datejust Diamond;
42) 2012 Oris Artelier Date;
43) 2013 Tag Heuer Carrera Chrono Caliber 16;
44) 2013 Ball Fireman Night Train DLC;
45) 2014 Hamilton Vintage Chrono 3828;
46) 2014 Edox Les Vauberts;
47) 2014 Certina DS Podium GMT;
48) 2014 SevenFriday P3-01 DLC;
49) 2014 Casio G-Shock Riseman;
50) 2014 Casio G-Shock Riseman Wave-Ceptor;
51) 2014 Casio G-Shock Military Camo;
52) 2014 Casio G-Shock Digi-Analog;
53) 2015 Casio G-Shock Military Camo2;
54) 2015 Rolex Explorer ii;
55) 2016 Moto Kuore Mk1 Burgundy;
56) 2016 Yonger & Bresson 15794;
57) 2016 Mondaine Stop2Go DLC;
58) 2017 Orient Bambino4.

Turtle Blue Lagoon LE (Zimbe SharkOne) - page 02

I received lots of e-mails asking for more photos of my Blue Lagoon LE (SharkOne), so I decided to oblige. Here she was, in all her glory, during a day's outing with the kiddos in tow to the cinema for The Boss Baby. And you would know that the boys were paying attention to my hobby, when they exclaimed during the show, "Look Daddy, Boss Baby is wearing a Baby Rolex Datejust!"

It was a funny and touching animation alright, and worth viewing with your family at the cinema.

Turtle Blue Lagoon LE (Zimbe SharkOne) - page 01

This Turtle will be a freak of nature, as it combined the gentle nature of the Turtle with the aggression of the Great White Shark (bezel) and Whale Shark (bezel insert). 

1) Base : Turtle Lagoon LE - RM2,660

2) Turtle Zimbe LE bezel insert - RM80

3) SharkOne bezel (Poland) - RM240

4) Double-domed sapphire crystal (Swiss-made) - RM250

5) Watchsmith (assembly and WR tests) - RM300

Put all the above together, and you would have the following Turtle Blue Lagoon LE (SharkOne). More pictures to follow suit when I have the time.

For a total cost of RM3,530, I now have a uniquely one-of-a-kind Blue Lagoon LE (SharkOne).

Arrived : Seiko Turtle PADI SE #3

So, a parcel just came today. It was supposed to come earlier when I wanted to modify the double-domed Blue AR sapphire crystal from Swiss; but as the watch was delayed, the crystal went into the Blue Lagoon LE instead. This is the 3rd Turtle PADI that came into my collection; but it would be more of a transit point as another collector has asked me to let him have it. So the watch would be moving along very soon.

SD4k : The Real Sea-Dweller Ceramic

Works fine 1,220m underwater, works just as fine on the ground in a typical stop-look-go traffic jam.

Tudor Baselworld 2017 : Heritage Black Bay Steel

Readers would know that I have a soft spot for the Black Bay, having owned it previously. When this Black Bay Steel was released at Basel 2017, I liked the fact that it had snowflake hands and a date to boot; but it also looked remarkably deja-vu to me. Where have I quite seen something like this, I wondered.

Then it hit me, while I liked the toolish manner that the Black Bay Steel brought about, the other watch that I had in mind while looking at it... was the Seiko Prospex SRP637. Ouch.

Rolex Baselworld 2017 : Sea-Dweller 126600

It's funny how things worked out sometimes. Weeks back, the run of the mill was that a new Sea-Dweller Ceramic would be released with the single red; and I duly-visited my AD to register on the waiting list if it should so materialise. The D-Blue was supposed to be discontinued, so I wanted to add a piece into my collection so that I could ride the collectible wave when the production stops.

Today : Rolex's website

Yesterday : Rolex's website

And then, today I read an e-mail from a reader whom complained that he was disappointed with the new Sea-Dweller 126600 and immediately marched to an AD to grab the Sea-Dweller 116600 that he had seen 2 weeks ago; but that he was unable to purchase at the previously-agreed price as production has been confirmed to stop and the piece was now deemed as an instant collectible classic. So much for not charging a premium of the watches.

By my reckoning, a 40mm Sea-Dweller Ceramic with single red, would have been closer to perfection compared to the 116600. But to upsize the case to 43mm and add in a cyclop, seemed to have moved the prestigious Sea-Dweller closer to the more common Submariner standards (bigger lugs, with cyclops). And having to pay RRP : £8,350 (circa RM46k) before GST for the 126600, seemed to make the 116600 at RM40k very much a bargain. And so, the 116600 has instantly achieved its cult classic collectible status with the immediate nil production. Like, WOW!

Having said that, the stainless steel Sky-Dweller at RRP : £10,600 (RM58k) before GST, certainly placed it as being relatively more value-for-monies and attainable to the general public compared to the prior Sky-Dwellers.

Just Google on the watch forums and net, and you could gauge what a controversial the Sea-Dweller has been, and how celebrated the Sky-Dweller is now. One thing's for sure, the secondary price of the Sea-Dweller 116600 would likely see an upward surge given the increase in interests and demands pursuant to the 126600.

Goodnight, Emerald LE (BlueOne)

Was supposed to reach KL tonight; but trip was postponed partly due to the heavy rain, and am spending the night at Johore. However, with this very handsome Emerald-Blue Lagoon LE by my bedside table, it's all good. Can't stop gazing at this piece...

Seiko Turtle Emerald LE (BlueOne)

So this was what the Emerald LE came as the other day :

This was the piece that I had wanted to modify with some interesting parts namely :

1) Bezel and chapter ring from Turtle Blue Lagoon LE;

2) Double-domed sapphire crystal with Green AR, from Switzerland.

The double-dome sapphire crystal was so tall and thick that 2 different watchsmiths in KL declined to work on the watch modifications for fear of breaking the expensive crystal. I had to source around for an experienced watchsmith that could take on the job, and finally went back to my Dad's friend whom had assisted me on various watch projects. I took a few days off to go outstation to visit my folks, and took some time to visit his watch shop too. He then worked his magic on it, and I just got back the end article as per the following :

Total cost of modifications consisted of Emerald LE base (RM2,660) + Blue Lagoon parts (FOC) + Swiss-made crystal (RM250) + Workmanship and WR tests (RM300) = RM3,160.

Truly a beauty, right? It was a spectacular piece, with an extra dose of special further now!

The 3 Musketeers : Rolex for Omega & Ball

"All for one, and one for all!"

An interesting proposition came from a fellow reader, in which he had a 44mm Rolex DeepSea Sea-Dweller 116660 that he mentioned was out-of-warranty but still looked new as he had not worn it much over the last 3 years (purchased before the 5-year warranty applies) as it was simply too big for his wrist, although the realisation only hit him after he purchased it. He asked if he could swap his DSSD with my 40mm Sea-Dweller Ceramic, but I was not keen. I have ordered a DSSD D-Blue given that it was discontinued by Rolex due to lack of sale, and I believe that its value would appreciate over a long enough period given its discontinued status.

He then offered to swap his DSSD with 3 of the watches as seen on this blog, namely :

1) Omega Speedy Panda, under warranty till 2018;

2) Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean James Bond, under warranty till 2019;

3) Ball Engineer ii Genesis 50th Anniversary, under warranty till 2019.

All these 3 watches were collectible pieces, and I have yet to be prepared to flip them off. However, if  I do proceed with the flip, then I would have all 3 Sea-Dwellers in my collection when they arrive in my collection. Hmmm, interesting thought indeed...