Patek Philippe Announces New GyromaxSi Balance and Updated Pulsomax Escapement; Endows Materials Chair
Patek Philippe today announced several developments related to the company’s efforts in the areas of advanced materials and their chronometric uses. A new GyromaxSi balance in Silinvar and gold will be coupled with a newly-updated and improved Pulsomax escapement and put to work in new limited edition reference 5550P perpetual calendar Advanced Research timepieces. Patek has also endowed a research chair dedicated to the application of new micro and nanotechnologies to watchmaking. Launched six years ago, the Patek Philippe Advanced Research department is dedicated to creating innovative components from the latest materials using the latest technologies with the ultimate goal of producing more reliable and more accurate timepieces. In 2005, Advanced Research produced the Silinvar escape wheel which required no lubrication. In 2006 came the concentrically breathing flat Spiromax balance spring in Silinvar for improved isochronism. 2008 saw the launch of the Pulsomax escapement in

Complementary pressure testing by AP
I was reading on the AP site that they do Pressure testing at no charge for all AP owners.... is there any conditions to this? is it like a car and have to take your service books to prove its beenserviced by them at the regular intervals etc...?Does it only apply to the original purchaser?cheers

Scratched dial on new Patek
Bought a Patek 5167 last week from my local AD. It was brand new and sealed fresh from the factory.Over the weekend I noticed a very faint but long scratch on the dial. It's only visible from certain angles and under very strong light. It runs from near the 4/5 o'clock hour markers all the way up through the last P in PHILIPPE and finishes near the 12 o'clock marker.I'm just wondering what I should do. Whether I should return the watch or just get used to it. I don't really want the watch to be gone away for a long time and I definatly don't want PP to polish or scratch the case or anything like that. I've had small, faint scratches on a couple of Rolex dials which never bothered me so just wondering what you guys would do in my boots please.Here's a couple of photos. It was very difficult to photograph under a magnifying glass and I could only capture parts of the scratch.Thanks for looking.

Pam 323 or pam 657 picture
Hi .. which do u prefer pam 323or 657 ... thinking to buy one of these

SD4K Phasing Out?
I purchased an SD4K a few weeks back and was at my local AD again today. I noticed in the glass where the SD4K used to sit was still empty, so I asked if they had ordered another to take its place. The AD stated that Rolex said they are not sending out any more SD4K's till April (after Baselworld?) and that they are hard to find. He then mentioned that the SD4K 116600 is on its way to being a collectors item. Is this a possible hint at Rolex phasing out the 116600? Possibly fixing the lugs or coming out with a new model? Anyone else hear of this?