Michael Schumacher Joins the Audemars Piguet Family
Seven-time world F1 champion Michael Schumacher has joined the Audemars Piguet family as the brand’s newest ambassador. Schumacher holds the most prestigious records in motor racing. His 68 pole positions, 91 victories and 154 podium finishes make him the greatest racing driver of all time. Shumacher will contend to capture an amazing eighth F1 crown in 2011. It was about one year ago that Schumacher announced his return to F1 at the wheel of the Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team, alongside Ross Brawn with whom he had gained his 7 world championship titles. For 2011 Shumacher will have a new car more suited to his driving style, and he should be in the hunt for yet another championship.Shumacher is also fascinated by watchmaking and an acknowledged connoisseur who has been collecting timepieces for a number of years. His friend, Jean Todt, formerly executive director of Scuderia Ferrari and now president of FIA, introduced Shumacher to Audemars Piguet timepieces. Shumacher an

Diver bezel discrepancy
Hey guys was trying to figure out why in some pictures, for example AP website, the ceramic diver bezel looks like the marker at 12 is half on the rotating portion and half off. If that makes sense. Please see the AP example with the half/half to me eye bezel And then what I think looks good, in this example a screenshot of fightonsc's diver. (Sorry for poaching your shot J, hope you don't mind) What am I missing here? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

First AP... so excited
so last week I got myself an AP. A ROO Panda on bracelet. It's a gorgeous timepiece and I can't stop staring at it. Purchased it from a nice salesman named Howard at Traditional Jewelers in Newport Beach. Couldn't have done it without the help of TRF User SR/1, my old college roommate who lives in another state (thanks for the savings on tax bud). He took the un-boxing photos. All photos were taken using his iPhone 4S and my iPhone 4S. Except the last one, taken with my Nikon while watching The Master's on my DVR this morning

Opinions on Vintage Omega 2639-12
Hello Omega fans, I was wondering if I could get some opinions on this vintage piece I'm looking at online:.secondtimearoundwatchco.c...ale/omega/7847Any opinions on condition, price, authenticity, seller, etc would be greatly appriciated, Thanks! Clay

Rolex & Its Customers
A recent thread (about Swiss attitudes toward Rolex) got me thinking about the extent to which Rolex interacts with its customers I know AP owns some of its own boutiques, offers appointment-only lounges, and has invited customers to factory tours. Patek has factory tours and other events for VIPs -- and for us common folk, they have their museum in Geneva. I'm sure other brands have similar practices. How often does Rolex deal with its own customers? Do they own any of the retail stores or service centers? Has anyone on TRF ever been invited to an event by Rolex itself (and not by an AD)? Personally, the arms-length approach doesn't bother me -- I'm just an enthusiast and am nowhere close to a major customer. But for those who buy a large quantity of precious metal (or diamond/gem studded) Rolex watches, does Rolex ever make the relationship more personal?