Why Did Patek Philippe Create its Own Quality Seal?
Patek Philippe, the most prestigious firm in the watch world, has thrown down a gauntlet to the Swiss watch industry. After 123 years, the Swiss brand replaced the Geneva Seal with a higher-standard seal of its own. Find out why in this article from WatchTime’s May-June 2009 issue.Patek Philippe has taken the unusual step of defining and codifying its own standard of excellence for a Swiss luxury watch and created its own quality mark ensuring that its watches have attained that quality. As a consequence, the firm has ended its 120-plus-year affiliation with the Geneva Seal quality mark. The company announced at the Baselworld exhibition in April 2009 that, starting that year, it will no longer submit its movements for inspection by the Geneva Seal Bureau. Instead, it will affix its own Patek Philippe Seal (an emblem with a double P) on its movements, testifying that they have met quality standards that the company claims are the most exclusive and stringent in the world.Patek'

The 2010 Watch Buyer's Holiday Gift Guide
So you want to buy a watch? Be it for yourself or as a gift to someone else, the following guide will help you this holiday season with a number of good choices, brands, and suggestions for various types of people. This guide is designed to lead you in the right direction when making a purchase decision. For each of the listed brands you'll find just a single model as an example. That isn't to say that the pictured models are the only good buying options in that brand. Plus, if you find that a pictured timepiece is out of your budget, there is a good change you'll find lower costs watches that share the style. I try to list the best examples of the selections below.Don't see your favorite brand below or think you have a better choice? No need to fret, just add it below as a comment to this article.You'll also find a number of links below. Due to the crowded nature of this article, such links will point you to other articles or websites where you can get more information about the choic

AP Diver Ref 15703 - Ceramic Mod?!
Dont know if anyone has raised this one before but I have an idea to source the bezel from the ceramic or carbon diver, and slap it on a steel diver 15703 - Anyone know if this is possible at all and if it would even be possible to get the bezel directly from AP? I've heard people say that it's a no - go from AP side��.Any input would be appreciated and if anyone knows where one might be able to get the bezel from feel free to send me a PM - ThanksbrgdsMorten

Planet Ocean materials
Does anyone know what metal the hands are made of on the 'standard' PO's and what metal are the surrounds on the luminescent hour markers? I was told on Rolexes (sub) it's White gold! What do Omega use?

new 5119 (with or without tiffany branding) vs preowned 3919
Hi everyone!I am having a hard time debating between three calatravas and would like your opinion.First, I am torn between the 5119 and 3919. I tried on the rose gold 5119, and it is absolutely gorgeous. I thought the size of the dial was great, but the one minor issue I have with this model is that the roman numerals appeared to me a tad bit stretched.Which brings me to the 3919--I love the proportions of the roman numerals on the 3919, but the downsides I fear stem from the fact that it is preowned from Tourneau, which comes with the store's 2-year warranty and no box.If I were to choose the 5119, the other question is how important the Tiffany branding is. The store representative touted the Tiffany branding as unique and added collector's and waxed poetic about the stamping process. I am truly a fan of the simplicity of the dial and watch itself, and the Tiffany & Co to me sits awkwardly at the bottom of the subsecond ring. I did think it looks spectacular on the 5196 with