Swatch Group Terminates Partnership With Tiffany & Co. Citing Material Breach of Contract
Swatch Group announced today that it has terminated its cooperation contracts with Tiffany & Co. According to Swatch Group, “This action became necessary following Tiffany & Co's systematic efforts to block and delay development of the business.” Within the framework of a long-term partnership agreement, Swatch Group founded Tiffany Watch Co. Ltd. in Spring 2008. The new company was responsible for the development, production and distribution of “Tiffany & Co.” branded watches. Worldwide sales were handled through points of sale operated by Tiffany & Co., by The Swatch Group Ltd. and by independent retailers.Swatch Group said Tiffany Watch Co. Ltd. will be permitted to wind down current business over the course of two years following effective termination of the cooperation contracts.Swatch Group stated that it and Tiffany Watch Co. Ltd. will press claims for damages against Tiffany & Co., New York, in compensation for the loss of planned lon

My First Grail Watch: Patrick Bek
Welcome back to an original watches-dealer feature, "My First Grail Watch." In this series, we ask prominent people in the watch industry about the first timepiece that they lusted after. Today, we are speaking with Patrick Bek, one of the founders of Uniform Wares. Read on to learn about his first watch, what he sees in the classic Rolex Oyster case, and what particular Rolex reference he hopes to pick up some day.watches-dealer (ABTW): Who are you, and what is your relationship to the watch industry?Patrick Bek: I am a co-founder of the British watch brand Uniform Wares. We create watches with an emphasis on character and distinction through intelligent design, not branding. The collection is the result of our design and development background, underpinned by the manufacturing expertise provided by our collaborative international factories. We sell via our website and a roster of international design and fashion stores.ABTW: When did your fascination with watches start?Patrick Bek: I

Changing Face of Time....
Some interesting observations about the latest World Time Pateksparing the 5131R from last year with the latest release of the 5131R with the revised cities ring it is evident that Patek has changed the circumference of the circle on which the outer cities wording is based - it has been reduced to conform to the new slightly smaller circumference used for the 5230. First picture shows 2015 version of 5131R and 2016 version of 5131R - it is difficult to clearly see any size difference in the circumference of the outer wording of the cities ring.Second picture shows a combined 2015 and 2016 cities ring. The right hand half of the cities ring is from the 2016 version and the left hand half is from the 2015 version. The overlaid red lines correspond to the inner circumference of both lines of text of the cities ring of the 2015 model. The inner red line also corresponds to the circumference of the inner line of text of the 2016 cities ring. The blue line corresponds to the circumference of

I have owned numerous Patek Philippe watches
over the last 20 plus years. 2526 Calatrava was in my collection for over 4 years. Ref. 96 Calatrava in stainless steel from the 1940s as well.This old Patek is still in my possession. Reference 2452 Calatrava.

I have a very important Pepsi vs. Coke GMT question.
Hi guys, I hope you can clarify this for me as it's really making me lose sleep....When I think Pepsi:The Blue/Red, BLRO, etc. pattern becomes pretty obvious to me.But instead when I think Coke:Where is the Black/Red color combo ?!? More like Red/White methinks...Where is the moniker coming from then ? (Because the Coke Zero is much more recent than the Fat Lady....)Please help me recover my normal sleep and clarify this to me.Thanks !(This post can also be called Slow Day at the Office....)