My First Grail Watch: Hartmut Kraft
Welcome back to an 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.watches-dealer (ABTW): ?Who are you and what is your relationship to the watch industry?Hartmut Kraft (HK): ?I am the German-American Watch Collector turned Industry Executive that everybody simply refers to as the "H," President of Maurice Lacroix North America.ABTW: ?What was your?first?grail?watch?HK: ?A Patek Calatrava Ref. 3919. ?I saw a black and white ad in a German newspaper when I was 14 years old and it made me fall in love with watches as beautifully valuable objects.ABTW: ?Was there ever a time in your life when you could afford it?HK: ?Yes, in my prior career as a corporate attorney of a global US law firm.ABTW: ?What did you like so much about the watch?HK: ?The understated simplicity, the hobnail bezel, the proportions of the small seconds hand, the expression of value that this timepie

AP No. 2? Confused...BB/Volcano/Panda
AP community - I've come for advice (aka enabling and empowerment that only TRF knows how to do). I picked up my first AP (RO 15400) last month and am loving it. Since then I've been looking for a more casual/weekend watch. So this weekend I tried on a Diver at the Bal Harbour boutique, but was not so happy with it. My major issue was not liking the screw-in crown at the 10. Naturally, I then proceeded to try on a few others. I didn't think I wanted any more chronos as I have a daytona on which I never use the chrono feature. Tried a BB and a Volcano (wanted to see a panda but they didn't have one). I have to say though these ROOs are big gorgeous watches - and not to mention how the chrono dials look on the tapestry and the recessed date wheel . I'd have to say that the panda is probably the one I'd be most interested in because of the color scheme being a little more down to earth and I'm not sure I love a carbon forged case (maybe an acquired taste that will grow on me). Thoughts/en

Pre Owned London
Hi,I'm off to the city next week. I'm not looking to buy as I've just bought a 5146g but always like having a look.Any recommendations on where to go?

Radiomir at its purest?
Guys,I'm a minimalist, and a big fan of simplicity and functionality.Although Rolex are highly utilitarian tool watches, I still find that buying a Radiomir was a huge step towards a simpler more pure look... and more so because the Radiomir has changed a lot less than Rolex watches have, since the original design.With that said, I'm aware that the PAM183 — and in particular the Black Seal phrase —?isn't the most original thing about a Radiomir. I also know that a 12-3-6-9 dial without small seconds (correct me if I'm wrong) is more desirable when looking for a true original.On a quest for the purest, most original, most utilitarian Radiomir... I ask you to pick one:1. 12-3-6-9 dial with small seconds.2. 12-3-6-9 dial without small seconds.3. SLC dial.4. California dial.5. Other (comment)

The Rolex strategy
The year is 2007 & Rolex bring out the larger (Maxi case) in the form of 116710 GMT Master ll. The next year Rolex supersizes the Sub Date to 116613.Why?Perhaps it would appease a new audience, as well as make the old audience clamber for the newly discontinued 5 digit modelse 2017 & Rolex does the inverse, they slim the Maxi case of the Sea-Dweller to form the 126600.2018... Will Rolex continue the form & slim down other sport models?We assume Rolex will usher in the 32xx movement, but by slimming down cases they rejuvenate the 5 digit lovers into buying new Rolexes and those who adore the Maxi case to clamber for the newly discontinued 6 digit Maxi cases.Deja vu Rolex style.Now that�s good for me, we can argue whether the Maxi case was an improvement or not, but when it come to new movements - there is no argument.So roll on the 5 digit emulating 6 digit models with the newest movements.Let�s see what Rolex unveils in Basel ?18.Remember the fried egg headlights Porsche brou