A King Power Lunch in Sydney

Imagine having one of those crazy days in the office where you just want to escape. Well this is how the day started on a Tuesday morning and I was really wondering whether I would actually have the time to catch up with our special visitors for lunch. Luckily Vikki had it all under control, despite the fact that the weather was being just as unpredictable. Come lunchtime all the pieces fell magically into place. Vikki chose Cafe Sydney which captures the essence of Sydney. Located on the rooftop of Customs House, Cafe Sydney is a regular haunt for businessmen closing deals and beautiful people being beautiful. It has a great wine list and an extensive seafood selection on the menu (on our hosts wish list). It is also just meters away from my office. The scene has finally been set for the perfect lunch. Our hosts are none other than Emil and Jacqueline from Swiss Prestige Watches, who are always a pleasure and privilege to spend time with. The first order of business was to select our food from the fabulous menu which included a number of Australian seafood delights such as; oysters, bugs, crayfish and of course Emil’s favourite fresh yabbies. Accompanied by a nice bottle of Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. Shortly thereafter the conversation moved onto my favourite topic LOL watches. It has been over 12 months since we last caught up. Back then the conversation focus was on LVMH’s acquisition of Hublot, now we talked about the economic downturn and its effect on the watch industry. One obvious positive is that there is now a lot more focus on the customer which is great news as we will see even better service. Hublot, specifically, is doing very well in a more realistic market. We talked about the King Power and my initial impression was that this line was more of a novelty rather than an evolution of the Hublot Big Bang. I could not have been more wrong after seeing the BB King Power rosegold tourbillon, its rawness spoke to my heart and soul. Design wise it is way ahead of its time and I couldn’t imagine the watch being any smaller. And then Emil took out the King Power All Black Tourbillon which looks like a stealth fighter and is my favourite. I felt like an action hero wearing this watch. The combination of scrumptious food, smooth wine and great company has made this another memorable event. Emil and Jacqueline are fabulous hosts and we are very grateful for the time they spent with us in their busy schedule. The passion and energy of Hublot and its people is very apparent and something I would like to introduce to more Australians. Stay tuned as this is only the beginning.......

Tropic Thunder – A Rare Breed Indeed

Where does ones Daytona collection go after acquiring a Paul Newman ‘Grail’. Time to stay content and enjoy the collection, or so I thought. The current economic climate is certainly keeping most people on the edge when it comes to buying another watch. At the same time, amazing pieces seem to be popping out of the woodwork. Unfortunately, the good stuff is not cheap.

I thought I had completed my Daytona collection and was therefore looking at something truly unique and one of a kind. I was increasingly drawn to the independent horology of the watch making masters such as; Dufour, Voutilainen and Vianney Halter. However a combination of bad luck and circumstance precluded me from acquiring one of these wonders. C’est la vie! The good news is that I have made some more friends and contacts.

Then out of no-where comes the most amazing Daytona. It is an 18ct gold ref 6239 with a standard dial. These in their own right are quite rare as most have Paul Newman dials fitted. What is even more special is that the black sub dials have turned into a nice chocolate brown colour. After I saw this watch for the first time, I just had to have it. Naturally some sacrifices had to be made on the financial front, however I believe it was well worth it.

The combination of the champagne dial and the chocolate brown sub dials is just enchanting.







Still trying to find the right angle LOL.




I consider myself truly fortunate to own this wonderful watch as it is a magnificent specimen that over the years has developed its own unique character and look. A truly independent masterpiece produced by Rolex, nature and time. I now understand and appreciate why people covet ‘tropical dialled’ Rolex watches.

Initially I thought I would keep this watch just to myself, however upon further reflection (and arm twisting from fellow collectors) I was compelled to share it with all the Rolex WIS.

NOW the time has come to enjoy the collection
Still trying to find the right angle LOL.

Thanks for having a look catch you soon!

An Auspicious New Year

Source: SMH

Wow what a way to celebrate New Years in Sydney. I was going to work earlier yesterday, when I was astounded to find a package that was only sent from LA on the 26th of December.

I have been searching for this book for a while, as not only do I collect the watches but my thirst for knowledge drives me to collect all the relevant books, catalogues and pamphlets. The book is aptly titled ‘ROLEX Timeless Elegance’ by George Gordon. It was published in 1989 and had a limited run with each book numbered. It has some nice photos of vintage Rolex Ads, certificates and a section about the original designs of Rolex.



In addition I also decided to finally wear my newly acquired V series 16600 Sea-Dweller (last of its kind). I got the call from the AD about a week ago. While I’m mainly into Rolex Daytona’s, I find the SD an essential Rolex and a must have in my collection. It is a great daily wearer and looks equally at home when wearing a business suit or just with jeans and t-shirt. Also the only watch I look forward to getting as wet as possible. Had an F series Sea-Dweller earlier and loved the watch but it wasn’t in perfect condition. Nothing beats getting a new Rolex and being the first person (and only) to put a scratches on it LOL.



Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous 2009. May all your collecting dreams come true.

Thanks for popping in for a look. Catch you soon!

A Pleasant Surprise

Christmas came early and unexpectedly this year. Sitting at home on a Saturday morning and nursing a nasty summer flu (courtesy of my better half), I received a pleasant surprise. There was a quick knock on the door and we initially thought it was a prank. Having a closer look we realised that the postman left a package for us.

Inside, a Rolex 2009 calendar and a small pastel lime box. Wonder what is inside?


Wow!!! A Rolex Pen. These must be rarer than some of their watches.


Close up of the majestic crown.


Whilst a gift, the quality and elegance is typical of this no compromise brand. I love the elegant lines with the chic pattern on the pen.


Some magic worked on the pen by the AMAZINGLY TALENTED CROCO


Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Prosperous 2009

Photo courtesy of CROCO

My Grail - A Paul Newman ROLEX Daytona 6241

Finding my 'grail watch' has been far more of a personal journey of self discovery and experience rather than just going through a number of brand catalogues and finding ‘the one’. The other twist of expensive irony is that the definition of ‘grail watch’ changes as one matures as a collector. I’ve been lucky enough to have owned a number of brands over the last 4 years including; TAG Heuer, Franck Muller, JLC, Panerai, IWC and Audemars Piguet. With the exception of Rolex and Patek Philippe most of the other brands lost their appeal within months. The journey has been further complicated by my self-imposed rule of having to sell watch to buy another. I find that once my collection gets to 8-10 watches it becomes unmanageable, I DO like to actually wear and enjoy my watches.

So why a Rolex ‘Paul Newman’ dial Daytona? That is a difficult one to answer. I guess it was a combination of chance, luck and circumstance that got me here. Chance in the sense that I always admired the dial from afar. After I got the 6263 and the book ‘Rolex Daytona a legend is born’, my subliminal reverence for this watch really began. My trip to London allowed me to see one of these marvels first hand. The combination of the domed plexi-glass, the depth and contrast of the dial is truly majestic.


Original photo of my watch, artistic design and photgraphic manipulation courtesy of CROCO from the Rolex Forum.

The luck factor came in as I only wanted the original and best. Hence only a reference 6239 or 6241 would do. These are the only Paul Newman Daytona’s that actually came with these dials (and photos in Rolex catalogues) on all other references these dials were an added option. It also had to be original, absolutely no question about provenance or dispute about the dial.

Circumstance allowed me to finally convince someone to part with theirs.

I've had the Paul Newman Daytona for a couple of weeks now and I still can't contain my joy and excitement. Each person has their own definition of a 'grail watch', to me it must posses the following characteristics:
- has instant attraction to the point that you have to get one
- gives you an undescribable and enchanting feeling
- was very hard to find
- was bought from a colleague that found it very difficult to part with
- needed careful study
- makes you smile everyday

and most importantly makes you lose interest in the majority of other watches.

Here are some initial pictures. You will notice that the tritium has darkened but I like to keep it in this original condition. The pics just don't do this watch any justice.







On the wrist.



Have a look at the 722-1 caliber, isn’t it just divine.



Making this fairy tale possible was a lot of research, patience, persistence and sacrifice. But isn’t that what a grail quest is meant to be all about. I just look at this watch and go WOW!



Thanks for having a look. Catch you again soon!

Time to get some perspective Nov 22, 2008 - 07:00 AM

Amidst the economic doom and gloom, my wife and I decided to seek solace in a pampered pure luxury holiday. We initially planned to go to Hawaii, however, the rapid decline of the $A (aka pacific peso) would have made this a very expensive proposition.

Plan B actually ended up the better alternative. It involved a 550km car drive from Sydney to a beach town called Coffs Harbour.

A stopover at my favourite Winery Lake’s Folly (Australia’s iconic boutique winery which is renowned for its cabernet and chardonnay) was another bonus.




We decided to spend our vacation time at Aanuka Beach Resort which is relatively secluded with its own private beach area.




It is a haven for couples and an oasis of privacy which is perfect.



During our sojourn, the biggest concern was what to eat and drink on the fabulous menu or whether to swim in one of the many rock pools and\or private beach. Naturally we had to stay in one of the Paradise Spa Bure’s.

During our holiday, there were also some wildlife surprises that you will only find in Australia. Like water dragons and bush turkeys.

Cheeky fellow



No, one should not eat them LOL. Definitely not the Thanksgiving or Christmas Turkey.




Whilst only a short break of one week, taking time to enjoy family and friends with your favourite watch is true WISdom.

Thanks for having a look!! Catch you soon.

Four of a Kind

That is what they keep telling me LOL! It took a bit faster to get a 16520 than what I anticipated. If there is one positive consequence from the current financial crisis, the watch market has stayed resilient whilst some great pieces are coming out from the woodwork.

The Pacific Peso (aka $A dollar) was stifling this watch collector’s search for the next Daytona to complete the set. Sometimes, however, one does not need to look afar to find a bargain. There was my dream Zenith very close in another state. So a quick phone call and some faith in our courier service resulted in a speedy birthday delivery time. I love getting watches on my Birthday.



Yes the black dial is more collectible, but it has always been the contrast of the white dial that drew my fancy. A closer look will easily reveal why this model drove the popularity of the ‘Daytona’ to the point of becoming the most coveted sports chronograph. A crown that the Rolex Daytona wears to this day.




I just love the contrast of the white dial with the black sub dial registers and the red Daytona wording. Together with the slimmer hour and minute hands, this tritium dial gives the watch a more majestic appearance than its current successor.

The lightness of the bracelet appears flimsy but it is surprisingly comfortable on the wrist. Finally, the domed watch glass also pushes my buttons.

What is inside this watch is just as groundbreaking. Rolex cleverly used the revered Zenith El Primero 400 chronograph calibre, subjecting it to over 200 modifications to reach their rigorous standards. These changes effectively made the Rolex 4030 movement more reliable with vibrations down to 28,000 and accurate with the use of a Breguet hairspring and the Microstella regulation system.

Now that my collection is complete I look forward to how the Daytona will evolve from here.

Here is my collection.





Thanks for having a look at my newest addition. Catch you again soon!