When Captain Robert “Bob” Maloubier established the French version of the Navy Seals–“Nageur de Combat” — in the late 1940s, he ran through a mental checklist of must-have items: Diving fins? Check. Goggles? Check. Diving suits? Check. Dive watches? Wait a second, Maloubier, thought. Why didn’t this elite team of divers have watches to help…
We all know what it’s like to search the internet loing for what we want. In watches, it can be particularly difficult as there are a host of options out there. Recently, I went behind the scenes with the family operated Swiss Watch Expo in Atlanta– an enlightening experience. If you are in the market…
A Moment in Time: Sebastien Loeb, 7-Time World Champion Rally Winner and Marvin Watch Ambassador
Sebastien Loeb is not only the world’s only seven-time world Championship rally winner, but also he is Marvin Watch ambassador and co-designer of the brand’s newest Loeb watch. The Loeb automatic chronograph (with seven stars on the bezel to represent his seven wins) retails for approximately $2,520, while the quartz version sells for about $830. Here,…
Around the World: Parmigiani Restores History
In the Parmigiani workshops in Fleurier, amazing restoration work takes place. Sometimes that work is on Parmigiani watches or other brands, on very old clocks and specialty pieces. Today, when I visited the private workshops, I was fortunate enough to get a glimpse of the watchmakers restoring several important 1800’s pieces. One they had just…
Around the World: Hot Air Ballooning in Gstaad with Parmigiani
When most people think of hot air ballooning, they think of warm weather climates such as New Mexico –where one of the most famous balloon festivals takes place annually. Today, however, I had the distinct pleasure of ballooning over the Alps in Gstaad, Switzerland, with luxury watch brand Parmigiani Fleurier, who is one of the…
Around the World: Parmigiani Speeds Along
Sitting in the Pichler GFG AG garage, one of the most elite luxury car dealerships in Feutersoey, Gstaad, Switzerland, I am sitting inside the Bugatti Veyron SuperSport 16.4, the world’s fastest production car. It bre records and so now the Bugatti Supersport watch by Parmigiani is the world’s fastest watch. The watch was worn by…
Around the World: Breitling’s World First Boutique Takes Flight
In the posh New York City 57th Street area – just off of Fifth Avenue – Breitling officially opened its first world flagship Boutique last night – amidst great fanfare. On hand were John Travolta, Wayne Gretzky and Boomer Esaiason, among others. The Boutique, at 5 East 57th Street, is an elongated, 4,500-square-foot, three-story store…
A Moment in Time: Hautlence SA’s Co-Founder and managing director, Guillaume Tetu
Not even 40 yet, the very humble, genuine and likeable Guillaume Tetu has already accomplished a wealth of interesting feats in watchmaking. Having spent two years as a Consultant CAO (Construction Assisted by Computer) for the Rolex Supplier of Metal Bracelets, Gay Frères, and seven years with the LVMH Group and TAG Heuer’s Product Development…
A Moment in Time: Rolf Schnyder, President and Owner, Ulysse Nardin
Easily one of the most down-to-earth, genuine men in the watch industry, Rolf Schnyder is a visionary. A man of a different breed, he sees things from a creative perspective, takes the bull by the horns, and stops at nothing when it comes to fulfilling the seemingly impossible in timepieces. Schnyder purchased Ulysse Nardin in…
Around the World: Ulysse Nardin Opens First US Boutique
If you’ve read the recently posted “A Moment in Time with Randy Johnson,” you already know this baseball legend was at the opening of the first Ulysse Nardin Boutique in the USA. We told you about Randy, but not about the true star of the show that night: Ulysse Nardin. With Rolf Schnyder, owner and…
A Moment in Time: Baseball’s Randy Johnson
In Boca Raton, Fl, for the opening of the first Ulysse Nardin USA boutique, future hall of famer baseball player–and watch collector—Randy Johnson made an appearance and talked with us about his reflections on time, fast balls and timepieces. During his 22-year baseball career, this 6’10” left-handed Major League baseball pitcher was famed as having…