Breitling Exospace B55: The New Connected Chronograph for Pilots (with Video)
Rounding out a year in which we’ve seen several traditional Swiss watch brands release decidedly nontraditional “connected” watches �� most recently TAG Heuer and Movado �� Breitling enters the arena this week with the launch of the Breitling Exospace B55. As fans of the brand have come to expect, its range of functions is eminently suitable for aviators and aviation enthusiasts.The mission statement of the Breitling Exospace B55 �� an electronic chronograph watch that was teased but not officially launched at Baselworld 2015 earlier this year �� is distinctive among the burgeoning crop of Swiss smartwatches and connected watches in that Breitling did not want to create a watch that was “dependent on a smartphone yet less efficient than the latter.” In other words, whereas the timepiece is built to pair up with a smartphone, it is also equipped for two-way communication between the devices, so both phone and watch form a complementary pair in which each does w

Patrizzi & Co. NYC Spring Sale Brings $2.7 Million
Patrizzi & Co Auctioneers held its first New York City auction on June 4. The sale included 293 timepieces. Seventy-three percent of the lots sold for a total of more than $2,707,150. More than 50 bidders were present in the auction room, and online bidders participated from Italy, Switzerland, Macao, Portugal, Japan, Dubai, and across the U.S. “We're finding collectors are interested in buying at auction but are more selective in the current economic climate,” said Osvaldo Patrizzi, chairman and chief executive officer of Patrizzi & Co. “Sport watches, particularly from Rolex and Omega, performed well, as did pocket watches and clocks. Some timepieces sold for three to four times their estimate.”Patek Philippe secured the top three places in the sale, with a Ref. 5959P split-seconds chronograph bringing the top price at $260,000. A yellow gold automatic winding Ref. 3448 with phases of the moon, month day, date, made in 1971, brought $125,000. Close beh

Bring a Loupe: A Selection Of Watches Under $3,000, With Two Incredible Exceptions
This week's Bring A Loupe focuses on finding great vintage watches on a budget under $3,000. An impossible goal? Not at all – we found a very funky Hamilton, and a triple calendar from Gallet, and even a great looking vintage Rolex. However, that budget constraint will be put aside for two insanely rare Universal Geneve watches that definitely deserve a place in our Friday lineup. This is your Bring A Loupe for November 27, 2015 – and I wish you a nice Thanksgiving weekend. A Wittnauer Vintage Diver With Super Compressor Case 1 OF 10 The Super Compressor case revolutionized dive watches in the mid-1950s, when the case maker Ervin Piquerez SA, or EPSA, designed and patented an innovative case-sealing method. They had the inspiration to use the increasing pressure of water on the case back in order to actually tighten the sealing gasket – the deeper you went, the better the water resistance. Many brands required those cases to be employed for t

Impulse purchase at AP boutique
Was at the AP boutique this evening just browsing. Then the very kind lady helping me brought out this one. I put it on and knew right away it's what I was looking for! Very pleased with it.

Going down the PM route...
Just when I thought I had achieved perfection with my collection, I've gotten the itch to add another... Thankfully I'm surrounded by a bunch of enablers here who won't judge me for my failings. I have my eye on a PM piece this time around (the 116519ln to be specific) and I find myself stuck -- unable to act -- as I consider the price of entry into the PM club.I've got the cash to do it, so this isn't an issue of stretching myself too thin. But I do like to make smart buying decisions and I like to go into things like this with eyes wide open.Some things that have me thinking twice about the PM investment:Is there a good time to buy a PM piece?Does PM result in more expensive maintenance costs over the long haul?Will I practically be able to wear PM on a regular basis or is it a special occasion watch only?For those of you who have taken the plunge, any regrets? Has anyone jumped into PM only to sell off the purchases and return to an all-steel collection?For those who are riding t