BEST FROM: watches-dealer & Friends December 19, 2014
TAG Heuer is slightly troubled of late. Earlier this year, the company debuted its new CH80 in-house chronograph movement at Basel, but just months later, they decided to not only shelf production of the movement, but also to let some 46 employees go. TAG Heuer's new Chevenez facility, which was built in anticipation of the CH80 movement, would also be repurposed to produce other movements. Furthermore,?just recently, its CEO Stephane Linder resigned leaving the legendary Jean-Claude Biver, who is head of watches at LVMH, to assume the position of interim CEO. We spoke to Biver to understand what is happening and his plans for Tag Heuer in the future.As for merrier news, yes,?it is that time of the year again �C the holiday season?is less than a week away! If you are still struggling about what to buy either for yourself or for your watch-loving friends, this month's roundup contains reviews and hands-on of some of the hottest watches right now, including the new blue and black Rolex GM

Rare Blue-Faced Marcello C Nettuno 3 Diver Watch Auction
The Marcello C Nettuno 3 watches are the most popular line from Marcello C, and with good reason. Phenomenal value for the price because you get a watch that is constructed in manner out of its price league. The standard Nettuno 3 line is well under $1000 at about $800 retail at current exchange rates. This auction is for a mint condition blue-faced Marcello C Nettuno 3 starting at $650.00. A good deal considering the quality of the watch and the fact that the blue-faced version is the hardest to come across. The most popular version is the black-faced model due to its resemblance of the Rolex Submariner series of watches. Regardless, the blue-faced model is very handsome with it's metallic blue finish and marine presence.Marcello C is a quickly growing boutique German watch manufacture with an expanding product line. While they are most famous for their diver watches, they have an impressive line of classically designed aviator and formal wear watches with an existing, but limited US

Swatch Reaches Draft Agreement To Cut Supplies To Competing Watchmakers
In the seemingly never-ending saga that is the Swatch Group's decision to cease supply of ebauche movements to competitors, we have yet another update! This time, according to Fox Business News, Swatch has reached a draft agreement with Swiss competition authorities that would allow it to reduce the number of movements supplied to outsiders by 70% by 2018.? 1 OF 1 How will small brands like Christopher Ward survive Swatch's decision to cut back supply?In the seemingly never-ending saga that is the Swatch Group's decision to cease supply of ebauche movements to competitors, we have yet another update! This time, according to Fox Business News, Swatch has reached a draft agreement with Swiss competition authorities that would allow it to reduce the number of movements supplied to outsiders by 70% by 2018.?This is significant because Swatch, according to many reports, supplies roughly 80% of the movements used in Swiss-Made mechanical watches.? This reduction comes on top of

First Panerai, dilemma...
I have been thinking of getting a Panerai for a while now and I hope to pull the trigger before christmas. I want a base model with only hour and minute hands, preferably titanium but steel is also fine. I also want a sandwich dial and max 44mm, this is the problem. I have looked into the 560 and 562, only the Q series has a sandwich dial. I have looked at used 176, 112 and 000s too. My options so far: I have looked into getting a new 562 from Jomashop with a sandwich dial(they claim the one they have for sale has it). The used 176:es I have look at so far were too expensive or too polished. I started noticing that polishing can not be unseen when you spot it and I think I need an unworn/unpolished specimen. Questions: Have I missed a model that looks like the ones above(max budget about 5k USD, the 172 is out...)?I don't mind buying it from the US, they are so cheap there that the 25-30% customs + VAT still makes it worth it. But how reliable is Jomashop, can I trust them that they di

Any regret for TT GMT IIc owner?
Now, this is quiet silly question. But I just wonder, for all TT GMTIIc owner, does any of you ever regret for buying TT GMT IIc instead of other models?For me, that's the only Rolex I got so far and what can I say? It's a beauty.