Bell & Ross BR01-97 Reserve De Marche : Addition to Collection

This was the story of how I ventured into my first piece of Bell & Ross a while back. This blog entry was a little long in the tooth as I had not been wearing it much given its size.

Since most of the watches in my collection were Divers, should I have at least a piece of Aviation, especially since I was very much of a frequent business traveller on the friendly skies?

Yes, I was referring to the Bell & Ross BR01-series. Inspired by the instruments adorning flight cockpits, BR watches were known to be precise and masculine tool watches that were machined with a high degree of care and quality. I liked the original BR01 series as these were the pioneer pieces that caused a stir with its 46mm squarish dial cases- not many people could carry these huge pieces on their wrists so BR had started a BR03 series that was smaller with 42mm cases.

A while back, I was looking at the BR01 in the display cases, and a particular model caught my eye ie BR01-97 Reserve De Marche. As evident in its name, it came with a power reserve indicator to keep its wearer informed on the status of the energy remaining in the handspring of the watch. Movement was via the dependable Swiss workhorse i.e. ETA 2897, which was acclaimed for its durable construction, reliability and excellent time-keeping; with sweep second hands and a rapid adjustable date.

There were 2 variations as observed from the BR site i.e. Stainless Steel and Pink Gold. The latter was limited to 250 pieces worldwide and with an RRP : USD26,000 (RM83,134), would remained a watch that I could dream about sometimes.

No, I needed something that was more down-to-earth and the Stainless Steel version would suit me just fine. Its RRP : RM16,300 seemed very much more wallet-friendly when compared to its Pink Gold sibling's.

BR utilized an elongated rectangular watch box, and the only comparison that I had from my collection was the SevenFriday P3 watch box that I received from Switzerland. However, the BR box was very much more luxurious and well-constructed in comparison.

Opening the outer and inner cardboard would revealed the leather-bound box, and once opened further, there sat the BR01-97 RDM looking pretty handsome in its compartment.

Below the compartment holding the watch was another compartment holding the velcro strap and 2 pieces of watch-opening tools. All accessories were wrapped up fully so you could gauge if it was a new piece or previously used.

I opened up the tools to gauge if it was easy to take off the strap. Verdict : It ain't hard at all.

But the velcro strap was an (European) XL version and was not able to fit my wrist properly, so the velcro strap would be catch-and-release.

The stainless steel case felt very robust to the touch, and I liked the shiny properties of the stainless steel. Due to its large dial face, the time was very legible and even my fellow passengers in the Business Class should be able to tell time from my BR from some seats away.

The BR rubber strap has a huge surface cover; and compared to the vulcanised rubber strap from Ball Hydrocarbon, I believe the latter felt more premium and comfortable in comparison. I would also like to try an Isofrane Italy on the BR01, but the Isofrane's price was at quite a premium so I'd sleep over it.

I shall also be adding some genuine Taikonaut BR straps soon as per the following :

After all, BR was all about playing with various strap combinations. If these handsome straps were in stock and could be couriered safely to Malaysia, I shall be putting the original BR rubber strap as a catch-and-release too.

It may be an unplanned addition to my collection, but a pleasant surprise nonetheless. Truly a piece of keeper, and I am thinking of wearing this BR for my meeting with President SBY for the coming Monday. Looks like I'll be having fun with this BR01-97 in my collection.

And when paired to the BR optional stainless steel table stand, the BR could be utilised as a table watch too.

And for any of you readers interested in pre-owned units, I saw from Mudah that there were 2 pieces selling at circa RM10k as per the following :

Incidentally, today was the BR Call of Duty Get-together at Beast and Bar, Intermark, Kuala Lumpur between 12.00 - 3.00 pm. Anyone interested in joining, please register asap.

In the meantime, let's all wear our Bell & Ross in good health.

My Next Tudor... Heritage Chrono Blue or Pelagos?

I have been admiring the Tudor Heritage series since the brand took a bolder stance to re-interprete modern pieces based on its vintage designs. I bit the bullet on 28/8/14 and found myself a happy owner of the Tudor Heritage Black Bay Burgundy Red.

Since then, I seemed to have caught the Tudor bug and am now looking at my next Tudor piece. There were 2 strong contendors now in the Heritage Chrono Blue and Pelagos.

Both were cased in 42mm- a size that suited me, and were nicely-machined and solid to the touch. The Pelagos was launched in Baselworld 2012 with the Heritage BB Red, while the Heritage Chrono Blue was launched in Baselworld 2013. The Heritage BB Midnight Blue was launched in Baselworld 2014.

All Rolex and Tudor watches had just been subjected to a 3% price increment on 1/9/2014 so RRP for Pelagos was RM13,555 while RRP for Chrono Blue was RM14,430. The walk-in discount was a paltry 10% (rendering the prices of RM12,200 for the Pelagos, and RM12,988 for the Chrono Blue); but the AD was willing to give me a returned customer discount at the point of purchase- meaning that I should be able to an even better price. Both watches looked the part and I am still thinking about which one to part my monies with for now.

A fellow customer told me that he managed to get a better deal at an overseas airport and got his Pelagos for slightly lower after the conversion. That gave me an idea since I was always travelling abroad anyway.

The manager remarked that the Heritage BB Red was their best seller, and all pieces were sold within the week that they were displayed so far; so they were not allocating high discount for the BB Red. I must say that I agree with his assessment that the BB Red looks the best amongst the crowd.

Any comments, feel free to share together...

Verdict : I ultimately went for the Tudor Pelagos. A review would be done in due course.

What's Your Perfect Watch?

Watchtime : 10 Steps to your Perfect Watch

Have you ever wondered “What’s the perfect watch for me?” Perhaps you framed the question like this: “Which watch should I buy?” Here’s a 10-step plan to help you find the one that’s perfect for you.

1. If you’re just starting out in the world of watches, visit online communities and ask questions. No, don’t ask “Which watch should I buy.” The forum participants don’t know you, so their advice is likely to be off the mark. Instead, ask specific questions about watches to build your knowledge. Ask questions based on the guidelines below. In any online community, keep in mind that the answers may reflect a built-in bias. Regular forum participants may have already formed strong brand allegiances. A site dedicated to a particular brand will be populated by devotees of that brand.

2. Make a list of the features and qualities you seek in a timepiece, prioritize them, and then look for watches that fit your list. Really think about the features. Will you use the watch in the water? Do you need to be able read it in the dark? Do you need a particular complication? Do you need a large date for better legibility? If you like to swap straps, do you need standard lugs? Will you trade overall legibility for a cool look? Are service costs a concern? The list goes on.

3. The more time you devote to the search, the happier you will be in the end. Avoid impulse purchases. Be methodical.

4. If at all possible, do not buy a given watch because you think it will please or impress other people. You can purchase any watch, and people will line up to tell you that you should have purchased their favorite watch instead. Putting your happiness in the hands of others is risky business. Learn to shrug off criticism. Be confident in your choices. The only opinion that counts is yours.

5. Every time you see an image of a watch you like, save it. Try to locate multiple images of the same watch. Don’t focus on professional beauty shots – try to find good live shots. Look at the saved images every day (or more often). Keep a list ranking your favorites. If a watch stays at the top for a while, it may be a winner. On the other hand, once you spot something that bothers you about a watch, you will notice it every time you look at the watch, so you should probably eliminate it from your list.

6. Do your best to pinpoint the two or three things about a watch that really make you like it. Don’t just say “It looks nice” – be specific. Once you do that, you can seek out other watches with those qualities.

7. Be as thorough as possible in your search. Nothing is worse than buying a watch, only to find one you like better the following week. (Though for some, that is a way of life. They are “flippers” or “catch-and- release” collectors who live for the hunt, and this article is not for them.) If you’ve found a watch you really like, visit the watch communities, tell the good people which watch that is, and ask them to recommend similar watches. In this regard, advice from others can prove useful.

8. TRY BEFORE YOU BUY! Try on as many watches as possible. Watches can definitely surprise you once on your wrist. Watches that prove too big, too small, too thick, and/or too heavy generate much buyers’ remorse. If you see a watch you like online, find the same watch locally and try it on. If you can’t find that watch, find one that’s close in size and try it on. If you buy long distance without a test drive, make sure you can return the watch, no questions asked.

9. When you’re trying on watches, pay close attention to how they make you feel. Ideally, one watch will “call to you” from among the many you’re considering. That may be the one to buy, assuming it continues calling over a period of time. Don’t get married after (or during) the first date.

10. Once you’ve made a decision, try it on for a few days (the decision, not the watch). Act as though you’ve already purchased the watch, and your search has ended. Any other watch you were thinking of buying is now beyond reach. Are you still happy with your choice?

Finding the perfect watch can be a challenge, but the hunt is part of the fun, and the right choice can bring years of enjoyment.

Sold : Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Titanium

http://www.malaysiawatchforum.com/index.php/topic,13657.0.html

Sale includes Swiss-made Ball Hydrocarbon Titanium John Hembel Limited Edition model no. DM1036A with 3 watch straps (original bracelet, new Ball soft rubber strap and imported reptile leather strap), recent service papers at Ball Malaysia (RM2,000+) and watch case. No scratches on bezel, case, crown, guard and sapphire, and kept for collection. This beautiful titanium piece is as good as new when adorning one's wrist with no visible dings or scratches, and represents a bargain at my asking price of RM4,800 (or nearest offer); compared to the stainless steel model no. DM2036A with RRP : RM11,190. 

Dial is clean and uncluttered; and of course, you would have fun staring at its 32 micro gas tubes (that Ball is famous for) at nights. Specs include Swiss ETA 2836-2, cold temperature resistance up till -40 degree Celcius, shock resistance up till 7,500Gs, anti-magnetic to 12,000A/m, anti-reflective convex sapphire crystal, and water resistance up till 300m. Basically a Swiss-grade G-Shock for someone whom would appreciate style and quality.

A sporty watch to match your sporty life   , although not necessarily a pre-requisite. Boring down-to-earth guys like me can wear it at ease too  

This is an absolute bargain compared to some other pre-owned Ball Hydrocarbon in the market. After I posted the advert on Malaysia Watch Forum, there were a few parties whom contacted me to finalise towards the sale. The offers ranged from RM2k (seriously?!) to RM4.4k, although I would like to let it go as close to RM4.8k as possible as it was very much of a bargain price.

Another chap contacted me to say that he was considering between my Hydrocarbon John Hembel and another member's Hydrocarbon Spacemaster, which he informed had a newer crown protection system. That got me rather interested and I looked at some of the pics that were sent my way :

To educate the chap whom wrote to me and since he was also assessing this blog, here were some of my observations :

1) As far as I knew, Ball patented its crown protection system and even the latest Ball Hydrocarbon watches were using the same system. 

2) Next, I find that the John Hembel was more symmetrical having the numbers 3, 6, 9 and 12 in tritium gas tubes, compared to the Spacemaster that had a missing "3" due to its day-date layout. The bezel was exactly the same for both watches, only the dials were different. Having said that, all Ball watches were mesmerising to watch in the dark due to its Christmas-like tritium gas tubes.

3) Further, John Hembel was a discontinued limited edition produced in titanium, a more premium metal; compared to the Spacemaster in stainless steel and non-LE.

4) My John Hembel was recently serviced at more than RM2k+ from Ball Malaysia for peace of mind, and had ZERO scratches from its frontal and side profiles at all;

5) The chap, while apologetic, found that the John Hembel was expensive and offered a lower price. It was perfectly acceptable to negotiate for a deal; but he was comparing my watch to the Spacemaster that the seller wanted RM5.5k for. And a quick search online found that other pre-owned John Hembel overseas were selling at circa RM6k onwards, and not in the same pristine condition as mine. And the only other John Hembel that was available and selling in Malaysia at this time, was being let go by a pre-owned shop at RM12.5k negotiable.

So anyone interested to have an affordable and pristine Ball Hydrocarbon John Hembel, feel free to e-mail my way. I am travelling again shortly so I would entrust a nearby friend to keep some of my watches for sale from time to time, on consignment basis. He draws a small commission from the sale for this time and effort and I get to save my time, so fair's fair. You can Whatsapp AC @ +6017-328 three six one eight.

Update : The Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Titanium has been reserved shortly after the blog entry was put up, and here's wishing that the new owner would enjoy this beautiful timepiece for many years to come. Wear your watch in good health, mate!

Pictures : Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Titanium - John Hembel limited edition

There were a few e-mails that asked for some clearer photos of the Ball Hydrocarbon Titanium, so I looked through my smartphone and would present you some of the pics that I took recently. Despite being made of titanium, this watch still feels quite hefty on one's wrist due to its bulk- and I dare say that it was amongst the sportiest watch that would cater to one's sporty lifestyle. With a 3-hands layout, it's dial was clean and uncluttered; and it would looked at home whether you were diving in the ocean, riding your sports bike, or just kicking back after a tiring day in the office. A rather versatile choice of a watch.

Okay, gotta live up the sporty life to match this Swiss-made G-Shock with a ride now. Wear your watch in good health, mates!