Author Archive for Mike Disher
My name is Mike Disher and I am WatchTime's online editor. My interest in watches dates to 1972 and I caught the internet bug in 1997. In 1999 I combined these interests by joining TimeZone.com as its first full-time employee, and later that year I attended my first Basel Fair. I managed TZ from 2000-2007, and in 2008 I joined WatchTime. My other interests include cycling, cars, building custom turntables, painting, and inventing.
Cartier, Patek Top Sellers At Patrizzi & Co. New York Auction
Patrizzi & Co. opened the 2010 season on March 9 in New York City. Sales exceeded $2 million and two-thirds of the 161 lots sold. The top price of $250,000 was paid for a 1929 gold and nephrite Cartier Comet table clock featuring grande sonnerie chimes—the most complicated mechanism ever made by the company. A Patek Philippe Celestial ref. 5102 wristwatch brought $180,000, and a platinum Louis Cartier Art Déco Tank watch produced in 1929 set a world record at $135,000 – well above the presale estimate.
Azimuth Xtreme-1 Collection
Azimuth and Mexican explorer Fernando Alberto Lozano Andrade have collaborated to create the new Xtreme-1 series of three watches: the Sea Hum GMT, Sea Hum 3TZ, and the Deep Diver. Fernando has previously climbed two volcanos: 19,400 foot Licancabur in Chile-Bolivia, and 16,500 foot Popocatepetl in Mexico. This year he will climb the 22,608 foot Ojos del Salado volcano on the Argentina-Chile border and dive in its crater lake. If successful, Fernando will set a world record for high altitude diving.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Online Auction Benefits UNESCO World Heritage Site
Jaeger-LeCoultre presents its second online auction, taking place from March 18, 2010, to benefit the UNESCO World Heritage Center. This year, the Manufacture is offering an iconic and unique timepiece: one of the two vintage 1958 Geophysic Chronometers Model E168 tested by professional climber Stephane Schaffter and his team during their recent Geophysic Expedition to the Himalayas.
12 Faces of Time Book Signing At Baselworld
Author Elizabeth Doerr and photographer Ralf Baumgarten will be signing copies of Doerr’s new book Twelve Faces of Time during Baselworld. Joining them will be 11 of the watchmakers featured in the book: Philippe Dufour, Vianney Halter, Felix Baumgartner, Thomas Prescher, Volker Vyskocil, Paul Gerber, Beat Haldimann, Dr. Ludwig Oechslin, Kari Voutilainen, Roger Smith, and François-Paul Journe. The signing will take place March 20 and 21 at 2 p.m. at the Messeplatz, directly in front of Hall 1.0, in the book hut run by Watchprint.
H. Moser Perpetual 1 Takes Top Award
H. Moser’s Perpetual 1 collected one of Germany’s most prestigious awards when more than 10,000 enthusiasts voted it the winner of the Goldene Unruh (Golden Balance) in the category for watches priced above 25,000 euros. The award is presented by WatchTime’s sister publication Uhren Magazin in partnership with the popular German magazine Focus. Ten watches in each of 5 price categories are presented and the winners are selected by popular vote by readers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
IWC and Parmigiani Go To The Oscars
Top Hollywood celebrities wore IWCs as they made their way down the famous red carpet Sunday night. Taylor Lautner wore the Portuguese Chrono Automatic, Quentin Tarantino wore the Big Pilot, and Robin Williams wore the Pilot’s Mark XVI. Parmigiani Fleurier once again co-sponsored Sony Pictures Classics’ pre-Oscar celebration in Beverly Hills on Saturday night. Guests included Best Actress Nominee Carey Mulligan for “An Education” along with Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer. Parmigiani is an active partner of Sony Pictures Classics events; this is the third Oscar event Parmigiani has sponsored for the independent film company.
Jon Omer to Head DeWitt North America
DeWitt has announced that Jon Omer has joined the company and that he will lead all DeWitt activities in North America, including Mexico and the Caribbean. Prior to joining DeWitt, Mr. Omer served as vice president at Harry Winston where he reorganized distribution and grew sales. Mr. Omer also oversaw Bulgari’s growth in North America for more than 10 years. Mr. Omer is Chairman of the American Watch Association and on the Board of Directors of the American Watch Guild.
Breitling for Bentley Masterpiece: A Tribute to “W.O.”
Each year, Breitling creates a unique piece named Bentley Masterpiece: a mechanical magnum opus combining tradition, performances and the finest craftsmanship. This year at Baselworld, Breitling will unveil its new, one-of-a-kind Grande Complication pocket watch dedicated to the Bentley’s founder. The 2010 Masterpiece combines two sophisticated complications: a perpetual calendar displaying the date, day, month, leap years and moon phases, and a minute repeater.
Awards Keep Coming for Lange Zeitwerk
The members at TimeZone.com have voted the Lange Zeitwerk “Watch of the Year”. About 800 watch enthusiasts took part in the poll. This is the Zeitwerk’s ninth award since May, 2009. Last week, Lange’s latest iconic model took second prize in the category “Watches over 25,000 Euro” in Germany’s “Goldene Unruh” (Golden Balance) awards given by WatchTime’s sister publication Uhren Magazin in cooperation with Germany’s Focus magazine. More than 10,000 people cast votes in that competition.
Hublot Announces New U.S. and Latin America President
Hublot has announced the appointment of Beatrice de Quervain Blanchard as U.S. President. De Quervain Blanchard will join Hublot CEO Jean-Claude Biver and Managing Director Ricardo Guadalupe to oversee the U.S. expansion strategy. At Hublot, de Quervain Blanchard will focus on gaining market share through a diverse marketing program that will include the opening of new boutique stores, a strong wholesale network and newsworthy communications initiatives.
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Breitling's Chronomat B01 With Manufacture Movement
Breitling Basel Preview: Avenger Seawolf Chrono Blacksteel Limited Edition
IWC and Parmigiani Go To The Oscars
Montblanc TimeWalker Dual Carbon Chronograph
Azimuth Xtreme-1 Collection
Luminox Launches New BlackOut Series for Fall
Panerai Luminor 1950 10 Days GMT Ceramica
Awards Keep Coming for Lange Zeitwerk
