HourTime Show Watch Podcast Episode 136 - Welcome to the Kitchen Table
After Baselworld 2013 day 1 James, Mark, and myself sit around the kitchen table at the Basel apartment to recap on the day and discuss Rolex, Patek, and more from home base at Watchpocalypse 2013.Listen to the HourTime Show watch podcast episode 136 here. Download the mp3.

The Gagarin Tourbillon Watch
Ironically enough I was just thinking about BLU, and what ever happened to it? The cool high-end brand did some neat stuff with dials, but I haven't heard anything about them in at least a year or two. Well now I know. BLU's Bernhard Lederer is (BLU = Bernhard Lederer Universe) is on to other projects, and this is it - The Gagarin Tourbillon.To remind you, I last wrote about BLU here (about two years ago). Anyhow, on to The Gagarin Tourbillon. Yes, this watch is an homage to Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space. He was blasted into orbit via the Russian Vostok-1 rocket (Vostok is also the name of a watch brand but little coincidence!), and then orbited around a bit before coming back down. The Gagarin Tourbillon tries to memorialize this with a tourbillon that acts as a satellite around the dial of the watch. It travels over city names and places like the original satellite did. The tourbillon is a one minute tourbillon, and it revolves around the dial once each 108 minutes. Why 108 mi

Introducing the Autodromo Group B
Although I'm a firm believer in the similarities between car enthusiasts and watch enthusiasts and the common mechanical bent that binds us, I'll be the first to admit that the vast majority of "automotive-inspired" watches are dismal. Most take their inspiration far too literally, painting in broad strokes and placing automotive elements (tachometer markings, racing number roundels, or god forbid an actual steering wheel or disc brake) front and center, rather than allowing them to flavor what should be first and foremost sound and attractive watch design.The best of these attempts take a singular design concept and stick to just that, without beating the viewer over the head with car imagery. One of the best at this in the current watch market is Autodromo. In recent years, the brand has delivered a string of great automotive pieces from the Prototipo to the sublime Stradale, and they've topped all their previous efforts with their latest- the Group B.The FIA World Rally Championship

According to an AD in Switzerland, the 5712 being discontinued in 2 years
The AD manager told me he was told this two days ago directly from Patek. After 2019, they are done.Any thoughts on how this will affect the re-sale value of them? Will it push prices up or down?

GMT Questions and Ramblings
I've been lusting after a GMT for a year or so and finally got the green light from my wife to purchase a milestone watch this Summer. I will finish law school in May and (hopefully) pass the bar at the end of July, results in early August. Knowing this is a popular model, right after receiving the green light, I started in on the hunt with intent to purchase sometime before September 2018 (if I find a deal before then I am ready to jump on it, but no rush). I've been torn between a new BLNR and a 16710 Pepsi. I only have one AD nearby and they have never had a GMT in stock when I've stopped by, as such, I've never seen either a 16710 or the new ceramic GMT in the flesh. For case and bracelet comparisons, I have a M serial 16622 Yacht-Master. Back to the hunt, my wife and I were in Charlotte this weekend and we were able to stop by two ADs near our hotel. The first only had assorted DJs, precious metal Daytonas and a few smaller lady models. However, the second had a new, all black GMT