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Patek Philippe Ref 3970 brings $142k

Written by admin on March 23, 2010 – 4:34 am -

The highly important timepiece shines in Antiquorum's $5m sale Last week, Antiquorum offered an excellent range of 467 fine and rare timepieces in their New York Important Collectors' Wristwatches, Pocket Watches & Clocks sale, last week (March 10). Many of the pieces were from the famous 'Arman Collection' put together by world renowned artist Arman. The auction was a huge success, with over 90% of lots sold and a sales total of $5,000,388. This was due in part to strong international interest, with phone and internet bids from Spain, Russia, China, Canada and Italy as well as live on the floor. Although there were many great sales, the two stand-out performances were from Patek Philippe: This top lot was a Platinum Patek Philippe Ref... more


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Posted in Men's Watches, Patek Philippe, Pocket Watches, Vintage Pocket Watches, Vintage Wristwatches | No Comments »

The minute repeater, the Mount Everest of watchmaking

Written by admin on January 31, 2010 – 6:51 pm -

Jack Forster ForbesLife Magazine In some quarters of the Russian Orthodox Church, church bells are still believed to have almost supernatural powers. Traditionalists contend that they can keep demons at bay, for instance, by sanctifying the area in which they are audible. For this reason, bells are still christened with holy water and anointed with holy oil. Timepiece connoisseurs feel a like reverence for the minute repeater and sonnerie, watches that chime the time on tiny gongs fitted inside the case. Of all complicated watches, they are the most challenging to make. In fact, chiming watches defy horological history, which in broad strokes is a story of decreasing manual labor and increasing automation. Today mechanical watches can be made... more


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Posted in Audemars Piquet, IWC, Men's Watches, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Vintage Wristwatches, Wristwatches | No Comments »

The difference between a $500 watch and a $50,000 watch

Written by admin on January 30, 2010 – 12:02 am -

Jack Forster, Forbes Magazine The difference between a $500 watch and a $50,000 one is often in the movement. The ground floor of the Roger Dubuis factory, a top-tier manufacturer specializing in artistically extroverted timepieces, comes as a shock. This is one of Geneva's temples of haute horlogerie, a place where you'd expect the loudest sound to be the nearly inaudible cricket-song of a hand file against brass. But in this gigantic room blue- and white-coated technicians tend enormous, sleek machines. The air is redolent of oil and coolant, the ceiling is strung with pipes and conduit, and, here and there, warning signs and bundled cables testify to the huge amounts of electricity being consumed. It's in a room like this that virtually... more


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Posted in Audemars Piquet, Bedat & Co, Breguet, Breitling, Bulgari, Bulova, Cartier, Concord, DOXA, Girard Perregaux, IWC, Ladies Watches, Longines, Men's Watches, Movado, Omega, Patek Philippe, Piaget, Raymond Weil, Wristwatches | No Comments »

Vintage Watches: Aged to Perfection

Written by admin on October 29, 2009 – 6:41 pm -

What you should know about buying vintage If you want a timepiece with stand-out style—or just one that no one else can get—think vintage. But in watchspeak, vintage means more than just cool-looking or rare. Edward Faber, owner of New York vintage retailer Aaron Faber Gallery, uses the term to define collectible watches made between 1935 (roughly when Swiss technological improvements like shockproofing were invented) and 1985 (when CAD/CAM, a computer system that factored out the watchmaker’s hand, became the manufacturing standard). Whether you’re buying a $500 Hamilton or a $50,000 Patek Philippe, you’re making an investment—one that could pay off significantly over time. Here, Edward Faber, owner of New York vintage retailer... more


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Vintage Watches: A Timeless Investment Choice

Written by admin on October 29, 2009 – 5:00 pm -

By: Carolin Schober, CNBC Correspondent As investors continue to ponder whether the recovery in markets is sustainable, some may find that this is the time to put their money in an asset class that lasts. The downturn has hit the luxury watch market hard. Luxury watch exports from Switzerland, where many of the premium brands are manufactured, have seen a decline of 25 percent over the past 9 months and the slump in demand was especially severe for watches made of precious metals. However, the picture for "retail" luxury watches seems to bear little resemblance with the "collectible" luxury watch markets for brands such as Patek Philippe, Jaeger Le Coultre or Vacheron Constantin. Sales of luxury collectible watches have been more resilient... more


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Posted in Audemars Piquet, Bedat & Co, Breguet, Breitling, Bulgari, Bulova, Cartier, Girard Perregaux, IWC, Ladies Watches, Longines, Men's Watches, Omega, Patek Philippe, Pocket Watches, Rolex, Vacheron Constantin, Vintage Pocket Watches, Vintage Wristwatches, Wristwatches | No Comments »

Patek Philippe Calatrava 5119

Written by admin on August 18, 2009 – 10:13 pm -

Patek Philippe Calatrava 5119 Patek is the oldest family-owned firm in Geneva, and this is its signature model. The company is one of the few that makes all its own components, from bracelets to movements, and each watch has the Geneva Seal (awarded, after extensive testing, by the Geneva School of Horology). Al Armstrong echoes the opinion of many dealers when he says, "Their pieces are as good as it gets in terms of quality and finish." After a lengthy period during which bigger, flashier watches have ruled the roost, it's nice to see the pendulum swing back to a timepiece that's as discreet and quietly prosperous as its birth town. US Auctions Australian Auctions Austrian Auctions Belgian Auctions Canadian Auctions French... more


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The Appeal of Swiss Watches

Written by admin on July 6, 2009 – 12:08 am -

By Jaybe Scott The prestige Swiss brands have engraved their position as the world's number one status symbol, limited to the rich and famous. Some of the mass Swiss brands on the other hand, target a somewhat different demographic and are now the world's largest producer of watches. Many countries in the world now produce and export high quality watches. Yet, ask people on the street which country makes the best quality watches and 9 times out of 10 the response will be Switzerland. So, how did Switzerland and watches become synonymous with key traits. The custom of quality and detail has been upheld for over five centuries and would seriously doubt if there is any industry can make this claim in any other industry. Swiss watch making one way... more


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Posted in Audemars Piquet, Breitling, Omega, Patek Philippe, Vintage Pocket Watches, Vintage Wristwatches, Wristwatches | No Comments »

Patek Philippe Watches: The Best in the World

Written by admin on June 12, 2009 – 3:07 pm -

By Robin Cassidy  If you're interested in Swiss watches or have read some wristwatch reviews, you've probably heard of Patek Philippe watches. You've also probably heard that Patek Philippe watches are the best in the world. But, exactly why is a Patek Philippe watch considered to be the best? Patek Philippe has been making watches since 1839. They were founded in Geneva, Switzerland, and right from the start their reputation as manufacturers of fine timepieces spread throughout Europe and the world. Many famous people have owned a Patek Philippe watch, some of which were especially commissioned. Many components and processes are required in making a watch. A watch needs to be made from the right materials, use current technology, with a reliable... more


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