Whats Happening In Hong Kong, WatchWise

A rambling post....

A superb high quality double red. "Hong Kong Quality" - clean dial, full case. Lovely. These trade here for about HKD400,000 which is about 30% more than any European thinks sensible and about 50% more than any American. (Huge generalization, don't get worked up😀)



This post is just that, a little post card from the edge, not intended as an in depth look just a little postcard of what I have seen here.


Not so crowded this visit, this road is normally jammed at this time.
I am here for my real life, and in my spare time Ive been sniffing around watch world, and times are interesting.

Walking down Nathan Road, there is a mall where a number of second hand watch shops sit with vintage camera dealers and cheap cafes. This one shop has a few Panerais:


This particular shop has grown massively, and has six windows like this, stuffed with some very, very expensive watches, mostly Rolex and Frank Mueller. I would not like to be needing to sell a Panerai today. About two years ago it seemed every young blade in HK needed a Panerai - not now it seems.

I head further up to MK. There is a small Mall where a few watch shops have gathered, along with Japanese toys, replica weapons and, most important in these uncertain days, Riot Gear:



There is a shop here that has also grown in its stock on show - but its nearly all pretty good vintage Rolex:



There are 10 good vintage subs in the window, and a lot more inside. They had a little nod to the Omega Fan



There are lots more things to see, retail wise in HK this is just where I whizzed around and I give you just a taste.

Then it was off into the big gem show, which also now has a few watch dealers. lots of Daytonas


And lots of slightly sad Tudor Snowflakes, like this:




An interesting thing I discovered - a Thai/French company making Rolex replacement gem set Bezels.


Rolex have always had my respect for the gem bezels they make. The stones are always perfect, and set perfectly. What I mean is that all the tables are flat, the same size and line up. In addition the colours of the stones are matching where intended, or graduated in the rainbow bezels. Matching and cutting these stones is incredibly difficult, as you can see when you see the aftermarket bezels which are made in USA or China and look all wobbly.

These gem set bezels sell for about Euros 8,000.

What did I buy? Well as I said, I am supposed to be working, but I did go a bit off piste. I have always had a soft spot for Tudors and I bought these:



Anyone else here ?

Post your Photos!

PS we are due for protests this weekend...I'm booked out lets see if the airport remains open

Brilliant, William. I have always heard that Hong Kong was a wristwatch Mecca, though I confess I have no insights as to why. Simply a reflection of commerce density, and thus greater local disposable income?

I first went to Singapore and Hong Kong in the early '80's, way before the internet made worldwide prices instantly knowable. Watch shops were jam packed with stock just lined up side by side, lit by cheap fluorescent lighting with the ubiquitous ash tray and calculator on the counter. Vintage watches had not yet been 'discovered', it was almost all new watches which are now vintage. Customers were mostly American and European; Asians in general were not well enough off at that time to be buyers. It was nothing fancy, but a great way to liquidate stock based on volume. Those were the good old days of watch buying. Haven't been back since the turn of the century but things had already changed by that time.

Yes that one was - next stand along had a similar one for 130,000


The first watch is a DRSD 1665.
Mind you I saw a lot of single red 1680's for around HKD200,000. I really wonder if these are changing hands at these prices. Even HQM have them for over USD20,000


My HK friends have nothing to do. Literally. What we take for granted in some countries they have to make a great effort to do. For example its very difficult to go for a walk, particularly in solitude, or in greenery. You cant really ride a horse, take a motorcycle, go to the theatre or any number of things we take for granted. (You can do all of those things to an extent, but there is so little space, and limited cultural events compared to other large cities in the west).

So collecting is endemic. Especially of things that dont take up too much space - Art, carvings, religious bones, jade, gemstones, and of course watches. There is a competitiveness amoung these collectors, so I see watch collectors compete to have the best watch. It is very common to sit with one of my dealer friends while he sells a watch to an enormously successful person who spends literally hours inspecting the watch with a 10x loupe for any flaws at all. Hence the term Hong Kong Quality means it is flawless.

The dial of the DRSD at the top is without any damage, chipping or discoloration at all - and stands up under 10x magnification.

Even those Tudors I bought do not look like they have been worn, and the bracelets are stiff. Quite hard not to be drawn in when things are in such good condition.


Online is always cheaper. I would say the watches I see sell to local collectors never get posted on line. I would also say that as with all vintage shops around the world, mediocre watches on offer are way too expensive. I saw a ragged Ed White in a shop in Central for USD25,000 that if on OF would be torn apart and valued under 10k.

Im off to the airport tomorrow, which is now under security protocols. Lets see if I get out.

Thanks, great explanation and really nice scores. Instead of the losers she's been bringing home, I will try to convince my daughter to date some Hong Kong Quality men...