Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde SW Now Available in 6 New Steel Versions
Jaquet Droz’s Grande Seconde SW watch collection, the sportier cousins of the brand’s well-known Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde models, expands this year, with six new models in steel cases, offering two different case sizes and three contemporary color schemes. The Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde SW derives its name from its off-center “figure eight” dial design, with a prominent seconds subdial in the bottom half intersecting a smaller, hours-and-minutes subdial in the top half. (The “SW” in the model name marks it as the “sports watch” version of the original, more elegant Grande Seconde watch.The new watches, which are available at retailers now, are offered in two case sizes �� 45-mm-diameter and, for the first time in this line, 41-mm diameter �� and a trio of dial colors that include gray, anthracite gray, and blue, all with matching alligator leather straps. The prices for all six new Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde SW watches are the same: $14,7

Tourneau Watch Stores: Oh The Places You'll Need To Go!
Oh Tourneau, how far you've come from being the world's most important watch retailer to the equivalent of a fancy candy store. There was a time when your incredible deployment of watch stores was the most important place for a high end watch to be. Your large distribution of locations carries some of the best brands in the world. To bad it mostly only looks nice.Enter these establishments to be met with mostly sales goons. Like lurking sharks they circle looking for a bite. Enter their lair and reveal anything but and instant desire to buy, and be met with an attitude of the likes you'll prefer to swing a fist at. I've actually muttered before "You realize that in the event I was going to buy, I am not going to now, or ever from you."On one occasion an enterprising member of their "force" actually asked me for a job realizing I was someone who knew about watches. "Come on Ariel, you'd help me out if you have a need for me right?" I kid you not, this actually happened. My empathy soars

Hands-On with the Bravur BW002
About two years ago, we reviewed the first line of watches by the Swedish brand Bravur, the BW001. Their unique take on a modern minimal design, backed by a great case, made the watches successful pieces, though their prices were a bit higher than desired. Recently, they released a follow up model, the BW002, which takes their aesthetic into even cleaner territory. While co-exisitng with the previous watch, I do get the feeling that BW002 is an evolution on their aesthetic concept. As such, there are small differences that feel like improvements throughout the design. It's a bit smaller and more sparse, perhaps simpler in general, but comes across a bit tighter and more harmonious. With a slightly reduced price tag starting at $625, the BW002 is still on the high side for a quartz, but has many great features with taking a closer look at.Hands-On with the Bravur BW002Case: SteelMovement: Ronda 785Dial: Gray + SIlver/WhiteLume: NoLens: SapphireStrap: LeatherWater Res.: 5 ATMDimensions:

AP Closed ?
I've been shopping for a new gray market 15400 ST Silver dial and they are a little hard to find at a good price. Some of the gray dealers and the AP Botique in Las Vegas told me that AP shuts down for a period in the summer and stops shipping out new watches. Can anyone elaborate on this? Maybe I'm a little confused.

Taking some photos this morning
Have been pretty busy lately, so decided for my day off today to take out my camera and take a few photos. Cheers,James