My First Grail Watch: Hartmut Kraft
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.watches-dealer (ABTW): ?Who are you and what is your relationship to the watch industry?Hartmut Kraft (HK): ?I am the German-American Watch Collector turned Industry Executive that everybody simply refers to as the "H," President of Maurice Lacroix North America.ABTW: ?What was your?first?grail?watch?HK: ?A Patek Calatrava Ref. 3919. ?I saw a black and white ad in a German newspaper when I was 14 years old and it made me fall in love with watches as beautifully valuable objects.ABTW: ?Was there ever a time in your life when you could afford it?HK: ?Yes, in my prior career as a corporate attorney of a global US law firm.ABTW: ?What did you like so much about the watch?HK: ?The understated simplicity, the hobnail bezel, the proportions of the small seconds hand, the expression of value that this timepie

Introducing: The Cartier Drive, A New Men's Watch With An Eye To The Past (Details, Official Pri
This could be the Cartier many of us have been waiting for. In fact, earlier today, when CNN asked each HODINKEE team member to pick one watch that they really liked from the day's presentations, it was the new-shape men's watch from Cartier – the Drive – that I chose. Why? Because I've been dying to find a modern day men's Cartier that fits me, and my taste. The Calibre Chronograph was a step in the right direction, the Calibre Diver even more so, but they were still a little bulky, a little sporty for me. I mean, I own great sports watches from Rolex, Omega, and others, so why buy a Cartier sports watch? That's not what Cartier is to me, but the Drive is exactly what Cartier is to me. It's beautiful, it's refined, it's masculine, and its movement is made in-house! And the price? You're gonna like it. 1 OF 11 The Drive is aimed squarely at men, and men with taste. The Drive de Cartier (Cartier Drive) is a vintage autom

RG 44 dining at The Ritz
We've had some talk that the 44 ROOs can't easily be worn with a suit so I thought I'd wear my RG to the fanciest of dinners; Puttin' on the Ritz. It fit just fine under a normal shirt and suit and I completely forgot I was wearing the watch the entire time. However this was part due to the most wonderful dining experience. The dining room is majestic and makes you feel like a prince, but then the glorious food and impeccable and friendly service had me elevated to feeling like a king. I also ordered a dish off the menu, my favourite, and they made it specially for me and even with no supplementary charge. It was a Tournedos Rossini, a filet steak topped with foie gras and black truffles. It happened to be the fave of the sommelier too, word had got around of my special order, and he was so excited to see it he actually brought my dish out and removed the cloche himself to present it to me. I should have offered him a bite but luckily he had drinks to pour elsewhere Other highlights i

ROO 44mm rosegold
Hello TrfLast weekend I went to Rome and came home with a brand new PP5711, which was all good, almost. Problem is that I during some sightseeing came by a local AP boutique and ventured inside. The service was pleasant and very service minded. I tried a couple of nice watches but it was not until I tried the ROO Lightning struck ;-)I have never had the watch on my radar being 44mm and way to large. But I'm a semi-big guy just above 100kg and when viewed in the mirror it looked perfect. Now I'm giving hard thought flipping my gold GMT and date just II, adding a little cash and getting a rose gold ROO. After seeing the AP live my gold GMT feels cheap and the finish seems dull. Nobody where I live knows AP and I like that. How do you think the ROO in rose gold will hold up as a daily driver, office-work? I'm thinking the more scratch resistant bezel will help reducing daily tear. I like the thought of having a really nice daily driver and not just something I put on on occasion. RegardsA

Sea Dweller Ceramic $8099
Remember these days...Now they are $11,575 used