Back in HK Watch Safari: market update, dealer chat + am I really a “collector”?

Back in Hong Kong so a good time to take the pulse of the watch market downtown.
I had a good honest chat with a local dealer that just established a brand new shop as he found difficult to sell high-value items without a brick and mortar location.
I also ask myself whether I’m a collector at heart or just have a nice assortment of usable watches like I do with clothes.

[@AmritKumar-hp1rv]

Watch collecting became pathologic for me over the last 6 months. I impulse purchased a bunch of watches, got burnt out because I’m not wearing all of them. I find it stressful trying to give enough wrist time to each one. Sold 4 watches in 2 weeks and feeling better. Starts to feel silly hoarding watches and keeping money stored away in a box at home. Thanks for your watch content, it’s very relatable.

[@floridaman727]

I couldn’t agree more. I am about to sell a few for the same reason. I seem to impulse buy everytime I stop by my AD. Just since February I’ve purchased 1 Tudor, 1 Omega, 2 Grand Seiko, and 1 breitling. I’m about to sell 2 or 3 I think.

[@CoffeeMadeMeSay]

Did you ever get a Rolex Batman GMT2?

[@dominicrusho]

Thank you for another excellent tour, I always enjoy these! It’s like going on holiday for free. 👍

[@RC30Kay]

Great content Uptick.. straightforward and authentic.. welcome back.

[@ts7537]

You are a true journalist getting the real market feeling from insiders! Thanks again !

[@AirborneAnt]

Lots of wise words in this video!!!! Glad I found your channel!!!!!

[@Casualcollector2024]

Thank you for this great overview of the HK local dealer! It’s not a joke that most of the Rolex end up in Asia and in Europe we wait forever. Our AD’s have empty shelves in Germany.

[@jerieltee]

I missed this type of vids...glad its back

[@Mark..P]

Saving this one for the weekend and a chilled glass of wine and some quiet time. Great to see you back 🍻

[@robertbachmann8141]

great watch safari again. they are my favorite videos from you. love it. very informative.

[@ts7537]

Thanks for touring us around HK hot places for watches ! A lot of inventory available! I am a 3 watches colector and currently looking for the 3rd one, like i got tired of desiring too many watches so ended up window collecting….:) Glad you are doing well, that experience has probably tired you more than you can imagine so maybe take a breath from watch collecting and let the desire come back slowly ! Thanks

[@qwerty135797]

Can't thank you enough for your watch safari content. It's crazy seeing the inventory spilling over in the windows, I can't even imagine how much more they've got in their safe. I really enjoyed your conversation with the shop owner.

[@DecemberNames]

This is my most favorite series on the internet. Thank you for another great video

[@brandon_youtube]

Ahhh! I knew this day would come a few months ago. I hope uptick gets to the root of the buying and hoarding. There’s definitely a lot of activity in the collection. Really good video and great to have the foresight to catch yourself sometimes.

[@pp_doc3962]

Good to hear watch prices are stabilizing a bit. Had a Skydweller before. Wore it for 2 years but you’re right it’s a big so I sold it.

[@underachievingwatchcollect1878]

Great vid-always up for a HK watch tour. I’ll bet most gray dealers aren’t sleeping well these days 😎! I remember a video you did picking a few 3 watch collections from your collection-food for thought 💭.

[@Saints-Forever]

A good window watch shopping Uptick. Gives a very good sense of the current watch market prices in this part of the world

[@michaelfierman3256]

I really enjoyed this episode. Fun shopping trip and insights

[@DESCENDINGDR]

Another nice stroll, glad you're back safe!

[@micksmith4994]

Great to walk the streets of HK with you again. Soooo many Rolex in captivity as you say! What is a good price there for a nice 39 Explorer? Saw a few but didn’t always catch the prices. It’s still the only Rolex I would really love to own. Those two Cartier (in different shops) were fabulous.Thanks as always 👍👏

[@ads-porewealth96]

I think you’re jet lagged, that’s why you’re feeling so reflective. I get it all the time

[@jeffreyblue627]

Welcome back to paradise Uptick! My Wimbledon Datejust (first Rolex in my current collection) remains stranded in HK. Hoping to have a friend bring it to the mainland in September. As for your collecting, I’d offer advice similar to the advice you gave me in my collection review. Slow down! All of those Tudor and Omega watches are nice, but when you add them all together you might have enough invested for something truly special like an FPJ CS. Now is not the time to sell, but when the market stabilizes I’d consider downsizing the collection and acquire one or two special pieces that are truly scarce. If you had a platinum Chronometre Souverarain, for example, you might find that you’ll wear it more because it really does go completely unnoticed even here in SH. Glad you’ve returned safe and sound Uptick. Take care.

[@mrp9498]

Wow, there’s definitely no lack of stocks. 👑

[@milesmadison4671]

Glad to see more watch safari:)

[@cedarcanoe]

I just love to go watch window shopping with you in HK! Thank you for showing all the unobtainable pieces 🫢

[@Strannix1979]

Merci. I watched the whole thing. We seem to be at a turning point.

[@ericl755]

The "fatigue" comes from the market correction. Global furry went down and everybody is slowing down. It s the perfect time to buy discontinued rolex. Thx for this market update from hkg.

[@plai7127]

Great video. I can relate with how you feel about collecting watches.....definitely feeling the fatigue of the chase of the next timepiece. I have been tempted to cut down to only 3 pieces. I'm not new into collecting either, bought my first Datejust in 2001.

[@AirborneAnt]

Just like collecting the old Pokémon for Gameboy (blue or red)…you can catch them all…but you have 6 Main Ones to battle with LOL

[@jameshoward9700]

Sweet sports/casual reference at 3.26! But cancel-worthy bants aside, the serried ranks of unloved, commoditised Rolies made me kinda sad... Check out the Snowflake! A Rolex's sole point in life is to be worn, to make memories, to get beaten. In short, to live. They do that, come back for more and still smell of roses. Their utility is their luxury. There are so many finer watches, prettier watches, rarer watches, more interesting watches - those Cartiers, GSs, (a glimpse of Tuna!), FPJs, PPs, hell, those Speedies... World's gone weird. But thanks for that - fun vid.

[@UnseenHero]

Thanks for the video! Always intesting to see all these watches out in the public. Where I live (Montreal) there are few second hand dealers, so I can only see what the Authorized Dealers near me sell. I love travelling to Europe and seeing stores like this, just so that I can have a chance to see so many watches. Also great to hear the perspective from that shop owner. Always intersting to have an insider's view. Are most shopkeeper's this open? Regarding the collector thing, I think you hit the nail on the head of many of us not being real colletor's. I feel like comic book collecting falls much more in line with the true collecting as a hobby than watches. Those you usually try to get every issue, variants, rare models. You know you won't read most of them, or if you do, it's only once. Most watch people just have an assortment of watches they enjoy. I believe true watch collectors are those who are practically historians of a certain watch model line. Just like the Rolex hulk collection that wa being sold. If those were truly one hulk from every year of production I would get it. I don't know why someone would want to do that, but they legitimately collected every hulk.

[@markhammerschmidt5315]

OMG an FPJ T30 Tourbillon at 25.53 - next to the Elegant - you missed them lol!!

[@jewie6290]

Hi vriend, havent been to HK since the all the lockdown started, thanks for bringing me back to the hk streets and watch scene. At this point, im rasing the collection bar to avoid too many watches, prioritise special releases, buying for special occasions and not to break the bank. Im burning out as well. Our collections are quite similar, yours are much better, haha . Take care

[@terry1893]

nice update

[@shawyangtong5964]

Nice! U are from Belgium too living in HK! Me too. Watchlover too

[@michaelculina]

Welcome back 🙂🙂🙂

[@boayoon8715]

I like how he says he prefers smaller assortment of watches over a big collection and then compliments the grape 🍇 Rolex 😂 You can’t stop this addiction!!! 😊

[@omoniyikaye]

90% OF MY 50 PLUS WATCHES ARE NOT GETTING WRIST TIME I NEED TO ROTATE THE DAMN WATCHES AT LEAST I JUST BOUGHT MY 11 INVICTA MY FIRST WATCH IN 5YRS I'M GLAD I SETTLED FOR WHAT I CAN WEAR HOPE TO GET THERE THIS SUMMER. 50% OF MY WATCH WILL GET WRIST TIME AND BUY LESS OF MY USUAL LOW BUDGET WATCHES.

[@michaellau2544]

I love these sneak peeks and window shopping watch tours and rants and HK is one of the best places to do it. We just don’t see this myriad variety, quality and quantity here in Australia.

[@mubarakhaidra3299]

Nice video thanks

[@pilotstyle123]

These videos really show you the mass of Rolex production. There are virtually hundreds and hundres in every shop far more than any other brand.

[@ellondinense320]

An interesting video for me this one.. I've enjoyed learning about these watches and your views on them. I don't have a valuable watch but would like to own one for the investment.

[@JohnnyLee-ki3dl]

June, July and August are the slow months here in the U.S

[@coronetmag]

Great video. I watched the whole thing. Of course, we have to take market opinions from a dealer with a grain of salt. For me, a collector is someone who acquires for the purpose of ownership, not necessarily for use. I’m not sure you and I are watch collectors; but rather, we enjoy changing our wrist game, like a piece of attire. When I bought my modern Daytona, however, it was done with the mind of a collector. I wanted it in my collection. Whether I would use it or not, I would decide later. Of course, it became my daily for over a year.

[@7eSens17]

Nice walk! What is the name of the street? A lot of stock compared to what we can find in France

[@gunny.highway2652]

Thank you for taking us with you on your watch safari adventures. Very much appreciated. One thing though, a gentleman should wear flip flops only at the beach 🏖️ or swimming pool, not on the streets.

[@muldoon67]

I was thinking to buy a rubber strap for my Seiko shogun (sbdc029). Are there any shops near Kimberley you know of?

[@al-knows-nothing]

You absolutely have a collection of watches. One could also say that a watch, a wallet, a bag, a pocket knife and a keyring is a collection of everyday carry items. They are both collections, but you’re referring to watch collections. I think at 8:17 you might have nailed the definition of a ‘watch collector’: you enjoy the watches you’ve bought, but could probably do without most of them. A collection doesn’t _have to_ be coherent, purposeful or aligned to get the definition; if you have a handful of watches, _that_ is a (small) collection. 10-20 might be a medium collection, etc.

[@jonselzer6553]

Thanks so much for your walk around HK missing that place I'm in BkkAlways love your watch tours UPTICK

[@Nachovalenti899]

I'm really happy with my 5 watches collection. I'm wearing all of them and I don't have stress or any problem seeing the new or vintage ones because with my small collection is more than enough for me. I own a Rolex Explorer, Tudor BB GMT, Omega Speedmaster, Tudor BB Heritage, and Longines Conquest Heritage. That's it. Thanks Uptick for another great Safari around Hong-Kong.

[@heljestrand]

Aside from some vintage Seiko divers from the 1970’s, some modern Seiko like Orange Monster, Orange SUMO, 2 Seiko Blue Enamel Presage, and a Carl F. Bucherer Patravi Autodate; the core of my “Accidental Collection” is a Glashutte Original PanoReserve Blue dial, a Rolex Submariner 14060M, an AD acquired Rolex OP41 Silver dial and a neovintage Omega Speedmaster Professional Hesalite Sandwich Tritium 1990’s era, I’m exhausted from collecting. I’d love to keep just the Sub & Speedy and move on!

[@tobyt684]

Hi Uptick, i am not sure whether your Rolex bracelet is really for the dial with "Swiss Made". I remember that hollow link bracelet only goes together with the Tritium dial.

[@UptickWatchReviews]

It’s a service dial

[@franciscos.3671]

Everything that is minimum interesting today is based on vintage ones. Buy the originals.

[@Mr-Merchant.]

I would call you a collector, just based on your thought process of how you add and move out watches of your collection. Funds are not unlimited ofcourse. I like 5-7 watches in my collection and 1 or 2 of those slots move around to keep things intresting.

[@situation_zero]

Stock market has had a heck of comeback. Apple only 7% off all time high.

[@leeharding8306]

I’ve sold all my watches apart from my Speedmaster 3861. It’s a true icon and has perfect proportions for me. I was born in 69 too the same year as the moon landing. I don’t need a diver because we don’t take our divers diving do we🤔 the watch crash is a good thing for watch enthusiasts unless you’ve been stupid chasing Rolex’s. I think we are at a point where people who get the call from their Rolex AD after waiting too long while they sell watches to the same people over and over might tell them to keep it 🤔 think I would now out of principal. The big draw to Rolex is instant appreciation. You take that away and they don’t look so good 🤔 I think things are going to go down a lot more yet. I’m enjoying watching the grey market suffer 🤣

[@ads-porewealth96]

Come and move to Singapore buddy. And let me borrow some watches :)

[@zachscheel3784]

Uptick - I think you need to take much more time in deciding the next watch you pick. I think our collections need to be thorough cultivations of all the minute details that attract us. How many times have we seen someone’s amazing collection of 3-5 well curated, rare, and potentially valuable pieces that all fit together so well and represent the individual owner, and get jealous! I know I’ve seen well edited photo collections that just blow me away. I think reaching that level requires knowing a lot about ourselves, and not knowing ourselves intimately may lead to an over-abundance of pieces. I think to advance in your collecting, at least this is how I see it, is that I go for new watches when I make more money and achieve certain things in life. It’s almost like proof to myself to be proud. If that money supply increases over time, just being honest, I think it best to pare back the collection, instead of expanding just upgrade. For example, my lovely IWC Spitfire would one day be swapped out for the Patek Calatrava 5226G. Lastly, on the point of having such an expansive collection that we don’t even get to enjoy individual pieces often, I can relate and it must be a shame. We really need to bond with our watches to appreciate them and that 3-5 watch collection sounds ideal to me.

[@matlindell5022]

Where do all these watches come from?

[@woteva6891]

Leo was awesome, honest

[@UptickWatchReviews]

Yes, straight-shooter

[@frankmanitta4870]

As always a 5 star experience .

[@franciscos.3671]

Interesting he says “in China”, as China think HK is China.

[@underachievingwatchcollect1878]

The Hong Kong 🇭🇰 street food vendor association is not pleased with this video !

[@ALLinHerMovements]

Yeah now that I’m moving to a high crime city and can’t wear my watches freely, I’m a lot less into it. I still like looking at them and learning about the watches but I don’t want to own many or buy more. I love Rolex but can’t wear them everywhere these days.

[@beyond36horology]

Key chains! What is the resale value on them?

[@UptickWatchReviews]

Who knows, 70’s and 80’s gems :-))

[@darkstar7742]

Maybe your a flipper for life. A serial collector.

[@cedshred1676]

A fantastic watch safari! I love seeing HK. Btw, I learned about my favorite gin while I was in HK: Copperhead. Made in . . . Belgium! Great you were able to include the chat with the watch dealer. Yes, very rich Chinese are more and more waking up to the fact they actually own nothing, but rather the CCP owns everything. I predict the mainland will stay basically closed with covid zero for at least the next year, probably longer.

[@DinoBurke]

Definitely not a fan of the orange lume. Also would prefer a glossy black dial but…. Still a quality piece.

[@yousif4646]

I have about 40 watches right now of which probably 10 are worn with any sort of reasonable regularity. I don’t consider myself a collector in whatsoever way. Unfortunately, the watches I’m not wearing are eating into my watch wearing joy but. They’ll have to go and I’ll have to accept a massive loss on the majority of these. Selling a watch can be the hardest thing. Prevention seems to be the best cure here. I accept that I have to stop now and reduce my lot. Except if I get another call from my Rolex AD of course😉 Good luck.

[@UptickWatchReviews]

I’m in the verge of a massive watchbox cleanup

[@jact12]

The watch hobby has made me lose interest in the past few years due to too many speculators jumping onto this boat. It's almost impossible to buy from AD or boutique, and having to pay ridiculous grey market prices. The recent price correction is a great thing to weed out the flippers or greedy dealers.

[@michaelculina]

126610LV price now ?

[@stephenmurphy3961]

Out of curiosity do those prices include VAT/TAX? Seem so cheap compared to prices here in the UK. Great vid! Cheers

[@paulmt5563]

There are no sales taxes in HK. The price you see is what you pay

[@stephenmurphy3961]

@@paulmt5563 Ah ok, thanks!

[@wongdidier1024]

Your video is good but too fast to properly visualize the watches with their prices 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

[@plai7127]

You can always pause the video.

[@nikmansol]

You sound depressed to me . Just wait the market go up , big bonuses up and everybody will be happy lol until China attacks Taiwan and then it’s game over for whole of apac