Safari Range(r)man : Countdown Watch

I'm in the middle of the safari and it's been a great holiday. Staring out at the plains from my balcony with the zebras and wildebeests grazing right outside, it's a relaxing time indeed. I know what I have with me for the countdown tonight- a G-Shock Rangeman that is the best choice for such an adventure.

So, what watch will be gracing your wrist for the countdown tonight? Happy New Year 2018, dear readers...

Painted Dials

I was looking for replacement dials online and saw that there were other collectors whom did one-off painted dial jobs towards their watches like this example. This looked like the Azimuth King Casino that I wrote about a few entries ago, right?

Well, a painted dial could be my next project, and I am now awaiting the quotation that would go towards this. The thing was, the Sub had an accidental fall the other day and would require a repair towards the dial. So instead of a dial replacement, I was thinking of commissioning a one-off painted dial as per the following examples :

I am still tinkering with the idea at the interim period. Let's see if the project takes off hereafter.

Blessed Christmas, Everyone...

Here's wishing all my fellow readers and watch enthusiasts an enjoyable and merry Christmas... 

What watch are you wearing to accompany you on this blessed day? For me, I am wearing a fusion of East and West- East in that there's the Chinese character "Fu" or good fortune on my watch, and West in that the brand was from Italy after all. Oh, and the bear's a Christmas present for my son, and he loves it!

The Next Rollie

Christmas is almost here and my phone has been beeping busy non-stop with messages from well-meaning folks. I've been slogging over the last few weeks on work and personal matters, travelling all over and it is nice to be back in Malaysia and having some time to do some reflections on my own.

Well, I'll be bringing my boys on family travel to a safari shortly, and they're very much looking forward to the up-coming adventure. And the fact that the holiday is kind-of sponsored by the proceeds from the Ball Orbital Spacemaster 2 watch sale the other day; meant that the bank balance would not take a beating- hooray! I wonder which watch shall I bring along for the adventurous trip?

I've been thinking about adding a Sky-Dweller to my collection; but there has been no confirmation on the ETA of the said watch. It has been a long waiting list, according to the ADs; and resellers are having a field day selling at high premiums.

Therefore, getting a readily available model may be a better idea; since there would be no premium involved. And typical of Rolex, one could buy a piece, wear it for a while, and later flip it at no significant depreciation (or at a profit even!). But that only normally works for the sports model, and in stainless steel versions.

Some of the better buys that appeal to me currently included the following : 

1) Datejust 36 Computer Dial with Diamonds :

2) Day-Date 36 Silver Dial with Diamonds :

3) Daytona Yellow Gold Dial with Diamonds :

What do you think of the above pieces, dear readers?

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Just thought that this was a pretty interesting figure, hence the print screen. Thanks for stopping by my blog, dear readers; and this blog would remain as our common platform for our continued enjoyment. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, fellow watch hobbyists!

In it For The Passion

I was waiting for a fellow watch collector i.e. David, whom was held up by traffic; so I took the time to go through some e-mails with relation to this blog. One particular one stood out as the tone of the writer was not that courteous. The e-mail was from a party that was interested in the Spacemaster Orbital 2. He was one of the early ones whom contacted me right after my advert. I wanted to let go the watch at RM13k, he offered to take it at my asking price so it was a fast deal. He was supposed to travel to KL to pick up the said watch.

Thereafter, there were no further news for a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I was turning down other inquiries as it was supposed to be a firm deal. I checked with him but he was non-responsive so I placed up the advert again and quickly got queries from other interested parties. I decided to go with a gentleman whom I felt comfortable liaising with over some messages. Once he confirmed that he would take up the watch in a week's time as he was from out of state and needed time to come to KL, I held on to the gentlemen's agreement and turned down other queries.

And just as I updated the Reserved (now Sold) status on the Spacemaster Orbital 2 in my previous blog entries, the initial buyer came back to me and informed me that he still wanted the watch after all. I apologised and explained that he had not responded to my queries and therefore I had found another buyer. Turned out that he saw an opportunity for a quick flip and was also looking for buyers. He had not responded to me initially as there had been no confirmed bite, but he had now received the deposit towards the watch and was therefore ready to take it now. I declined his offer politely, and he offered to share his profit 50 : 50 with me. He had found a buyer at RM15k so there was a RM2k profit there, so I would essentially go with RM14k if I proceed with his offer.

He got upset when I declined his offer again. The thing is, I am not a watch reseller and I don't make a profit from selling these watches. I buy watches and my satisfaction comes from handling these pieces, taking pictures, updating this blog of mine, and then flipping them off. I am not like some of the other collectors that buy watches and keep them with all stickers intact in a box, hoping to sell them at a tidy profit when the price appreciates some years later. My point is simple, if a collector could take a watch off my collection and give it real wrist times; by all means I would let it go to him or her if we have a confirmed gentleman's agreement. Others may offer me higher prices thereafter but once the deal was done, I would honour the deal.

There you have it- Collector's biggest secrets finally revealed!

And I was glad to have met David, whom was pretty passionate about his watches. And the fact that he was wearing a Gravity Master when he came to pick up the Spacemaster Orbital 2, I could gauge that he liked tough-as-nails watches and the Ball should get good wrist times with him.

Enjoy your new watch, mate!

And the parting shot when the 2 huge 45mm chrono watches bid each other goodbye.

2013 - 2017 : The Flip List

So Christmas is just around the corner now and here I am, sitting in the lobby of a hotel, waiting for a buyer to make what would probably be the final watch sale to wrap it up for the year 2017. Going forward into 2018, I would probably be looking at flipping the Speedmaster Panda, Planet Ocean Chrono, and Genesis; and adding a Datejust/Day-Date, and Sky-Dweller. Or if I chanced upon a 5711/1A at retail price, then all bets are off.

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)   2009 Casio Mudman NOS;
3)   2011 Panerai 366;
4)   2013 Rolex Submariner 116610LV;
5)   2014 Panerai 005;
6)   2014 Panerai 364;
7)   2015 Omega Speedmaster Panda;
8)   2015 Casio G-Shock Rangeman Wave-Ceptor;
9)   2016 Ball Engineer ii Genesis LE;
10) 2017 Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Chrono;
11) 2017 Zelos Hammerhead Bronze.

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) 2016 Rolex Sea-Dweller 116600;
31) 2016 Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean;
32) 2017 Seiko Turtle Emerald LE #1;
33) 2017 Seiko Turtle Blue J1;
34) 2017 Seiko Turtle PADI SE #1;
35) 2017 Seiko Turtle PADI SE #2;
36) 2017 Seiko Turtle PADI SE #3;
37) 2017 Seiko Turtle Blue Lagoon LE (SharkOne);
38) 2017 Seiko Turtle Emerald LE #2;
39) 2017 Prometheus Poseidon Stainless Steel;
40) 2017 Rolex Submariner 116613LB;

Aviation :
41) 2013 Seiko Sportura Aviation Alarm Chrono;
42) 2014 Bell & Ross BR01-97 Reserve De Marche;
43) 2014 Seiko Prospex Field Monster LE;
44) 2015 Archimede Flieger A Heritage;
45) 2016 Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster Orbital 2;
46) 2017 Omega Speedmaster Professional Hesalite;

Other Genres :
47) 2005 Tag Heuer Kirium Ti5;
48) 2012 Rolex Datejust Diamond;
49) 2012 Oris Artelier Date;
50) 2013 Tag Heuer Carrera Chrono Caliber 16;
51) 2013 Ball Fireman Night Train DLC;
52) 2014 Hamilton Vintage Chrono 3828;
53) 2014 Edox Les Vauberts;
54) 2014 Certina DS Podium GMT;
55) 2014 SevenFriday P3-01 DLC;
56) 2014 Casio G-Shock Riseman;
57) 2014 Casio G-Shock Riseman Wave-Ceptor;
58) 2014 Casio G-Shock Military Camo;
59) 2014 Casio G-Shock Digi-Analog;
60) 2015 Casio G-Shock Military Camo2;
61) 2015 Rolex Explorer ii;
62) 2016 Moto Kuore Mk1 Burgundy;
63) 2016 Yonger & Bresson 15794;
64) 2016 Mondaine Stop2Go DLC;
65) 2017 Orient Bambino4.

Azimuth King Casino : Pull The Trigger?

So there I was, having an hour or so between appointments, so I was walking around waiting for time to pass by. And lo and behold, I chanced upon an Azimuth King Casino, the 45mm enhanced version of the previous 35mm SP1-Roulette.

"What the heck?!", those unfamiliar with this quirky brand with quirky designs might exclaimed.

Well, let's just do a fast introduction on the Azimuth Roulette series namely SP1 and King Casino.

As could be seen from the above pictures, there were 2 versions of King Casino available in the shop, namely silver and gold. Both were selling at the same price, so the gold one could be the better buy. I know that these are niche watches that hardly warrant buyers' interests; so I was quite frank on the matter and asked the manager on the best price that they were willing to let go. The final price came to circa RM13k per piece.

Note also the Azimuth Twin Turbo by its side, going for circa RM18k. The manager admitted that these watches had been sitting in stock for a long time with no takers, and that they were keen to move both these models.

Honestly, the watch was simply too big to be worn comfortably, although the curved back helped lots.  But I would say that it's a unique design and could warrant a buy to gauge if it would stay in one's collection. So I flipped the watch around.

Fortunately or unfortunately, there were lots of scratches on both the watches' crown (dice), so I decided to fore-go the watch. But it's a talking piece alright.

Double Wristing?

Can you spot the pairs of brothers-in-arms in the winder? There's a Diver pair, a Ball pair, an Omega pair, and a PAM pair tonight. Which one should we go with tonight? Hmmm... 

The Thomas & Friends perhaps, since I can't afford a Maximilian Busser & Friends.

So who else does this... well, only at home anyway, and only for wrist shot pics. 2 Mafia brothers, re-united in Malaysia.