Which Watch Brand Spends the Most on Advertising?
Watch?brands spent almost half a billion dollars on advertising in the U.S in 2013. The total was $492.68 million: a record high, and up 23.3 percent from the 2012 total. That figure comes from Kantar Media, which each year compiles estimates of ad spending for a range of different products. The figures for 2013 signal that the U.S. watch market is still growing, especially as Swiss luxury brands turn their sights back from China to this country.Last year was the fourth year in a row of growth in U.S. watch advertising. Sixty-nine brands spent more than $1 million on ads, a new record. To reach last year's top 25, a watch company had to spend $4.66 million. That's 28 percent more than it took to make the list in 2012.?Rolex continued to hold its spot at the top of the list. The brand has been number one since 2000, when it dethroned Timex. Last year, it spent $61.48 million, making it the first brand ever to exceed $60 million. Rolex beat its 2012 record of $52.14 million by 17.9 perce

Rotonde de Cartier Astrotourbillon
At SIHH last week Cartier launched the new Rotonde de Cartier Astrotourbillon with their new manual winding movement, Caliber 9451 MC, designed and created by Cartier watchmakers. This unusual movement is the product of 5 years of development at the Cartier Manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The Astrotourbillon’s carriage is driven by the third wheel of the gear train. The pinion of the escape wheel rotates around a fixed seconds-wheel (the fourth wheel of the gear train) in order to drive the escapement. The carriage has a special rotational axis, as it is positioned at the center of the movement. This requires a different gear-train design, from the two barrels of the movement through to the display of the minutes and hours. Another feature, responsible for the striking visual effect created by the movement, is that the balance staff and escape-wheel staff are not on the same rotational axis as the carriage. They are located to one side of the carriage, in linear alignment with

Introducing: The IWC Pilot's Watch Automatic 36 (The 36mm IWC Pilot's Watch Returns!)
We're getting closer and closer to the main event for the Richemont maisons: SIHH is only 10 days away. IWC has already announced that this is going to be the Year of the Pilot's Watch, and we had a look just recently at the new Big Pilot's Heritage 55 and 48 timepieces, which borrow their aesthetic from the b-uhr (navigation watches) made by IWC in the 1940s. Now, IWC introduces the Pilot's Watch Automatic 36 – a first look at the changes in the pipeline overall for the iconic and beloved Mark series. Let's talk a little bit about the history of pilot's watches at IWC as well. 1 OF 4 IWC Pilot's Watch Automatic in 36mm The history of manufacturing pilot's watches goes back to the introduction by IWC, in 1936, of the so-called "Special Watch For Pilots," which was one of the first purpose-built watches for aviators (there was also, of course, the Weems Seconds-Setting watch, which was developed by P. V. H. Weems in 1927

SMP GMT Great White
Hello all...I'm just looking for some info/feedback on my SMP GMT white dial, known as the Great White. I bought it new in 2001 in Montreal and have kept it minty. Is this a rare piece and if so why? I have no intention of selling b/c of sentimental value but I'd like to learn more about it, the lure, etc. I stumbled across the nickname on the net and now I'm curious. Do I have a gem here?Thanks in advance for any info.

Dial replacement
OK, I am new to the forum just trying to understand the Rolex terms. When asking about replacing an existing dial on a Daytona with another color Rolex dial, the AD I spoke to says that Rolex would then consider that a counterfeit item and would not service it. What is the reasoning for this from Rolex if the watch is genuine? I am not wanting this done, only trying to understand the issues.