A Left Handed Admiral

Ever Since Corum have redefined and changed the design of they’re Admirals Cup watch, they have definitely gotten they’re shiz together. Finally, no popomatic bubbles leading the brand. Corum is now being taken very seriously again, and it is no surprise! With Michael Wunderman leading the company in such a short period of time, he has already been able to change the public’s perception for the better, and really put Corum back on the map where they should be with that true collector. This year for Basel 2009, Corum has come out with a ragging 50 mm left handed Admirals Cup chronograph, which is really cool. To me this watch screams Audemars Piguet and Panerai at the same time. It has a very modernized constructed look combined with the way the case is finished, with the collaboration of black and grey.

This watch is black and white at it’s finest for that real man, who has the grapefruits to wear something so massive and masculine. The watch is made out of stainless steel and has elements of pvd coating for the bezel and subtle hints throughout this incredibly well made 12 sided case including the titanium chronograph bush buttons. The black vulcanized rubber strap makes it easy and comfortable to enjoy this watch in pretty much any situation, yup even if your getting it on, for those truly sweaty situations! Since this watch has always had a nautical theme, it makes perfect sense why they would make a left handed watch, to pay homage to those commando’s who wore gloves back in the day like Panerai’s for comfort and technical reasons of being able to adjust the time and chronograph function with easse. The dial is black and absolutely makes this watch come to life with it’s chronograph function, date at he 6 o’clock position, luminescent contrasting hour markers and hands, with the various pennants that are featured to highlight the icon that is Admirals Cup.

To make you cream your shorts even more, this automatic chronograph movement is COSC certified to ensure accuracy, water resistant to 300 meters and finally is limited to 888 pieces for the world ,and I am sure will be priced very realistically. This has given them a major edge over their competition especially in this economy, they are one of the few brands who haven’t been arrogant to the point of destruction. I am really happy for Corum, to see the new direction of the brand, new blood, and one hell of a left handed admiral.

pic courtesy of http://www.timezone.com

Strap On!

I wanted to thank my Johnny Flyback supporters for voting in favor of purchasing my watch straps. It was a crushing 80% of you who voted for purchasing my straps and an insignificant 20% of you who said they wouldn’t purchase one of my straps when they are released. To each they’re own I respect it! Keep it up and thank you for your support! I am excited to introduce my line of straps as they will be unique, make your head spin, and made in Paris by the finest watch strap company in the world! Please email me at johnnyflyback@gmail.com for all strap orders

Rock On and Flyback!

pic courtesy of www. camillefournet.com

Flight of The Perpetual Navigator

Glashutte Original has rocked the watch world for the last 5 years. They are finished any bit as well as A Lange & Sohne, who in my opinion are still better finished, but hey Glashutte Original are still one of the best in house German manufacturers in the world, who make watches in stainless steel, which is a huge bonus for me and anyone who doesn’t want to pay for platinum. They are best known for they’re Senator line of watches which are very refined, but still have that everyday wearing sensibility that most watch companies just don’t have. A few years ago they introduced the Navigator line which was inspired by pilots watches they made in the fifties. This year for Basel 2009, they have introduced the new Navigator Perpetual Calendar in stainless steel 44 mm with leap year indicator.

I will say it again, but for me a perpetual calendar is the most useful complication out there. Then to tie in the whole Pilots theme makes me wanna rock on with my knob on! I really like the idea of this watch, except for the fact that it is really no longer a Pilots Watch. By adding the number 12 and taking away the most distinct feature the infamous triangle with the two dots, its just a plain perpetual with brushed case. The leap year indicator is unnecessarily placed and brakes up the perfect symmetry of the dial and lets your eyes wander to utter confusion, and makes the watch look busy ans mediocre at best. The movement of the watch and how simply laid out the perpetual functions are is truly clever and something for other watch brands who make perpetuals to pay close attention and really learn from .

I like the fact that the steel blue hands were kept, thank Christ, that maybe the only thing that makes it historic. As my good friend SH put it, it looks like a fucking abortion! The reset mechanism is a push button which is hidden and located at the eight o’clock position for perfect synchronization of the seconds hand with a standard of time. See at $21,000, this perpetual still boasts less expensive than most in house manufactured movement perpetuals, but for that kind of money in my opinion it ain’t worth buying it unless it’s perfect, which it is not. Knowing my luck, some jeweler in Craplakistan will make a limited run of 50 just the way I want it and it will be far more expensive and sold out. This watch is nothing more than a perpetual cock tease, and has done a great job at showing us that it is literally almost famous and could have been something great!

pic courtesy of http://www.timezone.com

The Moment You Have All been Waiting For

I have thought about writing this article since the inception of my site. I have been emailed countless times on this subject, and just like taking care of my taxes, I haven’t got around to doing it, until now. A lot of you out there are curious how the watch industry really works? I am here to blow the doors of the bullshit that has been contained, like a constipated fart for way too long now! It’s my gut feeling that people out there have a very skewed image of the watch industry and think it’s kind of glamorous, but it’s not! When I was in retail, thank god that’s over. I was partied to shit that you like read about in books. Everybody is licking your colon clean when you are on top, but when your no longer the favorite, your treated like a bastard step child on crack. The truth is the watch industry is really vein. It’s almost like Hollywood, but not as many fake tits, because they’re are really no beautiful women within the industry. Watch company presidents can be bought like a frigging hooker for the right price, and as long as your playing the game, you get good product. Those watch companies know exactly who they are. At the end of the day it’s a business, like anything else. Don’t get fooled by the nice display and the one off events, the nice suits, and the fancy dinners because they are all figments of your imagination. I got to give credit to the watch companies because they do a great job with giving the illusion of fantasy to they’re retail partners. There is all kind of really dirty politics,like because of rivalry between watch brands, you as the retailer are forced to make uncomfortable decisions. For instance, If you have Breitling in your store and you wanna keep Rolex, you can forget it because Rolex wont stand for it, and lets face it, if it is between the two brands, I would listen to Rolex and dump Breitling any day of the week, because Rolex pays the bills and is 50% of anybody’s watch business who carries the brand.

Then there is the issue of space. If you can survive in the watch business as the owner or upper management, you can definitely run for president, because the politics is out of control. From a young age you are groomed to understand that the watch companies are full of shit and talk with both sides of they’re mouth. You can never say it out loud, but I just did and it feels great! The watch companies want the retailer to sell the product clean, no discount, uphold the image of the brand, yeah what about now in this recessionary time? What you all need to understand is that the watch companies themselves are the one’s responsible for creating the grey market. The squeaky clean image like Michael Phelps on a box of Wheaties is all an illusion. Right now the economy sucks! The retailers can’t pay they’re bills, stores are closing, people are loosing they’re jobs, product is not selling. This translates into desperate times, desperate measures for the watch companies, who end up flooding the market, with Internet based websites created with alias names who are in fact discounting the shit out of they’re own product. So many retailers are in fear that they will loose an important brand if they don’t sell enough product. Let me tell you in some cases the watch companies are worse that the mafia. Shitty product is forced upon the retailer to get a few key pieces if they are lucky, then they key product is pre sold making it look exclusive, whilst all they shitty product is sitting on shelves, blocking money that could turn many times over if the good product was available.

The watch business is so incestuous, everybody is in bed with everybody, and like the news it changes in a blink of an eye. Those who don’t play the game are not making sweet dick for a living, and those who play the game make shit loads of money live the life and are performing anal on these watch companies without the lube! I am sure if you went to any big watch company, and you were not an authorized dealer and you handed them a check for one million dollars, guess what? You now have a new best friend. I feel for the retailer, because they for the most part want to make an honest and decent living, but the reality is they are slaves to the watch companies who are making thousands of percent profit, and are looking to screw the retailer sideways any way they can. So how do the watch companies compensate the retailers? They don’t! They make the retailers suffer and feel like they are doing something wrong constantly. I have a really good friend who runs one of the top watch stores, I respect him so much because he isn’t dependant on any one brand, and if the watch companies pull any shady shit, he has no problem telling them to get the fuck out of his store! This is an exception to the rule because not many people have the power like any of the big guys who buy millions of dollars in inventory, have shit loads of money coming to them in advertising dollars, and have arrangements with the watch companies because they make up a very sizable part of worldwide business.

Forget returning stock, the Swatch Group is notorious for charging a restocking fee, you just can’t win. If you have noticed you are seeing more boutiques owned by the watch brands popping up, and to be honest it’s better because there is more control over product and better trained people because some people who work in watch stores should still be pumping gas. Remember people its all a game. One of the watch companies are notorious, if you are in good standing with them and you call up to order a watch you get it right away, if you fall a little behind, they make your life hell and you are waiting month’s for the same thing.

Next time you see a watch add or walk into a watch store , take it with a pinch of salt, because things are not always what they seem. Please remember my words because I speak the truth and know for a long time now it is the moment you have all been waiting for.

Get Ready For Gandhi Time!

Mahatma Gandhi was not just some bald, skinny,Indian man with glasses who wore a sheet, he is probably one of the most profound leaders the world has ever seen. He changed an entire nation with his non violent peace approach which led to freedom and democracy of India. Today, his spirit and message live on throughout the world. If you ever have seen the movie Gandhi, then you know that he was rarely seen without his pocket watch. His pocket watch of choice was a Zenith manual wind which was made between 1910 and 1915. In less than one month, On March 4TH and 5TH, leading auction specialist Antiquorum, will hold an auction in NYC, featuring over 400 rare and spectacular timepieces from all over the world. Amongst the collection will be the highly anticipated Muhatma Gandhi pocket watch, along with his glasses, sandals, bowl, plate and letters of authenticity. Candhi gave his beloved grandniece Abha Gandhi this pocket watch as she was his assistant for six years, and he was tragically assassinated and died in her very arms. This watch is estimated to command between $20,000 to $30,000 in auction, but come on after all it is Gandhi for God Sakes, I expect it will get much more.

This pocket watch looks to be stainless steel, which at one time could have been gold plated. The winding crown is gold, the dial has a nice cream colored patina from the age, which looks truly vintage with bold gold Arabic numerals. This watch has two subdials, one being a twelve hour at the 12 o ‘clock position and the other being a seconds hand at the 6’o’clock position. This watch is definitely manual wind and looks to be in excellent condition considering how old it is. I must say even though Gandhi was a simple man who believed in reducing himself to nothing to lead a very humble but powerful life, he had very good taste. He has influenced generations around the world to be peaceful and tolerant and treat everybody equally ringing messages of non violence. With such a historic figure an auction like this resonating his free spirit and makeing his vision live forever, you better get ready for Gandhi Time!

Gandhi pic courtesy of http://www.wikipedia.com
Watch pic courtesy of http://www.antiquorum.com

GO In Transit!

OK frequent flyer’s, If you do as much travelling as I do, then I am sure Deutschland and no I don’t mean Doucheland is one of your stops. Germany has become a necessary stop for all interested in the finest wristwatches in over the last 10 years. With the resurrection of German watchmaking there is one hell of a good reason to take a plane and visit east Germany and go to these incredible watch factories, and understand how deep rooted they’re heritage and tradition of this incredible dying art from the Saxony region, still is very much a part of brand philosophy today.

So when flying to Germany, Lufthansa is generally the airline of choice, and besides lets face it, the only other airline worth going to Germany if it existed would be Hassehoff Air! Famed watch brand Glashutte Original has partnered up with the airline, so when your chilling in the business class lounge trying to hoard as much free shit as you possibly can, you can see wall clocks provided by GO inspired by they’re famous Senator line of watches.

This is a great way for the brand to strengthen they’re message and raise brand awareness for the right target audience. Not only can you see what time it is in Germany, Glashutte clocks are displayed from these major cities of London, New York, Hong Kong and Tokyo showing they’re local times. GO also has planed to outfit 12 more destinations within Germany and the rest of the world with more exposure this year alone. Just when you think time is standing still, it’s actually moving forward with Glashutte Original and Lufthansa around the world with precise german engineering.

pic courtesy of http://www.glasutte-original.com

Your Votes Are In

As of the close of last week, The numbers are officially in. I wanna thank all of you out there who voted on my latest poll about “Which Watch Company Understands Customer Service Best”? The answer which was not surprising, is German luxury watch company A Lange & Sohne. This is such a huge victory for the brand because not only are they the best watch company in the world in terms of Finishing, Movement, and Production, but they are by far the best at working with the consumer and understanding they’re needs and wants and are constantly making strides to perfect themselves further in every way. Amongst the others on the roster included IWC which was a distant Second Place, followed by Patek Phillipe, Vacheron Constantin, and Breitling which came in third place, while The all mighty King Rolex came in last place. Keept it up people! Thanks for your support!

NICE TRY!

Well, It seems like for the second year in a row, Breitling has taken a cue from the low end to influence they’re decision making to add lack of diversity to boost sales. Last year, I wrote an article named Breitling Goes Skaagen, I didn’t want to be really mean because this year the title should have been entitled Breitling goes Fossil. This is a huge blunder. I mean in an effort to make a very cool 125Th Anniversary Navitimer watch, they royally make it look slutty. The bracelet is called the air racer bracelet, but it should be called Fossil Racer. The bottom line is that the bracelet looks bargain basement at best and doesn’t give justice to a limited edition 125th anniversary edition which marks such a momentous occasion.

The reality is the Navitimer is the only Breitling I actually like. All the others look like some sort of dirty incestuous hybrid. Now they are ruining the only watch that gives them credibility and has served as a huge part of they’re heritage. What a croc of shit. In my opinion it appears that either the designers from Breitling were stolen from Fossil, or Fossil stole Breitlings designs, either way it’s a tragedy, and something I have very little patience for. The new Navitimer limited edition for Basel 2009 has a 43 mm case, available in stainless steel limited to 2009 pieces for the world, or in 18 karat rose gold limited to 125 pieces for the world, and is available in three dials black, bronze and silver. It will be a real shame next year for Basel 2010 if they consult Armitron for they’re inspired designs, but hey at this point nothing surprises me. To make this Navitmer complete a nice Croco or Calf skin rubber lined strap would have made this watch one hell of a limited Rock Star, but for now it is nothing more than a nice try!

pic courtesy of http://www.timezone.com