Thursday 21 March 2013

WATCHES WORN BY MALAYSIAN PRIME MINISTER

These are just some pictures that I manage to see on our Prime Minister's FB page.
Being a WIS, it is 2nd nature to try and make out what they are wearing on their wrists.
Here goes.


Familiar looking lugs.


Lugs are more prominent on this pic.



Aha!! Looking like a dead giveaway.



No doubt it is the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Forged Carbon Ref: 26400AU
This baby retails for over RM100,000.00
Last I checked in Taipei, the retail price of this one was NTD1.28 million.

Next up.



Hmmm... a very distinctive looking black case. Can you spot some red accents?



Same black case but no more red accents on the strap... hmmm...
Another watch perhaps?



Aha!! Spotted red accents on the strap... middle of the strap it seems... it could only mean...



My guess will be this Hublot King Power Red Devils Manchester United watch... even the name is a handful.
Ref: 716.CI.1129.RX.MAN11
Checks online revealed that the retail price for this piece is GBP16500 which is around the vicinity of RM90,000.00

Not really surprised at the Hublot as it is well known that the Prime Minister is a big fan of Manchester United Football Club.

I am still trying to pinpoint the watch in the picture where the watch looks like a Hublot but with no red accents.
But seeing Hublot's catalogue, it could be any watch in its Big Bang or King Power collection which consists alot of all black watches.

Until I see more pictures of Malaysian Leaders or prominent Malaysian personalities sporting some nice watches, I will try and document them here.

Hope you guys enjoyed it.

Friday 15 March 2013

START OF THE 2013 FORMULA 1 SEASON AND A NEW SPONSOR

Today will be the start of the new 2013 Formula 1 Season.
For those that have not noticed, official sponsor is now Rolex.

This year being the 50th Anniversary of the Rolex Daytona, perhaps a new watch or a new iteration of the Daytona is in the horizon?

With Basel 2013 being weeks away, this is getting pretty exciting.

Thursday 14 March 2013

AP ROYAL OAK 15400 CLASP PROBLEM

Just my luck.
Realized that the right side push piece for my AP Royal Oak 15400 fell off.


I don't know how it happened or when it happened.
I only realized when the sharp edges dig into my wrist making it uncomfortable.


So, the watch is now back to the Service Centre in Singapore via my local AD.
My usual saleslady told me that it will be covered by the warranty.
Whole repair might take a month... sigh...
Looks like I will be without my favourite piece for quite sometime.


The right side of the push piece is still intact at the moment but I am asking them to triple check it so that this problem does not recur.

Am I disappointed? Slightly.
But I am giving Audemars Piguet the benefit of the doubt seeing that this clasp is a completely new design, I will currently take it as a lack of real world usage testing.
Seems like there are some kinks that need to be ironed out.

Will reserve my final judgement after everything is rectified.

Wednesday 6 March 2013

ROLEX LADY DATEJUST REF: 178274

This year, me and my wife is celebrating our 10th Anniversary.
Yes it has been that long.
We went thru thick and thin and the ride is not always rosy.
We managed to pull thru and in celebration of our decade together, I bought her a gift.



Although our Anniversary is not due until September, with Rolex's frequent price increases, it would be a good idea to pick one up now rather than later.
The Rolex Lady Datejust ref: 178274.



As you all know, Rolex Datejust are the most widely available models in the Rolex lineup.
The available dial variations are too much to be listed.
To start it off, my wife went for the stainless steel model with white gold fluted bezel, rhodium dial and white gold applied roman markers and polished white gold hands.
There is no lume present.
A very classic setup that won't break the budget sky high.
Case size is a very ladylike 31mm...
She considered the 36mm men's sized datejust as well but decided against it as it just looks too big.
I am glad she picked this one.



The dial really is a beauty.
Brushed to a sunburst effect.
The white gold roman applied numerals plays nicely with the light to provide enough bling and contrasts.
The dial itself appears almost white under normal lighting conditions but can quickly change to grey (like the above picture) or from a distance, could even look pink.
Maybe it's just a reflection from other sources.



The white gold fluted bezel provides an additional bling factor to the watch.
Beautifully finished.
Girls just love bling... more so if it's diamonds... but can't afford that yet... lol








There was a choice of either going with the oyster bracelet or the jubilee bracelet.
Jubilee bracelet won at the end of the day simply because of it's bling factor.
Did I mention girls just love bling? :-)
These newer jubilee bracelets are now all solid and should not stretch like the jubilees of old.
The absence of the clasp is welcomed as now when the bracelet is fastened, only a small Rolex Crown is seen.
Outer 2 lanes of the bracelet is brushed while the centre 3 lanes is polished.
Very comfortable to wear according to my wife.



Classic looking watch from an iconic brand.
Just suitable for a milestone celebration.
She is extremely happy with this watch and will be for a long long time... well, at least until our 20th Anniversary celebration that is... lol
Like my friends say... "Wife happy = Life happy"
Can't say I disagree.



I am not a fan of the men's datejust so I am sticking with my Submariner at the moment.
Still makes a good pair in my opinion.

Monday 4 March 2013

ZENITH PRE-BASEL 2013 PREVIEW

Although Basel 2013 is not here yet.
Here is a couple of previews from Zenith.
All info collected from various sources.



Zenith Pilot Montre D'Aeronef Type 20 Annual Calendar.

Ref: 03.2430.4054/21.C721
Case: 48mm stainless steel.
Movement: El Primero Automatic caliber 4054
Price: JPY 913,500





Zenith Pilot Montre D'Aeronef Type 20 GMT
Limited Edition of 500 pcs.

Ref: 96.2430.693/21.C703
Case: 48mm DLC Stainless steel.
Movement: Elite Automatic caliber 693
Price: JPY 745,500



Zenith Pilot Montre D'Aeronef Type 20 GMT

Ref: 03.2430.693/21.C723
Case: 48mm stainless steel.
Movement: Elite Automatic caliber 693
Price: JPY 693,000



Zenith Pilot Montre D'Aeronef Type 20

Ref: 03.1930.681/21.C723
Case: 40mm stainless steel.
Movement: Elite Automatic caliber 681
Price: JPY 514,500




Zenith Pilot Montre D'Aeronef Type 20 Tourbillion
No other info yet.



No info as to the naming of this model.
Looks to be a Chronomaster Open in a more sportier guise with the red accents on the carbon fibre pattern dial and rubber strap.
No other info yet.



Zenith Stratos Flyback Rainbow?
I think it's safe to say that the Rainbow Flyback is finally back!
The overlapping subdials that annoyed countless people have been rectified.
It now sports a smaller hour totalizer subdial.
Looks like the case will be in Black Alchron? Or DLC stainless steel? Your guess is as good as mine.
Case size should remain at 45.5mm.... although I am silently hoping it would be 42mm...
No other info yet.



Watch on the left is the Zenith Doublematic.
Again in a more sportier design with the colour accents.
Internals and functions should remain the same as the Doublematic that was released last year.




Zenith Captain Winsor Annual Calendar.
Design update on the highly successful and value for money watch with an Annual Calendar complication.
Suspect that this watch will be a boutique only piece... but I could be wrong.



Also an update on the ultra complex Cristoph Colomb watch.
Now utilising a chain and fusee system.
A very beautiful watch with a mesmerising complication.

All in all, the preview is an exciting one, more so on a piece like the "Baby" Pilot Montre D'Aeronef at 40mm... wearability will be excellent.
Let's be honest, the original Pilot Montre D'Aeronef is a behemoth of a watch.
Not so sure about the 48mm ones though.

Really happy about the revival of the Rainbow colourway but still waiting and hoping that Zenith will make a 42mm one.

Credit for the pictures goes to their respective original owners.

ZENITH BOOK (BIBLE) BY MANFRED ROSSLER

A friend of mine was kind enough to help me purchase this book from a reputable bookstore and pass it to me when he was back in Kota Kinabalu for the recent Chinese New Year Celebrations.


It's one of the most if not THE MOST comprehensive book on all things Zenith.
As you all already know, I am a self confessed huge fanboy of Zenith watches and I try to learn as much as possible behind the brand's illustrious history.


It is a hardcover 328 page book. 
Really heavy.
Plenty of pictures of old pocket watches until the quite recent Nataf era Defy watches (Gasp!!)



For anyone wanting to learn more about Zenith, this is the one and only book that you need. A bible for Zenith so to speak.
Production numbers for each model, production run, case and dial variation... almost anything you wanted as reference is all here.


A picture of the ISBN number for all those interested.
A heartfelt thanks to my friend that's willing to lug along this book for 600km to pass it to me... lol