The Oris Racing Edition VI Is Limited to 1,000 pieces, Hurry, Buy Now!

     Hi, It has been a while that I posted something to read in my blog. I am back, but for now, I am only posting some feeds in my social media of what is the latest in the field of horology in case some you might have missed it. 

     This is an Oris Air Racing Edition VI, is inspired by the Swiss Air Racing Team pilot Don Vito Wyprächtiger and his record performances at the Reno Air Race Association.

     This limited edition sports watch will be available in October, and is priced at CHF 1,950 Ref. No. 01 752 7698 4284 TS, Ø 45.00mm  Limited to 1,000 pieces!

Photos are taken from one of my social media accounts

     If you want to grab this Oris Air Racing Edition VI, reserve one now at any of your favorite watch boutiques!

Visiting the Baselworld.. An Impossible Dream... For Now.

     On March 17, 2016, Baselworld will commence at Basel, Switzerland. Inevitably, top Watchmakers and Jewelry makers around the world will showcase their new collections of fine watches and jewelries. Each year, a third world Human being (that's moi!) with an expired passport, no money and no life insurance dreams of setting foot at Basel, Switzerland to witness the unfolding of new watches and jewelries. And maybe if I will able to go to Basel, would someone will trust and give me chance to review any watch at Baselworld?

Photo taken from the net

Photo taken from Wikipedia

     So, for those people who love watches and fine jewelries, book early for Basel next year! And enjoy the show!

I thought Hublot IS the nickname of Floyd Mayweather Jr.

      When Floyd Mayweather was about to fight Manny Pacquiao, last May 2, 2015 at the MGM Grand Arena, I saw Hublot sketched on the upper front of his shorts (where the name of the fighter is usually sewn)  and I thought if that was Mayweather;'s nickname, until he  thanked  Hublot when he was proclaimed the winner. My apologies!

Photo taken from one of my social media account

Apple Watch - My Simple Take

    I can say that almost all of the tech products in the market are not good investment. I myself  has purchased a Nokia 5510 during the 90's and I bought it at Php15,000. But as soon as a  new Nokia phone models were introduced in the market, Nokia 5110 price dropped drastically to Php1,500.00! 

   

    A TV commercial for a high-end swiss watch which was shown before on CNN became my "guide" on owning a watch. The TV ad says, "You don't own a Patek,  You keep it for the future generation." The TV ad has a sublime message that a swiss handmade watch increases its value as it ages. So, there is definitely a promise of a "return of investment" for your swiss watch  if you know how to take care of it.

     But I have a negative feeling on any tech watch. A tech watch diminishes its value (like cellphones) as a new version emerges. It is really a true case of a money waste. Money goes to the drain literally. I have not heard of any pawnshops in the Philippines that accept battery operated watches as loan collateras for a very long period of time.

Photo taken from one of my social media accounts

      I think the target market of an Apple Watch is for the age range of 15 (rich kids) to 30 years old (kids at heart but has a lot of purchasing power). The only advantage, I may say, of an Apple watch compared to a traditional handmade swiss watch is, you can drive safely as you are talking with someone without using a headset. That's it! Less traffic violation of using a handset phone while driving and lots of lives will be saved from a vehicular accident. :)

     In your current Iphone, you can check the weather in any part of the world and you can explain in long text messages to someone you owe an explanation with. So, why bother purchasing another product (from the same company) if your Iphone provides all the services that you need? And I am sure that your electric bill will increase as a new  gadget is added in your household.

     I think, Apple watch will reach a plateau sales as soon as the market realizes the "business side" of owning a watch. But if an Apple watch will be used in a spacecraft going to Pluto and back to Earth, that's another story! 

     Actually, it is not the hand made swiss watches that are being threatened by the Apple watch, it is the other way around. The swiss made watches ARE the ones who pose a strict competition to the Apple watch. But the Apple Iwrist. (Trademarked by me, contact me if you want to use the Iwrist name :) ) will still sell because it is fashionable and the design is 22nd century...ish.

     And I love Apple!

New Hamilton Ventura Elvis80 Automatic / Quartz Watch

     I am a Filipino and an Asian. Asians love Rolex so much over the other swiss watches available in the market today. But I think, I am one of the exception. I love Rolex (a brand that can easily be pawned as collateral, easy to trade and a good insurance to hedge inflation) but I adore Vintage and the 21st century Hamiltons. Since Hamilton has relaunched its brand in the market, I am in constant search over the internet of what is the latest news on the brand. As I opened one of my social media accounts today, this new Hamilton Ventura Elvis80  Quartz / Automatic Watch appeared on my page. Please read the Hamiton webpage on the technical description of the watch on http://www.hamiltonwatch.com/news/baselworld-march-19-26-2015 . This watch is a tribute to the King of Rock and Roll's 80th Birthday  thus the name Hamilton Ventura Elvis80 and I am pretty much sure that this watch will be one  of the collectible Hamiltons in the future.

Hamilton Ventura Quartz Elvis80,
Photo taken from Hamilton Webpage 

Hamilton Ventura Elvis80 Automatic
Photo taken from Hamilton Webpage

 Consider me a radical but I love to see this watch on a Titanium asymmetrical case. I think that would be awesome! and IF this watch would be on a Titanium asymmetrical case. it will  definitely  rock the baselworld!

Rock 'n Roll!

How to Start Selling Omega or other Watch Parts

     When someone sells to me a Vintage Omega  Watch with a broken or a missing part, I don't frown and tell the trader upfront to offer the watch to another buyer.  But, I instead  offer  the best price with the trader because I know that I can sell or use the other watch parts in the future.

    Before  I ventured into buying and selling vintage Omega Parts, some watch parts sellers in my area would price their watch parts too high. When I badly need the watch part, I don't have a choice but to buy the watch part that I need! With the high price of a watch part that I need, it somehow "hurt" the profit that I am going to make for a watch that badly needs a missing part. :)

    There are some physical attributes (in my own experience)  that a Vintage Omega watch has a damaged part before I open up the watch movement. One is,  if the case is gold plaque, and it shows some bad corrosion and if the dial is already damaged and unreadable.

     After buying a broken Omega Watch, I carefully put it in a hard plastic box and I put a label of the movement's caliber on the outside of the box. Watch parts prices go up with time. It can overtake inflation! It is a good insurance for your money. Watch parts have also a value like your precious watch!

     One example I can give that a watch part can really handle inflation and gives you a good profit margin is some people over the internet sells  Rolex Gold bracelet links. They don't price each link by the current price of gold per gram in the market but instead sell a Rolex link sometimes three times MORE than the current gold price per gram in the market! What a good profit indeed!

   



 

Small Watch Repair Shops in the Philippines - a source of vintage watch parts and old coins

   

     In the Philippines, small businesses are encouraged by the government. They help the country's economy to thrive. A small watch repair shop is one example of a small business in the Philippines. The watch repair man owning a watch repair stall acts as the President, Secretary, Treasurer, and the only watch technician of his stall. This kind of a small business operates along the main streets in Metro Manila and the provinces and is considered the "forefront" of watch and coin trading in the Philippines. If someone needs money for emergency, the watch repair shop offers loans and takes your watches or old coins as collateral.

     In everywhere I go around the Philippines, my itinerary also includes visiting this stalls because this is where I usually find some rare watch parts and rare coins.  I prioritize approaching older watch repairmen for only one reason, they have been in the business for so long. These old watch repairmen usually keep rare coins and rare watch parts and when they sell, it is very easy to haggle with them.

    

 Happy Searching!

Some thoughts on Cell Phones and Watches

    

    I have noticed that most people nowadays are not keen on wearing watches. They rely mostly on their phones for the time. People also set schedules of their important personal / business meetings on their phones and use the phone alarm function so as not to forget them. Cell phones are also used to remember someone’s birthday, wedding, love anniversaries and other special occasions. And if there is a research on what is the most important thing that we cannot live without, cell phone would  definitely be on top of the list.

      For most people, it is better to have at least one cell phone rather than owning a watch. Who needs a watch when your phone is perfectly updating you of the time? When we need to know the time, it is just a button press on our cell phone and it quickly displays the time, day, month and the year or depending how we wanted the time displayed on our cell phone screens, be it in military or in normal time. Cell phones also connect us with people through calls, texts and on social media. Watches do not provide these services.  So may I ask, what is the essence of wearing a watch when everybody is using their phones as a perfect alternative for watches? 

    This is maybe one reason why some relatively new watch companies are coming out with “eye-catching watch designs” because of the stiff competition posed not only by the same league but by  the "other" (cell phone companies) competitors in the market. Some of the new swiss brands  are producing  watches to catch buyer’s attention. Some watches that are being offered in the market today looking like colorful candies.

     But there is one huge advantage of some swiss brands over cell phones.  One  advantage of  some well known swiss brands in the market is the ability to withstand pressure on the deep sea or in space. I have not known anyone bringing a cell phone when he/she dives in the deep or explore the outer space. Well, it is now a common knowledge that some cell phone brands are incorporating waterproof technology on their phones but even if cell phones are already waterproofed, cell phones are not yet designed and created to withstand the pressure in the deep sea or outer space. I have not seen a cell phone company on television or even heard over the radio who advertises their cell phone brand being used by divers or astronauts. But having said this, I might be wrong in the future if cell phone companies would venture in developing phones to be used in the deep sea and in outer space. Technology is constantly changing. We will never know. And if that happens, That’s gonna be awesome!