Thursday, March 24, 2005

Hublot & Spain

Why is it that Hublot watches are so big in Spain? The fact that Juan Carlos, the King of Spain, is an avid Hublot fan probably helps, but it must be something more. Out of 14,000 watches that Hublot sells annually, 7,000 are sold in Spain. Spain is their top market followed by the United States, Japan, & the Middle East. It is even said that in Spain Hublot is ahead of Rolex. That is pretty good for a relatively young watch company.



Read an article about Jean-Claude Biver, CEO of Hublot.

Friday, March 18, 2005

Crazy Beautiful Dial



So what do you think? Is this dial complicated? Amazing? Confusing? Beautiful? Crazy? A work of art? Loud?
I say "yes" to all of the above.

The dial is the handy work of Roger Dubuis. The model is the Sympathie Biretrograde Perpetual Calendar 18k white gold, manual wind movement under glass. The dial consists of alternating dark/light tones of mother of pearl and features minutes, hours, sub-seconds at 9 o'clock, chronograph w/ sweeping seconds & 30 minute register at 3 o'clock, retrograde day & date, month & leap year at 6 o'clock, moonphase at 12 o'clock, and weeks (a rather uncommon feature) around the outer rim of the dial. Now that's a lot of hands.

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Rose Gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

I took a picture today of a lovely Audemars Piguet Royal Oak in 18k rose gold on a leather strap. I think it just might be my new favorite watch.

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

White Gold Rolex Daytona



This watch is Red Hot! Rolex Daytona in 18k white gold. 18k white gold Oyster bracelet with flip-lock clasp. Black dial with Arabic numerals & red track. Engraved Tachymeter bezel. Automatic movement with chronograph and sub-seconds. Screw-down crown & chronograph pushers. 40mm case diameter.

Gray & Sons Price is $26,500

Friday, March 11, 2005

Audemars Piguet Quantieme Perpetual

This watch is beautiful:



The Audemars Piguet Quantieme Perpetual in 18k yellow gold with fully skeletonized dial. Comes on a leather strap with 18k deployant buckle. Finely engraved automatic movement. Day, date, month & moonphase. Est. Retail $60,000

Special price until Wednesday March 16, 2005: $19,900
Click if you are interested.

Thursday, March 10, 2005

A watch goes with you wherever you go

Excerpt from an interview with Ozvaldo Patrizzi founder of watch auction house Antiquorum:
How do you explain the huge interest for vintage watches within a ever growing public?

Ozvaldo Patrizzi: For me it’s a question of quality of life. The brands’ communications help but it’s mostly the importance that men give to their own image. A watch is a status symbol which immediately shows the level you are at, your tastes and financial capacity. You can have an amazing car but you will need to park it outside, whereas a watch goes with you wherever you go.
Read the entire interview here.

Thursday, March 03, 2005

What's in a Name?



Just picked up the new 2005 Wristwatch Annual. One of the best additions to this year's book is sandwiched without much fanfare between Ebel and Epos: a helpful pronunciation guide and summary of the brand name origins. Probably 90% of Watch Manufacturers are named for the founders (Audemars Piguet: Jules Audemars & Edward Piguet; Patek Philippe: Antoine Norbert de Patek & Adrien Philippe; Vacheron Constantin: Jean-Marc Vacheron & Francois Constantin).

But a few of them are not.

A few brands are named for places not people: Glashütte (for the city in Germany) and Ventura (for Ventura, California). Latin also has supplied inspiration for many watch brand names including Corum (quorum), Fortis (strong) & Tutima (protected). Hublot comes from the French word meaning "porthole", chosen by Swiss founder Carlo Crocco because his watches reminded him of Ship's porthole. And Rolex comes from a modification of the Spanish words "Relojes Excelentes" (Excellent Watches).

By the way I love it when people call and ask if we have any "Rolodex" watches.