Monday, December 19, 2011

Mulberry’s electrical adapter might be the chicest (and most useful) travel accessory of the year

Mulberry Travel Adapter, $230 via Net-a-Porter

Luxury travel accessories usually fall into two categories: Pretty things that no one actually uses or needs and things that are pretty while also being surprisingly useful. The Mulberry Travel Adapter, complete with its bright pink leather carrying case, is one of the few that fits firmly in the latter designation.

For anyone left who doesn’t know this, American plugs don’t work in foreign outlets and vice versa, and some foreign plugs don’t work in other foreign outlets. To make your flat iron work everywhere on the globe, it’s necessary to take a converter with you when travelling overseas, because god knows you don’t want a frizzy mane while on vacay. Now that Mulberry has stepped up to the plate, you can ensure electrical compatibility in chic pink leather.

Ok, sure,japenese genuine leather purses, usually you can pick up one of these converters at Best Buy for $15-$30, depending how much fanciness you want. But for those people who treat $300 like most of us treat $30 (they’re out there, trust), this is an unexpected, chic gift with a case that can also be used to corral phone chargers and other various and sundry cords when travelling domestically. Or, alternately, if you know someone who’s just gotten a new job or promotion that will be taking them overseas a lot in the new years, this would be a wonderful token of your congratulations. Priced at $230 via Net-a-Porter.

Review of the Citizen BL5250-02L_140

Review of the Citizen BL5250-02L

Front Throughout the watch collecting
world, one often hears of the "grail watch." These
are generally watches that an enthusiast has been lusting after for
some time and plans to one-day own, but due to cost, rarity, or both, immediate ownership is not possible. Most watch collectors
have not only a grail watch, but a list of grails. For me, these
include such pieces as the Ernst Benz Great Circle Chronoscope, any
titanium Panerai Luminor, Fortis Marine Master Chrono, Breitling
SuperOcean Chrono, etc. It's a long list.

Occasionally, I come across a
watch that is not in the normal grail price range, but has many of the
features or styling that draws me to some of my grail watches. A good
example of this is the Citizen BL5250-02L: a handsome titanium
chronograph with military and aviation styling not generally found in its price range. I have been interested in a BL5250 (the 02L
designates a leather strap, where as the 53L is the titanium bracelet)
for a couple of years, but only recently found myself ready to give one a try.
I will admit — I had very high hopes for this watch, and it has not let
me down. Here are the specs:

42.5 x 13mm all titanium case. Mineral crystal. Lug width of 20mm. Blue dial. Solar Eco-Drive movement. 270 day power reserve. 1/20 second chronograph (max 60 minute). Perpetual calendar. Dive style countdown bezel. 24 hr register. Alarm. 200m water resistant.

Although in general I was very happy with the BL5250, there are some issues to point out.

The watch can be cycled through features by turning the crown
when it's in the "0" position (setting the time and date use the
traditional "1" and "2" pull-out positions). By turning the crown, one can click
through the "time," "CHR," "L-TM," and "ALM" settings (the 6 o'clock
register points to the active function). So, to activate the
chronograph, one must advance the crown clockwise one click, then push
the 2 o'clock pusher to start the chronograph. The 2 o'clock register will
show the elapsed minutes, and the large second hand reflects the chronograph
seconds. I found this somewhat inconvenient as the chronograph should activate when the 2 o'clock pusher is pressed; switching to the chronograph feature should be automatic as the pushers won't commonly be used for anything else. Having to go through two steps
forced me to leave the BL5250 in the "CHR" mode all the time,
forfeiting normal seconds.

The next issue involves the "L-TM" and "ALM"
modes. Both require the watch to move the hour and minute hands to set
points. The L-TM mode will show a second time zone (theoretically
handy for travelers) and the ALM mode shows the current time
setting for the alarm. The BL5250 takes a very long time to change from the
current time to either of these values since the hands move slowly, cannot jump between AM and PM, and will only advance in a counter-clockwise fashion. When testing this, I simply removed the watch from my wrist and went to get something to drink. This is more then just a minor annoyance; it has deterred me from
using the ALM and L-TM features for anything except testing.

The alarm on the BL5250 is not especially loud. I didn't expect something that could wake me up or that I could hear at a concert, but it is not loud enough to be all that useful. The volume was very similar to the beeps from a Timex Ironman as the features are
changed.

Lastly, the BL5250-02L comes in a standard circular Citizen
zippered box and is fitted to a medium brown faux leather strap with
contrasting Breitling-style stitching. This strap is thin and rigid, and
wearing it encouraged me to switch to a black Hirsch Liberty strap. If
you have the option, spend the money on the 53L version of this watch
that comes with the titanium bracelet.

All of these deficiencies considered,wholesale handbags manufacturers, there is still a lot to like about this watch. The case is fantastic, very light, rides low, and has a nice medium mirror
polish that compliments the high polish of the unidirectional bezel. The pushers are
soft and have just enough resistance to let you know they've activated. The style of the watch is highly legible and displays its aviation heritage with pride. The blue luminous paint glows brightly and has good life — not as long as a dive watch, but enough for a movie or long night drive. The dial is very unique with its
blue printed matrix or "waffle" pattern that generally comes across as black
except in more direct and harsh light. When the true
color of the dial is visible, it tends to look like the subtle coloring
of the anti-reflective coating applied to watch crystals on many sports
watches. I have been wearing the watch on a black leather strap for
some time, and can say that for all intents and purposes, the dial of this watch might as well be black.

The registers are a glossy purple-black with an inlaid
circular pattern radiating from the centers. The mirror-like dive bezel
is unidirectional and has a "perl" at the 60 point for luminosity. The
chapter ring features a tachymeter for measuring speed over a known
distance using the timing of the chronograph.

The design and build of this watch are typical Citizen quality and leave little to be
desired. The BL5250-02L is very comfortable due to a nicely shaped case
and the light titanium fabrication. I wore the watch daily for over a
months and never grew bored of it as the chronograph was always ready (as long as
the watch is left in CHR mode), and the Eco-Drive movement
keeps very accurate time, needs no winding or battery changes, and features a very nice
perpetual calendar. It would be nice to see an atomic version of this
watch that forgoes the alarm and the bizarre second time zone feature
for a traditional chronograph and GMT hand.

If you're specifically looking for a watch with an alarm or GMT feature, the BL5250 will likely let you down. On the other hand, if you are
hunting for a well-made, relatively cheap aviation style chronograph, look
no further. The BL5250 can be found for between $240 and $269 (leather or bracelet, respectively), and for that money it represents great value in a
reliable, handsome, and well made watch.

Threequarter

Back

Wrist

Side

Back

Strapbuckle

By James Stacey

i need to know if my rolex watch is real or fake-_60

i need to know if my rolex watch is real or fake?

I have gone thru the check list and it seems to be all in order but no numbers i think or can i just not find them?!! I have the smooth movement, the silence on the ear, the 2.5 date magnification and rolex stamped everywhere it should be. Its a beauty and a gift so i will be really disappointed if its not the real thing – help anyone? The only other way is to get inside it and that just doesn’t seem possible looking at the back of it which is not engraved or stamped by the way – another mark of the real thing,watch rolex replica!!

Friday, December 2, 2011

Review of the Casio G-Shock GW-M5600BC_211

Review of the Casio G-Shock GW-M5600BC

View the Casio G-Shock GW-M5600BC photo gallery.

Casio G-Shock GW-M5600BC

Sometimes the only way to really know how much you like a particular watch is to simply see how much you wear it. I've had plenty of watches which I thought I was going to love — watches with all the right features and materials — but that ended up getting almost no wrist time whatsoever for one reason or another. And then I've had watches which I didn't really expect to care for all that much,replica watch, but that I found myself reaching for over and over. The Casio G-Shock GW-M5600BC turned out to be the latter.

The features of the G-Shock GW-M5600BC are pretty consistent with almost every G-Shock I review:

Solar powered (with battery indicator and power-saving function). 5-band atomic (calibrates with all atomic clocks in the world except the new one in China) World time (48 cities). Stopwatch with a resolution of 1/100th of a second. Countdown timer (max 60 minutes). Five daily alarms (one with snooze option). Electroluminescent backlight. Perpetual calendar (day and date are visible simultaneously, which I really like). Waterproof to 200 meters, or about 650 feet.

The Casio G-Shock GW-M5600BC certainly isn't all that much to look at which is why I never expected to become so attached to it. The case is the standard retro G-Shock square with the corners cut off and the traditional four small stainless steel buttons. It has an inverted LCD (white on black) which,replica rolex watch dealer, on the one hand, sets it apart from most of its G-Shock siblings, but on the other, makes it more difficult to read than modules with regular LCDs. The overall look is so much that of a standard and anachronistic G-Shock that the only comment I've ever gotten on it was from a Rolex-wearing doctor who said something along the lines of "Wow, they still make those things?"


So what is it about the GW-M5600BC that I like so much? It has all the right features (atomic, solar, world time, etc.), and it's much smaller and lighter than your average G-Shock which makes it more compatible with my narrow wrists. But what I like best is that it has the most unusual band I've ever seen on a Casio.

The bracelet is a combination of metal and hard plastic links held together with spring pins rather than the traditional pins and collars. There are several advantages to this type of band over the resin straps you usually get on a G-Shock:

    It can be sized and adjusted without any special tools. It can be sized for a more precise fit (most G-Shock straps are too big for my wrist). It's very quick and easy to put on and take off. The bracelet is so light that it doesn't add much weight to the watch at all.

Admittedly,replica watch wholesale, the bracelet seemed kind of cheap when I first inspected it, but after wearing this watch on and off (mostly on) for the last six months, I've come to really like it. And I'm not alone. I've seen this G-Shock model for sale on forums without the bracelet from people who removed it to attach it to another G-Shock. Interesting idea.

The GW-M5600BC doesn't seem to be available in the US (I was only able to find it in Casio USA's product archives), but it is available overseas from the usual retailers. It goes for about $230 which may seem a little steep for a retro-style G-Shock,yachtmaster replica, but if this watch is your kind of thing, it's worth every penny.

Additional resources:

G-Shock GW-M5600BC photo gallery. G-Shock GW-M5600BC English manual (PDF). G-Shock GW-M5600BC in the Casio product archive.

By Christian Cantrell

Tag Heuer Formula 1 Analog Digital CAC111D Watch

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tagheuer formula 1 Tag Heuer Formula 1 Analog/Digital CAC111D Watch

Released a few years ago I believe, this cool looking Tag Heuer really flew under the radar for me. Some people are immediately going to dismiss it because it has an analog and digital face, but that has a lot of the appeal for me. Ever since the Omega X-33 became a cult hit, watches with good pedigree and a quality designs that use this style have fascinated me. With analog/digital version of the new Formula 1 design,replica watch, Tag Heuer joins the ranks watches from Breitling (the Aerospace, among others), Omega, (X-33), Montblanc (Sport Titanium Digital), Bell & Ross (BR03 Type Aviation), Chopard (Grand Prix de Monaco Historique Time Attack MF), and others.

CAC111D.BA0850 rubber Tag Heuer Formula 1 Analog/Digital CAC111D Watch

In my opinion Breitling popularized watches like this for the mainstream. Although the Aerospace watch has a quartz movement, it is highly functional,luxury replica watch, and super accurate with its ETA Superquartz movement. This sold a lot of people on the concept. Like I said, it was the Omega X-33 that I think had collectors and more enthusiast types take notice. Why all the buzz? Well when it comes down to it, you can have the convenience and functionality of a quartz watch, in the shell of a nice analog watch. Toting around a plastic quartz watch simply doesn't give you the same feeling or respect that something with a good-link metal case does. Watches like this are one part "disguise," and one part nod to the need for watches to be functional tools.

This isn't Tag Heuer's first watch of this nature - but the nicest one. The first Tag Heuer analog/digital watch that I know of is one of its older Kirium F1 models. With the new generation of Formula 1 watches, Tag Heuer brought this concept back,quality watch replica, and I think it did so very well. First of all, as an analog watch it works nicely. Easy to read hands, along with a small hour marker scale on the inside. There is also the newer titanium rotating bezel and crown. matching the black bezel and crown are black crown guards and a black strip on the left side of the case.

41vxlKklTNL Tag Heuer Formula 1 Analog/Digital CAC111D Watch

The case itself is 42mm wide in steel, and came on Tag Heuer's nice looking F1 bracelet or at least two rubber strap options. Like all F1 watches, the case has a sapphire crystal and was water resistant to 200 meters. Functionally the digital part of the movement probably had a calendar, stopwatch, alarm, and second timezone. Perhaps more features as well. The lack of a ticking seconds hand was a good move on Tag's part.

Tag Heuer watches like this are interesting, and I think this model was a bit on the rare side. At least I didn't see many of them. But it is cool, and people wanting a highly functional timepiece with Tag Heuer styling can easily look here. Original price was about $1,100 retail, but available ones are less if you can find them online.



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Formula One Boss Bernie Ecclestone And Girlfriend

Nov
26

Bernie Ecclestone and his girlfriend Fabiana Flosi got robbed in his F1 HQ in London last Wednesday evening. The attackers ordered Bernie and Fabiana to hand over their watches and jewelery, with an estimated value of 200,replica watch rolex replica,000 UKP (or 235.000 Euro/$300,watch rolex replica,000USD).

A picture of Bernie in happier times (no pun intended).

You probably guessed it already,wholesale rolex replica watch, which watch was he wearing? According to some news sites, it had to be his gold Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Geographique, as pictured below. This leaves me puzzled with respect to the amount (or value) of jewelery worn by Fabiana. Bernie got a head injury after being repeatedly kicked and punched by his attackers (pretty tough, kicking an 80 year old). His 31 year old girl friend was left alone (according to several sources).

More information can be found here:

Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Moon-Phase Calendar

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AP Jules Audemars Moon Phase Calendar 1 Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Moon Phase Calendar Watch Hands On

The Jules Audemars collection from Audemars Piguet has been getting a lot of attention over the last few years. For 2011 a few new models came out including this Moon-Phase Calendar version with a beautifully balanced dial. The Jules Audemars collection has always been about thin cases with elegant designs - formal watches that aren't stuffy or boring. The last few years of AP Jules Audemars watches really hit the nail on the head for many collectors, and so should this Moon-Phase Calendar version.

003695 003.772 Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Moon Phase Calendar Watch Hands On

AP Jules Audemars Moon Phase Calendar 2 Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Moon Phase Calendar Watch Hands On

For 2011 the watch comes only in 18k rose gold in a 39mm wide Jules Audemars style case. The round case has a sort of bulbous shape with a polished bezel and back,replica and watch, with brushed sides. Inside the Moon-Phase Calendar is the in-house made AP calibre 2324/2825 automatic movement. Functions include an annual calendar with the day and date on dials,hublot replika,swiss replica rolex watch, and a moon phase indicator. The time has the hour and minutes (no seconds). The layout is beautiful - featuring perfect symmetry and proportioned shapes. The subdials and moon phase indicator are enhanced by being slightly recessed, as well as outlined with a thin polished gold ring. Again, very elegant. Being just 8.8mm thick (the case) and an automatic, this is a fine watch meant for daily wear.

003695 004.772 Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Moon Phase Calendar Watch Hands On

Attached to the watch is a brown crocodile strap which looks handsome with the rose gold. I find it interesting that over the last few years brown has been the model match to gold versus black. Then again, a while ago yellow gold was being matched to black, and rose gold often looks best with a shade of brown. Success with this version of the Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Moon-Phase Calendar watch will likely hail in versions with different dial colors and in different shades of gold. I anticipate the price to be in the $20,000 range.



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Manufacture is the magic word!

Mar,buy rolex replica watch
09

“To Manufacture or Not To Manufacture, That Is The Question,replica rolex watch for sale!?��Ǩ��, writes Alon Ben-Joseph on the WatchFreaksBlog today.

Read this interesting blog posting over at WatchFreaks, click:
Should watchmakers become a true Manufacture?


The Montblanc Collection Villeret 1858 is made by what was once the Minerva company.
Photographs by watchinghorology.com.

Rolex Oyster Date Mickey Mouse Watch

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3390866 large2 Rolex Oyster Date Mickey Mouse Watch Available On James List

Discovering watches like this is exciting and makes me wonder how the watch world has changed in the last 40 or 50 years. Things really were different back then - take for example Disney working with Rolex to put a classic form of Mickey Mouse on a watch dial. There has been a lot of argument online whether or not these watches are real. Today's Rolex would not likely ever put Mickey Mouse or any character on their watches (though leopard print is a different story). So it makes sense that today's brand devotees are skeptical of these timepieces.

It has been suggested that all Mickey Mouse dialed Rolex watches are fakes. Well not necessarily fake Rolex watches,replica watch rolex replica, but rather real ones that have had aftermarket dials placed in the watch.  There is actually some merit to this argument because aftermarket Mickey Mouse Rolexes do exist. Based on my research however,replica watch rolex replica, I would say that it looks very likely that Rolex did have an actual relationship with Disney in mostly the 1960s and 1970s up to the early 1980s. In that time there seems to have been a series of Rolex watches with Mickey on the dial. These appear to be direct homages to the original Ingersoll Mickey Mouse dials.

Rolexmicky2 Rolex Oyster Date Mickey Mouse Watch Available On James List

For this reason Mickey's hands look odd. The original Mickey Mouse watches used his hands as the watch hands. Rolex didn't seem to want to do that, so they used their standard hands and hour markers, but with a nice quality "homage dial" that was meant to remind you of the original Mickey Mouse watches.

Most Mickey Mouse Rolex dials where in Oyster Date and other similar models. Each where in steel and about 35-36mm wide. Back then these would have been men's models. Today they are best for women and children - as well as other avid collectors. I for one think that these are really cool, and a testament to the immense merchandising power that Disney had (and still has to a large degree).

mickey rolex Rolex Oyster Date Mickey Mouse Watch Available On James ListThe top pictured model is a Rolex Oyster Date Ref. 6694 watch, and is very indicative of what Disney Rolex watches were like. Most of the base watches with the Mickey Mouse dials are inherently not very collectible, but these special models are quite rare. Rolex didn't want Mickey to be on their most high-end pieces. This model is currently available on James List at a price of $3,500. The others are pictures of similar Rolex Mickey Mouse watches so you can see a bit of the range of models. Prices for these pieces all seem to be under $5,000 today - where you can find them.

For nostalgic purposes or simply as interesting collector's items, these are some pretty interesting and rare Rolex watches that certainly take a lot of the current stuffiness out of the high-end Swiss watch industry. It is also worth noting that during most of Walt Disney's later life he wore Rolex timepieces.



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