The Watch Talk Forums (initiated by John Holbrook) celebrates its 3rd anniversary! To commemorate the occasion of Watch Talk Forums’ 3rd anniversary on September 26th, The European Watch Group, Edouard Lauzières, and Fine-Time, wish to sponsor a photo contest. As a prize, the Watch Talk Forums will be offering an Edouard Lauzières Eldiamante model with an MSRP of $1775.00. This watch is a special piece with black diamonds, which is being released early to the US market in late October. Check this website for the specs of the prize! http://www.fine-time.us/elinfo.htm

Click here to go to the Watch Talk Forums! (note: You have to be registered to be able to access this part)

What to do if you like the Rolex Submariner and GMT-Master models but you wouldn’t want to be caught dead with a Rolex? You look for alternatives ofcourse! Besides the ‘usual’ alternatives like the Omega Seamaster Professional or even the cheaper MarcelloC rip-offs, what about spending some extra bucks (or whatever currency you have) and buy something more exclusive?

As an alternative to the Submariner or Sea-Dweller diving watch, take a look at this Blancpain Fifty Fathoms! Besides their rather classic looking watches, Blancpain also features this sporty diver in their collection. This large (45mm) watch is waterresistant to depths of 300 meters, features an inhouse mechanical self-winding movement (caliber 1315) with a power reserve of 120 hours.

Picture by rrueger.ch, a great website about dive watches.

As an alternative to the Rolex GMT-Master 16710, or the new one, 116710 (116713 for the steel/gold model), take a look at this Chopard Pro One GMT watch. The only con on this watch is that the GMT hour hand cannot be set independently. This watch is 42mm in diameter, waterresistant to depths of 300 meters, an inhouse mechanical self/winding movement (Calibre L.U.C 4.96 “Pro One”) with a power reserve of 65 hours.

I like both watches and both brands. Although both brands tend to be a bit more on the classic side of watches, these sporty models are good competitors to the Rolex models mentioned. The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms is probably just as long around the corner as the Rolex Submariner (c1953), which you probably already noticed by the classic look of the BP.

Both alternatives are slightly larger in size than the Rolex models, but everything above 40mm in diameter size aren’t outcasts anymore. I think the big watches will be around for some longer, although some predict that watches will become smaller again. However, 45mm looks better on my wrist than 35mm, and I assume that this will be always the case! Now or in ten years from now

I am not aware of the exact prices on these models, but I suggest you ask your nearest BP or Chopard authorized dealer or do the math yourself by clicking www.chrono24.com.

The Purists reported about the latest UN watch, the InnoVision. UN is famous for its ’special’ creations, and just when you thought that it couldn’t get any freakier than their ‘Freak’ watch, they introduce the concept watch called InnoVision.

The InnoVision has 10 innovations that will put this watch directly on the horological map. Marcus Hanke over at The Purists reported about this watch in the Purists News Section. Follow this link, and read about the InnoVision’s innovations. Despite all high-tech innovations, they at least could have spend some time designing a ‘wearable’ watch.

http://www.watchprosite.com/show-forumpost.classic/fi-112/pi-2284517/ti-375912/s-0/

Most of the watch related forums have this ’scan day’ topic once in a while. Over at the forum of the pro’s, WatchRap, it is always fun to click a ‘Scan Day’-thread. The watches people have (or had) over there, is very diverse and there is always an interesting piece among them. This FP Journe for example, truely a master piece!

This particular watch was owned by SteveH. In the same thread, he also posts a picture of a Sinn U1. Just as simple as that Collectors with nices pieces such as the FP Journe, who can also respect a (much cheaper) Sinn U1, are the true watch lovers & collectors in my book!

Click here for the entire thread.