Swatch Group Acquires Harry Winston Watch & Jewelry
The Swatch Group has added another jewel �� or, more precisely, jeweler �� to its crown. The Bienne, Switzerland-based company, which owns watch brands ranging from Swatch to Hamilton to Omega to Breguet, announced Monday that it is acquiring world-renowned jewelry brand Harry Winston, which in recent years has also become a bastion of high watchmaking.In the deal, Swatch Group Ltd. gets 100 percent of the shares of HW Holdings Inc., owner of New York-based Harry Winston, Inc., giving the Group ownership of the brand and all activities related to its jewelry and watches, including its 535 employees worldwide and production company in Geneva, Switzerland. The acquisition sum amounts to U.S. $750 million plus the assumption of up to U.S. $250 million of pro forma net debt. The sale does not include the mining segment of the company, Harry Winston Diamond Corporation, based in Toronto, which will be renamed Dominion Diamond Corporation upon the closing of the transaction. The Harry Winston

Antiquorum’s Auction Season Ends With a Bang
A standing-room only crowd at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel competed against more than 250 internet bidders from over 40 countries at Antiquorum’s 2009 Hong Kong auction. The sale brought a total of HKD 45,453,120 ($5,864,199). 82% of the 479 lots offered were sold, representing 115% of the estimated value. The top price was paid for a rare Patek Philippe Ref. 3974 made in 1990. The astronomic, minute-repeating, self-winding, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with perpetual calendar, leap year indication and moon phases achieved HKD 3,000,000 ($387,049). Also making strong showing was a platinum, diamond-set Franck Muller Caliber 97 Grande et Petite Sonnerie Minute-Repeater, Perpetual Calendar made in 1997. This piece also incorporated equation of time, moon phase, and 24 hour display complications. It brought HKD 2,820,000 ($363,826). Richard Mille Tourbillon RM002 No. 57. in 18K white gold with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator, torque indicator and power reserve achieved HKD 81

Marvel Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. Homage The MB&F HM3 Niche Luxury Watch
Credits: Mutant Enemy, ABC Studios, Marvel Television / Ariel Adams watches-dealerEver wonder what impact niche-appeal, high-end watches from small independent brands make on the larger general culture? This prop gadget from the Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. television show is how, and it illustrates how a niche luxury product is able to make a stylistic impact on a pop culture demographic that probably has no idea where the idea came from in the first place.In episode 11 (season 1) of ABC's new for 2013-2014 Joss Whedon-produced "Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D" television show, this item showed up as a wrist-worn tool. A distinctive item, it takes a true watch guy to understand exactly what the gadget was emulating. In the episode, a wrist gadget was developed and used which was clearly based on the MB&F HM3. We have an watches-dealer review of the MB&F Horlogical Machine No 3 here. The tool was featured in episode 11 "The Magical Place" and wasn't really a watch but more of a d

Turning The Crystal Upside Down: Clever Method Of Placing A Magnifier Lens
It was probably Rolex that pioneered the use of a magnification lens on a watch's crystal over the date to enhance the wearer's ability to see the date. They were most likely to first to use this technique although it is unclear whether they invented the concept. Since Rolex starting using magnifier lenses, it has been a controversial watch feature. While most people don't need the magnification lens (sometimes called a "cyclops") to read the date, it is a nice addition to have when you want to know the date at a glance. And for some people, the date is just too small to be read without squinting.Rolex put the magnifier lens on the Submariner (not Sea Dweller model) watches and the Datejust models (among other Rolex watch models). The placement of the date and magnifier was specifically chosen where it is, because if wearing a watch on your left hand, it was the first part of the watch that emerged from your sleeve, allowing quick reference to the date. Virtually all the Rolex clone mo

90s Breitling model question?
Does anyone know this model name? Thanks for any help..m