Sotheby’s Geneva Auction Features Patek 5959
Sotheby's May 10 auction of fine timepieces at the Beau-Rivage Hotel in Geneva will feature treasures old and new. The star among the modern offerings is a Patek Philippe split-seconds chronograph Ref. 5959P. This piece, estimated at between $250,000 and $350,000, contains Patek's first fully in-house chronograph calibre, CHF 27-525PS, which, at 5.25mm, is the thinnest column-wheel split-seconds chronograph ever made. Important vintage wristwatches are well represented in this sale, and the notable models include a Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 fourth series, circa 1981, estimated at between $280,000 and $350,000.One of the highlights of the evening will be rare and historically significant gold, enamel and diamond presentation pocket watch with matching chain and fob symbolizing the Royal Military Order of Saint George, most probably made for King Ludwig II of Bavaria circa 1880. This piece is estimated at between $27,000 and $44,000.

Ralph Lauren Sporting Watch With Elm Burl Wood Dial
I recently learned that this watch does not yet have an official name. It will sometime next year. This is a new version of the Ralph Lauren Sporting watch. It has an elm burl wood dial and face that is meant to evoke the interior of one of Ralph Lauren's cars from his personal collection - a 1938 Bugatti (that is as sexy as a top model). The watch will contain an IWC made manually wound movement. Lovely, and just over $13,000.Read my full article on this new for 2011 Ralph Lauren Sporting watch at Haute Living here.

Invicta Gigantus: Prime Example Of Big Watches Getting Too Massive
The trend today is for watches to grow ever bigger. In an age of miniaturization, this may not make sense, but remember it is style, not technology that we are talking about. Because watches are meant to be seen, more and more new watches are showing up in larger dimensions. Standard sized watches of the past (say 38mm) for a men's watch is now considered almost petite. And finding a 36mm or smaller men's watch is almost unseen. Invicta now takes watches in the more than 50mm dimensions. Definitely noticeable.Pictures and images of these watches are really not enough to get a good grasp of just how big these watches are. Imagine wearing a size whose diameter is almost the same as the top of a can. Make that circle with your hands and imagine it on your wrist. That needs to be a damn impressive watch to take up so much wrist real estate.Invicta has been making watches for a while now, and is based out of Florida. With aggressive marketing and often bold designs, they find a good market

Bring a Loupe: A Rare Speedmaster, Two Chronographs With Famous Movements, And A French Diver's
This week's Bring A Loupe brings us back to the 1950-'60s era with some rare watches from Longines, Minerva, and Rolex. Time-only, chronograph, and dive watches are all represented here, underlining the timeless beauty of vintage timepieces. We have also selected the best lots from an upcoming Omega auction in Sweden, including a very nice Omega Speedmaster with an interesting orange hand. This is your Bring A Loupe for October 23, 2015. A Very Rare Longines, The Reference 2160 With Mushroom Pushers 1 OF 12 Usually, I don't feature non-functioning watches but I had to make an exception for this Longines from the 1930's. You can immediately see how rare it is, with one glance at its mushroom pushers and another at the legendary 13-ZN movement with fly-back function. The downside of this watch is obviously its poor condition, from a washed-up dial to a movement that needs some serious servicing. It is evidently too special to be called a project watch

Bucherer buys Tourneau
Anyone see this news? Just announced.