Swatch Group Chairman Nicolas G. Hayek Dies at Age 82
Swatch Group AG founder and chairman Nicolas Hayek died unexpectedly from heart failure at his office earlier today. He was 82.Hayek, a colorful entrepreneur and one of Switzerland’s leading businessmen, was credited with saving the Swiss watch industry. In a statement, Swatch Group said “With deep sadness and regret we inform you that Mr. Nicolas G. Hayek, Chairman and Delegate of the Board of Directors of The Swatch Group Ltd. unexpectedly passed away today due to heart failure during work at his beloved Swatch Group. [His] greatest merit was his enormous contribution to the saving of the Swiss watch industry and the foundation and the commercial development of the Swatch Group,” the company said. “Hayek’s extraordinary vision enabled him to realize and ensure the sustainability of a strong watch-making enterprise with high Swiss added value. He is rightly recognized as a leading entrepreneur in this country.”You can read Swatch Group’s offic

Sotheby's To Auction One Of The World's Largest Swatch Collections, Including Prototypes
Watch enthusiasts are not limited to collecting only pricey marvels of modern engineering or exceedingly rare vintage specimens. In fact, we come in all breeds, including fans of the pop-culture-influenced watches produced by Swatch. If you fall into that category, you're in luck: this spring, Sotheby's Hong Kong will auction one of the world's largest collections of Swatch watches and ephemera from a private collector. Over 5,800 elements are included in the collection, which is to be offered as a superlot valued at $1.3 million.This behemoth assortment of watches, art, and other collectibles comes from a European collector, Paul Dunkel, who cites the widespread appeal of Swatch watches as the catalyst for building his collection over the past 25 years. While Mr. Dunkel's collection is extensive, this isn't the first time that a massive collection of Swatch products has gone on the block. In November of 2011, a similarly large collection of 4,370 Swatch production

AP Cleaning
Hi Guys,I purchased a AP ROC Rose Gold a couple months back & i have a couple Q's about how i should clean the watch.I wear the watch daily. Shower/workout with it and the face is a bit dull. I feel it was a lot brighter when i first got it. Does anyone know how i can bring back the shine? Do you guys daily wear your AP or am i fucking stupid -_-

Ask: Can't set the date when both hands are up, is it normal?
Hi, I can't seem to move the date wheel when both the hour and minute hands are pointing upwards, for example 12. I had to move the hour and minute hands to point down at about 4 to 8 first before I can adjust the date wheel. Is it normal? I can adjust the date anytime with my rolex with the hour and minute hand anywhere.Any advice is very much appreciated. Thanks!

Hesalite scratch removal -- really bad
I'm either (1) SUPER hard on watch crystals, or (2) this Hesalite scratches awfully easily. With more than a dozen daily wearers, and with most of my watch time spend in an office, I'm very surprised at how bad this crystal looks. I know the pics make it look really bad due to the angle of the light. But please believe me: It looks that bad at pretty-much any angle.If I replace it with a new Hesalite, it'll only end up looking this bad again in a year.So, which should I do? -- give it to my omega boutique for a Sapphire replacement (if there is such a thing)? Or just keep it, & continuously use some kind of home remedy? THANKS FOR YOUR ADVICE!