SOLD : Rolex Sea-Dweller 126600 (#11 May)

• Letting go @ SOLD (#045).
• Brand new in box condition, with all stickers intact. 
• Unnamed warranty card with official Rolex warranty for 5 years.
• COD at Mont Kiara preferable, so that you could check on the actual great condition of this rare piece. Grab this at a bargain today!

Collectible Collection

A collector swung by to pick up a Batman earlier. We got to chatting and before we knew it, an hour plus had gone just like that. This was a situation that I have seen too often ever since I went about to flip watches. As the collector mentioned, with the prices that I was flipping, there's hardly any monies to be made. In fact, the other watches in the market were priced much higher. A grey reseller had also remarked that I should just push all my stocks to him, as and when I get them. He reasoned that he could sell them at much higher prices, giving enough margin to both him and me.

The truth was, I like the interaction with fellow collectors. As we were all a passionate bunch, we tend to forget time, all pun intended, whenever we could drew time together. If I could get the watches on the cheap, I would flip them cheap. If I got them higher, then I would have to flip them higher. So the pricing was largely dependent on the Forex too.

The earlier collector shared with me on his collection above. I must say that it was an impressive collection, and all the choice pieces were suitably added into it from time to time. Since he had no intention to flip any of the pieces, I dare opine that his children would be very thankful to him when they were all grown up and the collection was passed on to their hands. He had a few pieces that he would like to add into the collection, which I would assist to look-out for him.

And then, there were also those collectors from the other side. Recently, I placed an advert with regards to the 2017 and 2018 Submariner Date Ceramic pieces @ http://andywristwatches.blogspot.com/2018/05/vesak-day-special-submariner-date.html. A collector wrote in to inquire and was very interested. The watch was already spoken for; but since he was very interested and mentioned that he wanted it to kick-start his collection, I persuaded the initial taker to go for another piece in my collection. 

Once the piece was available and offered to him, he then declined it as though he was merely joking. But then again, after so many years, I have seen a fair bit of jokers like these. That was why I would ask for deposit on reservations. And I tend to blacklist the jokers as I would knew that these people were not real collectors, but perhaps just had too much time on their hands. No point wasting my time on them.

Anyway, I'll be seeing yet another collector later tonight. As this was a repeated collector, I knew that this would be yet another smooth deal. This hobby really has its perks!

SOLD : Vesak Day Special for Rolex Submariner Date 116610LN (#10 May)

A reader wrote in to ask if I could do a special on my watches, since it is Vesak Day today. Well, consider your wish answered; for I looked inside my safe and brought out 2 pieces of BNIB Submariner Date 116610LN. These were essentially new pieces and good as showroom pieces in full boxed sets.

Grey resellers were selling the 2017-2018 BNIB 116610LN at RM41,800, and 2014 116610LN at RM35,800.

I would do a special on these watches as per the following :

1) 2018 Submariner Date 116610LN @ SOLD (#073);
2) 2017 Submariner Date 116610LN @ SOLD (#063).

Both pieces would include the boxed sets, nice serial nos, unnamed warranty cards, and 5 years Rolex official warranty.

Feel free to drop me an e-mail at toyotaharrier240g@gmail.com; or for those whom had previously dealt with me, just WhatsApp to me on your interest. Remember to quote the Promo Code above. Offer is good for 2 pieces on offer only, on first come first served basis or until 3rd June 2018.

Happy Vesak Day, dear readers!

Daytona : Ready To Race

I met up with a watch collector this morning and what was supposed to be a 30-min meet-up stretched into a 3-hour camaraderie. He showed me his vintage GMT-Master from 1978, and it was a beauty alright. He gave me the permission to put up some pictures of the watch on my blog, and it would be forthcoming shortly.

Talking about watches, the dialogue strayed into cars and it turned out that we used to drive the same sports car and were in the same car club. We had not met in person but he knew my moniker in the earlier days, and I had moved overseas by the time he became a regular at the club meets.

What a small world it was, right? All the talk about watches and cars had me itching to add a weekend ride to the garage; and I had a model in mind. Not the best weather to go car-hunting today given that it's raining cats and dogs; but well, let's put more thoughts into it.

Batman : Ready For Collection

To the Batman whom was expecting to collect this Batman later, well, it's just waiting for you and ready to go. And a nice piece it is too, so enjoy your new acquisition later...

Rolex Daytona Diamond : Accessories Not Included

I must admit that this safe queen of a Daytona Diamond had been amongst one of my fave pair of watch after it started joining the rest of its siblings in the watch winder case since last month @ https://andywristwatches.blogspot.my/2018/04/safe-queen-rolex-cosmograph-daytona.html, instead of remaining in slumber in the safe. 

And after changing the bracelet to RubberB straps, the Daytona looked more reserved and less flashy, with just enough of a tad of class. I have had many watches going in and out of my collection; but I really liked this Daytona Diamond in its current presentation.

And another accessory that would be coming in shortly, was the German-made sapphire exhibition caseback. Costing circa RM630, I have read that many others have purchased this German-made hardware and it seemed to be highly-regarded for its intended purpose. Since I don't swim with the Daytona anyway, I would be putting this caseback on the Daytona when the it arrives in a week's time; although I would be careful to have it pressure tested and all.

While I know that Rolex timepieces' prices would tend to appreciate over time, I was a bit surprised when a fellow collector shared on the latest pricing for the Daytona Diamond. It seemed that prices for new pieces have further increased from RM76k previously, to RM84k now.

At this rate, this watches do pay better than FD rates, don't you think?

Batman vs Superman : Rolex vs Seiko

Just a quick one this evening, as I found a couple of extra Batman in the safe while wearing the Superman. Time to change the suit then.

SOLD : 2017 Rolex GMT-Master ii 116710BLNR (#9 May)

• Letting go @ SOLD (#824).
• Available 2 pieces, brand new in box condition, with all stickers intact. 
• Local Rolex Malaysian AD set (rare to get).
• Unnamed warranty card with official Rolex warranty for 5 years.
• COD at Mont Kiara preferable, so that you could check on the actual great condition of this rare piece. Grab this at a bargain today!

E-mail from Reader : To Buy Or Not To Buy

This was a query from a reader. A bit of a been-there-done-that as he was a one-watch-chap and wanted to retain a Rolex in his collection; but was tired of seeing everybody under the sun sporting a stainless steel Rolex Submariner or GMT-Master ii. I don't have much information; but from his brief description of the watch that he had, it would most probably be the 114060 or Submariner Non-Date, which was amongst the most basic of the sports family sans any complications.

I recently flipped a BNIB 114060 for some RM29k; so I could understand why would he be bored of this watch. Had it been the 116610, there would at least be a bit of complication in the movement. But then again, I did liked the 114060 for its symmetrical dial.

Now, I have no idea about his age; but judging from his concerns raised, he would probably be in his late 20s to early 30s. So, we might have someone between 20s-30s, whom wanted to keep 1 Rolex watch in his collection. That would also meant that he would likely be flipping off his 114060 to raise the cash towards the 116523.

So, would I encourage him to give up his 114060 to go towards the 116523? Probably not.

For starters, the 114060 was probably his 1st Rolex watch. It would make sense getting the 114060- one would get to start off on the Rolex route yet have a lower cost of entry. I wrote about this @ http://andywristwatches.blogspot.my/2018/05/e-mail-from-reader-first-rolex-watch.html. If this was his starter watch, it was a memorable piece and worth to keep for a bit more. I know that I would be proud to be able to own a Submariner in my twenties, when my disposable income was nowhere near now.

Further, while he made logical sense about paying extra for a watch that truly had precious material i.e. gold instead of a premium price for a stainless steel piece, he was in fact worried about the depreciation hit. This meant that he was probably not ready to go into the TT ownership. A stainless steel piece would have higher demand, as the demographic would include both the younger generation to the matured ones; whereas the TT piece would have a more limited scope. I know that I appreciated the TT more after I aged into the late 30s; as I could then carry it better and it further could match my status too. Had I worn it earlier in my life, others might presumed that I was wearing a replica watch!

Lastly, he was buying towards a single Rolex piece without box or card. If it had been a vintage piece, that would have been understandable. But having a 4130 movement meant that it was from a pretty recent generation, so it would not make sense that the watch should not come as a full set. At the very least, that would have meant that it came from a very careless owner. At the other spectrum, lots of queries could came into questions.

So at the end of the day, I would deduced that the reader was in fact not ready to move up the rungs into the TT ownership. He would do better to go through the mill from SubND to SubD or GMT-Master ii or DaytonaC.

And when he started to appreciate the finer things in life, then he would know that he was ready to move up to TT and FG crowd. After all, it takes time for wine to age. So all the best, and hold on to your Sub for now, dear reader.

Chopard Happy Sport Diamond?

One of the watches that my spouse really liked (but which I have not plunged into) was the Happy Diamond. These were watches that would generally caused the ladies to be happy (hence the name); but as they tend to depreciate like nobody's business after purchase, the husbands might not share that joy so much.

Let's take a look at how the Happy Sport Diamond would look like :

My solution to the situation- by introducing the Daytona TT Diamonds. Now this was in the unisex size by today's standards, and it would appreciate over time. So both parties would be happy together.

Now this was what I call by Happy Diamond :)

Next : Rolex Submariner Date 116610LN

There have been continuously more queries on the 116710BLNR but all the ready-stock had been reserved pending collection by the respective collectors. And while I have been able to get at least 2 BLNR per month, the friendly ADs have informed that they have yet to get the ordered stock for the next month. Hmmm...

So the next piece that most collectors asked about after the BLNR, was the 116610LN. This was earlier reserved by a fellow collector but thereafter had a change of mind as he changed towards another Rolex new piece. After I had placed out the advert at https://andywristwatches.blogspot.com/2018/05/wts-rolex-submariner-date-116610ln-5-may.html, there had been some queries and it was a matter of the viewing arrangements.

For KL-lites, it was an easy arrangement but for some reason, the ones asking about this 116610LN had been mostly from outstation, as far as from Brunei. Now, 2 of the collectors were arranging to travel from their respective hometowns to view the 116610 respectively :

Indeed, the 116610 were classic pieces and highly in demand, resulting in premium prices from ADs due to the long waiting list. Over in this part of the world, the 114060 would be a cheaper alternative as it commanded a lower premium and lesser waiting time. So my 116610 was actually a bit of a bargain compared to the premium ones in the market.

I have placed the 116610LN ready in its travel case, ready to bring over to Rolex Menara Dion for the viewing. Realistically, it's a collectible piece and should appreciate further in comparison to the low price that I was willing to let it go for.