Filed under: Luxury Watches, Patek Phillipe, Watch Tips | Tags: designer watch, luxury watch, Patek Philippe Watch
A luxury watch is a hefty investment. For example, the average price range of a Patek Philippe watch is between 11,000 and 20,000 dollars. So when you’re dropping that amount of dough on something, you want to make sure it looks nice, and stays looking nice. And you don’t want to ruin it as your trying to keep it looking nice.
That’s why it’s so important you take special care in selecting the materials for cleaning your designer watch. While the process should only take a few minutes, it’s imperative you have the right materials, or you may just be washing your money away.
Just to set the record straight, this is advice for cleaning the OUTSIDE of the watch, not the inside. In no way shape or form do we encourage you to open up your luxury watch for any reason, and if you truly feel there is a need, we recommend you do so under the supervision of a certified watch maker.
As for cleaning the outside of your watch, it’s recommended you purchase jewelry cleaning fluid. Warm soapy water can do the trick, however, many watches contain metals that don’t react favorably to the chemicals in the soap.
You’ll also benefit from getting a cleaning cloth that is non-abrasive. If you’re having trouble locating a non-abrasive cloth, seek out the nearest jewelry store, as they typically have them for sale. The reasoning behind this is that abrasive cloths tend to scratch the surface of your luxury watch.
If you get the proper cleaning materials, you should have a watch that looks as good as new without putting it at risk of being damaged.
Filed under: A Lange, Patek Phillipe, Uncategorized, Watch Tips | Tags: a lange watches, designer watches, Patek Philippe Watches
Lange, a German watch company, was founded over 150 years ago. Started by Ferdinand Adolph Lange on December 7th, 1845, in the small village of Glashutte, the tiny watch company quickly became one of the most prestigious in all of Germany, and the brand became an integral part of the nation’s history. Lange found success from studying and creating ways of crafting highly-valued A Lange watches of consistent quality in a series. Initially, Lange started his business with his brother-in-law, master watchmaker Adolf Schneider, as well as a group of over a dozen apprentices.
Unfortunately, in 1948, just a few short years after its 100th anniversary, (and shortly following the destruction of the main Lange production building during a WWII air raid) the company was expropriated by the post-war Soviet Communist administration, making the Lange brand cease to exist. For decades following, the world no longer received new Lange watches.
However, the reunification of Germany gave Lange’s great-grandson, Walter Lange, the opportunity to rebuild his family’s legacy. Exactly 145 years to the day that Ferdinand Lange started his watch company, on December 7th, 1990, Walter Lange re-opened “A. Lange & Sohne.”
Today, A. Lange & Sohne products rank with the most preeminent watches in the world, selling in the same price range as top-tier Swiss designer watches, such as Patek Philippe watches
Filed under: Patek Phillipe, Uncategorized, Watch Tips | Tags: designer watches, Luxury Watches, Patek Philippe Watch, Patek Philippe Watches
Patek Philippe & Co. is a Switzerland-based watch making company founded in 1851. For generations, a Patek Philippe watch has been considered one of the best in the world.
The watch manufacturers created this reputation by supplying individual Patek Philippe watches for royalty. Some of their royal clientele included Pope’s Leo XIII and Pius IX, Victor-Emanuel III, and Hussein Kamel.
The company also has a reputation for creating specifically commissioned designer watches for specific individuals. Some of these individual Patek Philippe watches include…
A 24-function pocket-watch for Henry Graves, Jr., used by the American banker in a friendly horological bet with James Ward Packard. It was auctioned in 1999 for $11 million, the most ever spent on a timepiece.
There was also a platinum Patek Philippe tourbillion wristwatch called “Ref. 5002P Sky Moon” set a world record at $1.49 million, making it the most expensive modern wristwatch in existence.
In honor of their 150th anniversary, Patek Philippe created the Calibre 89, which included 33 complications. Some of its many features included a thermometer, time of sunrise, equation of time, sidereal time, a split second hand, and even a star chart.
Of course, the 160-year-old watch-making company does offer luxury watches that are slightly more fiscally responsible, such as the Ladies Nautilus 2-Tone 4700/1 and the Men’s Golden Ellipse Bracelet 3844/J2.
For the first time ever, James Bond creator Ian Fleming’s 007-inspiring Rolex will be on display in the United States. Fleming’s Rolex 1016 Explorer will be featured in an exhibit “Bond Watches, James Bond Watches” at the National Watch & Clock Museum.
This first-of-a-kind exhibit will also include a large collection of Agent 007 designer watches featured in any of the twenty-two Bond films.
In the novels and films alike, Bond’s luxury watches are depicted as doing much more than just telling time. The timepieces are typically intricate spying technology, able to track enemies, communicate over long distances, pick locks of a jail cell, etc.
Fleming’s stepdaughter, Fionn Morgan, was recently quoted as saying “Ian would have enjoyed the idea of… an exhibition of James Bond watches. It is wonderful to see the James Bond legacy presented through the watches that this character has worn… Collectors and the public will learn a lot through this exhibition.”
Founded in 1977, The National Watch & Clock Museum is located in Columbia, Pennsylvania, at the very edge of the Pennsylvania Dutch tourist area. It is one of the few museums in the country dedicated solely to horology, or the art and science of measuring time.
For anyone unable to make it out to Columbia, Pennsylvania, you can always check out JamesBondWatches.com. Maintained by Dell Deaton, who is also the guest curator for the exhibit at the Museum, the site brings “a dedicated focus on all things related to the wristwatches of James Bond, Agent 007.”
Filed under: A Lange, Luxury Watches, Uncategorized, Watch Tips | Tags: a lange watches, Audemars Piguet watches, designer watch, designer watches, luxury watch, Panerai Watch, Panerai watches, Patek Philippe Watch, Patek Philippe Watches
A designer watch is a huge investment. Here are 3 things you should be concerned with if you really want your investment to last.
Water
Many designer watches have water resistant properties, but it’s the amount of water resistance each watch has that varies from model to model. If you aren’t sure how deep your watch can be in the water, or if it can be around water at all, you should always refer to your watch manual. You should also be aware that salt water is more damaging than still because of the abrasiveness of the salt.
Chemicals
You should avoid contact with highly abrasive chemicals when wearing your luxury watch. Even something as common as hairspray can damage the finish of a fine watch, so use your discretion when utilizing these chemically based products while you’re wearing your watch.
Temperature Extremes
It’s never a good idea to leave your luxury watch in extreme heat or extreme cold for a long period of time. Some watches are designed to withstand extreme temperatures, so just make sure that your watch can handle that.
Filed under: Luxury Watches, Patek Phillipe, Watch Tips | Tags: a lange watches, Audemars Piguet watches, designer watch, designer watches, luxury watch, Panerai Watch, Panerai watches, Patek Philippe Watch, Patek Philippe Watches
These days, we’re surrounded by the time in so many different formats. The time is displayed on our laptop and desktop computers and on our cell phones and Blackberries. As a business executive, I’m attached to my phones and computers day and night, but I always prefer to refer to my Patek Philippe watch for the time. I think it’s because clocks and watches are classic timepieces, and they’ll never go out of fashion, despite the rise of digital technology. I’m fascinated by the history of watches, and I have to admit, I’ve done a little research.
“Clock-watches” came about in the 16th century in Europe; their ability to tell time was poor, and were mainly made as fashion accessories for the nobility to wear. Fortunately, nowadays, watches are functional and stylish. My wife gave me my Patek Phillipe Calatrava with Diamond Bezel watch as a birthday present a few years ago, and it never lets me down. It has a comfortable black leather strap, a scratch resistant glass surface, and is beautifully studded with a silver diamond dial. Patek Phillipe watches may be expensive, but they will last a lifetime and stay in the family for generations to come. I’ll pass my watch onto my son, and hope he’ll pass it onto his.
Filed under: Luxury Watches, Uncategorized, Watch Tips | Tags: a lange watches, Audemars Piguet watches, designer watch, designer watches, luxury watch, Panerai Watch, Panerai watches, Patek Philippe Watch, Patek Philippe Watches
If you’re interested in purchasing a luxury watch from a watch maker with history, you should most definitely look into Vacheron Constantin.
Originating in Geneva, Vacheron Constantin has been in the luxury watch business since 1755, thus making it the oldest watch maker in the world. The brand is established in almost 80 countries world wide, distributed 15 boutiques that sell only Vacheron Constantin’s, and are also sold on a network of 500 carefully selected places of retail, including your favorite online spot for designer watches, Time Imports.
This watch symbolizes timeless power and prestige that is unrivaled. Previous Vacheron Constantin wearers include Napoleon Bonaparte, Pope Pius XI, the Duke of Winsor, and Harry Truman.
After 255 years in the watch business, Vacheron Constantin is still proving itself to be a leader in the innovation and design in the industry and ahead of the times. In 2005, Vacheron Constantin produced the world most complicated wristwatch, the Tour de’Ille, it featured 834 different parts and 16 complications, and carried a hefty $1 million dollar price tag.
In 2007, Vacheron Constantin introduced a new line of luxury watches, the Metiers d’Art ‘Les Masques’ Collection which were miniature reproductions of primitive art masks. Designers selected 12 masks from a museum’s collection and reproduced them on a small watch-friendly scale.
For the best prices on the oldest watch brand in the world’s products, be sure to check out TimeImports.com
Filed under: Uncategorized, Watch Tips | Tags: hublot watches, Panerai watches, Patek Philippe Watches
Luxury Watch Blog by Time Imports 