Christie’s Geneva Auction Achieves Over SFr. 19 Million
Christie’s November 16 Geneva auction set nine world record prices for Patek and Rolex references on the way to achieving the highest total for any watch auction in 2009: SFr. 19,032,388, or just under $19 million. This was nearly twice the pre-sale low estimate. The results reflected sales of 97% by value and 94% by lot. 900 bidders from 5 continents participated in the sale live, online and on the telephone. The top price of SFr. 2,400,000 was paid for a Patek Philippe ref. 1526 perpetual calendar wristwatch. Rounding out the top 5 were a gold 1924 Patek single-button chronograph at SFr. 939,000, a platinum Patek ref. 3448/100 perpetual calendar with moon phases at SFr. 783,000, a pink gold Patek ref. 2438/1 perpetual calendar at SFr. 711,000, and a gold Patek ref. 1579 chronograph at SFr. 675,000. The top 5 are pictured below.Patek Philippe ref. 1526, front and back1924 Patek Philippe single-button chronographPatek Philippe ref. 3448/100Patek Philippe ref. 2438/1Patek Philippe

Introducing: The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked Reference 15407
The openworked Royal Oak has been around for years, but the originator of this line could be 2010's 15305. Then, we saw in 2012 and 2014 respectively, the traditional 39 mm Jumbo get "openworked" in platinum and rose gold. Now, we see the current 41 mm Royal Oak, reference 15400 openworked for the first time, but with a brand new double-balance wheel escapement that is a world's first! 1 OF 4 Now AP has produced a few very high-end watches in the past that used two balance springs, but not two balance wheels. They include the Millenary Quadriennium and Millenary Minute Repeater with AP Escapement. The thinking here is that having two balance wheels creates an oscillator with more mass, ensuring great stability – why, for example, you see huge oscillators in marine chronometers. In previous watches, the two balance springs would counteract the effects of gravity on the balance itself. Basically whenever the balance spring contracts, it tends to push

AP ROOD on bracelet...
I finally got round to whacking the ROOD on a bracelet and am delighted with the results...

Aquanaut 5164 Durability Advice
Aquanaut owners (and even 5164 specifically). What cautions would you have for wearing this watch for everyday use? I wear my SS sub doing just about anything. Swimming in the pool, mowing the grass, running, etc. I'm not concerned with scratches, just movement damage. I understand they are different watches, just how different.Thanks in advance!

Happy Friday to all.
It's a great day when you can start it with your Patek 5170GSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk