Visiting The Julien Coudray 1518 Manufacture: A Hidden Gem Where Watchmaking Tradition Prevails
Being a so-called "Manufacture" in the Swiss watch making industry has probably never been as important as it is today. To be clear, a manufacture is commonly defined as a company that makes most all components itself (and hence probably in Switzerland), with the possibly acceptable exclusion of jewels, the hairspring, and the crystal.?This previously unseen craze in regard to being a vertically integrated manufacturer has been brought about?by two different causes: for one,?it is the Swatch Group's decision to cut the amount of supplied ETA-movements to non-Swatch companies; and second,?the recent?marketing "strategies" that created a perception of added value and prestige around the status of being a manufacture. During the last decade or so we have even seen a few brands try and achieve this status prematurely �C and the result of those trials clearly highlighted?some of the difficulties linked to this?Herculean task.The main challenge to becoming a manufacture is mastering the more

Please let me in on the jumbo (40th anniversary model)
I may get some flack for this but why is the jumbo the most coveted royal oak? I know of its horological significance but do people buy this model because of its heritage or because of the way it looks and wears? There may be an impression it may look too plain.For those who currently own this, did its horological value (Genta DNA, etc) outweigh its aesthetics when upon purchasing? Please don't get me wrong. I know this is a FANTASTIC timepiece. Just torn between this or the royal oak chronograph. I fancy the chrono more aesthetically, but I may be missing out on something very important with the 15202.

Trade in my AP Diver for JLC MUT moonpahse 18k?
Thinking of trading in my AP Diver for a JLC MUT moonphase 18K (39mm). Any and all comments would be greatly appreciated...especially from those who own or owned both watches.

Let a Rolex AD watchmaker size 5711 ?
Option A: let my Rolex AD watchmaker size my 5711Option B: drive 1h 30 mins to the nearest PP ADOption C: wait a month until I'm in an area with multiple ADsI'm leaning towards option A. Seems like a piece of cake if you have the right tools no?

Rolex just called on my HULK that's there for service
Look at the watches condition listed here . Kind of depressing if i didn't know better... Gal told me that they use a extremely powerful magnification when determining the condition of the incoming watch. I bought it new and it still looks new.. And how the heck do you scratch a hand????Guess they just need to protect themselves when they return it.see next post for pic