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Even pre-owned Rolex watches – not just new ones – could rise sharply in price right along with the price of gold, claims a California gemologist who says consumers who wait until Christmas to buy the upscale Swiss watches risk paying from 10-30 percent more than the timepieces cost today.Jewelers who trade in the pre-owned Rolex market may be forced to raise prices as much as 30 percent long before the Christmas buying season begins,” says San Francisco gemologist Avi Dayan. “With gold topping out at more than $700 an ounce last month – and forecasters predicting higher valuations ahead – some Rolex lovers may start holiday shopping early.”Dayan says climbing interest rates, the weak U.S. dollar and the war in Iraq have made gold and other precious metals more valuable than they’ve been in 25 years. “Experienced Rolex collectors are keeping their eyes on the price of gold,” he says.

“Some consumers believe it’s only new Rolex watches that are affected by soaring gold prices – but that’s not the case. The cost of merchandise in the pre-owned Rolex market is directly affected by activity in the new Rolex arena,” says Dayan.

Rolex SA, the Swiss company that has manufactured luxury timepieces since 1905, vigilantly controls the market, says Dayan. “Rolex never floods the market. You won’t see an oversupply of Rolex watches in jewelry stores.”

Such controls make the new watches scarce, says Dayan, a graduate of the Israeli Gemological Institute. “As a result, some jewelers deliberately ‘hold back’ their Rolex inventory during unstable times banking on a better price later. If the price of gold continues to go up, by Christmas, those same retailers will be pulling their Rolex merchandise out of the case, adjusting the price upward and making a bigger profit.”

Dayan says there is no scarcity of watches in the used Rolex market. “While the price of pre-owned Rolex watches is impacted by steeply higher gold prices, inventory is not held back because a worldwide network of buyers is continually providing a quality supply to dealers. There is just no incentive for a used Rolex dealer to hold back,” he says.

“Typically, there is lag time between rising prices in gold and higher costs for watches,” says Dayan, “but eventually the lag time ends and the higher prices begin.” When the pre-owned Rolex network is forced to pay from10 to 30 percent more for a timepiece than they paid for a similar watch even a couple of months earlier, you’ll see the higher cost passed on, he says. Soon, the increased cost filters down to the doctor’s wife who wants to surprise her husband with a Rolex on Christmas morning.” Dayan says prices on a Rolex President could go up as much as 10 percent and 30-50 percent on various gold and stainless steel styles.

“Jewelers must answer this question: ‘Should I charge the consumer what I paid for the watch, or should I charge what it’s going to cost me to replace it?’ The gold market is putting pressure on the Rolex market and consumers may see higher prices before summer’s end,” says Dayan.

Tags: rolex, rolex+shopping, rolex+wristwatch, shopping, used+rolex, prices

Tags: rolex watch case verification watches

In between climbing pagodas and snapping pictures of golden goddesses, most travelers to Asia take time to visit the shopping districts. The quality and selection of designer clothing and extravagant items found in shops across Asia will not disappoint those with a penchant for luxury goods. From China More »

Rolex recently announced a new sports watch for yachtsmen: the Rolex Yacht-Master II. When Rolex releases a sequel to an existing watch model, you can always expect to see impressive new functionality. Rolex made significant changes to the GMT Master movement between the original GMT Master, and the GMT Master II, the latter allowing the hour hand and the 24-hour hand to be set independently. Likewise, the Explorer II changed dramatically from the original Explorer, adopting the same movement as the GMT Master II which added a 24-hour hand and date. And now the Yacht-Master II represents another extremely important step in Rolex evolution.

I’m not a boater myself, but in my opinion, the original Yacht-Master doesn’t really do much more for yachtsmen than a standard dive watch can do. The bi-directional rotating bezel can be used to track the start sequence of a regatta (fancy word for boat race), and the Triplock crown keeps the case impervious to sea spray, but that’s about it. Nothing else except the name, and possibly the watch’s exorbitant price, really has much to do with yacht racing.

Not so, with the Yacht-Master II. The new watch has an extremely complex and innovative new movement with a countdown timer which can be programmed to start between one and ten minutes in order to accommodate regattas with varying start sequences. I use the term “program” rather than simply “set” because the value is actually remembered, and when the countdown timer is reset, the countdown hand will return to the last programmed value. For a mechanical watch, this is an extremely impressive feat. There is a tradeoff, however: the date which was present in the initial Yacht-Master had to go to make room on the dial, and no doubt to allow for the additional complication of the movement.

The other tradeoff is that the Yacht-Master II is a tad complicated to operate. For watch aficionados, a single demonstration will probably be a sufficient lesson, but I’m sure the Yacht-Master II will be worn by plenty of yachting types who appreciate the aesthetics much more than the functionality, and for whom it will be enough of a challenge to keep the time set correctly. For a very good demonstration of how the Yacht-Master II works, check out the Yacht-Master II home page on Rolex’s site, and specifically, the operational tutorial.

I found the reaction from the hardcore Rolex watch fans out there to be mixed. I think most of them were so accustomed to looking at more or less the same Rolex styles for so many years that the new Yacht-Master II really caught them off-guard. The two biggest complaints I heard focused on the surprisingly prominent “YACHT-MASTER II” branding on the bezel (for better or for worse, the new generation of Rolex watches are much more heavily branded), and the fact that you have to unscrew the crown in order to set the countdown timer, leaving the watch more vulnerable to moisture, of which there tends to be plenty around yachts.

Whether you like the new Yacht-Master II or not, there is no denying that it represents a major new innovation in the world of watchmaking. In many ways, Rolex is the Apple (as in computers) of the Swiss watch world. They are arrogant and secretive, they end up setting most of the trends, and they command an extremely loyal following who sometimes complains, but in the end, always comes around.

The new Rolex Yacht-Master II is rumored to start appearing this summer. It will be available in yellow or white gold, and is expected to retail somewhere around $30,000 (no, that’s not a typo — the theory is that if you can afford a yacht, you can afford a Yacht-Master II).

tagsrolex, watch, yacht master, new, luxury, luxury watch/tags

pWhen speaking about luxury watch brands, the name Rolex is always one of the first to be mentioned. However, what is really known about this watch aside from the mystique that surrounds it? In this guide I will go over a little of the history of the Rolex, the various types, prices and more.
BR
BRThe Rolex Company was started by the German born Hans Wilsdorf and his brother in law in 1908. During this time, frame watches were not very reliable, accurate or compact in size. Rolex’s innovations have raised the bar as to how watches are to look and perform. Just a few years later Rolex got the presages Official Chronometer Certification in 1910. This is Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute that certifies the accuracy and precision of wristwatches.
BR
BRThrough the years Rolex has continued to contribute to the way we view time. In 1931 the Rolex Oyster Perpetual was developed which prevented water from leaking into the timepiece. We take that sort of thing for granted these days since most watches are made to be waterproof. However, back before Rolex came along, this was a common problem. Each Oyster produced today stays waterproof to at least 300 feet. Today, the price for a authentic Rolex Oyster Perpetual ranges from a few thousand dollars to over sixty thousand dollars each. One of the reasons the price is justified aside from the quality the Rolex brand offers is the limited availability. Rolex only produces a few hundred thousand watches a year. This has lead to a huge amount of replica and counterfeit Rolex watches being sold. For many, a second hand Rolex is the best option.
BR
BRTypes of Rolex Watches
BROyster Perpetual Submariner
BRThis unique watch offers a rotatable bezel so divers’ can check to see how long they have been underwater. This feature works in addition to the standard time function.
BR
BRMen’s Explorer II Rolex
BRKey benefits include; self-winding, stainless steel and sweep second hand.
BR
BRRolex Sea-Dweller
BRThe Sea Dweller is a new watch for divers that stays waterproof up to a depth of 3,900m.
BR
BRLadies Datejust Rolex
BRThis 18kt white gold bezel watch displays the date at the three o’clock position. It is water resistant up to thirty meters and features thirty one jewel chronometer automatic movement.
BR
BRRolex Models
BRMens Datejust Rolex
BRMens Presidential Rolex
BRMens Submariner Rolex
BRRolex Cosmograph Daytona
BRMens Yacht-Master Rolex
BRAir-King
BRLadies Date/Datejust
BRExplorer
BRExplorer II
BROyster Perpetual
BRSubmariner
BRSea Dweller
BRDaytona/Cosmograph
BR
BRAuthorized Dealers
BRSince the price of Rolex watches are steep and fakes are common, it is best to find authorized dealers who order directly from Rolex if you plan on buying one. This is the safest way to ensure against fraud. Many people get drawn into buying fake Rolex watches each year thinking they are getting a deal. In reality they are being ripped off. Buying expensive watches online can be a very costly mistake. It’s easy to pass off replica Rolex’s to unsuspecting customers because they can’t actually see the watch for themselves.
BR
BRConclusion
BRStyle, elegance, sophistication and even expensive could all be used to describe the many varieties of Rolex watches. One thing that can’t be said is that these watches are not unique, innovative or world renowned. Whether it be a watch for sports or fine dining, Rolex makes a watch for every occasion./p

Soon after that, the wrist watch was making its first appearance. Until then, the pocketwatch had been king. A fine pocket watch gave a man an air of respectability. When Wilsdorf and Davis first released the wristwatch, though, the public viewed the new invention derisively.

An English language Greek newspaper tells of three men who robbed a Rolex store in Athens yesterday. The gang posed as customers, then one man produced a gun while the other two stuffed their pockets with fistfuls of Rolex watches. The three discriminating thieves took off on foot, however the shopkeeper hastily enlisted the assistance of a pedestrian who bravely pursued one of the men. Fortunately for our hero, he picked one of the two thieves who had Rolexes in his pocket rather than the one with the gun, so instead of getting shot, the poor guy had Rolex watches thrown at him. Being that he stopped to gather these watches, the ploy worked, and all three thieves managed to escape. (Something tells me if it were Timex watches getting lobbed through the air, at least one of these guys would be in custody right now.) The article does not mention whether the pursuer was injured, or whether he is currently at large, as well, though the moral of the story is clearly to keep a few Rolex replicas on hand during your next heist.

tagsrolex, rolex+watch, athens+rolex/tags

Roger Moore wore Rolex Submariners in two James Bond movies, Live And let Die (1973) and The Man with The Golden Gun) (1974).

This continued a relationship with Rolex that went back to the original James Bond movies with Sean Connery. He also wore Submariners.

wore in two James Bond movies, Live And let Die (1973) and The Man with The Golden Gun) (1974).

Tags: rolex, watch, james+bond, rolex+watch, rolex+submariner, bond, Roger+moore

A girl was visiting her blonde friend who had acquired two new dogs, and asked her what their names were.

The blonde responded by saying that one was named Rolex and one was named Omega.

Her friend said, “Whoever heard of someone naming dogs like that?”

“Hellooooo,” answered the blonde . “They’re watch dogs!”

Tags: omegawatch, omega, joke , rolexwatch, rolex

Watch repairer, John Harwood of Britain patented the self-winding wrist watch on July 7, 1923. Although other self-winding watches had been made prior to Harwood’s invention they were fob watches, which were bulky and expensive. Rolex wouldn’t create their version for another seven years. Conversely, most wrist watches of the day used an exterior winding crown to wind-up the watch. These were often inaccurate because dirt got into the movement and damaged the watch. John Harwood wanted to design a watch that had its winding mechanism inside which would be impervious to grit and safe from the human error of over winding.

In 1923, Harwood from the Isle of Man, developed a wrist watch that had enough power to wind itself. It was based on a ‘hammer winding system’, where the mechanism had a semi-circular weight that pivoted at the centre of the movement through a 300 degree arc. The swinging weight was activated by the movement of the wearer. A friction plate was fixed in the mechanism, which prevented over winding. Having no crown, the hands of the watch could be reset by rotating the bezel around the clock.

Harwood and his backer Harry Cutts from Cheshire were the first to mass produce the self-winding wrist watch when they formed the Harwood Self-Winding Watch Company which commissioned the Swiss firms, Fortis and A. Schild to make the watches. The watches went on sale in 1928 and 30,000 were made before the company went under due to the depression in 1931.

The Rolex Watch Company in 1930 developed a variation on Harwood’s patented invention where the central rotor swung in a full 360 degree circle. Sold as the ‘Rolex Oyster Perpetual’ it continued to accurately keep the time 35 hours after the wearer removed the watch. The Rolex watch was a significant improvement on Harwood’s wrist watch which kept ticking accurately for only 12 hours after the wearer removed the watch.

tagswatch, rolex, wristwatch, luxury watch, repair, self winding/tags

Watch making today has reached the height of efficiency. Even complex watches can be had for inexpensively, and they tell time down to the microsecond. Atomic watches are unparalleled in accuracy, diving watches are completely waterproof, and nearly all will never need anything beyond battery or strap replacement for a hundred years.

Yet, there is something that is often lacking in modern watches that can be found in abundance among vintage or antique timepieces – a sense of style.

A vintage watch is one that was manufactured before the revolution in timing and internal design that created new electronic types. With the coming of quartz works, watches became very accurate and radically reduced in moving parts. But, while vintage watches are almost all mechanical and hence more prone to wear, breakage and inaccuracy, they have an lasting sense of fashion.

Vintage watches were individualistic, stylish and daring. They were made of gold with inlaid designs. Or, they altered the traditional circular or rectangular shape into triangles, hearts and a dozen others. Or, they had a style that was hard to define but easy to see.

The faces were not merely backgrounds for hands – they were works of art. Scroll work, thin lines and subtle shades, and a thousand different variations in weight, shape, color and material gave them a unique character.

Hamilton made one of the most distinctive designs in the 1950s, that is still popular today, the Hamilton Ventura chronograph circa 1957.

But Rolex was no slouch either. While the company is still producing outstanding watches, the 1938 Pink Gold Chronometer remains one of its finest, thanks to the model’s simple elegance. It has stiff competition from Cartier and others who have been producing reliable, accurate watches that are also stellar fashion accessories since the 1920s.

Many of these watches can be found with interesting additions, some of which have little to do with telling time. There are vintage watches that track the phases of the moon, tell the day or date (but in unique ways) or display miniature analog stop watches.

Some vintage watches can be purchased at modest prices, others are valuable antiques. But whatever you pay, all will need special care. Since they’re mechanical, they will usually require winding, or regular use and occasional cleaning.

Vintage watches don’t have the advantages in every case of modern precise manufacturing and contemporary materials. Though given the limitations of technology fifty and more years ago, it’s amazing how carefully constructed they were. It may be necessary to replace a crystal with something contemporary. Stems are more easily broken and springs may not be as accurate as they once were.

However, if you wanted the most precise watch possible, it might be better to pick a more modern variety. But if you remember or can imagine a period when style was worth more than efficiency, you’ll want to investigate what’s offered among vintage watches. You might just recapture the spirit of bygone days, and find your contemporary life lifted to the new heights. After all, the best is always timeless.

tags vintage watch, moon watch, rolex watch /tags

Released in 1956 after Rolex had been enjoying quite a barren spell in the sale of its manufactured complicated timepieces it soon began to revive fortune. This new 6511 the “Day Date” had a window spelling out the day at 12 and the date was shown at 3. Due to the complexity of the watch, with its automatic movement, additional day and date discs and a screw down back it was a very large and thick watch which gave it presence on the wrist. Introduced by Rolex as a niche model it soon gained the popularity it deserves and after the introduction of the concealed clasp it was known as the “President”

The Day Date became Rolex’s flagship and saviour. The first model (6511) lasted just over a year before it was replaced by the externally identical 6611. This model featured the new calibre 1055 movement with its free sprung Micro-Stella balance and was the first to be labelled ” Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified” on the dial. This new accuracy standard guaranteed the watch to remain within + 3.0 seconds per day.

The Rolex Day Date earned the nickname the “President” when Rolex reportedly gave a watch to the then President of the United States Dwight Eisenhower. It is believed that President Eisenhower was given this watch in conjunction with the launch of the concealed clasp by Rolex.

These early models did not have the hack feature and appeared rather bulky. In their never ending quest to modernize the basic configuration of the Day Date, Rolex designers have changed from the bulbus bubbleback look of the early models to the slender shape employed today.
With only a few mild case design changes over the years the first modification to the Day Date was the addition of the hack feature in 1972. This allowed the second hand to be stopped dead if you wanted to set the time via a preset accurate source. At this time the shape of the head was essentially the same as it is today. The Day Date was available in white gold, yellow gold, pink gold and platinum although during the early 1930’s the pink gold watch was fazed out.

The ” Quick set ” feature solved one of the watches biggest problems. Introduced in the late 1970’s Quick set was added to all Rolex models by 1983. Instead of turning the crown round and round to change the date the wearer could just pull the button out half way and a few turns at most and the correct date was displayed.

The introduction of the quick set feature also coincided with other developments for the Day Date. The inclusion of the sapphire crystal not only gave the watch a sleeker look but also added to the durability of the watch. The sapphire crystal fitted tighter than the plastic glass employed before and rendered the watch glass scratch proof near enough. The early Day Date models were waterproof to 165 feet ( 50 meters) while the current model is safe at depths of upto 100 meters. At the same time the current model is much slimmer.

In addition to the advancements structurally and internally Rolex introduced a new number system that is still in use for today on some models. They added an extra digit to the model number. This number although denoted a new line actually represented the material the watch was when it left the product line.

Introduced at the end of 1990 was the “Double Quick Set” watch. This was model 18238 and it made the setting of the Day and Date even easier as they could both be done on the button. Rolex has also increasingly expanded their “Crown Collection” to include all types of precious stones by now although they were available with diamonds on the bezel from their introduction.

From the end of 2000 the Day Date has been available in pink gold again. The watch has also been introduced with a doomed sapphire mineral glass and can come on an oyster bracelet to bring it in line with many of their other models.

The Rolex Day Date across the world has become synonymous with class and style. This watch remains one of the most prestigious additions a man can have to his wardrobe.

tagsRolex, day date, president, watch, wristwatch, used rolex/tags

The Rolex watch company is giving $1 million to a technical college in St. Paul. Rolex USA will donate to St. Paul College $200,000 a year for the next five years. The money will go exclusively to the school’s watch-making program.

That program was established in 1919. There are only eleven watch-making programs in the United States. The Rolex gift will be used to upgrade facilities and equipment, and to expand the school’s watch-making program.

Tags: watch+making, technical+university, gift, rolex+watch, rolex

One of the original leaders of the Israeli diamond industry, Moshe Schnitzer has died at the age of 86. Born in Romania he emigrated to Israel before the country’s independence. Starting as a diamond sawer he rose through the industry to help found and lead the Israel Diamond Exchange. He served as the Exchanges president from 1967-1993.

He is the president emeritus for both the Israeli Diamond Exchange and The World Federation of Diamond Bourses.

He is survived by his three children. His funeral was in Ramat Gan (which has a plaza named in his honor) last Friday.

tagsdiamonds Israel leader Moshe+Schnitzer/tags

John Harwood, British watch repairer, preceded Rolex in patenting the self-winding wrist watch 84 years ago on 7 July 1923.

Although other self-winding watches had been made prior to Harwood’s invention they were fob watches, which were bulky and expensive. Conversely, most wrist watches of the day used an exterior winding crown to wind-up the watch. These were often inaccurate because dirt got into the movement and damaged the watch. John Harwood wanted to design a watch that had its winding mechanism inside which would be impervious to grit and safe from the human error of over winding.

In 1923, Harwood from the Isle of Man, developed a wrist watch that had enough power to wind itself. It was based on a ‘hammer winding system’, where the mechanism had a semi-circular weight that pivoted at the centre of the movement through a 300 degree arc. The swinging weight was actuated by the movement of the wearer. A friction plate was fixed in the mechanism, which prevented over winding. Having no crown, the hands of the watch could be reset by rotating the bezel round the clock.

Harwood and his backer Harry Cutts from Cheshire were the first to mass produce the self-winding wrist watch when they formed the Harwood Self-Winding Watch Company which commissioned the Swiss firms, Fortis and A. Schild to make the watches. The watches went on sale in 1928 and 30,000 were made before the company went under due to the depression in 1931.

The Rolex Watch Company in 1930 developed a variation on Harwood’s patented invention where the central rotor swung in a full 360 degree circle. Sold as the ‘Rolex Oyster Perpetual’ it continued to accurately keep the time 35 hours after the wearer removed the watch. The Rolex watch was a significant improvement on Harwood’s wrist watch which kept ticking accurately for only 12 hours after the wearer removed the watch.

tagsrolex, wrist watch, watch, self winding, movement, patent/tags

Do you wear a watch? If you don’t you may want to start. It is definitely handy to have access to the time whenever you may need it. I think anyone can agree with this statement. We human beings are time junkies. Heck, we’re always on some sort of schedule. Especially in America. It’s like we’re always doing something, but never have the time to get anything done. We’re bizarre like that. Anyway, it is indeed beneficial to always have a time piece handy. This is one of the reasons that Emporio Armani watches and many more are so popular. Not only do folks want to keep track of their busy schedules, but they want to do it in style. Hey, who can blame them, right? 

Have you checked out the latest and greatest emporio armani watches? Come on folks; I’m talking about Armani here. With a bug name like this one, how can you possibly lose? We’re all well aware that emporio armani watches are amongst the finest. Hey, if you don’t believe me, then just hop online and see for yourself. You can find a vast array of wonderful emporio armani watches in cyberspace. This is currently where it’s at. Okay, what am I saying? I doubt it will change any time soon. The Internet is only becoming more and more popular for shopping. Anything from fine emporio armani watches to LCD flat panel televisions can be found. When it comes to great watches, I have to say that there is a ton of competition out there. I state that I like emporio armani watches in particular simply because I own one and it’s very nice. However, I also like Movado watches as well. These are amazingly sleek time pieces that stand out in the crowd. In the end it really just comes down to preference. What watches to you personally prefer over the rest?

Department stores are the perfect place to get an up-close and personal take on emporio armani watches. They always have a great selection to pick and choose from. Furthermore, you can easily check out a variety of other brands while you’re trying on emporio armani watches. Check into Fossil, Rolex and Guess watches. But here’s a quick heads up; if you are really considering a Rolex, you’d better have a fat wallet. You can purchase emporio armani watches for a great deal less. It’s all up to you!

Bill Paxton wears a Gold Rolex Submariner in the great movie Titanic (1998).

This is quite out of place since the Submariner wasn’t launched until 1953 and The Titanic went down in 1912. This is indicative of the esteem placed on the Rolex brand. Even though director, James Cameron worked hard to maintain authenticity of the time period he didn’t let that stop him form using a Rolex in the film and wears a Sub in the great movie Titanic (1998).

Tags: rolex+watch, rolex, titanic, Paxton, Cameron, submariner

I see many similarities between the drivers of a BMW car and those luxury watch owners who choose a Rolex. I often wonder if there is any correlation. Are there many who own both? I would be surprised to find out otherwise.

Both of Rolex and BMW have been making their products for close to a century and since the very beginning of their respective trades. Both were and continue to be pioneers in their fields. As just a recent example I will mention The Rolex Milgauss and The BMW Hydrogen 7. The Milgauss is a new Rolex model that is resistant to a magnetic field. It allows certain high tech workers and scientists to have a functional watch. The BMW Hydrogen 7 is the world’s first production car which runs on hydrogen, which is expected to be the next wave of cars. They have no emissions and produce only water as a by product.

They both also thrive as vintage products. Any watch enthusiast knows the value of a used Rolex. They generally hold their value or often become worth more. The “Paul Newman” Daytona is worth many times what it sold for new.

While this is not possible for a standard car their are many older BMW models that are still much sought after. In general I would think of the 2002 series, in particular the BMW 2002 tii. One of the nicest sports cars to sell in America.

So if you own a Rolex it would look great behind the wheel of the BMW of your choice. If you own a Rolex you should consider driving a new BMW to show it off.

tagsrolex, bmw, milgauss, daytona, 2002, watch, car, luxury, used, new/tags

An old Mafia Don is dying and he calls his grandson to his bed.

“You listen to me. I want you to take my chrome plated 38 revolver so you will always remember me.

“But grandpa, I really don’t like guns. How about you leave me your Rolex watch instead?”

“Shut up an listen. Some day you’re goig to run the business, you’re going to have a beautiful wife, lots of money, a big home and maybe a couple a bambinos.

And, some day you’re going to come home and maybe find your wife in bed with another man. What are you going to do then…. point to your Rolex and a say, times up?”

Tags: h used+rolex, rolex, rolex+watc, rolex+joke

1. What is a good way to care for my luxury watch?

When it comes to high end watch care don’t assume that watches are waterproof. Even a Rolex Submariner is not completely waterproof. It is water resistant . Every watch carries a designation on how much water pressure the seals can withstand. Quality watches will offer resistance over 100 meters. If your watch does not have a depth indicator, do not take it into a pool or shower.

Unless you’re a professional diver, don’t bother taking a watch into a pool or sea. They contain more chlorine or salt than you ever want to expose your precious watch to. The elements can erode the lining of the case (consists of the essential parts of your watch, i.e. the dial, the face, etc.) and diminish the finish of your watch. If you must take your watch into water, make sure you rinse it with warm water immediately afterwards.

Some other tips:

# Wash your watch in warm soapy water occasionally, to maintain its luster. Use a toothbrush to clean the bracelet.
# Have your watch serviced every three to five years. Like any high-precision instrument, it needs a tune-up to work perfectly.
# Store your watch in a soft cloth to prevent it from getting scratched or chipped.
# Avoid extreme temperatures or extreme temperature changes that can cause condensation.
# No matter how shock resistant a watch claims to be, never drop it to test it. Shock resistant designations are given to timepieces that can remain intact when dropped three feet onto a wooden floor; take the manufacturer’s word for it.

2. What type of watch is most scratch proof?

The watch makes no difference, it is the covering over the dial that matters. On a watch this clear piece is known as the crystal. There are three main types of crystals found in watches: acrylic, mineral and sapphire.

Acrylic crystal is an inexpensive plastic that does not prevent scratches, but allows scratches to be buffed out.

Mineral crystal is glass, which is composed of several elements that aid in resisting scratches (it is seven times harder than acrylic crystal). It is generally found on more expensive watches.

Sapphire crystal is the cover of choice for premium watches. It is the most expensive type of crystal and is three times harder than mineral crystal. It is made of an extremely durable synthetic material that makes it shatterproof and scratch resistant (not scratchproof). Some have a non-reflective film to prevent glare.

3. What is the legal definition of a Swiss watch?

Like Champagne, Bordeaux or Port, certain products have stringent standards (based on location or quality) that must be met before carrying a particular designation. The Swiss have several organizations to ensure the integrity and reputation of Swiss watchmakers. The accepted standard for what constitutes a Swiss-made watch is a Swiss movement, set into its case in Switzerland, by a manufacturer of Swiss origin.

A Swiss movement, like the ones in a Rolex or other luxury watch, is defined as a movement that was assembled in Switzerland (by a Swiss-based manufacturer), and whose Swiss movement parts constitute 50% or more of a movement’s total value. Movements that meet this requirement will carry a stamp (on the watch’s face or back of the case) with the words “Swiss,” “Swiss Made,” “Swiss Quartz,” “Suisse,” “Produit Suisse” or “Fabrique en Suisse.” The former three are the most popular in North America.

If your watch says “Swiss Movement,” it means that the inside parts of the watch are Swiss, but that the case is not, therefore it cannot carry the other stamps. If the case is Swiss, but the movement is not, it will say “Swiss Case.”

tagsluxury watch, luxury, watch, rolex, wrist watch, wristwatch, swiss, swiss movement/tags

Rolex watch company has been a backer of world class sailing for a long time. Racers, who really need to have a precise watch have used Rolex for even longer, it is a natural connection which Rolex has kept alive. Here are but a few of the major races Rolex is nice enough to sponsor. The winner of each receives a Rolex watch.

Rolex Swan Cup – Every other year some of the nicest Swan Yachts in the world come to Sardinia for a wide variety of racing.

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race – One of the most challenging ocean races in the world. The 628 mile course leaves Sydney, Australia and goes down the east coast to Tasmania. Very grueling.

Rolex Fastnet Race – One of the premier offshore sailing races in the world. The boats race from Cowes to The Fastnet Lighthouse South of Ireland and then back to Plymouth. can have some really horendous sea conditions – a real test of boat and man.

Rolex Middle Sea Race - Along with Sydney-Hobart and The Fastnet this race around Sicily, Stromboli. Pantalleria and Lampedusa is one of the must do offshore races. One of the most stunning courses.

Rolex Farr 40 World Championships – Thirty Farr 40’s race by invitation. By rule the owner of the boat has to drive. very competitive racing.

Giraglia Rolex Cup – From St. Tropez around The Island Of La Giraglia, near Corsica and on to Genoa. The race is 243 miles.

ISAF World Sailor Of The Year – The winners, one male and one female, can come from any sailing venue or discipline. Tjis is worldwide recognition voted on by sailors to honor the best.

Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup – This race for yachts 66-200 ft. is held off of Costa Smerelda in the Maddalena Islands. Large boats and well known owners make for a great event.

The level of racing covered by these events is a large spectrum of sailing. What a great way for Rolex to show off their timepieces while sponsoring a sport whose members both love and use their product.

Not all watch users fit neatly into one group or the other but most can be split into those who like a traditional analog watch and those that favor a more modern digital variety.

Throughout history there was no need to differentiate as there was only one type. Rolex never saw themselves as making analog watches. The word analog was born when digital (usually electronic) watches were invented. In analogy to the movement of the sun, and the movement of a shadow across a sundial, analog timepieces move hands around the face of a watch. Mostly hands move around a circular dial twice a day, in twelve hour increments. Some however have a 24 hour dial and only complete a rotation once a day.

Not only do the hour and minute hands indicate the current time, but the wearer has a visual representation of the day at a glance. You can see, for example, the equivalence between 6:15 and a quarter past the hour, since the minute hand is in fact a quarter of the way around the circle. When the hour hand is a quarter of the way, you are a quarter of the way through one day.

The big advantage to a 24 hour watch is no guessing whether it is AM or PM. For the many people in jobs that don’t get outdoors this is a great help since they don’t see the sun to know if it is day or night.

The Glycine Airman watch is one of the very popular models of this variety. This multi-function 24-hour analog watch tells not only the time, but also has dials for time zone adjustments.

Whichever type of analog watch you choose – they come in endless styles – it is a connection to a tradition that electronics only mimic but cannot duplicate.

tagsrolex, analog, digital, electronic, watch, wrist watch, used/tags

Rolex has officially given a margin of 5-7 minutes per month lost or gained as acceptable for accuracy of their watches. However there are some actions that can minimize this gain or loss. Much of the time change is attributable to the elevation or altitude of the watch and its user. Expect a slight manual adjustment every so often on any authentic Rolex watch.

Rolex manufactures and calibrates it’s watches to run at a certain speed when fully wound and operational. They set them up to match the altitude and temperature within the production facility. Of course they are then shipped all over the world to different altitudes and environments. These natural changes have a dramatic effect on precision mechanical devices.

If you don’t travel much than your local Rolex dealer can set and reset your watch for minimal cost. If you do travel often than check your watches time and adjust when necessary.

Professional jewelers and watchmakers have been impressed by a Rolex watch and have even offered to pay more to add them to their own inventory or private collections! The value of a mint condition Rolex watch almost always goes up! So take care of yours and make sure to have it maintained regularly.

tagsrolex daytona watch used luxury wrist+watch/tags

Rolex and the Yacht Club Ilhabela are delighted to announce a partnership that will begin with the next edition of the largest sailing event in Brazil. Rolex is now the title sponsor of the Semana Internacional de Vela de Ilhabela, which will be named Rolex Ilhabela Sailing Week.

Rolex is known worldwide for actively partnering sport at the highest level and for its generous and extremely professional support. Rolex not only makes watches that are designed for particular sports – they actively support those endeavors. Whether it be sailing or car racing Rolex is there.

Ilhabela Sailing Week will be the first Rolex sponsored event in Brazil. The regatta has long been a tradition in Brazilian sailing and has now achieved international recognition by joining the prominent worldwide portfolio of yachting events partnered by Rolex. In Latin America the Circuito Atlántico Sur Rolex Cup, which is held anually between the cities of Buenos Aires, Argentina and Punta del Este, Uruguay, is already a part of that group.

The Rolex Ilhabela Sailing Week was first held in 1972. However, it was not until the 1980s that the event started to attract the participation of big boats. Today, these yachts dominate the competition. It did not take too long for Ilhabela to become known as the sailing capital of Brazil. Each year the event hosts over 200 yachts and more than 1500 professional and amateur sailors from all over Latin America.

Yacht Club Ilhabela, the home to the event, has a membership list that reads like a who’s who of Brazilian sailing and business and includes renowned Olympic sailors such as Torben and Lars Grael, Eduardo Souza Ramos, Jorge Zarif, Cláudio Bierkark, Mário Buckup, Eduardo Penido, Sérgio Mirsky, Robert Scheidt, Alex Welter and Boris Ostergren, among many others.

This year the Rolex Ilhabela Sailing Week will stage the second round of the XI IMS and ORC Club South American Championship co-organized by the Yacht Club Argentino and the Yacht Club Punta del Este, which hosted the first round of the Championship in January this year. Beside the IMS and ORC Club, other classes invited to participate the Rolex Ilhabela Sailing Week include HPE, BRA-RGS, Bico de Proa, Delta 32 e Skipper 21.

The schedule of racing at Rolex Ilhabela Sailing Week will start with the traditional Alcatrazes Race on the morning of the 8th July. This distance race is followed by seven race windward-leeward series from 9th to 14th July.

tagssailing, rolex, watch, race,sailboat race, used rolex/tags

Daniel Craig, the newest “James Bond,” fresh from the set of the Bond film Casino Royale, visited Moscow Oct. 26 for the opening of Swiss luxury watch brand Omega’s first flagship boutique in Russia.He joined some 2,000 guests, including Barbara Broccoli, producer of the movie, at Moscow’s famous GUM department store on Red Square, in which the boutique is located, for the opening party. Nicolas Hayek Jr., chief executive officer of the Swatch Group, and Stephen Urquhart, president of Omega worldwide greeted guests attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The GUM, housed in 19th century palatial building, contains more than 1,000 designer and luxury boutiques.

tagsomega, james+bond, luxury+watch/tag

Mechanical watches were relied on for navigation for the last two hundred years. However with the increased use of GPS and quartz marine watches, they are no longer a necessity. Just as the sextant and astrolabe were displaced as navigation tools by the mechanical watch now the simple watch is taking a backseat to other inventions. But their legacy lives on in the popularity of chronometer wrist watches. These old tools have not been relegated to the museum because they are still valued as a connection to a bygone era and as fashion accessories.

Making of marine watches is still big business, and most of the luxury watch making brands have set aside a significant budget to develop their marine lines.

Paradoxically, many of their wearers are unlikely to be found on yacht decks, let alone at sea. It is now more of an image than a necessity. The appeal is strong even in parts of the world where sailing and other marine sports have a relatively short history. Men like a rugged watch along the same lines that have them buying more powerful cars and bikes than are needed.

Professional divers mostly wear very modern quartz watches that are very reliable and waterproof. But they still own older mechanical watches like a Rolex for personal use. They are simply to valuable to wear at work.

Ulysse Nardin is a brand that illustrates the transition from working chronometer to luxury wrist watch. So famous were its deck clocks for their reliability that its M.Gr.F. marine chronometers were formerly used by all the major navies of the world. It was not until the company’s 150th anniversary, in 1996, that Ulysse Nardin produced its first marine chronometer wrist watch. They work hard to keep the wrist watch true to the deck clocks design. The company may have been late to take the plunge into the leisure market, but it aims to set future trends. They are introducing the first marine watch designed exclusively for women..

Current trends among marine-themed watches include large, luminous, black-faced watches; gold sandwiched between rubber; carbon fiber details; and, perhaps inevitably in the modern luxury world, diamonds around the dial.

The Rolex Submariner is the standard and still going strong but they are uniformly worn by the fashion conscious not the working diver. The watch is too expensive to risk scratching of getting water damage.

That sort of anxiety never, apparently, worried role-model macho watch-wearers of the past. Take, for example, James Bond: in the Ian Fleming novels, the Royal Navy commander and spy was referred to several times as wearing a “Rolex Oyster Perpetual on an expanding metal bracelet” as he went about his elegantly brutal business.

In the real world as opposed to the reel world a Rolex or other luxury brand owner would surely change his watch from day to night.

tagsrolex, luxury, watch, wrist watch, diver, sailor, submariner/tags

When looking for a new or used Rolex it is helpful to understand the parts of a watch:

Crystal

The cover over the watch face is called the crystal. There are three types of crystals commonly found in watches: Acrylic crystal is an inexpensive plastic that allows shallow scratches to be buffed out. Mineral crystal is composed of several elements that are heat-treated to create an unusual hardness that aids in resisting scratches. Sapphire crystal is the most expensive and durable, approximately three times harder than mineral crystals and 20 times harder than acrylic crystals. A non-reflective coating on some sport styles prevents glare.

Hands

A watch’s hands are the pointing device anchored at the center and circling around the dial indicating hours, minutes, seconds and any other special features of the watch. There are many different types of hands:

* Alpha: A hand that is slightly tapered

* Baton: A narrow hand sometimes referred to as a ‘stick hand’

* Dauphine: A wide, tapered hand with a facet at the center running the length of the hand

* Skeleton: Cutout hands showing only the frame

* Luminous: Hand made of skeleton form with the opening filled with a luminous material

Bezel

The surface ring on a watch that surrounds and holds the crystal in place is called the bezel. A rotating ratchet bezel moves in some sport watches as part of the timing device. If rotating bezels are bi-directional (able to move clockwise or counter clockwise), they can assist in calculations for elapsed times.

Crown

The nodule extending from the watchcase that is used to set the time, date, etc. is called the crown. Most pull out to set the time. Many water-resistant watches have crowns that screw down for a better water-tight seal.

Dial

The watch face that contains the numerals, indices or surface design is called the dial. While these parts are usually applied, some may be printed on. Sub-dials are smaller dials set into the main face of the watch. These can be used for added functions, such as elapsed times and dates.

Case (or Watchcase)

The watchcase is the metal housing that contains the internal parts of a watch. Stainless steel is the most typical metal used, but titanium, gold, silver and platinum are also used. Less expensive watches are usually made of brass that has been plated with gold or silver.

Bracelet

A bracelet is the flexible metal band consisting of assembled links, usually in the same style as the watch case. Detachable links are used to change the length of the bracelet. Bracelets can be made of stainless steel, sterling silver, gold, or a combination.

Strap

A strap is simply a watchband made of leather, plastic or fabric.

pRolex is a watch manufacturing company based in Switzerland. Rolex watches are considered as status symbols. Rolex produces nearly 2000 watches every day and is the largest luxury watch brand so far. Rolex is the top watchmaker in the world and is one of the 100 most important brands in the world. br /br /Rolex was founded in the year 1908 by Hans Wilsdorf and its first office was opened up in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. The company name “Rolex was registered in the year 1915.the word “Rolex is of vague origin. In the year 1919 the “Rolex Watch Company was established in Switzerland. (Later the name was changed to “Montres Rolex, SA and finally “Rolex, SA).br /br /Today Rolex is a big name and there are websites that deal in Rolex watches. Such websites can be of great interest to the owners of Rolex watches. These websites are very interactive and sport a number of features related to the world of Rolex watches. These websites auction the finest Rolex products on the internet and have details about all the Rolex products that have been put up on the internet. These details include the entry dates of the products along with the bids and the entire details regarding the products. The websites even have options to bid for the products on auction. These websites also offer vintage Rolex products. Apart from the auctioned products these websites also have features that cover a vast range of Rolex products. These products are further categorized into categories like the Rolex diamond collection, the gold rolex collection, the ladies Rolex collection and the platinum Rolex collection. In these categories the watches are divided according to price ranges which include the latest bids and auction prices. The websites also include features such as the latest news on Rolex watches and related Rolex products along with Rolex videos. There is an exclusive section which covers a blog on Rolex watches where Rolex owners and others can put up there views.br /br /It is usual for Rolex watches to be passed down from one generation to another. Rolex watches are famous for precision, their dependability and their beauty. Some of these websites also offer pre owned Rolex watches. Each of these Rolex watches are inspected by certified technicians in order to ensure reliability.br /br /Apart from all the Rolex product categories there is the exclusive Presidential Rolex watch category which is also covered under such websites. This category of Rolex watches is highly elite and the prices are very high.
/p

Although a lot of people still regard the waterproof watch as a joke with nothing to do with time keeping, Wilsdorf believed otherwise. He had known that this was becoming a revolution for the point of a waterproof watch is not so much to protect against water, but also against dust, sand, and anything that can change the watch and damage the movement of it. Years later, to this day, almost every brand has a waterproof watch on offer.

Rolex watch was not among the chronograph pioneers, choosing to focus their energies on the Rolex Oyster and the Rolex Perpetual. However the success of these watches propelled Rolex to be in the position of being the “sportsman’s” watch and sportsmen demand a chronograph.

Instead of developing their own movement Rolex chose to use the Valjoux movement for their watch. It was available in three sizes and they were all simple one button chronographs. These allowed the user to time one continuous event.

This one button chronograph was popular but the more it was used the more obvious its limitations were. Customers demanded the ability to stop the watch intermittently which was of course impossible without resetting the time. It was not until the late 1930’s that anything changed with the arrival of the two button chronograph. This was a major breakthrough and now allowed people to stop the watch to take necessary breaks and than restart it on the same time as when they left off. A football referee could could use his watch to stop the watch each time a ball went out and then get an accurate 45 minutes play.

At the end of the 1930’s the “Zerograph” was produced in very limited quantities. The watch model 3462 marked an important turning point for Rolex as it was the first watch to feature the Rolex Oyster crown and is now a watch that is extremely sort after.

The first true Rolex Oyster chronograph watch was the model 4500, which never sold in large numbers as it was released during World War II. The 6232 and the 3668 models followed but proved just as unpopular. Both new models used the 13″ Valjoux movement and had just a thirty minute register. While Rolex in 1942 had introduced an hour recorder it was a snap on back it would be another seven years before the Oyster case and the three button chronograph would be brought together in the form of the 5034. During the next fifteen years the 5034 changed into the 6034, which then became the 6234. This in turn became the 6238 and then finally evolved into the 6239.

These changes although little by little had inspired Rolex to revive the previously shelved name the “Cosmograph”. The only difference between the 6239 and the 6238 was that on the 6239 the bezel was engraved with tachymeter graduations rather than having them on the dial.

The last major changes to the manual wind chronograph watch came in the late 1970’s when Rolex introduced the 6263 model. This was the first model to have truly waterproof pushers. The earlier Oyster Chronographs had simple round pushers with internal gaskets as the only sealing mechanism.

The screw down pushers were added to stop people pressing the buttons, whilst submerged in water. The locking function also prevented the chronograph being activated inadvertently. The new 6263 watch started life as being waterproof to 165 feet, ten years later it was capable of twice that depth (100 meters) The 6263 is unusual in the fact that the quality of the movement depended on which case you had. The steel chronograph movements were not timed to a chronometer standard.

Despite the innovative design it was not until 1986 when the popularity of the Rolex Daytona started to increase, reaching its zenith with a particular Daytona watch model, the “Paul Newman”. This model featured square markers on the subsidiary dials, and an outer track the same color as the subsidiary dials. Although the origins of this nickname for the dial are obscure this is the easiest term to refer to this watch. This unusual dial colorful and deco in appearance was only in production for a short period of time form its introduction in 1970.

Rolex finally released the new version of the Daytona in 1991. They had abandoned the workhorse Valjoux movement in favor of the Zenith movement. The new dials featured large subsidiary dials and had an inner track in a contrasting color. Dial colors included black, white, champagne and each watch had “Daytona” in red on the dial and they all had screw-down pushers.

The stainless steel Rolex Daytona has become one of the most popular watches of all time. Because there were higher profit margins in the gold and mixed metal watches there was a shortage of the steel watch as there just were not enough being produced.

Rolex’s latest addition to the Daytona hysteria was launched at the end of 2000. The 116520 which like the rest of Rolex’s models has an extra 1 prefix to differentiate it from the others. There have been a few dial refinements but the main difference is the fact that Rolex are now using an in house movement instead of the old Zenith one.

The Rolex Daytona’s popularity can only be said to be growing.

tagsrolex daytona, paul newman, cosmograph, watch, wristwatch, used watch, rolex daytona /tags

1. Can Rolex watches be worth the high price?

Rolex watches can’t possibly be worth the high price. Or can they? There two answers to this question. You figure out which one is right. Why do some people automatically say “no”?
Because the Rolex corporation manipulates the price of its watches by limiting the yearly supply of some of its collections (the Daytona is famous for it’s unavailability), leading to scarcity in the market. It is a strategy like the one employed by De Beers, the diamond retailer, which limits the supply of diamonds on the market to keep prices high (even if De Beers has plenty stored in its safes).

Rolex also controls its authorized dealers to make certain that all watches are sold at suggested retail price. Dealers that sells a Rolex at a discount is subject to having their dealer status revoked. So since it is nearly impossible to get a new real Rolex at a discount, you will always pay a premium for the name (thanks to smart marketing by Rolex execs) and not necessarily for the craftsmanship (though it is still very high). That is why most watch experts say that, for the cost of a Rolex, you can get a higher quality mechanical watch from a different manufacturer.

On the other hand, some firmly believe that a Rolex is worth the price because it is still a premium watch made with the highest level of craftsmanship. The manipulated prices also help Rolex keep their extremely high resale value. And, of course, you can’t underestimate the cachet value of a Rolex. The status and prestige it projects can, in certain people’s eyes, justify its exorbitant price. More than any other regularly produced watch, owning a Rolex is an investment and a status symbol, more than it is a teller of time.

2. What is the difference between a “chronometer” and “chronograph“?

Chronometer is a certification given to a watch that has the highest level of precision. The certification is given to automatic and mechanical movement watches. A watch that has earned the chronometer certification has passed vigorous tests demanded by the Swiss Official Chronometer Control (COSC).

A chronometer’s mechanical movement is close to perfection, so the time it displays is almost always accurate (unlike other self-winding or automatic watches), and therefore carries a premium price over non-chronometer watches. The 15 days of tests conducted by the COSC include testing its performance under different temperatures, different positions, and even under water.

A chronograph designation is often confused with a chronometer, though they are completely different. A chronograph is a watch that has stopwatch functions. It displays multiple counters or mechanisms for measuring elapsed time. Counters can register seconds, minutes and hours.

3. Are serial numbers important?

All luxury watches have a serial number. A very important component, it identifies your watch and is one way of ensuring that your purchase is legitimate. All authorized dealers of premium watches have access to a database from their respective watch manufacturers, listing all the serial numbers of all their watches. If you spend a good amount of money on a timepiece, you should make sure that your watch is the real deal by contacting the manufacturer or visiting an authorized shop that can look up the serial number of any potential purchase.

tagsrolex, watch, watches, luxury watch, luxury, watch, chronometer, chronograph/tags

Rolex wristwatches have had a remarkable ability to grow as an investment. Far from losing value after one has been used they actually become worth more – making them more of an investment than a liability.
The value of that watch you bought or received years ago has a real value on the market, but do you know how much your Rolex is worth?

It is a good idea to know what your Rolex watch is worth but here are five good reasons to find out NOW:

1. Because it is free. A and E Watches in San Francisco is offering to evaluate and appraise any Rolex at no charge. Take advantage of Rolex expert Avi Dayan’s special offer. www.aandewatches.com

2. For insurance purposes. Don’t argue with your insurance company in the event of a theft. Know what your valuable watch is worth.

3. So that you can follow any trends in fashion that might make your vintage wristwatch worth more or if the price has stabilized.

4. To control your asset management and estate planning. It is always best to know what is the current value of your luxury purchases.

5. So that you sound like and are a knowledgeable owner. Rolex ownership is like being a member of a club. Know what you are talking about when asked about your watch.

It doesn’t matter if you own a Cosmogragh Daytona , the famous Submariner or a Super President it is best to have an updated appraisal. Getting the appraisal is also a great way to get to know a used Rolex dealer so that you will know who to trust later. Take the time to get an appraisal know. Take advantage of A and E Watches free offer today at www.aandewatches.com.

tagsrolex, watch, submariner, cosmograph daytona, daytona, submariner, rolex submariner, vintage watch, appraisal/tags

I’m not sure if Rolex is the leader of the Swiss watch industry. I am never positive that Westerners really love Rolex. But I am sure that in Asia Rolex is the most popular luxury watch. It is proof that to Asians Rolex is the champion of all brands.

One indication of this love affair is the names that the Chinese have given to particular Rolex watches. They call the Datejust a Star and a 100% gold watch a King. They do not do this with other high end watch brands.

A manager in Asian countries always likes to show off his success with a nice car, but a gold or partially gold Rolex is very important to status. It doesn’t matter if you work in high tech or low tech, or if you are for real or pretending – a Rolex is a must.

If you want to get a good look at the available Rolexes go to where all the well off go and you will see them all. Whether you go to nice restaurants and clubs or to the racetrack all the rich will be looking for the time on their wrist and it will be told by a Rolex.

Although Rolex is clearly a Swiss company they couldn’t do any better in China if they were a local business. They seem to have a natural ability to impress the Chinese even as far as the serial numbers for their watches. The Chinese feel that numbers are very important and can even be translated to words. Rolex serial numbers work so well in this context that different people might buy a watch solely for the statement made by the serial number. For instance eight is a number that to the Chinese means success and three would signify living to an old age.

The gold and stainless Datejust has a model number that would loosely mean “a stable and comfortable life that will be long”. This is a popular watch as much for the connotation as the looks and functionality. Not all companies and their products do as well in this regard. One car company has a model whose moniker would translate to
“you will die soon”. Needless to say it is not the most popular car in China.

Rolex watches also have that large and bold look that stands out. this works very well in Asia where the consumer wants his success to stand out to others, The large frame and the gold and glittering accessories are perfect. Now all can see how rich and powerful you are even as they meet you. this makes it better for these people to get the special treatment they clearly deserve.

Most Swiss watch producers have chosen, over the years to name their watches and companies after themselves. So most have a name that matches their founders. Not Rolex. The founder of Rolex had a stronger vision for his company and chose instead a name he made up to sound good, strong and be easy to pronounce. Since he had no idea of the global reach of his watches he couldn’t have anticipated how popular they would be in Asia. Or how hard a word it is to pronounce in many Asian languages, especillaily Chinese. So a Rolex is mostly mispronounced in China. This goes to prove that Rolex hardly even needs a brand name to have a great brand.

Most high end manufacturers produce models to suit their clients. This is not true of Rolex. When you decide to wear a Rolex you are the watch, not the other way around. The Rolex is look very stable, it does not change with the times. People recognize the watch and the look and associate it with wealth and respect.

Having been worn by movie stars and sports figures as well as explorers the Rolex is iconic. Certain models such as the Daytona are associated with a particular group. I have heard that this model is popular with the Mafia.

Since a Rolex is hard to find and very expensive they are widely copied and passed on as real. So when you decide to buy that Rolex Submariner you always wanted make sure to find a reliable pre-owned watch dealer.

tagsRolex, day date, president, watch, wristwatch, used rolex, datejust, daytona, submariner, china/tags

Rolex Datejust watch was introduced in 1945, the Datejust marked the 40-year anniversary of Rolex watches. The original models were thinly disguised versions of the Bubbleback. The key difference between the Bubbleback and the Datejust, obviously, was the introduction of the date function at the 3 position. To accommodate the date wheel, the Datejust was slightly thicker than the Bubbleback. The date wheel contained alternating red and black date markers (to distinguish odd days from even days). Also, when introduced, the Datejust was fitted with a coin-edged bezel and a pie-pan dial. At it’s release, the Datejust was the premium Rolex brand. In the mid-50s, the cyclops feature was first released on the Datejust. Also, as Rolex released the Day-Date or President, they started to allow the Datejust to be sold with different types of bracelets.

In the mid-50s, Rolex introduced the Thunderbird model of the Datejust. The only real difference between the 50’s Datejust and the Thunderbird was in the bezel. The Thunderbird model contained the Turn-O-Graph bezel. In the 70’s, four key features were released that significantly changed the shape of the Datejust from it’s original design. A new movement was built to house the quickset feature. Since the new movement had a smaller profile, a new case and dial were also used (discarding the old pie-pan dial). Finally, the introduction of the sapphire crystal created the now familiar version of the Rolex Datejust, relegating the domed plastic crystal to the history books.

tagsrolex, rolex wristwatch, datejust, history, watch, watches/tags

The overwhelming majority of contemporary watches are electronic. For many years now they’ve required batteries to power their functions. But watch batteries can be expensive and fail at the worst time. You may buy a watch for $20 and spend another $20 on batteries over its wearable lifetime. Batteries can also, in rare cases, corrode and ruin your watch.

Battery-less watches to the rescue!

Seiko’s Kinetic, and other models, feature a mechanism that allows you to power an electronic watch without a battery. Similar mechanisms, such as so-called self-winding watches, have been around for decades actually. The first such mechanism was designed in the 18th century, and the modern type was patented in 1923 by Rolex.

Shaking the watch, or movement from normal wearing, caused a small, mechanical piece to wind a spring. But those were strictly for watches with mechanical timekeeping devices – springs, used to power the oscillator or balance wheel.

The newer technology is similar in that it still uses mechanical motion. But in this case – like a miniature dynamo – it uses that movement to generate electricity that is then stored in a capacitor. Capacitors are tiny electronic devices that store current, but for much shorter periods than batteries. Also, unlike batteries, they don’t generate electricity on their own.

Other powering technology has been around for a long time. Solar powered watches, for example, have been common for over 20 years. But solar watches, though they don’t require an outside power source, still have a battery. In that case, the watch has a photo-receptor cell and associated circuit that charge the onboard battery.

A solar-powered watch without a battery (with rare exceptions) would run down quickly without a long-term storage feature, such as a battery. The exceptions are very expensive, high-end capacitors used for space applications and other specialized purposes. Citizen, for example, has a range of solar-powered models, but they have batteries.

Some recent designs even use the temperature difference between the skin and air to create a current. That current is used to power the watch.

In the electronic, battery-less watch the timing mechanism is essentially the same as any other electronic watch. The current powers a quartz timing mechanism, which vibrates when a voltage is applied. A circuit senses that vibration and turns the oscillations into mechanical movement of hands or changes an LCD display.

Whether these are the wave of the future or not depends more on market forces than technology. Certainly, having a watch that never requires replacing the battery is a value. But there are lithium-iodine batteries in use in some applications that will now last for 20 years. That makes widespread adoption of the technology as much a matter of advertising as it is a technical advantage.

That said, the idea itself is very cool. For those gadget freaks it is another advantage in that these models offer several different ways of monitoring the remaining power. Capacitors naturally ‘bleed off’ stored current over time, unless recharged. That indicator can itself be an attractive feature, for those who who like to push a button and see ‘battery life’ when there is, in fact, no battery.

The ‘coolness factor’ should never be discounted when looking for a watch. After all, you don’t really need another timepiece just to tell the current time, do you?

tagsrolex, watch, modern, self winding, battery, wristwatch, technology, vintage/tags

George: “I had a Rolex drop down an old well and 20 years later someone discovered there and it was still keeping time”

Henry: “That is quite a coincidence. My grandfather disappeared for twenty years and was also found in an abandoned well!”

George: “I can hardly believe that, how would someone stay busy for that long?”

Henry: “Apparently he kept busy keeping the time running on a watch that also fell down in the well!”

tagsrolex, joke, luxury, watch/tags

You will have heard that there was an uproar in the Swiss watch industry when Eta (part of the Swatch Group) announced, back in summer 2002, that they would gradually reduce delivery of raw movements (ébauches) to customers outside the Swatch Group and that such sales would be completely stopped by the end of 2006.

Some companies requested an intervention of the Swiss Federal Committee for Fair Trade (“Wettbewerbskommission,” WeKo) in this matter; they claimed improper use of a position of power by the Swatch Group.

On November 8, 2004, an agreement was reached between Eta and the WeKo:

Eta agreed to continue delivery of ébauches until 2010, but the numbers will be gradually decreased. Based on the average number of movements that a customer had bought between 1999 and 2001 as a reference, Eta will only deliver 85 % of the reference figure in 2008, 50 % in 2009, and 25 % in 2010. Price increases are only allowed in the range of the inflation rate, if Eta wants to charge more than this, the WeKo has to give its OK.

What was the industry’s reaction? Asked whether they would continue to buy Eta movements if the prices were raised by 10 %, Breitling answered “Yes, we have no alternative,” and Dubois-Depraz even stated that they “would continue to buy ébauches from Eta if the prices would be raised by 200 % or more, because there is no alternative.”

For the customer, the result is simple: Prices for mechanical watches will continue to rise.

I just saw the news his wristwatch was stolen in Albania. Incredible!

The Rolex Milgauss was introduced in 1954 to be a watch for the tiny amount of people that needed a wristwatch to be around a strong magnetic field. It had features that made it magnetic resistant to a degree. The watch was never one of the most popular Rolex models and after a while they stopped selling the watch.
However the market for a magnetic resistant watch has increased over the years and Rolex has upgraded The Milgauss with a new model.

When a watch is subjected to a magnetic field it starts to act erratically. It will usually manifest it’s problems by running fast and unpredictably. The watch would then need to be repaired. The degree to which The Milgauss can be exposed to a magnetic field has been upgraded. But just as noteworthy is the new design. It is simple and bold and striking. The ROLEXROLEXROLEX around the watch isn’t necessary but is understated and does not detract from the overall look.

If there is a need in your job for this type of watch than be assured that no other watch will handle the conditions quite as well as The Rolex Milgauss.

tagsrolex, milgauss, watch, wrist watch/tags

Steven Seagall wore Rolex watches in a couple of his movies.

In Hard To Kill (1990) he wears a Gold Rolex GMT II.

He also wears a Rolex Day-Date in Marked For Death (1990).

Donald Sutherland wears a Gold Submariner in The Disappearance (1976)

Rod Taylor in The Liquidator (1966) wears a Rolex Submariner. This is a very early sighting of a Rolex in the movies. It is indicative of the panache that the brand was starting to carry. Movie directors and actors were starting see the Rolex as a status symbol that had adventure attached.

pRado watches are quite simply, unique. The company has an obsession in making fine watches from the most sophisticated and technically advanced of man-made of materials. Reading a little bit about how these watches are made is like reading a piece of sci-fi literature. One can’t quite believe More »

Franck Muller USA, exclusive importer and distributor of the Swiss luxury watch in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean, has won more federal court rulings permanently barring companies from “importing, selling or otherwise distributing” watches with the Franck Muller trademark.Franck Muller Wins More Anti-Grey Market Court Rulings

The seasonally adjusted Credit Manager’s Index fell for the fourth consecutive month in November.CMI Indicates a Weakening Economy

The Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America welcomed a new chairman and several members to the board of directors, during the organization’s 103rd annual meeting.Alan Bell Elected as MJSA Chairman

Ever since the invention of the first timepiece, horologists were aware of the problems that were caused to the most delicate parts, mainly the crown and the winding systems, by dust and damp. They tried a variety of various methods such as making the case in one piece but not to no avail, and fitting the dust-caps. A solution finally eluded them.

cellini rolex watch

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Japanese watchmaker Citizen Watch Co., Ltd said that it will buy U.S. watchmaker Bulova Corp., from Loews Corp., the New York-based conglomerate. The purchase price is $250 million, JCK was told by Darren Daughtery, director of Loews’ Investor Relations. Bulova has been a subsidiary of Loews for almost 30 years.

Announcement of the sale was made by Citizen Watch Co., Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, in a brief press release and subsequently reported by major business media in Japan, Europe and the United States. At press time, no formal statements had been issued by Loews or Bulova.

The purchase will be completed Jan. 10, when Citizen buys 100 percent of Loews shares in Bulova, JCK was told by a Bulova spokesperson. At press time, the companies hadn’t issued formal press announcements.

The purchase would reportedly enable Citizen to expand further in the United States, the world’s largest watch market, where it is already a leading brand.

Bulova Corp. will become a subsidiary of Citizen Watch Co., Ltd., and reportedly remain operating at its long-time Woodside, N.Y. headquarters. No changes in operations were expected at Bulova’s offices and facilities in Canada, Mexico, Hong Kong, and Switzerland.

Bulova Corp.’s watches and clocks are among the most-widely sold brands in U.S. jewelry stores. Its watch lines include Caravelle, Bulova, Accutron, and Wittnauer. In 2006, it had sales of about $205 million. Citizen Watch Co., located in Tokyo, had worldwide sales of about $2.8 billion in 2006. Its U.S. arm is Citizen Watch Co. of America.

Bulova was founded in 1875 in New York City by Joseph Bulova, a Czech immigrant and jeweler. In 1911, it began making and selling clocks and pocket watches, wristwatches in 1919, and became one of the country leading and best-known brands for decades. During the 1970s, it briefly had a joint venture with Citizen to make watches for sale in Asia. In 1973, Gulf & Western Industries, Inc. bought a large share in the company, and then in 1976 sold its 26.8 percent interest to Stelux Manufacturing Co., a Hong Kong watch components maker. In 1979, Stulux sold its holding to Loews Corp., making Bulova a subsidiary of Loews. By 1984, Loews owned 95 percent of Bulova common stock. It purchased the rest in 2005.

In the past decade, Bulova has seen ongoing growth. National surveys in 1996 and 2001 found it among the top watch and jewelry brands in U.S. consumer awareness. On Oct. 4, 2000, then-New York mayor Rudy Giuliani proclaimed Bulova Day in recognition of its 125th anniversary. In 2001, it acquired the high end Wittnauer brand and in 2002, launched a new international marketing strategy, setting up its European headquarters in Fribourg, Switzerland.

As with the external parts of a watch, when looking at a new or used Rolex it is best to understand the internal workings of the watch.

A watch’s main timekeeping mechanism is called its movement. Today’s watch movements fall into two categories: Automatic mechanical or quartz. Automatic mechanical movements mark the passage of time by a series of gear mechanisms. Most automatic movements are wound by the normal, everyday movement of your wrist, which charges the watch’s winding reserve. This is the type of watch that Rolex manufactures.

Mainspring

The mainspring is the energy source responsible for powering the watch movement (as opposed to a battery in a watch with a quartz crystal movement). The spring is wound, either manually (using the winding stem) or automatically, by the motion of the wearer’s wrist. Potential energy is stored in the coiled spring, then released to the gear train which transmits the power to the escapement and motion work, which turns the hands on the watch dial.

Balance Wheel

The regulating organ of a watch with a mechanical movement that vibrates on a spiral hairspring is called the balance wheel. Lengthening or shortening the balance spring makes the balance wheel go faster or slower to advance or retard the watch. The travel of the balance wheel from one extreme to the other and back again is called oscillation.

Gear Train

This series of small gears in both quartz and mechanical movement watches is responsible for transmitting the power from the battery (in a quartz watch) or spring (in a mechanical watch) to the escapement, which distributes the impulses that mark the time.

Escapement

This part of the watch restricts the electrical or mechanical impulses of the gear train, metering out the passage of time into equal, regular parts.

Motion Work

The motion work is a series of parts inside a watch that receive power from the escapement and gear train, which distribute and generate the watch’s power. The motion work is responsible for actually turning the watch’s hands.

Tags: rolex+movements, rolex, used+rolex, rolex+watch

Watches continue to sell like iPods. Cell phones, computers, TV set boxes and just about anyplace in public will have something to tell you the current time. Still, there’s no substitute for a personal watch. Why is that?

Different people will have different answers, but one reason is that they are still stellar fashion statements. A watch has style, whether it’s merely a utilitarian type or a diamond studded platinum analog beauty.

Even the very expensive luxury and vintage watches still have an enormous following. Brands such as Rolex can continue to sell for more than they were bought for even though watches seem to becoming unnecessary.

Even an otherwise ordinary digital read out is chock full of style. More than just a watch, these timepieces are miniature computers. They offer the day, month and date, of course. But they also do double, triple or hundred-fold duty as well. Some have simple calculators, true. But many go beyond that to house cell phones, miniature TVs or even a tiny Internet browser.

All that technology is more than merely functional – it says something about the person wearing a device that has more gizmos than George Jetson’s cartoon house. It says ‘I am techno-savvy, I have information literally at my fingertips’.

More elegant, bejeweled watches also make a statement – though of a very different type, of course. A silvery case, with a jewel-encrusted crystal or band formed into a rich design says ‘I have it. You want it. Go get it for yourself’. And you can. Elegance doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

You may find a simple rectangular, gold Tissot to your taste. Or you may prefer the zippy spontaneity of a Swatch, or the understated ‘all business’ look of a round-case Citizen. Whatever your taste, there’s a watch to accommodate.

It isn’t just the watch itself, of course. The strap is equally a definer of the personality and taste of its wearer. You may enjoy the rich, supple brown lizard skin with the series of striped rectangles. Or, you may want to go crocodile in green or black. You may be truly daring and opt for the shark.

Straps come in fabric, animal skin, metal… all kinds of materials. You may like the soft feel of canvas that doesn’t pinch and doesn’t sweat. You may prefer the cold, bold look of titanium that lasts forever. Or, you may be a huge Mickey Mouse fan and just die to have Goofy on your wrist.

Whichever your preference, you can bet there’s a strap to suit your taste.

A contemporary watch is convenient, a flick of the wrist shows the time. It’s lightweight, elegant, personal and incredibly accurate. It has style and can be a beautiful addition to your wardrobe, with a different one for every day of the week. Or, you may be just that rare person who truly needs to have the entire Google database and an atomic clock on your arm. Go for it.

Get a watch and show the world what you’re made of.

tagsrolex, watch, watches, wristwatch, contemporary/tags

The Submariner watch by Rolex is an icon for its style and design as well as it’s popularity. It is a combination of elegance and excellent workmanship that has made it the standard bearer for all mechanical watches. This watch is in a class of its own. It is recognized all round the world. It first shot into fame through the James bond movies. Now this watch is known the world over as a status symbol, and an icon of wealth and power. The Rolex Submariner needs to be applauded for its first class workmanship; it is made of either stainless steel or gold. The stainless steel is corrosion resistant and Rolex has its own foundry so the can improve the quality of the gold. The watch has the trip lock system which which make the watch more secure. The Submariner is waterproof to a depth f 100 meters making it the first choice of many professional divers.

Rare Rolex watch auctioned for 65,000 ABC Online, Australia Sep 11, 2006 A rare Rolex watch belonging to a former World War II prisoner of war has gone under the hammer in Sydney tonight, selling for just over 65,000.Rare Rolex Watch Auctioned For 65,000 ABC Online

Any Rolex or other luxury watch enthusiast would be interested in the fine arts blog I recently visited.

I saw some amazing art by a poster who calls himself artman (certainly an apt name judging from his work). He takes pieces from various watches and creates sculptures of motorcycles from them. Very inventive and cool artwork.

Here is an example:

See the rest of artman’s work at:

http://allfinearts.com/motorcycles-from-watch-parts/

John Mayer is shopping for his and hers accessories for himself and girlfriend Jessica Simpson!

The rocker was spotted at a watch store in West Hollywood on Mar. 16, where he reportedly bought his and hers vintage Rolex watches.

And he clearly had Jessica on his mind during his shopping spree. “He talked about Jessica the whole time he was here,” a store staffer said.

The next day, John was spotted at a supermarket in L.A., buying blue wrapping paper, no doubt to wrap his gift for Jessica.

What’s next, matching jump suits?

tagsjessica simpson, john mayer, vintage watch, rolex/tags

What is the difference between a chronometer, chronograph and a cosmagraph? The three phrases are easily confused, even though they have completely different meanings. But each is linked to Rolex watches and therein lies the confusion.
Chronometer is a name that is given to a watch with the highest in precision standards, such as a new Rolex Datejust. Watches with chronometer certification have passed the rigorous testing of the Swiss Official Chronometer Control. This testing consists of 15 days of performance tests under various conditions like exposure to varying temperatures, positions, and water levels.
Only watches with automatic or mechanical movements are eligible for chronometer certification. Rolex was the first watch manufacturer to earn the coveted chronometer certification. They maintain it today through the precision of quality assurance that goes into every new Rolex Datejust before it leaves the manufacturing floor.

In contrast to a chronometer, a chronograph is a watch that has a stopwatch capability. Its counter can measure elapsed time in seconds, minutes, or hours. The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is one of the most popular examples of a chronograph.
Cosmograph on the other hand is actually part of the model name of a particular Rolex as mentioned above. The myth linked to the Cosmograph owes much to terminology. The reference to descriptive astronomy (cosmography) – the very essence of time measurement – is enough to grasp the ambition encapsulated within this prestigious model. It is certainly one of Rolex Watch Companies most sought after watches.

tagsrolex,cosmograph,daytona,chronometer,chrongraph,watch,luxury,sport,used/tags

The Rolex GMT Master is a part of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual watch collection. The GMT Master was originally designed in 1956 to aid pilots who travel through multiple time zones.

A new model of the GMT Master came out during the 1990s or 2000s that features a sapphire crystal which cannot easily be scratched. This model was named the GMT Master II.

Both the original GMT and the GMT II can display the time in two different time zones by having an additional “GMT” hand which completes a 24 hour cycle in a single rotation. Use of the bi-directional rotatable bezel allows for a third time zone to be displayed.

The watch was originally designed in collaboration with Pan-Am Airlines for use by their pilots. Today, this watch is popular with travelers and people who need to keep track of the time across multiple time zones.

The 50th anniversary edition of the GMT Master II was revealed at Basel Fair 2006. This new model features a number of technical enhancements, such as Rolex’s patented Parachrom hairspring as well as a larger Triplock crown. The new model also has several cosmetic improvements such as larger hands and a new bezel made of an extremely hard ceramic material which greatly resists damage and discoloration. The numbers on this bezel are filled with a fine layer of gold, using a process of physical vapor deposition.

Either the GMT, GMT II, or the new 50th anniversary model are all great examples of Rolex craftsmanship.

tagsrolex gmt master, gmt, masterII, rolex/tags

Here is the story of a Rolex enthusiast gone bad.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers and detectives are working hard to track down a man who stole two Rolex watches from a watch store in Koreatown back on December 1st.

As stated, the incident happened Saturday, December 1st, in the middle of an afternoon. A man, dressed in a formal tuxedo, walked into a Rolex watch dealership and asked to see some jewelry. The man, obviously posing as a regular customer, told a store employee that he wanted to see an engagement ring for his current girlfriend.

While the employee was getting the ring out of the glass case, he spotted two Rolex watches, also inside the display case. The suspect, now disinterested in the engagement ring, asked to see both Rolex  watches. The employee complied, put the ring back, and took out the two luxury watches.

When the employee handed over the Rolex watches, the suspect pretended to examine them. Suddenly, he ran out of the front door and took off down the street.

The owner of the store stated that the man stole two diamond encrusted champagne-colored Rolex watches. Each watch is valued at exactly $60,200.00.

Police stated that the crime was not violent. No force or weapons were used. The suspect simply stole the merchadise that was handed to him. Additionally, no information regarding an accomplice or other suspect has been released.

The entire incident was caught on tape by the store’s surveillance system. The police expect the tapes to make it easier to track down the two Rolex watches.

Although we feel strongly in mechanical watches as collectors items and everyday timepieces this is clearly the wrong way to start your collection. So take a more honest approach to acquiring your Rolex watch but certainly find a way.

tags/rolex,luxury,watch,wristwatch,wrist,GMT,pre-owned,used,daytona,submariner/tags

Rolex watches have always gone up in value. Older Rolex watches are not used but vintage. The older models are often preferred and worth more than their newer counterparts. Part of this tradition seems to reside in their look staying very similar over the years and decades. Rolex didn’t seem to change with the times or answer to trendy fashion demands. A Rolex it seems is a Rolex and that is how they maintain their intrinsic value. They don’t add new models or designs lightly. In fact they often only redesign as part of a technological or movement improvement.

However with the introduction of the new 2007 watches, especially the Yacht-Master II these traditions have to be called into question. Although the new designs incorporate fine advances in use and technology they also have been redesigned aesthetically. The new look of The Yacht-Master II has a great new and functional layout to the dial. However the watches have their name, in large letters, spelled out around the bezel. I find this troubling on a couple of aspects. First, it seems to try to come into line with modern fashions that have the designers name prominently displayed. Rolex seems above this trendy inclusion. Secondly it screams out for recognition. Rolex owners always seemed to have an understated pride in knowing that any real aficionado knows the timeless Rolex characteristics without having them jump out. All these new watches have Rolex spelled out around the inside of the case. This is a level of branding that seems to go with high fashion clothing. These watches don’t need the extra noise.

The watches are certainly great looking and will have that fabulous Rolex workmanship and will be very popular. I can’t help but wonder if they have changed to much or am I wrong. It is Rolex who has made all the right decisions for close to a century now. Time as always will tell.

tagsrolex, watch, yachtmaster, yacht master, tradition, vintage watch, vintage, used watch, used, new, fashion/tags

Three men sat on a large hill. One was from New York one was from New Jersey and one was from Chicago. They were bored and decided to have a contest. Each man was wearing a Rolex watch. They decided that each would throw his watch high in the air off the hill. Then they would run down the hill and see if they could catch the Rolex before it hit the ground.

The man from new York went first and threw his Submariner watch in the air and ran as quick as he could but the watch beat him to the bottom, crashed and was broken into many parts.

The man from New Jersey promptly took off his Rolex Sea-Dweller threw it even higher in the ai,r ran down the hill even faster and still – the watch was smashed to pieces before he could catch it.

Then the man from Chicago removed his Rolex Cosmograph Daytona and he threw the watch in the air.
But instead of sprinting down the hill he walked down, went to a local tavern, had a drink and then returned to casually catch his Rolex and return it to his wrist.

The other men were stunned and asked what had happened.

The man replied “I still have my watch set an hour slow!!!!”

tagsrolex,wristwatch,wrist,submariner,daytona,cosmograph,rolex joke,rolex humor,used watch,pre-owned watch/tags

Found this on an auction web site.

This person was so serious about the need to own a Rolex Sea Dweller and felt that the need to buy a luxury watch was important enough for charity.

This is the level of attachment people can feel toward a high end mechanical watch like a Rolex. Would you get any satisfaction from knowing you helped? Would a thank you email make the difference?

I haven’t seen this kind of thing for a car even though they are a much more necessary item and potentially much more expensive. But when it comes to a Rolex or other luxury watch people want to own one and have that feel on their wrist. They want it so bad look at what one regular dad will go through.

I’m not sure this is the best road to your new Rolex but if you want one bad enough you will find a way.

Good luck!

BUY IT NOW: US $5.00
QUANTITY: 1562 Available

BIDDING ON THIS AUCTION WILL, I HOPE, GIVE YOU THE SATISFACTION OF KNOWING YOU PERSONALLY HELPED A HARD WORKING FATHER OF TWO AFFORD HIS TIME PIECE DREAM.

YOU ARE BIDDING ON:

A FUND TO ALLOW ME TO FULLY PURCHASE AND PLACE ONE OF THESE FINE TIMEPIECES ON MY WRIST.

WHAT YOU GET:

• MY EARNEST GRATITUDE
• THE SATISFACTION OF KNOWING THAT; EVERY TIME I LOOK AT THE LOVELY WATCH, I WILL HAVE YOU FINE PEOPLE TO THANK.
• A PERSONAL “THANK YOU” E-MAIL FROM ME.
• PROVIDED I GATHER ENOUGH TO PURCHASE A FINE SEA-DWELLER, I WILL E-MAIL YOU A HIGH QUALITY DIGITAL PICTURE OF THE WATCH ON MY WRIST.

tagsrolex, auction, watch, luxury, used, sea dweller/tags

International Jamaican Reggae superstar and Grammy award winner Moses ‘Beenie Man’ Davis, was robbed of his Rolex watch in London on Saturday.

The event, ended pleasantly, however, as the entertainer got back his watch thanks to fans who chased the thief.

Beenie Man, reported to be on holiday in London, was at the opening of a record shop on Coldharbour Lane in Brixton at about 4 p.m. when the incident happened. He arrived at the shop at about 3 p.m. where he was met by a throng of fans who wanted autographs and photographs.

The entertainer took a stroll from the shop where the fans continued to mob him. It was then that a man grabbed the watch from the entertainer’s hand and sped off.

Realizing that Beenie Man had been robbed, fans chased the suspected robber. In an attempt to escape, the thief threw away the watch, which was recovered and returned to Beenie, with its face damaged.

Some fans commented that the man must have been mad to snatch Beenie’s Rolex while he was with such strong supporters. One fan said: “…Im really desperate”, referring to the thief.

When Beenie Man returned to the record shop, he picked up a microphone and told his supporters: “Mi no know is who, mi see two boy, one inna a black jacket and one inna white jacket, but mi get it back.”

The entertainer said he had never had such an experience.

“Mi want fi hear some music, mi want we fi dance and enjoy wi self as I have been in an accident and mi survive. What no cost life a noting. A man bust off mi watch affa mi hand, run up de road and mash up it face but that is vanity as long as you have life and prosperity everything is all right,” he told the fans.

Life, prosperity and his Rolex that is.

tagsreggae, rolex, beenie man, watch, used rolex/tags

Cartier was founded in Paris by Louis-Francois Cartier, son of a powder horn maker in 1847. In 1874, Cartier’s son Alfred took over the business and expanded it considerably. That included watches, which Louis-Francois had only dabbled in. In 1899, Alfred’s son Louis Cartier entered the firm. Louis Cartier was a great lover of mechanical pocket watches and wanted the company to build its own watches.

In 1904, Louis Cartier met the Brazilian aviator, Alberto Santos-Dumont, who complained of the unreliability of pocket watches in flight. Cartier rose to the challenge, designing a flat watch with a distinctive square bezel. This watch was not only a hit with Santos-Dumont, but also with Cartier’s many clients. Thus, out of this timeless design, the “Santos” was born. Incredibly enough, this watch is still produced today in much the same form.

In 1907, Cartier signed a contract with Edmond Jaeger (of the famed Jaeger-Le Coultre company), who agreed to exclusively supply the movements for Cartier watches. By this time, Cartier had branches in London, New York and St. Petersburg and was quickly becoming one of the most successful watch companies in the world.

In the early 1920s Cartier formed a joint company with Edward Jaeger to produce movements solely for Cartier. Thus was the famed European watch & clock company born, although Cartier continued to use movements from other great makers. Cartier watches can be found with movements from Vacheron Constantin, Audemars-Piguet, Movado and Le-Coultre. It was also during this period that Cartier began adding its own reference numbers to the watches. Usually by stamping a four-digit code on the underside of a lug. In fact, many collectors refuse to accept a Cartier as original, unless these numbers are present.

In 1942, Louis Cartier died and his successors were unable to continue without his artistic genius. It was only in 1972, when a group of investors took over the company and installed Alain Perrin as its CEO, that the company finally regained lost ground. Perrin, a former antique dealer, turned the company around. By developing the “Le Must” line, as well as creating new versions of classics such as the “Santos”, Perrin managed to re-establish Cartier as an innovative and fashionable watchmaker.

Today, Cartier’s best-sellers include the classic “Tank”; the hot new “Tank Francaise”, a sports watch similar in concept to the Santos; the “Pasha”, which has become a very popular watch for ladies; and the “Panther” which features a highly distinctive bracelet available in 18K gold, stainless steel and gold, or stainless steel. Needless to say, a Cartier watch is finished to very high standards. The cases and bracelets in particular are meticulously handcrafted and exude quality in every sense of the word. Yet in spite of the famous brand name and timeless designs, Cartier watches are available in a wide range of prices and styles. If you are looking for a prestigious name brand that offers a mix of quality craftsmanship and contemporary styling, one need look further than Cartier.

tagsCartier, Cartier watch, cartier santos/tags

Stars wearing a Rolex in films -

Baldwin, Alec – Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
Gold Day-Date (“You see this watch? You see this watch? This watch costs more than your car.”)

Bronson, Charles – The Mechanic (1992)
Submariner (Close-up) (The movie has no dialogue for the first 16 minutes.)

Cage, Nicholas – Leaving Las Vegas (19950
Cosmograph Daytona (“$500 for a ‘93 Rolex Daytona? I’ll do it.”)

When I turned thirteen, in 1968, I was to have a Bar Mitzvah. Where I lived in Northern New Jersey this was not unusual and I had been preparing for many years. I was ready for this and couldn’t wait for the event. I had learned from others that I would get many gifts at the party celebrating this great event. The joke at the time was that all thirteen year old Jewish boys get a fountain pen for their Bar Mitzvah. This must have meant more to kids from another era than it did to me because I could get a Bic pen for a dime at any corner store. So I looked forward to receiving money more than the obligatory fountain pen from my father.

On the big night I was lucky to receive many wonderful gifts, including money from most of the assembled guests. However my father never did pull out the old fountain pen and hand it over. I was beginning to wonder what was going on when he finally pulled me aside and explained that since I was becoming a man in the eyes of my religion, I should receive something very special that he hoped I would keep my whole life and cherish deeply. This all sounded a little serious to me but I humored him. Then out came the box. A little big but certainly about right for a fancy pen. He didn’t let on much about what I would find in there but I knew. Then I opened the box and to my surprise was something as worthless to me as a fancy fountain pen – a big fancy wristwatch.

My dad went on to explain that this Rolex was the greatest watch known to man, that it would tell time well and last a lifetime or more. I was confused, why did I need a watch and for how many lifetimes. I thought that, as with the pen, it was my job to humor my father and did all I could to express my appreciation and gratitude. Life is funny with things like presents. On that day I received many gifts – money, bonds, stock, jewelry, toys, a great party and many other things. That Rolex was probably one that I thought the least about. I didn’t look forward to wearing it and don’t remember taking it out of the box to show my thirteen year old friends. But years later, in college when I really needed a good watch I couldn’t wait to revisit that old Rolex. It was now five or six years old and had not been wore except on occasion. I had it tuned and was proud to start calling it my own. Now forty years later it is hard to even remember a single gift I received at my Bar Mitzvah forty years ago. I spent all the money, cashed in the bonds and sold the stock. Most of all I was without my father as well. But my dad was smart and he must have known that all these years later I would have one solid memory of that day and him. I wear it with pride – my 1968 Rolex Submariner.

tagsrolex, first, submariner, watch, wristwatch, used rolex/tags

Now that gold has broken the $675 an ounce barrier for the first time since 1980, you should reassess the role gold jewelry plays in your merchandising mix, and make sure you understand gold’s brand characteristics.

“Gold” is not a singular concept in the consumer’s mind; it assumes different attributes based on karatage, sales environment, advertising, and customers’ incomes.

Gold jewelry ranges from the cheap and cheery world of 10k Disney character charms found at discount malls and jewelry kiosks to the rarefied elegance of a 24k handmade necklace by Gurhan found in the finest department stores and high-end retail jewelers. Advertising ranges from newspaper circulars promoting “50% Off!” to ads in luxe publications like Town & Country. Gold jewelry is segregated into categories, and marketing efforts for gold’s three basic U.S. karatages (10k, 14k, and 18+k) need to be as different as GM’s marketing for Saturn, Buick, and Cadillac.

Ten-karat gold is the new costume jewelry, a disposable commodity purchased for looks, not value. Consumers of 10k tend to be younger, less-affluent women. If this doesn’t describe your key customer, consider upgrading your karatage assortment. If you’re a small independent store, try carrying some 10k, but look for fresh, fashion-forward designs in 14k gold jewelry to differentiate yourself from commodity gold sellers. Try 14k product that’s big and bold but lightweight. Leave newspaper ads touting “50% Off!” to the chains and bigger retailers. You can’t compete on price; you must offer better product, sales help, and contemporary designs.

Fourteen-karat gold is the American sweet spot, usually found among quality Japanese watch brands like Citizen, less-expensive premium Swiss watches like Movado, and modestly priced colored stone and diamond jewelry in malls and shopping strips. Macy’s, Kay Jewelers, and midsize independent retail jewelers typify 14k sales.

In stores selling 14k product, sales help is usually available, but product knowledge is limited because staff turnover is higher than at guild stores. Your key gold consumer, according to World Gold Council research, is a middle-age, middle-class woman who prefers yellow gold. The typical consumers of 14k white gold are slightly younger women in the middle to upper-middle class.

The heart of 14k gold jewelry sales is sentimentality with a touch of fashion. Wedding rings, lockets, and charm bracelets should be in every jeweler’s inventory, as should good-quality omega, Figaro, wheat, curb, and rolo chain necklaces and bracelets.

Gold jewelry in 18k and higher is usually associated with brand-name jewelry designers like Roberto Coin and Alex Sepkus or Rolex. Hamilton Jewelers, with stores in Princeton and Lawrenceville, N.J., and Palm Beach, Fla., and Bergdorf Goodman in New York are examples of stores that typically carry 18k gold. Salespeople usually are well trained and have many years’ experience.

Women who buy 18k gold tend to be more affluent and fashion-forward than their 14k counterparts. Retailers of 18k designer products should collaborate with key brands on cooperative advertising in local and regional editions of fashion and lifestyle publications while developing their own catalogs and direct-mail pieces.

Small, middle-tier, and upper-tier independent retail jewelers need to increase the quality of their inventory to help differentiate themselves from department stores, chain jewelers, and discounters. The key opportunity is pushing fresh design and good variety at point-of-sale while avoiding blanket discounts. Conduct sales training with materials from World Gold Council and gold jewelry manufacturers. Group gold karatage product consistently in cases, and call attention to branded product by decorating cases and windows with names and logos of designers and manufacturers. Develop plan-o-grams and window concepts that highlight new gold selections. Maintain an aspirational tone to messages about gold. Finally, target affluent gold enthusiasts—they understand that gold is one of life’s great luxuries.

Tags: gold+jewelry, high+end, watches, gold, jewelry

Even before watches were invented people were aware of the passage of time. The practice of keeping time goes back thousands of years. The most common example is noting the change of the seasons and the repetition of day followed by night. The Sumerians developed water clocks, sundials and a host of other inventions to measure the passage of time. Although none of these devices were very accurate they were early watches.

In the late Middle Ages the first true clocks were built, bringing together a variety of designs. The first mechanical clock was devised in Italy around 1300. By the time the first self-winding mechanism was devised in the late 18th century, all the essentials were well in place. Balance wheel, mainspring and gear train, escapement, analog hands. Two hundred years later watches have become so accurate that further precision would be redundant.

At the same time, wrist watches have attained a degree of artistic development that make the 20th and 21st centuries the Golden Age of watch making. There are so many individual designs on the market – whether available as vintage watches from the 1930s-1970s, or as contemporary models – that it would be impossible to see all of them.

With the increasingly common use of cell phones, many have thought watches obsolete. Yet watch making companies like Hamilton, Seiko, Rolex, Omega, Swatch and many others continue to make record profits.

Peoples endless fascination with the wrist watch is unlikely to fade anytime soon. Even apart from the practical need to be on time for an appointment or to complete a task before a deadline, the passage of time is so fundamental that we often unconsciously measure our lives by it. Time is enduring.

For a time electronic watches looked as if they would replace their historical cousins. Yet the latter became so commonplace that a revival arose, bringing mechanical watches to a state of popularity higher than ever.

The comforting tick has been seen as so valuable that some electronic watches simulate the sound, even though the traditional click is a purely mechanical phenomenon. There’s something about seeing a movie in which the bomb is heard ticking away that the change of illuminated numbers can never fully replace.

Watches continue to fascinate, inform, accessorize and delight. Whether as jewelry or micro-computer or miniature wrist-borne communicator or who knows what in the future, watches are here to stay.

tagswatch, wristwatch, wrist watch, rolex, luxury, mechanical/tags

1524 – First time telling devices created. Used weights and were not very good at telling time accurately.

1675 – Creation of the first balance spring. Followed shortly by the “second hand”, watches were now accurate to under a minute.

Early 1800’s – As Industrial Revolution allowed for custom machines watches were mass produced and pocket wathces became commonplace.

1868 – Patek Philippe made the original wrist watch.

1871 – IWC creates the first waterproof case for a watch mechanism.

1888 – Cartier introduces the first wrist watch designed specifically for women.

After WWI – Soldiers were widely given wrist watches as a piece of equipment. As they returned from war with these wrist watches they became a very popular item.

1926 – First waterproof wrist watch.

1928 – Introduction of the first quartz clock.

1932 – Rolex introduces the first automatic watch.

1936 – The first chronograph.

1947 – The introduction of the wrist watch with an alarm.

1952 – The battery powered watch.

1960 – The creation of the electronic watch.

1969- The beginning of the mass produced quartz watch industry.

tagswatch, wrist watch, rolex, cartier, patek philippe, battery, electronic, clock, pocket watch, chronograph, alarm, quartz, waterproof, balance spring/tags

If you ever wanted to learn more about the movements that make up the working part of a Rolex watch look no further than this link.

The complete description, chronological order and accompanying photos really help shed light on a more mysterious part of The Rolex aura. Know when you read about a particular movement you can identify it just like the experts.

Good luck!

tagsrolex, watch, information, link, movement, luxury, used/tags

Howard Levitt, president of Tourneau, received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2006 Award in the Retail Consumer Products category in the Metropolitan New York Area. The award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic and growing businesses.Tourneau’s Levitt honored for entrepreneurial excellence

Luxury Swiss watchmaker CORUM has entered into an agreement with Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. that will designate it as the official timepiece of the World Series of Poker, the two companies said in a joint statement.CORUM to be official timepiece of the ‘World Series of Poker’

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One of the most deeply-held myths about Rolex is that Rolex and Gruen at one time manufactured movements for each other’s watches. This is not true, although both firms did use some of the same movements—the best known examples are the Gruen Techi-Quadron and its twin, the Rolex Prince. In reality, these movements were manufactured by a third company, Aegler, who was a very close neighbor to the Gruen Precision Factory.

The Aegler factory in Biel. Aegler made movements for Rolex (which had no manufacturing capability at the time), and this building is the main Rolex factory today. Up until the early 1930s, Aegler was partly owned by Gruen. Gruen and Rolex were Aegler’s biggest customers, and were both large shareholders as well—the full company name at one time was, Aegler, Societe Anonyme, Fabrique des Montres Rolex & Gruen Guild A. Gruen and Rolex both occasionally showed pictures of the huge Aegler factory in their advertising, making the implication that this was a Gruen- or Rolex-owned facility, although ownership at the time was divided among Gruen, Rolex and Aegler itself. Gruen sold their Aegler shares in the 1930s, after they moved all production to the Precision Factory. After this time, Aegler became increasingly tied to Rolex through the sale of stock. Today, the main Rolex building in Biel is the old Aegler factory, and though it is now owned by Rolex, it is still run by the Aegler family.

tagsrolex, prince, rolex watch, used rolex/tags

Sometime in 2005, a long standing Rolex tradition came to an end: Rolex stopped shipping the famous Rolex Anchor with the Submariner and its variants. For many years, Rolex included a small key-ring like, miniature anchor with every Submariner. Much has been written about these anchors over the years – no one is sure exactly what these little trinkets included with the Submariner are good for. They don’t seem to serve any useful purpose, which is perhaps why Rolex after decades is no longer producing them. Maybe in the next 10-20 years they’ll be a coveted Rolex collectors item. Here’s a guide to the anchors which were last produced by Rolex.

The standard Submariner anchor:
The silver anchor below is the most common, as it was included with the stainless steel and two tone Submariner variants – note the water resistance rating. The rating is shown in meters on one side, and in feet on the other.

There is also the anchor which was included with the Sea-Dweller. It’s identical to the other, with the exception of the water resistance rating displayed – it matches the higher depth rating of the Sea-Dweller.

Also there is the gold plated version and is included only with the all gold Submariner models. Note the water resistance rating is consistent with the Submariner at 300 meters.

The transition seems to have taken place mid-way through the F series production, and perhaps coincided with the introduction of the new Rolex box and packaging released around the same time. A good, general rule of thumb is, if your Rolex Submariner or Sea-Dweller has the new style packaging, then it probably won’t have the anchor.

tagssubmariner, rolex anchor, watch, rolex watch, wristwatch, collectibles/tags

The Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (Society for Fine Watchmaking) has launched www.hautehorlogerie.org, which it calls the first and “most extensive knowledge base” in fine watchmaking on the Internet. Its multimedia content is designed for those involved or interested in fine watches, “from manufacturer to retailer, collector to watch lover,” says the Fondation.‘Most extensive’ watchmaking Web site unveiled

China’s new 20 percent sales tax on luxury watches (i.e., over $1,200 retail), which became effective April 1, has upset Swiss watchmakers and the Swiss government. Almost all imported luxury watches sold in China (99.6 percent) are Swiss. Switzerland has urged China to rescind the tax, but it refuses to do so.Chinese Luxury Tax Upsets Swiss Watchmakers

Howard Levitt, president of Tourneau, received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2006 Award in the Retail Consumer Products category in the Metropolitan New York Area. The award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic and growing businesses.Tourneau’s Levitt honored for entrepreneurial excellence

With Wilsdorf, Rolex has progressed in many ways until this day. Starting from pocket watches to high quality waterproof watches, Rolex has grown to become one of the largest watch companies known to man.

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For the first time since their inception in 1976, the Rolex Spirit of Enterprise awards this year feature more female prize winners than male.

Marking three decades since the inception of its international awards programme, Rolex named the winners of the 12th Rolex Awards for Enterprise. The Laureates – three women and two men – hail from Australia, France, India, Thailand and the United Kingdom. They join the 55 Laureates who, since 1976, have been singled out by the watchmaker for their innovative projects to change the world and make it a better place to live.

On October 25, each Laureate has received US$100,000 and a personally inscribed gold Rolex chronometer at a ceremony at the Esplanade Performing Arts Centre in Singapore. The five winners – selected by an independent panel of experts from nearly 1,700 applicants from 117 countries – have been recognized for their contributions to science, technology, the environment, exploration and cultural heritage.

The new Laureates are: Alexandra Lavrillier, a French ethnologist establishing a mobile school to preserve Siberian nomads’ cultural heritage; Brad Norman, an Australian environmentalist implementing a global photo-identification database for whale shark conservation; Pilai Poonswad, a Thai microbiology professor saving hornbills threatened by poaching and deforestation in southern Thailand; Chanda Shroff, an Indian woman setting up a mobile resource centre to showcase Kutchi embroidery and teach a new generation of artisans about this tradition; and Rory Wilson, a British zoologist testing a revolutionary energy-expenditure measuring device to help conserve wildlife.

In 2006 Rolex introduced the 50th anniversary edition of the GMT Master II. The improvements over the older style GMT Master II are substantial. However there it was only available in two-tone (18k gold and stainless steel). For two-tone lovers, it was a dream come true, but not everyone likes two tone.
Recently Rolex announced an all stainless steel version of the new GMT Master II. Judging from all the pictures, it’s one of the most beautiful Rolex watches ever produced.

If you’re looking for an elegant but durable travel watch, you won’t do any better than the Rolex GMT Master II.
There are some changes for the better.
Apparently the movement of the hour hand is much smoother and more precise when setting the hour hand than it was.

Additionally, the main spring has been replaced with one which is more temperature resistant, which makes the watch more precise.

The new GMT Master II is outfitted with what has become known as the “maxi-dial”. Which means that the hour markers are larger, and both the the minute hand and the hour hands are slightly wider.

The bezel on the new GMT Master is ceramic rather than painted aluminum. This type of ceramic is extremely durable and resistant to abrasions and discoloration.

The new GMT Master IIs use the Triplock crown system of the Submariner. This crown is larger, heavier, easier to grasp, and should make the watch more water resistant.

The 24-hour hand on the older GMT Master IIs is red. Rolex changed this to green.

This should be a very popular model Rolex when it is released this summer.

tagsrolex, watch, rolex watch, new GMT/tags

A man is at Grand Central Station waiting for his train that leaves at 6 p.m., but he has forgotten his Rolex. So he looks for someone to ask the time. He spots a guy carrying two suitcases and sporting this fabulous hi-tech watch, so he asks him for the time.

The guy replies “Sure, which country?”

The fella asks, “How many countries have you got?” to which the man replies, “All the countries in the world!”

“Wow! That’s a pretty cool watch you’ve got there.”

“That’s nothing,” the man says. “This watch also has a GPS facility, fax, e-mail and can even receive NTSC television channels and display them on its miniature active color pixel LCD screen!”

“Boy, that’s incredible. I wish I had a watch like that one. You wouldn’t consider selling it by any chance?”

“Well, actually the novelty has worn off for me, so for $900, if you want it, it’s yours.”

The watchless traveler can hardly whip out his checkbook fast enough to hand over a check for $900.

The seller takes off the watch and gives it to him. “Congratulations, here is you new hi-tech watch.” Then, handing the two suitcases over as well, he says, “And here are the batteries.”

tagsrolex, rolex watches, joke, watch/tags

Rolex also maintained its brand image by limiting production, even as demand rose. For luxury goods, scarcity in the marketplace can influence value, spur demand, and contribute to long-term appreciation. Finely-made luxury watches tend to appreciate in value over time. The Complete Price Guide to Watches (2004 edition) lists the value of a 1936 Patek Philippe Calatrava in 18-karat gold at $700,000. Rolex watches have appreciated too. Price guides for collectors indicate that almost all older Rolex models are valued above their initial selling price. Most collectible Rolex watches sell in a range of between $1,500 and $20,000.

Rolex has also ensures that its watches are sold only in appropriate venues. Rolex looks for dealers with high-end images. At one point, Rolex got into a dispute with Tiffany because the venerable retailer was imprinting its name on the Rolex watches it was selling. When Tiffany refused to stop, Rolex dropped Tiffany as an official jeweler. In the 1990s, as part of an effort to control sales of their goods in the so-called gray market, Rolex cancelled agreements with about 100 dealers.
Rolex makes only watches, and it has never licensed its name.

As it approaches its 100th anniversary, Rolex is sticking to its core strategy of independence, continuity, and brand purity. The company’s attitude has allowed it not just to survive decades of technological and economic upheavals, but to thrive amid them. Even in today’s massive, global luxury-goods market, an independent company that clearly defines its market niche and relentlessly sticks to its strategy can rise to the top.

tagsrolex, rolex watch, wristwatch, luxury goods, Patek Phillippe/tags

Used Rolex watches are easy prey for unsavory sellers. Buyers want to know: What’s real and what’s fake? “The devil is in the details,” warns Avi Dayan, an international expert on pre-owned Rolex watches. He offers 10 tips for telling a real one from a fake.Used Rolex watches are big business for unsavory sellers. What’s real and what’s fake? That’s what buyers need to know. “The question is simple but the answer is seldom easy,” says Avi Dayan, an international expert on used Rolex watches. “Trickery and deceit is the hallmark of those who peddle phony Rolex watches.”

“When the pros inspect a watch their attention is always focused on the little things most people would never notice.” Dayan offers 10 tips for telling a real Rolex from a fake.

10 TIPS THAT TELL A REAL ROLEX FROM A FAKE

1.Rolex has never manufactured a watch with a see-through case. If you see a glass-back case on a watch, move on. You’re not looking at a Rolex.

2.Rolex has never fabricated a case or a band with even the smallest amount of rubber. You know it’s a fake if you feel rubber.

3.Skeleton dials display the moving parts of a timepiece. Rolex has never made a skeleton dial.

4.Oyster Perpetual Rolex watches always have a screwed-back case – never a pop-up.

5.Rolex Oysters are fabricated of stainless steel, gold or platinum. Chrome or chrome-plate is never used.

6.Only men’s full-size Rolex watches have day and date features.

7.The case of a Rolex President is platinum, 18-karat yellow or white gold – never stainless steel or two-tone stainless and gold.

8.Rolex watches are not gold-plated – ever. When it comes to gold, a Rolex is either 14 or 18-karat gold.

9.Surprise, surprise. Rolex does indeed, make a quartz movement watch — the perpetual Oyster. But, be careful before you buy. Quartz movement Rolexes comprise fewer than 10% of all Perpetual Oysters. The other 90% are conventional automatic Rolex movements.

10.Rolex is a Swiss company that has in years past manufactured watches in various other countries including the U.S, Mexico, Italy and Venezuela – but never China. A “Chinese-made Rolex” is a genuine fake.

ROLEX ‘LAWS TO LIVE BY’ Rolex pros have ‘laws’ they live by, they are:

Rolex pros have ‘laws’ they live by, they are:

•Never buy a watch on the street.

•Never buy from an Internet dealer – unless the dealer also operates a brick and mortar store situated in a secure, respectable location, preferably in the United States. A customer should always have the option to visit the proprietor’s store to personally inspect a watch. And, a used Rolex, like a new one, should always come with a warranty.

•Never buy Rolex watches in the Far East or Turkey, even if the dealer has a storefront presence.

•Always pay with a credit card – not cash or check. A credit card purchase provides flexibility in case you need to return the watch.

•Never buy a watch on Craig’s List.

Tags: submariner, rolex+watch, rolex+watches, rolex

The federal government is suing former State Senator John Ford’s Rolex watch. They are claiming the watch was seized during the commitment of an unlawful offense. This makes confiscating it is within the law.

A lawsuit, filed in federal court Tuesday, sets the watch itself as defendant. Its value is established at $70,000. It’s not clear why federal attorneys decided to sue the watch and not its wearer. Except that it might be easier to collect a fine from a valuable Rolex instead of a dead beat politician.

According to a lengthy affidavit, sworn to by FBI agent Mark Jackson. Ford accepted the pricey watch as part of an exchange with Memphis developer Rusty Hyneman. Ford had – according to the affidavit – offered to help Hyneman with an outstanding environmental claim levied by the State of Tennessee.

The matter came up during Ford’s public corruption trial several months ago. He was convicted on a single bribery count and his sentencing is scheduled for the end of August. Whether he goes free or to jail he will apparently no longer have a Rolex watch on his wrist.

tagsrolex, auction, watch, luxury, wrist, sue/tags

Watch retail giant Tourneau announced that it has agreed to be acquired by an investor group led by Green Equity Investors IV for more than $300 million. The group includes members of the Wexler family, which currently owns Tourneau, and members of Tourneaus senior management team.