Cool Jaeger LeCoultre iPad/iPhone App

Jaeger LeCoultre has developed a free app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch that allows you to explore all the mechanical intricacies of its current collections.  In addition it also incorporates a glossary and a beginner's watchmaking course that allows you to test and refine your watchmaking skills.
The software has actually been around since 2009, but has been recently updated to include the entire 2010 collection.  JLC is such a cool watch company.  They've done a great job going out and engaging the online watch community, and this is just one more thing they've done to strengthen their brand.
The only suggestion I have is PLEASE develop an Android app.  Please!
Otherwise if you aren't an iPhone user, the app is available on the JLC website.

Price of Gold affecting Patek Philippe Sales

So, apparently Patek Philippe is concerned about the impact the price of gold will have on sales. 

I can understand how the price of gold could affect profit margins on sub $10,000 watches, but I would think that gold would only be a small component of the price of a typical Patek Philippe. It shows you how zealous these guys are about maintaining their profit margins.  One interesting side note in this article:  The Swatch Group uses 10 tons of gold a year.

Waltham Watch Factory Renovated

The building that housed the old Waltham Watch Company in Waltham, Mass. has been renovated to house restaurants, shops and offices.  Here is a photo of the original:

I love these old brick factory buildings, and I'm glad they've done something with it instead of tearing it down.  The Waltham Watch Company is an important part of our past.  They manufactured close to 40 million watches, clocks and other instruments here between 1850 and 1957.  I wish they were still building watches here.  It seems we've becoming a nation of shopping malls and restaurants.  I understand it's difficult for American manufacturing companies to compete with low labor costs in the third world, but on the other hand, the Swiss have managed to remain competitive despite labor costs that are probably on par with the US.

Citizen Chrono-Time A-T Atomic Watches

With the addition of a sapphire crystal to some of the models in its Chrono-Time A-T series, Citizen now builds the best atomic watch around in my opinion.

 

Like the earlier Citizen Skyhawk A-T series, these ones are solar-powered (Eco-Drive).  The Chrono-Time A-T is also water resistant to 200 meters, has a perpetual calendar, world-time, alarm and a slide rule bezel that rotates under the crystal.  It also syncs with atomic clocks in the US, Europe, Japan and China

It comes in 5 different versions (stainless steel, rose gold, two-tone, straps, bracelets).  Prices range from $650 to $895 usd.

Fake Rolexes included in auction

There was an article in the Wall Street Journal this morning about a bunch replica watches which were almost included in an auction of bankrupted auto dealership mogul, Denny Hecker's assets.  It just goes to show you that when you buy watches on the second-hand market, you need to be extra vigilant to make sure you don't end up overpaying for a fake.  I was heard that Overstock.com was selling a bunch of Frank Muller watches a few years ago that they believed to be authentic, but later turned out to be fakes.  So even reputable sources can sometimes be bogus.

Oldest Watch

The BBC published an interesting item today featuring the oldest known depiction of a watch in a 450 year old painting of Cosimo I de Medici, Duke of Florence holding a gold pocket watch.

 

According to the article, the portrait was painted around 1560, and the first watches had begun to appear around 1500.  To read the article, click here.

eWatches deal of the hour

We've seen a lot of deal of the day sites pop up over the past couple of years, where a new item is sold every day at a drastic discount until it's gone and you have to move fast to get it.  Now watches dealer eWatches.com has intoduced a "One Hour Watch" where a new watch is introduced every hour.  Prices are great, selection is hit and miss, but if you keep checking back to see what the new deal is, it looks like you can come up with some steals.