Under the Hammer: My Favorite Lots from Today’s Christie’s NYC Auction
Today at 10AM Eastern Time Zone (UTC -05:00), Christie’s New York Important Watches Auction will begin. I got to sit with the newly appointed Vice President and Senior Specialist of Watches, Eric Wind, and ask him about a few of my favorite timepieces from this season’s auction. If you’re reading this after 10AM, click here to stream the auction and see what these pieces go for in real time.Lot #26 – Universal Gen��ve Gold Chronograph Retailed by Herm��sUniversal Gen��ve was known as a brand that created groundbreaking designs in the early 20th century. In 1935, the Compax was introduced and it was the first chronograph wristwatch to display both hour & minute registers. Herm��s was one of the first retailers to carry the Universal Gen��ve Compax in Europe but the partnership was short-lived, so not many of these co-branded pieces have survived. This example is from 1936 and has an outer track tachometer in blue and telemeter in red, very large registers, origina

Bell & Ross BR01-96 And BR01-97 Limited Edition Commando Watches
More with the gray watches it seems. I've been writing about this trend pretty extensively on Luxistwatches-dealer, but it has finally come to Bell & Ross. Actually I knew this since Baselworld back in March, but only now it connected with me that this is all part of the gray watch conspiracy - and watch companies are always bitching about the gray market. Irony?These two new pretty watches are part of a limited edition of just 500 pieces each and are part of the Commando watches that Bell & Ross will offer. Commando meaning gray in this instance. Maybe this is the perfect urban combat camouflage watch? We are familiar with the models as well. These are the big date and power reserve versions of the Bell & Ross BR01, or rather the BR01-96, and the BR01-97. The dials also make it clear that the watches are part of a limited edition. The Big Date has an automatic ETA 2896, while the power reserve model has an ETA 2897.The black on the hands and indexes contrast well with the

New to the ROO Family!
I've owned various APs throughout the years, but never an Offshore. Much less an Offshore chrono. I've long admired them, but always thought they may be a bit too loud for my personality. Still love my other APs, but so glad took the leap, and it's very quickly becoming one of my favorite watches. I know lots of folks aren't big fans of the new navy, but in the end, watch collecting is about buying what you love and this is the watch really spoke to me. Thank you TRF and the seller! Can't believe it took me this long to join the ROO family!

Offshore Diver Crown Issues
I was wondering if anyone is having any problems with the crown on their Offshore Diver?Mine backs out by itself after a couple of hours of wear even if I lock it down tight.Any suggestions? Or is this a common problem?Thanks!

Why does the AP ROC not have a display case-back!?!
It baffles me that AP decided not to put a transparent sapphire/display caseback on the AP ROC to show off it's beautiful movement. They did it on the Royal Oak.....why not the chronograph......??? It's almost a deal-breaker for me, if I have to choose between the normal RO and the ROC.Additionally, could we install the case-back of the RO onto the ROC if we wanted to?