Vacheron Constantin from the Packard Collection Brings $1.8 Million at Christie’s
A Grand Complication pocket watch in 20-carat gold by Vacheron Constantin that belonged to famed collector James Ward Packard brought $1,800,000 at Christie's New York auction. Bidders from around the world displayed keen interest, driving the price to an absolute record for Vacheron Constantin in the U.S. market. Packard was one of the first U.S. collectors to work directly with the Geneva-based watch manufacturer to build up a collection of unique timepieces. The watch, in addition to displaying the hours, minutes and seconds beneath a rock crystal glass, features a personalized combination of complications including hour, minute, quarter and half-quarter repeating, grande and petite sonnerie, as well as a 30-minute chronograph register.The back of the piece features a “JWP” monogram on blue enamel, executed in Geneva following a sketch made by Packard himself. The dust cover bears the inscription “Fabrique pour James Ward Packard, Warren Ohio, 1918, par Vacheron &a

Hublot King Power Unico GMT Watch
For those of you who love all of the Hublot content here is an exclusive look at a brand new one for 2012 with a new in-house made movement. This is the Hublot King Power Unico GMT watch. It has a unique way of showing 24 timezones on the dial and looks very slick. The idea is very similar to how the Girard-Perregaux ww.tc works, but just displayed in a very different manner.The four GMT discs move with the main time. Using the little red lines and city names around the bezel and inside of the dial you can tell the time in each of the 24 hour time zones. Neat right? I like the novel approach that combines a little Hublot, a time honored complication, and what feels like some Urwerk inspiration given a dial that looks like the satellite time display on the UR-103 series.The King Power Unico GMT watch will come in a 48mm wide King Power case in either 18k king gold or in black ceramic. Both versions have ceramic bezels. Inside the watch is the Hublot caliber HUB 1220 automatic GMT moveme

Entourage's Jeremy Piven Gets Gifted Character's Audemars Piguet Watch
Now this is a nice little story that will warm that hearts of all watch lovers. For years Audemars Piguet (among other high-end watch brands) have been featured in the HBO series Entourage. Co-star Jeremy Piven's character Ari Gold wore at least a few Audemars Piguet watches.Most recently we was wearing a solid 18k rose gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph (ref. 25960OR.OO.1185OR.01). I believe this is the piece shown in the article. I actually haven't been able to catch all of Entourage's final season 8 get get the full story on Gold getting the watch. OK, that is all nice and good, but such Hollywood watch placements are common. The fun news is that the show's creator Doug Ellin gifted Piven the watch to keep as a token of his gratitude for Piven's role in the series.It just goes to show how a watch still makes an excellent and sentimental gift. The rose gold Royal Oak Chronograph retails for about $50,000 I believe. Enjoy the last season of the show and look out for nice watch

Planet Ocean Replacement Crystal Price
Just out of curiosity, does anyone know what the price is for a replacement crystal for the PO?I'm super-dooper babying the watch face as I know the AR can come off, and that would really suck. But if the crystal doesn't cost a small fortune, then I'd be happy to replace it if needs be.

What ref should I buy
HiI am currently considering adding a Patek but am unsure as to which one to go for (for reference I currently have a speedmaster, 116710ln and a 5513 sub from early 70s). Until recently I was planning to get a AP15300 White dial and in a couple of years add a Patek classic complications model in gold (likely 5146) but I am now also considering the following options - 5167 and Patek 5146 - 5711 and Patek 5146My main considerations are- whilst 5167 is nice it's a lot for a watch on rubber and at list the difference to 5711 is not that significant but it may be nice as something different (more sporty - nautilus is to me something in between sport and dress watch) assuming I am anyways getting a 5146 or similar and have a couple of steel Rolexes - is 5711/5167 overpriced/overrated in general even at list and better to get a ap15300 plus 5146 as was my original thought ( I don't want the 15202 as no seconds hand, tried it on recently)Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk