LVMH Reports Strong First Half Results
LVMH Mo?t Hennessy Louis Vuitton recorded revenue of �10.3 billion in the first half of 2011, an increase of 13%. Profit for the first half rose to �2.223 million, an increase of 22% compared to the same period in 2010, which had itself shown strong growth. Organic revenue for watches and jewelry grew by 27% and profit from recurring operations increased by 73%. The Group saw sustained growth in the U.S., Europe and Asia.LVMH attributed strong revenue growth at TAG Heuer to the automatic chronograph with the 1887 Calibre movement, to the new women's ranges in the Formula 1 line, and to the selective opening of TAG Heuer stores. TAG Heuer opened its flagship U.S. boutique in Las Vegas in June.New Hublot King Power models with manufacture Unico movements were also cited as contributing to the results.LVMH said Zenith saw strong demand for its new collections.The first half was also marked by the Group’s agreement with the Bulgari family for the contribution of its majority sharehol

Making the Tissot Sea Touch Video: Tissot Has Never Looked So Bad Ass
We often think of watchmaking as a quaint, old world, manual operation - wizened men hunched over a desk, loupe planted firmly in the eye, carving out steel components with 19th century tools. While there still are watch manufactures that preserve the old ways of doing things, even the storied companies like Patek and Lange fully embrace the latest technology for parts of the process where it makes sense. Similarly, even mass produced pieces require some manual steps and the steady hands of trained watchmakers to assemble.Take, for example, the Tissot Sea Touch. The Sea Touch is a quartz ana-digi multifunctional dive watch from the Swatch Group's entry level marque. Though it's a thoroughly modern underwater tool, with electronic compass, depth gauge and dive log functions, as the following video shows, there are still some human processes involved in its manufacture. This video is a fascinating inside look at how Tissot builds a watch in large numbers. We see hands being stamped and l

Omegas Retailed by Cartier or Tiffany
Were Omega watches ever (particularly in the 1960's) retailed by Cartier or Tiffany and sold with both Omega and the jeweler's signature on the dial?

Saw the new PO 8500 today
HDNTER and I checked out a couple places today including a new Omega boutique and the owner had the new PO 8500 with black bezel and silver numbers in 45.5MM as well as the orange bezel with orange numbers in 42MM. I never had an interest in an orange bezel watch and still don't. I do like the ceramic bezel on the black and silver PO but just as I feared, I did not like how the numbers black out in certain light. I do like the shade of black of the dial on the 8500 better than my 2500 PO. The clear case back was a nice addition as well. One thing that was noticeable to me was the increased thickness of the case needed for the 8500 movement. I did not find this a good thing and it begins to make the watch a bit top heavy. And if I am honest, the changes did not wow me enough to part with my PO 2500. I do think it is nice though but it's just not for me.

After a big scratch on the bezel
Just coming backLook at the laser recharge work