Visual Quiz: Independents
It's time once again to test your watchspotting skills. This quiz presents a dozen examples of watches produced by independent watchmakers and small, independent brands. Each watch is partially obscured behind a jacket sleeve and shirt cuff. Can you identify the watchmakers? As always, the answers appear at the end of the quiz. Good luck!     

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso watch celebrates its 80th anniversary
In 2011, the iconic Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso watch celebrates its 80th anniversary. This year is also of special importance to Italy, celebrating the 150th anniversary of its Unification. To mark the occasions, the watchmaking company has created an exclusive limited edition Reverso watch destined for the Italian market �C the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Italico watch. The timepiece is available in two variations - in a steel version limited to 150 pieces, and in a pink gold version limited to 50 pieces.

This (5712r) or That (5980r)?
With which piece would you round out this collection, removing price from the equation? The collection consists of the Platona and the SD4k. If I move forward with one of the below, I would flip my 5712/1a towards it. I've surprised myself; my tastes have changed over the past several years, and I now am drawn to a rose gold watch, something I didn't think would happen. Part of the appeal is the rose gold with brown leather strap, so a full-on rose (or yellow) gold watch (i.e. including bracelet) is not in the running. While I love the moonphase of the 5712/1a and the microrotor, and I have a chrono in the Platona, is the 5980r the clear winner? They definitely wear differently, so any feedback by owners is welcome! I truly find both amazing pieces, and sadly () both speak to me! Or, leave well enough alone???Thanks in advance for your thoughts.The 5712r or The 5980r

Takeaways from Geneva
I wanted to follow up and give some insight to collectors based on what I saw in Geneva. They really did give us a look under the hood. We saw even production sheets that stated how many pieces for the run and how many runs per year. I wont speak specifically to that given their transparency. Bottom line, those of you who think the best days of Patek are behind them are crazy. Here are a few facts I am comfortable sharing:-53000 watches per year-12000 quarts watches- 41000 mechanical watches a year-5% of mechanical production are grand complications- The remaining are complications, calatrava, gondola, nautilis, aquanaunt-nonquarts- So ~2100 grand comps a year- there are 38 grand comp references for 2013/14 (35 men, 3 woman)So bottom line, those of you who believe that Patek is over producing their grand complications due to moving to in house movements are wrong. They are most likely producing the same to less. yes there are many more 5140 than 5208 but 2100 piece per year of their fl

My preferred Radiomir
Without any doubt one of the most beautiful Radiomirs. At least in my book.