Vacheron Constantin from the Packard Collection Brings $1.8 Million at Christie’s
A Grand Complication pocket watch in 20-carat gold by Vacheron Constantin that belonged to famed collector James Ward Packard brought $1,800,000 at Christie's New York auction. Bidders from around the world displayed keen interest, driving the price to an absolute record for Vacheron Constantin in the U.S. market. Packard was one of the first U.S. collectors to work directly with the Geneva-based watch manufacturer to build up a collection of unique timepieces. The watch, in addition to displaying the hours, minutes and seconds beneath a rock crystal glass, features a personalized combination of complications including hour, minute, quarter and half-quarter repeating, grande and petite sonnerie, as well as a 30-minute chronograph register.The back of the piece features a “JWP” monogram on blue enamel, executed in Geneva following a sketch made by Packard himself. The dust cover bears the inscription “Fabrique pour James Ward Packard, Warren Ohio, 1918, par Vacheron &a

Alpina Startimer Pilot Manufacture Review
Last week we brought you a review of the Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase, and today we're bringing you a review of a watch by their sister brand, Alpina. Alpina Watches has been in existence since 1883, making them one of the oldest brands that you might have never heard of. Founded by Gottlieb Hauser, Alpina was a genuinely innovative brand in the early 20th century, with impressive distribution to match. They manufactured watch calibers and chronometers in both Switzerland and Glashutte, supplied to the military as well as civilians, making them a sizable brand.In 1938 they made a big leap in the development of durable sport watches with the "Alpina 4", which is a set of standards, that are clearly in use today, including anti-shock, waterproof, anti-magnetic and a stainless steel case. The brand stayed strong, producing various lines of watches up to the seventies, when like so many other great brands, they were leveled by the "quartz crisis". For a very detailed look at thei

Another incoming from Takuya - SubC
Many heard the thread I posted. I was looking for my second SubC. My first Rolex purchase was a Sub brand new back in the day in 2003. We are planning to give that to our son for graduating college. I was on the search for a new Sub. many of the trusted sellers were selling like new at new prices. I actually ended up finding a new one. I was sleeping on it when I texted my old pal Takuya to see if he had a like new. Timing is everything. He did. I asked just how good it was as the delta from new AD to Trusted seller needed to be worth while. He said it was in perfect shape, just like new. I jumped on it and got it today.Enjoy the pics as much as I am enjoying the glidelock (have one on my Hulk and fell in love)Takuya rocks!!!1.jpg2.jpg3.jpg4.jpg5.jpg

I woke up early for this!!!???? But my AD said.....
quite disappointed to say the least in these latest offerings. Obviously the Pepsi is pretty cool, but I wont be adding. Also, here is yet again a lesson that our ADs don't know CRAP about what the Big Guys are going to do!! For example- The Hulk is going to be discontinued, as well as the Smurf, oh and the BLNR probably too, oh and the price increase is coming as well because my AD knows the head of sales in N America and he said so. WE are ALL on the outside looking in, I get Rolex gets a bit of a chuckle listening to some of these predictions...... My collection is SAFE! for now...

Incoming BLNR aka batman
I live in Washington DC area and have been going to ad after ad for months looking for Blnr and did not want to pay elevated grey prices. Plus not find one anywhere but out of blue yesterday went to small town about hour out of dc and ad just got one in day before. I purchased it for MSRP, I asked about discounts but they would not budge so I guess lucky to get fOR MSRP. Def looks better than in person compared to Rolex website. Very impressed with look of blue, darker that pictures which is better for me. Excited today.