Master Watchmaker Derek Pratt Passes Away
Derek Pratt, one of the world’s leading watchmakers, has passed away following a long illness. Derek was a watchmaker’s watchmaker and a true scientist of horology. He was often cited as among the greatest living watchmakers, his name mentioned in the same breath as George Daniels, Philippe Dufour, and other modern legends. Derek is also acknowledged as an important influence by many of today’s younger horological stars. Derek was born in Orpington, Kent, in England in 1938. Between 1955 and 1959, he attended the National College of Horology in London. Following his formal education, Derek served as an apprentice at Smith & Sons. In 1965 he moved to Switzerland. During the 1970s, Derek met Peter Baumberger, the owner of Urban J��rgensen & S?nner, and he began to receive commissions. Over time, the relationship grew into a full collaboration.As a watchmaker, Derek not only designed and made movements, but he also occasionally dials, cases and crowns. In 1981 Der

Hands-On: With The Piaget Altiplano Skeleton in White Gold: Live Pics + Official Pricing
Ask most guys under the age of 50 if they'd wear a skeleton watch, and they'd say "No f'n way."? The reason for that is, up until recently, most were relegated to regal, almost faux opulent designs that were just a little too ornate, a little too "blingy" in the most upper eastside-y / Purdy sort of way.?Then came the Openworked Royal Oak (ref 15305) from AP and the Altiplano Skeleton from Piaget, which we showed you first here.? These two watches are the best examples of the new type of skeletonized watches - the types of openworking that is less dandy / ornate and more manly / industrial.? At SIHH and while visiting Piaget with our contest winner, we got a chance to go hands-on with this awesome new skeletonitzed Altiplano.Sized at 38mm in a case of white gold (ugh, how nice does that combination of size and metal sound?), this is actually the thinnest skeletonized caliber (Piaget 1200S) inside the world's thinnest skeletonized watch, and it took over three years to develop.? What Pi

Incoming 6 Week Wait SS Daytona Ceramic, Batman, Hulk.
Picked all three yesterday from my AD6 weeks wait since after my Platona purchase.

Got some new upgrades
Upgraded to a ceramic LB from an older model F serial, and a James Cameron Deep Blue from a Deep Sea BlackSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

First Scratch Sensation
A week from my new SS sub-C date, immediately took of all the plastic cover and now already got first scratch on my clasp. I am not going to baby the watch, but still feels like