Dubey & Schaldenbrand Returns to America with New Collection
Dubey & Schaldenbrand, the boutique Swiss watch brand founded by Georges Dubey and Rene Schaldenbrand in 1946 and known for its art deco design, has announced its return to North America in 2012. Owner Jonatan Gil, who bought the company in 2009, has established Dubey & Schaldenbrand Americas, which will distribute the brand in the U.S. and Canada.The Dubey & Schaldenbrand Americas team is made up of members of the Daaboul family; father Maurice, son Christopher and daughter L��a. Maurice Daaboul is a 30-year veteran of the watch and jewelry industry and has been an international overseas distributor for brands such as Universal Gen��ve, Breitling, Favre Leuba, Fortis, and Eterna. Christopher Daaboul, director of sales and marketing, explained how the collaboration came about: Dubey & Schaldenbrand Americas, Inc. began when a mutual Swiss family friend put us in touch with the Gil family, who had been looking for a knowledgeable, ambitious, and long-term oriented team to

Ulysse Nardin Elects New Management
At an extraordinary general meeting held on April 27, Ulysse Nardin elected Chai Schnyder to become the new president of the Board of Directors. At the same time, the committee appointed Patrik P. Hoffmann to the position of CEO as successor of Rolf W. Schnyder. Rolf W. Schnyder, president and CEO of Ulysse Nardin, passed away unexpectedly on April 14th, 2011. Chai Schnyder, the widow of Rolf, holds a Master of Science in Manufacturing Engineering (Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom).Patrik Hoffmann has spent the main part of his professional career in the watch sector, and has been a leading member of staff at Ulysse Nardin for many years. He joined the company in 1999. As director of the U.S. corporate offices in Boca Raton, Florida, Hoffmann played a significant role in the success of Ulysse Nardin in North and Central America.The shareholders, the Board of Directors and the Executive Management will pursue Rolf W. Schnyder's chosen path of independence for Ulysse Nard

Pre-SIHH 2014: Introducing The Rotonde de Cartier Astrocalendaire (Live Pics & Pricing)
On Monday we showed you the new Calibre de Cartier Diver, the first in-house tool watch from the maison. Today we have something for you from the opposite end of the spectrum. Here is the Rotonde de Cartier Astrocalendaire, a perpetual calendar with a flying tourbillon that uses a multi-tier circular display for the perpetual calendar and a mechanism that is almost entirely free from the typical levers and springs. This is a seriously complicated watch that introduces a number of important new technologies, plus it just looks like it means business. 2 OF 15 Rotonde de Cartier Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Last year's SIHH saw the introduction of the Rotonde de Cartier Perpetual Calendar Chronograph, adding the benchmark pairing of complications to the Cartier stable. The perpetual calendar indicators are a bit nontraditional on this watch, with retrograde days at 6 o'clock and date around the perimeter of the dial. But the Astrocalendaire takes nontraditiona

Omega boutique in KoP open
I just got mail from Simon Malls that the King of Prussia Mall Omega boutique has been open. I'll go check it out probably next weekend.

Wow, marketing brilliance...
Yes, this is another BLRO thread...and yes I am a Rolex and TRF NEWB.I have to give credit where credit is due, and I give Rolex a ton of credit for releasing the BLRO in SS, even if it comes on a jubilee. In terms of consumer goods, this release is right up there with any marketing strategy in recent memory. Rolex took an iconic piece and poked the bear while only offering it in WG. Sure, those who could afford the WG BLRO were thrilled, however this decision had the masses in an uproar for 4 long years. Had many people begging for a BLRO in SS, and WHAM now we have one. We may never know if Rolex intended it this way before they released the WG BLRO 4 years ago, but the demand and buildup for the SS Pepsi was 4 years in the making. I believe Rolex knew what they were doing on this one, and imo this strategy will pay huge dividends for them.