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The Ultimate Gentleman's Guide To Starting A Watch Collection

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a langue and sohne chronograph men's watches

There comes a time in every gentleman's life when he starts to value time — he values it so much, in fact, that he wants to wear it as a gorgeous piece on his wrist. At this point, it is time to start a watch collection.

This should be done carefully. A gentleman should conduct his research before selecting his first watch. It is a deduction that requires an understanding of not only what is out there, but also of one's own personal style.

And of course, one's own financial limitations.

"Unless you're spending $5,000 to $10,000 you're not going to have an investment-grade watch," says Benjamin Clymer, editor of men's watch site, Hodinkee. "Just make sure you buy something that you love ... Really do your homework. ... There's nothing worse than realizing you don't have the watch that you think you have."

Now here's what you can have. You must decide if you would like your watch to be automatic or manual (meaning you'll have to wind it). You must decide if you would like to purchase a vintage watch (from, say, eBay or a flea market) or a new watch.

After that, there are still almost too many options, so here are some things to keep in mind.

"Like so many other things in men’s dress, it is best to keep your watch pretty simple and restrained," says Justin Jeffers of men's style blog, The Fine Young Gentleman. "Not restrained in the sense that you shouldn’t wear a $25,000 watch ... But restrained in the sense that a man shouldn’t wear some oversized, over iced or over styled watch (or anything else) on his wrist. ... A watch should not be so big that your shirt cuff cannot fit over it. There are few things more gaudy than a huge watch face staring you in the face from someone else’s wrist. It takes attention away from the things that matter (like the wearer's face) and puts it where it doesn’t matter (the wearer's wrist)."

Now let's say you're starting out at a fairly low price point (under $500). What should you get?

Consider going vintage; it's more work but it's also more rewarding. Clymer recommends purchasing an old Omega brand.

You'll want to make sure the vintage piece you buy has as much of its old parts intact as possible, especially with things you can see, like the dial or the face. You want your watch to look old — like it's been passed down from generation to generation.

"The dream watch for a vintage watch collector is a watch that has never been serviced or messed with at all," says Clymer.

If you want a new watch, things are a little different.

"To get a really good mechanical watch [under $500] you're going to want to look at Seiko," said Clymer.

Citizen men's watch Men's StrapYou could also check out Pulsar, Timex, Citizen, Daniel Wellington, Bulova, Shinola, ESQ, Luminox, and Tissot. There's a debate raging in the men's watch world about whether or not you should buy from a company that creates items other than watches (like, say, a Burberry) — but it's bloody, and Business Insider is staying out of it.

What's more important is that you take care of your watch.

"Keep your watch away from super magnets (large speakers, buckyballs, etc).  Although unlikely, it could move pieces inside," says Kirk Miller, nation editor at men's lifestyle newsletter, InsideHook. "Extreme temperature changes, shouldn't be a problem, but again be careful. Expansion and contraction do funny things to watch insides. Leave your watch in the locker when going into the sauna."

And take care of how you use your watch, as well.

"Do not wear a sports or digital watch with a suit. It’s like putting VW wheels on an Audi," says Jeffers.

All this said, you're going to have to service your watch. Especially if you buy something high end or vintage. If your watch is new, you can take it to the manufacturer. If it's vintage, make sure to go to someone who understands what you want, and won't Frankenstein your watch with new parts you don't want.

If you do all that, your watch could last forever.

If you're into vintage pieces, you can get a 1950s Omega like this one for less than $500 on eBay.



Seiko was a unanimous favorite for a starter watch.



Pulsar is a division of Seiko and makes some great traditional-looking watches.



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Swatch Sues Target For Allegedly Copying Its Watch Designs

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Swatch watches are displayed in front of a shop at the central station in Zurich February 4, 2013. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

(Reuters) - Target Corp has been sued by Swatch Group SA, which accused the second-largest U.S. discount retailer of illegally selling watches that copy its own.

In a lawsuit made public on Monday in U.S. district court in Manhattan, Swatch, which is known for its plastic namesake watches, accused Target of infringing its designs for "zebra" and "multi-color" watches.

Swatch said the quality of Target's watches is "inferior" to its own, and that their continued sale is likely to confuse shoppers and damage the Swiss company's sales.

It also said it advised Target of the alleged infringement, but that the Minneapolis-based company continued its sales.

"By adopting the Zebra Watch trade dress and the Multi-Color Watch trade dress, defendants are unfairly competing" with Swatch, the complaint said.

Swatch seeks to stop Target from selling the alleged copies, recoup profit from prior sales, and be awarded money damages.

Target did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Swatch's lawsuit, which is dated March 7.

Retailers of luxury or well-known products often sue to stop sales of alleged imitations they believe cost them revenue and customer goodwill.

Tiffany & Co sued Costco Wholesale Corp in February 2013 to halt the largest U.S. warehouse club chain's sales of what it called counterfeit diamond engagement rings that bore the Tiffany name.

Swatch is based in Bienne, Switzerland. It also owns higher-end brands such as Breguet, Longines, Omega and Harry Winston.

The case is Swatch AG v. Target Corp et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 14-01580.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York. Editing by Andre Grenon)

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The Watches Wall Street's CEOs Wear

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Masters of the Universe aren't known for having anything resembling a jewelry collection except for one item — a watch. They're collectible, gorgeous and at times incredibly expensive pieces that can be handed down from generation to generation

Exactly the type of thing a titan of any industry would want.

We've put together a list and commentary about the wristwatches worn by some of Wall Street's most public executives. 

As expected, a couple of the watches are flashy. A few of them are really, really cheap by Wall Street standards. And one prominent banker doesn't even wear a watch. Ever. 

(If you know of the type of timepiece that an executive at your firm wears, feel free to send the tip to jlaroche@businessinsider.com)

Check it out: 

Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway

buffett rolex

Buffett, the "Oracle of Omaha,"wears a gold Rolex Day-Date

Lloyd Blankfein, Goldman Sachs CEO

Lloyd Blankfein, watchGoldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein rocks a Swatch with what appears to be a clear plastic band. Swatch's tend to range between $50 to $245. It's also not exactly the sort of timepiece you'd expect a chief executive of a Wall Street investment bank to wear. Then again, Goldman is "the most hipster" bank on Wall Street.  

Jack Bogle, Founder of the Vanguard Group

Jack BogleInvesting legend Jack Bogle, the founder of the Vanguard Group, wears a $14 wristwatch he received from a shareholder.

"I received in the mail a wristwatch from a devoted shareholder in California. On the dial were printed our Vanguard logo, my name, and a phrase that was an indication I was still looking out for our shareholders: "Still on Watch." It was also an outrageous pun: "Still on Watch." Confident that it would be my rabbit’s foot, I put the watch on my wrist, where, having proved itself, it remains to this day. (Yes, I knew about the $50 limit on gifts. So I checked the catalog for the price. It was $14. Talk about value!),"he wrote.  

Bond guru Jeff Gundlach, CEO of DoubleLine Capital

Jeff GundlachWe learned about Jeff Gundlach's watch collection when he had a bunch of his artwork and personal property stolen.  

According to the Santa Monica Police Department report, the watches that were stolen included a Glashutte, Breitling, A. Lange & Sohne, TAG Heuer and a Patek Philippe. We couldn't nail down prices for these specific models, but every one can run in the tens of thousands of dollars or more.

See below: 

watches

Talk about some serious wrist candy. Fortunately, the DoubleLine Capital CEO brilliantly helped the FBI recover his stolen property.

Hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square

Ackman watchBill Ackman, the CEO of Pershing Square Capital, sports a watch with a black band and dark face. It's classy and not flashy. We can't identify the watchmaker, though. 

Private equity chief executive Lynn Tilton

Lynn Tilton watchPrivate equity chief Lynn Tilton, the founder of Patriarch Partners, wears a MASSIVE bejeweled timepiece by Jacob the Jeweler. It's definitely fits her "dust to diamonds" persona.

Hedge funder Phil Falcone

FalconeHedge funder Phil Falcone wears a black sports watch (it looks like Casio G-Shock) and some friendship bracelets and beads (We're assuming his twin girls made those for him).

James Gorman, Morgan Stanley CEO

James Gorman watchJames Gorman wears a stainless steel Rolex Daytona, according to Ben Clymer, the founder of watch site Hodinkee.

Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase CEO

Jamie DimonJamie Dimon doesn't wear a watch. Ever. Apparently, he doesn't care for jewelry. 

SEE ALSO: The Ultimate Guide To Starting A Watch Collection »

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A Look At The World's Growing Appetite For Luxury Watches

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Baselworld, the world's biggest watch and jewelry show, kicks off in Switzerland tomorrow. Hundreds of major watch and jewelry brands will be on hand to show off their latest designs and innovations.

Globally, interest in luxury watches is up, with sales hitting record levels at recent trade shows. And despite a slowdown in luxury-watch sales in Asia, global consumer demand for luxury watches grew by 5.7% this year, according to the latest WorldWatchReport from Digital Luxury Group.world watch reportChina bucked the trend of decreased interest in Asia, with Internet searches for luxury watches up nearly 60% from last year, according to the report, which analyzed the performance of 60 high-end watch brands across major markets by looking at more than a billion watch-related Internet search queries.

Omega, Cartier, and Rolex are particularly popular brands in China. And while sales within China have declined this year, interest has not waned, data from Chinese search engine Baidu showed. "Watches are part of the fastest-growing luxury segments in China right now,” Baidu Vice President Liang Zeng told Digital Luxury Group.

Russia and India also showed increased interest in luxury watches this year, with 20% and 12% bumps year-over-year, respectively, the report said.

Brazil, on the other hand, showed diminished interest in luxury watches. Related Internet searches were down 2.9% in 2013, a disappointing number given that Brazil is hosting two high-profile sporting events in the near future. "Despite growing international attention and key events driving important brand-related investments, the market predicted to become the next big thing fails to deliver on its promises," Digital Luxury Group wrote of Brazil.

Globally, Rolex is the most-searched-for luxury-watch brand, followed by Omega and Tag Heuer.Screen Shot 2014 03 26 at 10.20.37 AMLuxury brands Ulysse Nardin, Glashütte Original, and Vacheron Constantin saw the most year-over-year growth in terms of popularity.Screen Shot 2014 03 26 at 10.20.47 AMTo see the full report from Digital Luxury Group, click here.

SEE ALSO: The 7 Hottest Watches At The World's Biggest Timepiece Fair

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3 Watches You Should Wear If You Want To Impress People

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When a man flashes his cuff and his watch is revealed, what does it say about him?

Classic men's jewelry that is sophisticated without going over the top falls into two categories: a wedding ring and a great watch.

We visited Bergdorf Goodman's Men's Store to chat with Town & Country Magazine's style director Stellene Volandes about the watch styles and shapes that make great long-term investments.

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Skeptical Swiss Watchmakers Say Smartwatches Are 'A Lot Of Noise'

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Patek Philippe Chairman Thierry Stern gestures as he speaks during a Reuters interview at Baselworld fair in Basel March 26, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

BASEL, Switzerland (Reuters) - With their hundreds of years of watchmaking experience, Swiss watchmakers can afford to take a long view of technological fads and fashions. So-called smartwatches, packing computing power into a wrist-sized gadget, aren't in their plans for now.

Technology groups from Samsung Electronics Co Ltd to Sony Corp are counting on wearable electronic devices able to hook up to the Internet, melding fashion and technology in what could be the next mass consumer trend.

Yet so far the Swiss see little appeal in such devices.

"There's a lot of noise about smartwatches, but you don't see them on people's wrists," Francois Thiebaud, head of Swatch Group SA's Tissot brand, told Reuters in an interview at a watch fair in Basel.

"We don't want to do anything that doesn't add value for the customer, we're not interested in launching a gadget watch," Thiebaud said.

Family-owned Patek Philippe and La Montre Hermes, the watch unit of luxury goods group Hermes International SA, don't see smartwatches as a threat for their business, their heads said.

Both Patek's Thierry Stern and Hermes' Luc Perramond said their target market was different from the young buyers who might be looking for something to wear on their wrists.

"When they grow older," Perramond said, "that may be a watch."

Yet no consumer goods maker can afford to turn a completely blind eye to global technological advances.

Thiebaud said Tissot, together with parent Swatch Group, had set up a group to assess the potential of launching a watch connected to the Internet, but no final decision had been made.

HUGE POTENTIAL

Swatch Group Chief Executive Nick Hayek said last week that the company, the world's biggest watchmaker, had been approached by several major technology companies for a partnership in smartwatches.

But Hayek was not keen on entering any new venture, after past deals with Microsoft Corp and Tiffany & Co ended in litigation.

Analysts, however, see huge potential in wearable electronics, with Credit Suisse for example estimating the market could reach $50 billion by 2017.

Swatch Group's Swatch and Tissot brands could be best placed for a partnership in the area, since their ranges are in a similar mass-market price band to the target market for smartwatches, said Jean-Claude Biver, head of the watch unit of luxury goods group LVMH.

"I'd love to be in the right spot to do smartwatches, but I don't have access to the technology," Biver said in an interview. "Also, a watch costing thousands of francs, like a Hublot, cannot afford to become obsolete after a year."

But Tissot's Thiebaud said he was not interested in launching a smartwatch, citing previous tech-oriented gadgets, such as the Tissot High-T and the Swatch Paparazzi - both of which offered limited computer-type functions and were fruits of a collaboration with Microsoft - but which had not met with the hoped-for success.

Despite Swatch Group's skepticism on smartwatches, its Swatch brand has just launched a model able to communicate with a smartphone via bluetooth.

For Thiebaud however the key focus remains on the company's mainstream timepieces.

"At Swatch Group, we like to focus on our core business instead of meandering," he said.

(Editing by David Holmes)

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Apple Is Accused Of Trying To Poach Employees From Swiss Watch Maker Hublot (AAPL)

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Hublot

Apple has yet to release a watch, but it's already making enemies in the luxury watch market. 

Jean-Claude Biver, The president of the watch and jewelery division of conglomerate Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessey, says Apple is trying to poach employees that work on his Swiss watch subsidiary, Hublot.

According to the FT, Biver said, "Apple has contacted some of my employees – I saw the emails personally." He also says none of his employees have left to work at Apple.

The CEO of Swatch, Nick Hayek, tells the FT, "We have been in discussions – not ever initiated by us – with practically all players in smart wearables up until today ... However, we see no reason why we should enter into any partnership agreement."

It's a somewhat odd stance for Swatch to take. With Google making Android Wear an open operating system, it would make sense for Swatch to make a nice Android watch. Swatch is the biggest watchmaker by sales, says the FT, so it's not like it's a choosy, niche brand. 

As for Apple supposedly poaching Hubolt employees, that's somewhat interesting. 

We really have no idea what Apple is thinking for the iWatch. Apple is a premium brand, so it would make sense that it wants to hire designers from luxury watch makers. 

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A Detroit Company Is Making Luxury Watches In A Former Auto Factory

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While everyone knows Detroit's been through some tough times, there's optimism in the air for a Motor City comeback

On the front lines of this comeback is Shinola— an American company that makes hand-crafted bicycles, watches and leather goods in a former auto factory.

"Detroit has amazing people. The raw talent here is incredible. The skilled talent here is amazing," Shinola president Jacques Panis tells us.

Take a video tour of the Shinola factory and see for yourself.

Produced by Will Wei

NOW WATCH: 3 Watches You Should Wear If You Want To Impress People

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10 Incredible New Watches To Add To Your Collection

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Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece GravityAnother week of luxury eye candy has concluded in Basel, Switzerland.

Baselworld, the enormous springtime watch and jewelry trade show, attracted thousands of visitors to ogle and buy the latest generation of luxury accessories.

Ariel Adams, founder and editor of aBlogtoWatch — a website that covers all things timepieces — shared his top picks from the show, focusing on "buyability" over impressive or novel watches. You can see aBlogtoWatch's complete Baselworld 2014 coverage here.

 

Omega Speedmaster Mark II

According to aBlogtoWatch, the new Speedmaster Mark II is the best Omega watch for "price, design, and wearing desire."

As a "new vintage" watch, Omega took its historic case design and concept and produced a brand-new collection from modern materials with an automatic movement.

"It is literally like giving people born a few decades too late a chance to enjoy what was one of the most iconic sport chronograph watches of all time," says Adams. He believes the watch is reasonably priced at $6,250. 



Bremont Boeing Model 247 Chronograph White

Bremont is producing an aviation watch in collaboration with Boeing, the iconic plane company.

The Boeing Model 247 Chronograph will come with either a black or white dial, and Bremont promises to produce the watches out of 465 steel, a harder and more resilient alloy made by Boeing.

The chronograph version has a thin rotating bezel with a sapphire crystal overlay at $6,750, according to aBlogtoWatch



Tudor Heritage Black Bay

Ever since Rolex upped the ante in affordable watches, Tudor wound up its competitive gears, creating what Adams thinks is the best value in Swiss watches today, with regard to style and quality.

The 42mm-wide case,three-hand watch has a stylized vintage and "tool-like feel." Prices start at $2,700. 



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There's A 'Rent-The-Runway' For Men's Luxury Watches

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The problem with watches is that they evolve into an obsession. You get one, feel the magic, and want another. You get that other one, and while you're buying it you see this other one ... and you want it.

Like most worthy addictions this is very expensive, but no one is alone in it. In fact this monkey has climbed on so many backs that someone created a solution: It's a company called Eleven James.

Basically its a Rent-the-Runway for men's luxury watches with some very sexy added perks.

Founder Randy Brandoff launched the company at the end of last  year, and already it has a couple hundred members perusing the watch selection, borrowing pieces for three- to six-month periods, and attending events.

Brandoff cut his teeth in the luxury sector as the first employee for Marquis Jet. He eventually became Chief Marketing Officer and stayed in that position when the company merged with Net Jets. In other words he saw the whole luxury-share thing unfold before his eyes.

"It got to the point where I was like 'wow this is a trend, and I'm in the front row,'" Brandoff told Business Insider. 

High-end watches, he thought, would be a perfect item for this kind of sharing.

"For the six months you love it, after another six months you like it, after about a year you want to replace it," he said.

So here's how Eleven James works: Go to Eleven James and fill out an application — basically they want to make sure you're not a 15-year-old with impeccable taste and no cash. Once you're accepted you'll get access to their member website.

It looks like this:

eleven james website

From there you'll have a meeting or phone call to welcome you to the club, and then answer a series of questions (as you can see on the bottom left) to "Build Your Watch Profile." That's how Eleven James can send you recommendations for watches as they add to their collection. You can rate watches too, and that gives the company an even better idea of your style.

If you have trouble deciding what you like, or you have questions about watch maintenance, Eleven James also has a concierge service.

The more you borrow, the more points you accrue. You can use those points to borrow more watches or buy ones you really love.

And there are levels to this stuff; think of them as collections. An Eleven James 'Aficionado' selects watches in the $7,000 to $15,000 range. Then there's the 'Connoisseur' — $15,000 to $30,000 range — and the 'Virtuoso' — $30,000 to $50,000 range.

This is what part of the Connoisseur page looks like:

Connoisseur eleven james watches

Eleven James members will also have access to special events: Super Bowl parties, collection changeover parties, Final Four parties ... lots of parties.

And people love parties (and watches) so Brandoff is already seeing that Eleven James is having an impact.

"One guy called us up," said Brandoff, "he's an old friend of mine and he told me: 'First and foremost I was really doing this for you, and now I really love it and I'm addicted because it's like opening a gift for myself six times a year, and I never give myself anything.'"

So give yourself something.

Below are two examples of what's on Eleven James. You're welcome.

Connoisseur Collections (AP Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph)

Aficionado Collection (Rolex GMT Pepsi)

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The Only 4 Watches That Awed Us At The World's Largest Watch Show

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While new watches abound at Baselworld—the industry’s largest jewelry and watch show, which ran this year from March 27 through April 3—the collectors and retailers who attended did not necessarily have an easy time finding the next must-buy timepiece.

As is often the case at the annual show, the novelties presented by many brands were largely composed of “new animations,” as the Swiss describe the line extensions that populate their new product offerings. Of the truly new products introduced in any given year, the majority are merely pretty.

Only occasionally does a watch display the promise of changing the business of its maker. Out of the hundreds of watches shown at Baselworld 2014, only four caught our attention for not only being outstanding but offering us a deeper understanding of watchmaking in the year 2014. 

Bulgari Octo Finissimo

Screen Shot 2014 04 16 at 5.56.40 PMWhen Bulgari redesigned and relaunched its Octo line two years ago, with its eight-sided bezel and aggressive, angular case, the piece made an impression as a creative and capable reinterpretation of a classic example of legendary designer Gerald Genta’s work. It was also clear that the model would only appeal to a wearer with a bold enough style to carry its extreme lines and bulk.

This year the brand presented two revised Octo Finissimo watches. Both the tourbillon and seconds versions are approximately 5 mm thick. The company, with some fanfare, proclaims its tourbillon movement to be the thinnest on the market, which is naturally an impressive achievement. Octo Finissimo, however, is really a design achievement rather than a technical one.

In a stroke, Bulgari has transformed Octo into a modern dress watch with much wider appeal. Its once overpowering, angular lines are now a flourish that would not look out of place on one of the Vacheron Constantins of the last century that are regarded as classic examples of watch design. (us.bulgari.com)

Arnold and Son CTB

Screen Shot 2014 04 16 at 5.57.02 PMAlthough it might easily stand on its own as a singular launch, Arnold and Son’s CTB, a chronograph with a dead-beat seconds hand on the same axis as the chronograph hand, is merely the most interesting of a number of new watches from the brand, which all feature brand-new, in-house movements.

The extensiveness of Arnold and Son’s development capacity, which became visible last year, is now fully apparent and clearly rivals the activity taking place at much larger brands. Although set up with its own staff and premises that create exclusive movements, Arnold and Son’s technical savior faire flows from the renowned movement specialist La Joux-Perret, which over the last decade has consistently impressed experts with its ability to execute creative movements.

Like other recent Arnold and Son watches, the CTB includes references to the historically significant work of the brand’s namesake, John Arnold. But at the direction of Sebastien Chaulmontet, the brand’s head of development, these touches are limited and are not allowed to interfere with the forward-looking aspects of the brand’s design, which are expressed in contemporary Swiss movement finishes. The approach has received mixed reactions. Some regard the brand as a virtual candy store of haute horlogerie. Others, however, see the modern Swiss elements as a dilution of what might otherwise be a truly individual watchmaking expression. (www.arnoldandson.com)

Manufacture Royale 1770

Screen Shot 2014 04 16 at 5.57.20 PM

At the last Baselworld, the output of the boutique watchmaker Manufacture Royale was a strictly technical affair. All of the watches featured dial-free, openwork designs, and the flagship tourbillon model was cased in a complex and bulky system of articulated lugs.

A year later and under new management, the company has transformed its tourbillon into a gorgeous piece of watchmaking, which contains the DNA of the old model but is essentially an about-face. Conceived by the designer Eric Giroud, the new 1770 model wraps a separate lug assembly, a vestige of the old design, around a flared case. The notes of technicality seem to perfectly balance the voluptuous case and sword-shaped hands. The brand plans an entry into the U.S. market sometime next year. (www.manufacture-royale.com)

Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravity

Screen Shot 2014 04 16 at 5.56.28 PMOver the last decade, Maurice Lacroix has made the journey from classical Swiss designs to ultramodern ones and back again. It has also made a foray into the watch industry’s luxury sector and subsequently returned to its roots in the moderate price ranges. This time, however, it seems to have acquired something on the way. The new Masterpiece Gravity is a remarkable-looking timepiece with a state-of-the-art silicon escapement for the astonishingly low price of less than $14,000.

It does not take an especially astute observer to note that the design is clearly derivative of Audemars Piguet’s series of openwork timepieces beginning with the Tradition d’Excellence Cabinet #5. Borrowing of designs is a very old part of the Swiss watch industry; the more important lesson comes from Maurice Lacroix’s ability to execute the watch at such an attractive price. It is a lesson that Swiss companies, which have long relied on their sense of design to justify their high prices, would do well to heed. (www.mauricelacroix.com)

SEE ALSO: 10 Incredible Watches To Add To Your Collection

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It Is Utterly Mesmerizing To See How Watches Are Made

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Glashütte is a town in Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge, Free State of Saxony, Germany.

It's the birthplace of the German watchmaking industry.

NOMOS_Unternehmen_Herkunft_kA watch company called NOMOS Glashütte creates beautiful, hand-crafted timepieces in this tiny town that's built its reputation on excellence in watch-making. 

A few months ago, the company created a video called "Look over the watchmakers' shoulders" to show the process of how a watch is made, and it's really cool. 

Seriously, this stuff is captivating to watch:

14 Watch 

Each component of the watch is selected and put together by hand:

5 Watch

And cleaned until it shines:

4 Watch

Can you imagine the patience you would need...

12 Watch

...to do this for each and every individual watch you were tasked with putting together?

2 Watch

There are lots of variations of NOMOS Glashütte watches:

WATCH

But they are all made with painstaking precision.

From the NOMOS Glashütte site: "Each year from now on, the watch will tick 100 million times and tock 100 million times. The mechanical oscillation of a watch is 3 hertz: that’s six half-swings per second (the escapement halts the watch six times a second) or 518,400 times a day." 

Watchmakers now say “it’s alive,” when a watch ticks for the first time.

"So the first tick is a big moment that we like to celebrate a little," they add.

16 Watch

"The most important lesson: Those who build watches need patience and time. And the occasional coffee break," say the folks at NOMOS Glashütte.

17 Watch

You can watch the full video below:

 

 

 

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Tim Geithner Rocks A Totally Unpretentious Watch

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On Wednesday Tim Geithner sat down with a bunch of journalists to talk about his new book, "Stress Test: Reflections On Financial Crisis."

It gave him a chance to clarify things, elaborate on pieces of the book, and explain his thought process.

It gave the journalists a chance to size him up.

Being Business Insider, and being completely obsessed with watches, we had to check out Geithner's wrist game. Despite being a former Treasury Secretary of the United States of America and a current employee at private equity firm Warburg Pincus, Geithner rocks a sports watch.

He said it was a Men's Timex Triathlon, about $49. I guess it's not that surprising since he's a runner — but still...

Here's a shot of the model we think he has.

timex triathalon watch

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This Instagram Account Busts Rappers And Athletes Who Wear Fake Watches In Their Photos

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fake watch

A new Instagram account called "FakeWatchBusta" is calling out all of the social media show-offs posting pictures of their diamond-encrusted watches and limited-edition timepieces.

Turns out, a lot of the time the bling is fake, but no one noticed  until now.

Fakewatchbusta is targeting rappers, athletes, reality stars, and even politicians. The account is responsible for calling out the likes of NBA star Carmelo Anthony and rappers Rick Ross, Future, Soulja Boy, and Waka Flocka Flame.

After the account started posting in March, it already has nearly 77,000 followers and counting.

Behind the "Fakewatchbusta" account is an anonymous 30-something male who "resides somewhere on the continent of Europe," acting as a vigilante of a social media. "I don’t want to [say much more] since the threat of lawsuits are starting to pile up from the jewelers selling these fake watches," he told Vice.

Fakewatchbuster explained how the account works in an interview with Hodinkee:

"The tag #Rolex give the most results and there are a lot of people trying to show off their fake watch as real to get likes and admiration from others on Instagram. When I have found a candidate for busting I re-post the watch and tag the person who posted the watch with an added little insult/humorous message. I often also tag friends of the person i'm busting to humiliate the fake owner even more."

Basically, the anonymous male trolls hashtags like #Rolex, #watches, #luxurywatches in order to publicly shame the owners of the replicated goods. What @youdidnoteatthat is to slender fashion bloggers posing with food, @fakewatchbusta is to rappers wearing watches worth more than some people's homes.

And the results are amazing.

Fake Watch BustaFake Watch BustaFake Watch BustaFake Watch Busta

But how does Fakewatchbusta know so much about watches? He tells Vice:

"I’m not a watchmaker, I’m just a detail freak and it’s part of my obsession with watches, it’s a million details on a space of 4cm. 

I started to get into watches since they hold value really well, but I’m also very fascinated with the mechanical aspect of them. I’m not that into them for the luxury aspect of it, I’m more of a watch geek and study the different kinds of movements and how they work ... I know much about them from being an avid forum reader and a detail freak; even some of the real watches have details that are off sometimes and that irritated me. I started to study some of the quality control issues in the Swiss watch industry and this led me to know the real watches very well."

To check out more of the account, click here >

SEE ALSO: The New Website That Catches #NoFilter Fakers On Instagram

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Here's How To Figure Out How Much A Watch Is Worth

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To jump into the used watch market is to swim in murky waters. Many pawn shops don't have professional appraisers on staff, and eBay and Craigslist deals are often scams.

That's why Hamilton Powell founded Crown and Caliber, an Atlanta-based company that helps people safely buy and sell pre-owned watches online. His secret weapon is a team of in-house valuation experts who price each piece based on a database of historical sales records.

"We can tell you how much a watch sold for decades ago, online, at auction, at a dealer, and so on," Powell says. "It's an important step to getting your money's worth, and to make people feel like they're not getting ripped off."

Unfortunately, there isn't always going to be an appraiser on hand when a vintage watch catches your eye. You'll want to get an expert opinion before you take out the checkbook, but that opinion is going to cost as well. Here are the questions you need to ask before you call Powell or your local expert.

RELATED: The Best New Men's Watches

Is it rare?
Is the piece one of 100, or one of 10,000? The difference is key. "We're consigning a Jaeger LeCoultre watch that is one of 35 ever made," Powell says. "It retailed for almost $200,000." While there is no Kelly Bluebook for watch values, interested buyers can try looking up similar models on eBay and on other watch sales sites like Bob's Watches for comparisons. Just be careful not to confuse rare with undesirable. If you only find one on the market and the price is low, it's more likely that its the latter.

What condition is it in?
The vintage watch market is a lot like the used car market. "It can be waxed and cleaned, but if the engine isn't running right, it's a tough sell," explains Powell. Crown and Caliber employs watchmakers that take apart each timepiece for lubricating and pressure testing to make sure it's functioning properly. "It cranks the value way up," he says. Ask pointed questions about what maintenance the watch has undergone so you don't get stuck with those problems. 

What are your watches complications? 
Watches can have a lot of bells and whistles, including perpetual calendars, minute repeaters, and power reserve functions. What, besides telling time, does the watch do? "The more complications, the more it's worth," he says. That means that just because you find a certain functionality to be excessive, doesn't mean it should be overlooked.

What is the brand's reputation?
Watches made by a handful of elite brands hold their value better than others. Brands like Rolex and Patek Philippe tend to stay valuable longer, while "blinged-out fashion watches lose value over time," Powell says. A rule of thumb: If the watch is more about the exterior than the interior, it's not going to stay valuable.

Do I love it?
Luxury watches aren't just an investment. You should want to wear every timepiece you own. If you don't feel strongly about a piece, keep moving. There are lots of very shiny fish in this sea.


More from Men's Journal

6 Don-Draper Worthy Watches

How To Buy a Vintage Watch

Why You Should Buy a Used Luxury Watch

The Affordable Way to Wear Luxury Watches

 

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3 Watches You Should Wear If You Want To Impress People

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When a man flashes his cuff and his watch is revealed, what does it say about him?

Classic men's jewelry that is sophisticated without going over the top falls into two categories: a wedding ring and a great watch.

We visited Bergdorf Goodman's Men's Store to chat with Town & Country Magazine's style director Stellene Volandes about the watch styles and shapes that make great long-term investments.

NOW WATCH: 4 Essential Suits Every Man Needs In His Closet

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Bill Clinton Went On A Fancy Watch Shopping Spree That Cost At Least $7150

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Bill Clinton Watch

Former President Bill Clinton had a lot of time on his hands in April when he purchased 13 watches after touring the headquarters of Shinola in Detroit, Michigan.

Clinton discussed the shopping spree at the Denver meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative on Wednesday. Detroit businessman Rip Rapson interviewed him at the event and asked how many Shinola watches he purchased during his visit to the company. 

"I bought 14 of them myself in two different runs," Clinton said. "I bought five at Christmas and nine when I was there. And I just give them away and hope that I'll make you more customers."

However, according to a Shinola spokeswoman, Clinton actually purchased 13 Shinola watches during his April tour of the company's headquarters.

"President Clinton purchased 13 watches, mostly of the Runwell style, in April," a Shinola spokesperson told Business Insider in an email.

Clinton also received a special Runwell watch decorated with the presidential seal as a gift from Shinola during his visit. 

According to the Shinola website, the company's Runwell series ranges from $550 to $975 per watch. That means Clinton bought at least $7,150 on the day he visited Shinola headquarters. The Shinola spokesperson said they did not have information about whether Clinton purchased additional watches during the holidays.

Clinton's wealth has drawn increased attention in recent weeks following a series of comments his wife, Hillary Clinton, has made about her financial situation while on the media tour for her new book, "Hard Choices." 

 

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Apple Granted Patent For 'iTime' Smartwatch

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At the final AllThingsD conference last May, Apple CEO Tim Cook said he saw wearables as “a very key branch of the tree,” adding “I think the wrist is interesting. The wrist is natural.”

Since then, there’s been a flurry of rumors about what Apple’s potential smartwatch might look like or do, but nobody really knows for sure. However, a new patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (via PatentlyApple and AppleInsider), which describes an electronic device called “iTime,” might offer some hints at what we’ll see when the iWatch launches later this year.

Following in line with previous reports, the iTime patent — filed to the USPTO in 2011 but published on Tuesday — describes a wrist device that can connect with other Apple portables like iPhones and iPads. But while many are expecting a smart watch, much of this patent describes an advanced wristband system, where a “central electronic device” is “removably secured” to the wrist strap.

This might mean the iWatch’s display could be removed at any given time, similar to the way the sixth-generation iPod nano could act as a wristwatch. (The patent, as AppleInsider notes, even mentions the iPod nano by name.)

itime 3According to the patent, the watch’s straps would contain most of the sensors and other circuitry needed to bolster performance of the device, including accelerometers, WiFi and cellular packages, GPS modules, and haptic feedback mechanisms. But the wristband would also be able to interact with what Apple describes as a “personal wireless environment,” which allows the device to exchange information with nearby cellular- or internet-connected devices like iDevices and Mac computers.

One embodiment of the patent shows how the watch could receive notifications from a nearby phone, and then alert the user with some form of audio, visual or haptic feedback, which would likely be a wrist vibration. At that point, the notification can be addressed directly on the watch by interacting with the display or through audio feedback via a set of headphones or “system speakers,” meaning the iWatch may come with a built-in microphone.

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The wristband, according to the patent, can also tell the user when it’s out of range with one’s iPhone, which is likely accomplished with Bluetooth 4.0, though the patent does not mention that particular technology.

In another embodiment of the iTime patent, the wristband wouldn’t need to connect with any additional devices, as the display would provide all of the additional components needed to sense and communicate with the environment.

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The end of the patent describes potential smartwatch gestures, where one could control their iWatch by shaking, bouncing, or tapping. One may also assign a combination of those gestures to control certain actions on the device. For example, one could shake their wrist once to answer a phone call, or shake twice and tap once to decline the call.

The patent credits Albert Golko, Mathias Schmidt and Felix Alvarez as the inventors. Two of those three authors — Schmidt and Alvarez— currently work for Google (Schmidt works as a product designer for Nest Labs, which is owned by Google). The third author, Golko, works within Apple’s product development team for the iPod and iPhone.

Another Apple patent published last February described a flexible display that conforms to one’s wrist, similar to a “slap bracelet,” consisting of “layered flexible steel bands sealed within a fabric cover.” That patent also described the device's ability to communicate with mobile devices, even at a basic level, and solar panels — known as “ambient light collectors” — on the watch to boost the device’s battery life.

SEE ALSO: Here Are 10 Apple Patents We Want To See Become A Reality

SEE ALSO: The iWatch Is Coming In October

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Watch Trading Is An Easy Way To Get A New Watch — Here's How It Works

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man with watch

While it’s true that watches should be worn and enjoyed, when they start to spend more time sitting in a drawer than resting on your wrist, it’s probably time (pun intended) to move on. Still, trading an exceptional luxury timepiece like it's an old baseball card isn’t for everyone. But for those astute—and shrewd—enough to part with their favorite piece, or gamble their investments as they would stocks in a bear market, the adrenaline rush can be like no other.

"Watches are luxury items any way you look at it," explains Leonardo Solis, a 45-year-old Boston-based real estate investor, owner of International Guest House Inc., and avid watchaholic who buys and trades in luxury timepieces. "Our iPhones keep better time than any mechanical watch ever will, so you have to accept that you will be putting your hard-earned money on the line. But start small, and, as you grow financially, you can put some of your cash into bigger pieces, or more watches if that is the way you want to go." 

RELATED: The Best New Men’s Watches

However, unlike Hollywood marriages, watch trading doesn’t always have to aspire upward—even if a majority of experts disagree. “Beauty doesn’t always have to come at a higher price," Solis advises. “It’s not about always going bigger—just newer and more interesting.” With that in mind, Solis gave us a few tips on how to navigate the world of watch trading.

Trade Smart:

With watch trading, research is everything. There are online groups of watch enthusiasts throughout the U.S. that you can join, ask questions, or simply observe; these forums are a great way to gain knowledge. Educate yourself about the market—i.e. what other people are selling watches for and what makes sense for you at the time. The most important factor is knowing what your watch is worth and what the watch you're looking to trade is going for.

Know What's Hot:

Three brands have risen to the top of the totem pole of desirability for traders: Roger Dubuis, which started off shakily but is now making great strides to produce special and complicated watches that are all Côtes de Genève sealed; A. Lange & Söhne, already one of the world’s top watch brands that commands the attention of competitors like Patek Philippe, but which still has room to stretch its legs; and F.P. Journe, which makes all their watches and movements in-house while remaining consistent with their design and product offerings.

RELATED: The 5 Best Running Watches

Learn the Markets:

When it's time for the actual trade, there are generally two options: retail and aftermarket, also known as the “grey market.” One offers you a watch at what the brand thinks it’s worth (retail), the other offers you the same watch at what the market thinks it’s worth. If you are looking to protect your wallet you may want to dwell in the grey market—although new timepieces are harder to come by and you’re not privy to the perks retailers can offer.

The best advice is to find an honest group of three or four dealers you can develop close relationships with (both in the grey and retail markets) and work with them so that they cut you some slack and reduce their margins with the promise of your long-term repeat business.

Understand the Risks:

Regardless of your motivations, at the end of the day you should be realistic with your goals. Not losing money watch-to-watch is great, but, and this may come as a surprise, the majority of watches are not good investments. What's most important is moving on something that speaks to you: what you like, what functions you desire, and what best represents you. For Solis and many other traders, just experiencing new pieces, new inventions, and new techniques trumps return on investment:

“Watches are my escape. When I want a watch I will buy it, even if it means losing money in the process. I can only do that by wearing watches and then trading them for something else that is new and ‘better.' But the best watch to me is the one I have yet to wear.”

More from Men's Journal:

How to Buy a Luxury Watch Online

How to Buy a Vintage Watch

The Case for Used Luxury Watches

 

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Swatch Responds To Rumors Of An Apple Partnership For The iWatch

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swatch appleA VentureBeat report on Wednesday said Apple was partnering with the Swiss watch manufacturer Swatch to “release a line of smartwatches in a variety of branded styles and price points.”

Swatch, however, denies the report.

“Swatch is not working with Apple on smartwatches,” the company said in a statement.

Still, the lack of a partnership does not preclude Swatch from offering advice to Apple when it comes to its own smartwatch project.

As Re/code points out, Swatch CEO Nick Hayek last year acknowledged to Bloomberg that he and his company had “contact with Apple over many years about materials for products and so-called energy harvesting technology that would generate energy from physical movement.”

So Apple and Swatch aren’t officially building the iWatch together, but considering how The Swatch Group is the largest watchmaker in the world, we may see some of Swatch’s variety and creativity rub off on Apple when it launches its first smartwatch this fall. 

Apple’s iWatch is said to be more of a fitness wristband that runs on Apple’s mobile operating system iOS, conforms to one’s wrist, and can connect to nearby iPhones, iPads and Mac computers.

SEE ALSO: The iWatch Is Coming In October

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