Historical F.P. Journe Tourbillon Marks 30 Years of Independent Watchmaking
Thirty years ago, 20-year-old French watchmaking prodigy Francois-Paul Journe completed his pet project: a pocketwatch with a handmade tourbillon, in an era in which that 19th-century horological invention was virtually forgotten. This year, Journe celebrates the anniversary with a wristwatch version of that groundbreaking timepiece, the F.P. Journe Anniversary Tourbillon.The new wristwatch, a re-interpretation of the original pocketwatch that Journe finished in 1983, breaks with the traditions of most current F.P. Journe watches by using the same materials used in that original pocketwatch �� silver with guilloch�� for the case, 4N rose gold for the front and back bezels, and traditional brass for the tourbillon movement. (Most of the watches from Journe’s eponymous brand use gold for the movements.)The watch has a transparent sapphire caseback revealing the classically constructed tourbillon movement, made in grained and gilded brass just like that of the 1983 pocketwatch. Two pa

Is the Sales Decline Slowing?
The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH reports that November recorded the highest monthly value of the year for Swiss watch exports, and also the most moderate decline at -10.6% compared with November, 2008. The report notes that while the November figures are negative, they represent a marked improvement over prior months. For 2009 overall, levels remain low however, with exports down 23.7% for the first 11 months. For November, steel watches performed well, declining only 3.8%, and bimetallic timepieces registered a gain of 8.4%. Gold watches were down 17.1% and platinum were off 53.5%. Looking at leading markets, exports to the USA were down 21.4% while Germany was down 23.3%. Exports to China increased of 36.1%. The largest market, Hong Kong, was off 14.2%.In terms of price points (export values), watches priced at 200-500 francs increased 20% both in value and unit volume. The most expensive category – watches priced at 3000 francs and up – showed the largest de

Best Patek model under $50,000
Title says it all. Which PP is the best bang for your buck under or very close to the $50,000 price point that will retain its value long term. Not interested in nautilus or aquanaut models.Thanks for your input.

Anyone gotten a discount on a SS Submariner this year?
I'm gonna pick mine up from an AD tomorrow. It's set aside for me, no wait list was involved. I'm wondering if anyone has had success getting a discount in this situation since the Great SS Drought has begun. I'm in the Southwest, USA.

I always wanted.... dare i?
Baselworld will never give me a rose gold submariner.Dare I build my own?Black mother of pearl dial, of course!This ring us for the thumb, fellas.Not watch 1-10 in the rotation so I can afford the creativity.