Tourneau Trains Students for Careers in Watchmaking
When the average person thinks watchmaker , they picture an older man in a white lab coat working in the mountains of Switzerland. Watch retailer Tourneau is challenging that image with a program that gives disadvantaged kids in New York City a chance at a watchmaking career. Company executives gathered recently to recognize the program's newest group of graduates.Launched last year, the Tourneau Watchmaker Program was the brainchild of Terry Irby, a soft-spoken watchmaker who manages Tourneau's service center, which is located in Long Island City in the borough of Queens, New York. Facing an ever-increasing number of watches needing service (currently about 600 per week), Irby needed to expand his staff �C not an easy task in the United States, where qualified watchmakers are in high demand.Irby's idea was simple �C partner with the Manhattan Comprehensive Night and Day School, also known as CDI, an institution that helps teens who are no longer in school get back on the right path. CD

My First Grail Watch: Michele Sofisti Of Gucci Watches, Girard-Perregaux, And JEANRICHARD
Welcome back to the original watches-dealer feature, "My First Grail Watch." In this series, we ask prominent people in the watch industry about the first timepiece that they lusted after. Today, we're speaking with Michele Sofisti, who has been in the watch industry since the mid-90s, and has be at the helm of a number of luxury watch brands which as of today includes running Gucci Watches, Girard-Perregaux, and JEANRICHARD. Yes, that is a lot. With his grail watch, I think many will find it refreshing that it was a timepiece that many aspire to, or perhaps even have already acquired - and certainly a common one in the grail watch series. What I think is most unique here is that Mr. Sofisti eventually ended up working as CEO of the brand who made his first grail - nice bit of synchronicity there!watches-dealer (ABTW): Who are you, and what is your relationship to the watch industry?Michele Sofisti (MS): I'm CEO of Sowind Group, as well as CEO of Gucci watches and jewellery. I entered

Introducing The Girard-Perregaux 1966 Collection Limited Editions With Enamel Dial
Today, we bring you three Girard-Perregaux 1966 Limited Editions with Enamel Dial. The art of enameling isn’t new to HODINKEE readers. We’ve covered it in cloissoné on models such as this from Laurent Ferrier, and recently brought you the RGM PS801 Baseball in Enamel that is manufactured stateside. In short, we have great respect for this craft, which is why we’re excited to announce Girard-Perregaux’s new and exceedingly top-notch offerings in it.If you’re the type of watch-lover who prefers rare complications to rare artistry, just know that when it comes to volume, enamel work makes exotic repeaters and tourbillons routine in comparison. And because most enamel pieces sell out pre-release, most of us will never see one outside the margins of this publication. Having shed that tear, let’s move on to why the Girard Perregaux 1966 models are a step in the right direction.Caution: Article assumes a very artistic tone hereafter. In case of emerg

Too good an offer to refuse?
Well I am watch shopping again and recently on a trip to Singapore to an AP AD was lucky to find they had the blue 15400 as well as the black and white models as well. I then asked them about possible gifts they can throw in as I assume they couldn't give discounts. Then the sales person proceeded to tell me they can give me a discount, not just on the black/white models but also on the blue model as well. This really took me by surprise, as I know the blue one is boutique only and they are notorious across the brands to not being able to offer a discount. Is this just a one-off - have other people been offered this as well? Or is it a sign that the luxury watch market is going soft? As our learned friend archieluxury is saying recently. Btw the discount offered was 10% on black/white and 5% on the blue

Crown Came Off Seamster Professional PO
Was setting date and time after not having worn it for a few days. Felt like I couldn't get it to seat when I was screwing it back in after setting the time. I wasn't using excessive force at all, but the crown just ended up coming off. Can anyone let me know what happened/what I need to do? Thanks!