GlobalWatchBrokers.com, LLC

Not long ago, the phrase ‘be like Mike’ inspired aspiring basketball players of all ages to hustle harder on the court, like superstar Michael Jordan.

These days, Jordan isn’t as flying as high, and his fancy footwork is more behind-the-scenes as the majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats.

But he’s still a good example of good style, including sharp-looking suits and accessories.

So what is Mike wearing on his wrist?

According to Hodinkee, an online publication dedicated to buying watches, these days, it’s an Urwek 103.03 described as “stylish,” “luxurious” and “downright sexy.” The case is white gold, the look is futuristic, and you can pick yourself up a new one for around $70,000.

There are plenty of other prominent athletes rocking higher-end luxury watches. Sometimes it’s the class factor – they’re doing so well at their sport they can now enjoy upgrading. In some cases, companies creating and selling watches may put together a sponsorship package.

For instance, Rolex is firmly behind golfer Tiger Woods, the same way it sponsored golfers Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, plus the entire U.S. Open tournament. This relationship is even listed on Woods’ page of sponsors, and watch watchers say Woods prefers the Rolex DEEP-SEA special.

Prior to becoming a Rolex ambassador, Woods used to proudly wear TAG Heurer, but this deal ended in 2012. Before this, he wore a Tudor Prince Date, part of the Rolex family.

Kobe Bryant proudly wears Hublot, a Swiss brand valued at $20,000-$30,000 apiece. Hublot also sponsors the Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe’s special limited-edition watch is a King Power Black Mamba with purple and 18k gold accents and a black ceramic and titanium case.

Fellow basketball player Lebron James is considered not just a fan but an official Ambassador for Audemars Piguet, another high-end timepiece. His favorite watch these days is the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph, a self-winding timepiece with a pink gold case with a glare-proof sapphire crystal that’s water resistant up to 100 meters. Global Watch Brokers LLC has these listed at around $15,000-$25,000.

Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya also wears an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore, he sports a limited edition rose-gold edition of which only 500 were created. Another wearer of this special line is Frank Lampard, part of the Chelsea soccer team.

Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper recently featured a profile of several soccer players and what they’re wearing on their wrists, everyone from Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard who enjoys wearing an especially rugged Zenith Defy Xtreme, resistant up to 1,000 meters underwater; to Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand, who wears an elegant Franck Muller Conquistador.

On this side of the Atlantic, where there’s less confusion over football and soccer football, “our” players are also known for their style.

In September 2012, GQ showed us a lineup of extra-large NFL stars who prefer big faces – at least 44 mm or larger — on their upscale timepieces. These featured linebackers included DeMarcus Ware from the Dallas Cowboys, who prefers a steel TAG Heurer valued at around $3,800, or Von Miller from the Denver Broncos who appreciates a Bulgari valued at $15,600.

Wearing the same classy watch as these athletes won’t give you their abilities, but it will be nice. Check with Global Watch Brokers for more.

For those in the know, there’s but one legendary watch that conjures up the mystery, fashion legacy, and intrigue of James Bond. In fact, it’s the only watch that Sean Connery, as the British Secret Service Agent 007, wore during the filming of his first nine James Bond films that started with “Dr. No.” The timepiece is none other than the world-famous Rolex Submariner, one of the toughest Sport Models ever created with its unrivaled style, and unmatched performance. The Submariner has a well-earned reputation as an iconic, technical watershed in Sport Models…a fitting choice for the dashing and handsome Agent 007.

Even today, discerning men take great pride in their luxury watches because these renowned timepieces are a reflection of a gentleman’s good taste, and appreciation of extraordinary craftsmanship.

At Global Watch Brokers, we’re well aware that this prized accessory also conveys a gentleman’s sense of style and sophistication. In the world of luxury watches, the James Bond Rolex Submariner is an iconic and timeless masterpiece that’s synonymous with perfection.

Global Watch Brokers-James Bond Rolex Submariner

The English author and journalist Ian Fleming, whose best known for his powerful James Bond spy series, also served as a naval intelligence officer for the British Naval Intelligence Division during the Second World War. Fleming was deeply involved in planning Operation Golden Eye, and in the planning and oversight of the 30 Assault Unit and T-Force intelligence units, Fleming’s military service, and journalism career gave him key insights that were used to create the realistic background for his James Bond novels.

It took nine long years of work and legal negotiations before Fleming’s British thrill seeking agent made it to Hollywood. In 1962, Sean Connery was introduced as James Bond in Dr. No, sporting the Submariner watch.

Interestingly enough, the very early versions of the diving watch did not contain the Submariner name on the dial. And Rolex continued to create an array of alternative names that were carefully protected by patents in 1953-54. The names were related to diving, and they included Deep-sea, Frogman, Diver, Deep-Sea Diver, Skin Diver, Dive-O-Graph, and Swim proof. In the end, the name Submariner remained as the final choice. A wise choice indeed!

Global Watch Brokers- Panerai

Watches are not just pieces of jewelry; they are a necessity. The question we ask at Global Watch Brokers is why are they a necessity? Today, I’m going to explore exactly why wristwatches are a necessity and why you should have at least one…

1) For many men, this is the one piece of jewelry they will ever wear. Seriously.

I’ve been reading through The Watch by Gene Stone. The book gives an awesome overview of the world of watches. The wristwatch I believe always has and always will be the number 1 choice of jewelry for men. It not only tells time, it accents wardrobes and is essentially the best thing to happen to the wrist or the pocket depending on what watch you decide to wear.

2) They tell time. Well they do serve an actual purpose other than looking cool on you. The purpose of the wristwatch (complicated or not) is to well tell time, know the date, diving, and more!

Time is a necessity because it is something that we all must face, manage and deal with. How can you do that if you have no idea what time it is? Time is the one thing that is consistently moving. Why not keep track of it by wearing an awesome wristwatch?

Perhaps an A. Lange & Sohne? Audemars Piguet? Bell & Ross? Rolex? There are many options to choose from, but my advice is this. Regardless of complication, who designed it, how much it costs, make sure that the watches you purchase are an extension of you. They should reflect who you are. Therein lies the necessity of time.

Are you interested in buying a luxury timepiece such as a Rolex or Audemars Piguet? Click Here

Have you ever wanted to sell your watch? Sell to Global Watch Brokers Click Here

Global Watch Brokers

3340 Peachtree Rd Ne Ste 1800

Atlanta, GA 30326

This may be hard to believe, but the things we like and the things we wear, defines who we are. A person’s personality is often reflected in the style of furniture they like, and the style jewelry and clothing they wear. When it comes to watches, what is your watching telling others about you?

At Global Watch Brokers, we have a watch for every personality. We realize that people’s mood often changes, and so does their disposition. Most people are indecisive when it comes to making a decision. They can’t make one selection, so they normally make several.

Global Watch Brokers- Rolex

If you like simple watches like Omega, Baume et Mercier or TAG Heuer, you know the ones without the whistles and frills, others might take you can as being quiet and laid back. Your personality is telling others you are a simple, dependable and trustworthy person, who likes styles and simplicity.
If you like Patek Philippe, Breitling, and Chopard watches, your luxurious time piece is telling others, you have style. You have an outgoing personality and you like being noticed. You are the life of the party and you enjoy being the center of attention.

On the other hand, if you live to wear your Ebel, IWC, Audemars Piguet, Cartier or Rolex watch, you are definitely sending a strong message to your observers. Your style is telling others you are classy, refined, and very subtle. You admire and appreciate the finer things in life, and you are content with the choice you make.
Jewelry has a lot about your style and personality. People usually pick jewelry according to their disposition. A quiet reserved person, won’t usually pick a flashy watch, because they like being in the background, and not in the center.

People who like bright colors and a flashy watch, live to have fun. They have an outgoing personality, and they like jewelry that catches everyone eyes. They are the life of the party, and they are the center of everyone’s attention.

Global Watch Brokers

3340 Peachtree Rd Ne Ste 1800

Atlanta, GA 30326

Kobe and Vanessa Bryant at the Hublot King Power Black Mamba

Mark March 21st 2013 down on your calendar as the day Kobe Bryant not only joins Dwayne Wade on the Hublot team, but also helped introduce the new King Power Black Mamba. An impressive timepiece made of multiple materials including: black ceramic, tungsten, titanium, rhodium plating, and composite elements. Many of you know I’m a Kobe fan because of his dedication to winning, work ethic, relentless pursuit to compete, fluid game, and high basketball IQ. These are the same reasons I would love to see a Michael Jordan Hublot.

The King Power Black Mamba

The exterior is revealed as such: the Case is micro-blasted black ceramic and an incredible 48mm diameter; the Bezel is also black micro-blasted titanium with black PVD H-shaped titanium screws; the Sapphire crystal is anti-reflective on both the interior and exterior so you dont have an issue looking at the time during those bright light moments; the Lugs are black composite resin; the Crown is titanium and PVD coated and includes the 3N 18k Hublot logo; the Push Buttons are PVD titanium; the Case Back is skeleton so you can see the movement with Kobe Bryants signature on the sapphire; and of course the strap is Python sewed on black rubber, one of the many noticeable references to Kobe’s moniker.

The Kobe Bryant King Power Black Mamba

The interior is really sexy. First the sapphire micro-blasted PVD coated dial: a black mamba snake made of  ; the number 24 representing Kobe’s player number at the 6 position; the Date trapezoidal aperture at the 4 position; satin-finished Hands 3N Gold plated hands with black “SuperLuminova” meaning its brighter than paparazzi cameras in the dark. The engine behind all of this is the 28 jeweled HUB 4248 Mechanical self-winding Chronograph movement with a central 48′  counter.

King Power

Free throw gimmies include a 42 hour power reserve, its water resistant up to 100 meters, and its a limited edition of only 250 pieces.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each King Power Black Mamba timepiece will be donated to the After-School All Stars Foundation.

Its not surprising that Hublot is the official timekeeper of the LA Lakers as of January 2013.

Check out the video below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6vOg7LThhE

If your interested in purchasing a Hublot Click Here

If your interested in selling your luxury watch Click Here

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with his all gold Rolex Datejust

Much is known about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. such common knowledge as: he was born January 15, 1929 and was assassinated April 4, 1968; that he won the Noble Peace Prize in 1968 making him the youngest to achieve the award for his works to end racial segregation and discrimination through nonviolence; and of course his March on Washington in 1963 where he gave one of the most influential speeches of human history appropriately called “I have a Dream.”

What I would like to speak on, is how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought human injustice, and although he knew his life was finite – he also knew change was inevitable. Eventually, through time, his efforts would succeed. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not end racial injustice totally and eradicate it completely, instead his ideas were, and are, passed down as an heirloom of thought from generation to generation, caring for this precious idea that we are all created equal. Ideals are like timepieces in that if they are of quality, craftsmanship and beauty they should be respected and passed to the preceding generations.

Martin Luther King Jr. wore an all gold Rolex Datejust, how appropriate, considering Rolex dons an all gold Rolex to the most prestigious of individuals in society throughout time ranging from Swiss General Henri Guisan to President John F. Kennedy. What is really honorable is how they do not exploit the all gold timepieces they give to these most noble of individuals. I do not know how Dr. King came to own his Rolex all gold Datejust but if anyone deserved this watch of honor it most certainly was him.

The GWB Family, would like to say thank you Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for your appreciation of all human life, and the ultimate sacrifice you made, for the world to become a better place.

The Christie's auction

I have traveled a lot toward the end of this year mainly to New York. Why? Well, New York is the home to Sotheby’s, Antiquorum, Bonhams, and Christies. It was nice to see familiar faces and new ones at the auctions, with many buyers flying in from all over the world. The shows were well structured.
To me, what was most interesting was the large amount of online bidders. Each show had a decent amount of warm bodies that attended, from roughly 20 at Sotheby’s to 100 at Christies, and many had deep pockets. Someone once asked ‘how much is my watch worth’ and the answer was and is always ‘what someone is willing to pay for it.’ This was evident at the auctions. Some timepieces I expected to sell better, others left me in awe at their final sale price, some topping the million dollar mark.
Sotheby’s was my first auction. It had the smallest of attendees but certainly did not disappoint with their final sales numbers. They ended the show with a rare 46mm black Patek Philippe ref 2512/1 which was originally priced to sell between $100,000-$150,000 it actually sold for $962,000!

The Patek Philippe ref 2512/1

What makes this Patek Philippe so special is that it is one of three large case models Patek Philippe made. This particular watch is dated 1955. The show stopper of the day, however, belonged to the nearly two feet tall Duc D’Orléans Breguet Sympathique clock from 1835. It sold for $6.8 million. I feel a Dr. Evil pinky to bottom lip moment coming over me. What makes this desk clock special is how Abraham-Louis Breguet figured out how to solve the pocket watch winding problem by creating a dock for the included pocket watch at the top of the desk clock. When the pocket watch is placed in the dock three prongs automatically wind, regulate and set the watch for you. In short Abraham-Louis Breguet took human ingenuity to another level of which even by todays standards are near impossible to conceive and execute.

The Duc D'Orléans Breguet Sympathique

In all, the Sotheby’s watch auction brought in a total of $11,672,988, and Senior Vice President Maria Kelly had the sparkle of a successful auction as she popped the champagne for her team.

Next on my hit list was Antiquorum. I appreciated the display cases running on the sides of the seating rows. Most auctions allow you to see the watch displays in one room but the actual auction is in another.
One of the sexiest timepieces that sold in my opinion was the Patek Philippe ref 5016 Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon. Black dial, red arabic numerals, and breguet styled hands… definitely runway material. Ohh and it sold for only $722,500.00. A great guy I met at the auction bought it. Serious collector. Graffiti artist Crash Hand painted a Patek Philippe dome shaped clock and the proceeds went to help AIDS research, it sold for $24,000.00. The auction, including buyers premium sold a total of $4,132,275.00.

The Patek Philippe ref 5016 Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon

CEO/ Auctioneer of Bonhams, Mr. Malcolm Barber, led the Bonhams auction. The highest sale came from the Patek Philippe ref 2499 which sold for $422,500.00. Its a bold looking 37mm timepiece with arabic numerals, an 18k gold case, moonphase, triple date, chronograph, with a tachymeter scale. The most interesting piece in my opinion was the 19th century nef containing a watch. Although orinally priced between $8000-10,000, a friend of mine bought it for $23,000.00! It is a very rare detailed enameled gold and rock crystal three masted ship. The Bonhams auction roughly totaled $1.5 million.

Bonhams CEO Malcolm Barber

Last on the list was Christies with a stunning $12,209,500 in total auction sales. They showcased 341 lots. Christies sold six watches over $500,000.00 (3 Patek Philippe’s, 2 Rolex and 1 Richard Mille limited edition) so you know they weren’t playing around. They closed the year with a bang. I am a huge fan of Rolex Submariners, so when the ‘Patent Pending’ double red Sea-Dweller sold for $50,000.00 I was happy to see the market has not changed much in the past year regarding pricing.

New York, New York is a fast paced environment. People walk the streets like their legs are two opposing bidders relentlessly trying to win. New Yorkers speak fast and direct like they were trained to be auctioneers at birth. City folks from NY are artsy and serious about their luxury items… is there any reason why auctions are not successful in New York? They were made for one another. With the emergence of the internet, which is probably the only faster paced and even more sleep deprived entity than New York, I expect GlobalWatchBrokers.com to be at the forefront of a new auction platform.

If you are interested in selling your vintage luxury timepiece such as a Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, or Piaget give us your time here

If you are interested in buying a luxury timepiece let us give you your time here

I wonder if my fellow millenials would find this more useful. Photo Credit: Memes.net

I recently received an article from a good friend of mine (@Yo_Soy_Juanito), in regards to how millineals view timepieces. From the way the article reads, the astounding answer is a status symbol. According to the article (written by the Kansas City Star’s Rick Montgomery), 1 in 4 millenials wear a timepiece on a regular basis. This is partly because of the use of smartphones & other devices that show the time.

While this is true, I personally don’t see a replacement for a nice timepiece. Call it what you want, but when I need to know what time it is, I would prefer to just look down at my wrist & get back to what I’m doing. I guess that makes me old fashioned.
The question is why? Why is it that students see timepieces as a status symbol only?

Something tells me that it has a lot to do with the way millenials operate. No, we aren’t lazy. Yes, we do want to learn. We love Entrepreneurship. Perhaps, it’s not about status as it is more functionality & fashion.

Believe me, the watch industry has caught on. Considering that one-day millenials will be in the age range (roughly 35-55) that (luxury) watch industry targets, we may want the status symbols, but we will most likely have the fashion statement watches & the functionality watches. My question is why not combine all 3 and create something that feeds into all those demanding needs of the millennial watch enthusiast? Kidding.

That’s not the problem either. I would argue that it is an education issue. Perhaps if they knew what really went behind the creation of a movement etc. perhaps the appreciation for a nice watch could be reached.

If you read the article I included, then perhaps you may come to the conclusion that I did. It’s really just a matter of priorities. One of the people in the article argued that they would rather spend $10,000 travelling with a motorcycle than spending that on a Submariner for example. I completely understand that argument. If I were given the choice, I would most likely use the $10K & invest it in a venture or travel. Clearly for many of us, the priority at this time is more getting to the point that they can justify spending that kind of money. In my eyes, I think millenials priorities are just fine. The luxury watch industry will be fine as well. So there isn’t anything to really worry about. Television & Newspapers however are a completely different game.

That however is for another post, & another blog. Maybe I will write it on mine. Take a few moments to check out my blog Far From Idle. Come. Find out why.

What do you think? Do you think millennials see watches as a status symbol? Why do you think that is?

Sean Connery and his Rolex Submariner on the set of James Bond

Today, I would like to talk about one of the most notarized, copied, sought after watches in dare I say, the world.

If you haven’t guessed yet, I am referring to the Rolex Submariner series. The Submariner is by far the most popular timepiece in the Rolex collection.

It would be better however to start from the beginning. Let me weave a quick tale of how the Submariner came to be, by first telling you how Rolex began.

Alfred Davis & Hans Wilsdorf in London, England founded Rolex in 1905. In 1919, the company was moved to Geneva, Switzerland for a very interesting reason. From what I read, the reason they moved to Switzerland was because of wartime taxes on luxury imports & exports of items like gold & silver. Something tells me that they wanted to remain in London, however War was dangerous & I assume the increase in taxes was too much for the company at that time (They were still a young company at this point). Rolex has a very interesting relationship with war surprisingly.

In World War II, Rolex became a very popular & established brand. They had a direct effect on the Great Escape. When Allied POW’s were imprisoned, their Rolexes were confiscated. When Hans, heard of this he encouraged all the prisoners to write letters asking for another watch. He also told them that none of them had to pay for them until they became free men again. Without the Rolex, these men may not have been able to coordinate the Great Escape.

The Rolex Submariner - Photo Credit: Jake’s Rolex World

Now, for the Rolex to Rule them all. The Submariner. The Submariner is considered to be the greatest Rolex of its time. Introduced in 1954 at the Basel Watch Fair, the Submariner is one of the most copied watches by other watchmakers (think Panerai), & is considered “a classic among wristwatches manufactured by one of the most widely recognized luxury brands in the world”.

The Submariners purpose has mainly been for deep sea diving as well as aviation. This watch can stand temperatures as low as minus 45 degrees Celsius, remain waterproof depth of 4,000 ft. (the Sea-Dweller series reaches 4,000. The general Submariner is around 1,000ft). For the diver’s out there, you may want to seek out is the COMEX (a French diving company) Submariner. The COMEX utilized Subs are sought after heavily because of some of the depths these watches were taken to with the brand. For even more information about the intricacies of the Rolex Submariner, please check out Jake’s Rolex World. Jake has a wealth of information about the Rolex brand, & especially about the Submariner.

There is a certain movie that put the Submariner truly on the map. The movie I am referencing is James Bond & specifically those staring Sean Connery (mentioned previously). In the books, it merely states that Bond wore a Rolex, but it was never clarified what type of Rolex. The directors made the right decision to go with the Submariner because of its rich history & technical prowess.

The first popular Submariner models were the 6204 (1953-1955) & 5512 (1959-1978). The 6204 model was featured at the Basel Watch Fair. This model was one of the timepieces that put them on the map. The Chronometer version (5512) was also the version used in the Bond films starring Sean Connery. The single largest distinguishing factor for the 5512 model was the addition of the “shoulders” on the crown side to protect the winding mechanism. This addition also created an additional design feature that is widely copied. For example, Invicta has a diver that looks similar to the Sub. These two Subs are very popular watches that would make a very nice addition to your collection. Don’t forget however about the beautiful 50th Anniversary edition (16610LV). This edition was produced from 2003-2010 & its most distinct feature is the green bezel. It really makes the watch stand out. Since the 50 year anniversary release, Rolex began to gradually add more depth to the Submariner line by adding yellow & white gold models.

The Rolex to rule them all. The Submariner.

If you are interested in purchasing a Submariner, click here.

What are your thoughts on the Submariner? Do you think it is one of the greatest wristwatches Rolex ever created? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

To view more of my work, or inquire about the services I offer, please visit the Far From Idle blog.

Jay-Z has been a watch collector for many years

Some of us watch hobbyist purchase one or two luxury watches and are content. We purchase a mere couple because we either lack the knowledge to pick the right watches to add to our collection or we cannot afford more luxury timepieces. many collectors I have met are actually big collectors and add timepieces for a few reasons: value of the watch goes up over an time, its a rare timepiece, or simply it reminds them of someone special to them or a stitch in time. The family at Global Watch Brokers has been sensitive to the needs of clients for years, and delve into questioning to help current and would be collectors to achieve their goals.

What does it take to be a watch collector? You have to know your price point. If you have a few thousand dollars to start your collection you might want to stay with lower end luxury timepieces such as TAG Heuer, Baume et Mercier, or Omega. These timepieces range from roughly $500- $3000 for the most part. Mid range luxury timepieces would include brands such as Breitling, Rolex, and Panerai to name a few. Their price ranges from $1500-$20,000. The high end luxury timepieces are brands such as Patek Philippe, IWC, and F.P. Journe. Prices are in the mid thousands and can go into the millions!

As a watch collector you will need watch winders and watch showcases to keep the watches protected and constantly wound. Many of the watches, past and presently made, have automatic movement and need to continually move so that the movement doesn’t build up gunk. Gunk is the result of oil churning and sitting in the watch due to the gears engaging and the hardening and build up of the oil result in the accuracy of the time being compromised. Orbita and Steinhausen make some pretty affordable and reliable watch winders.

Orbita Avanti 8 Watch Winder

One person in particular who has a very impressive collection is Milan banker Alfredo Paramico. He has 10 rare Patek Philippe timepieces valued over $25,000,000.00. Thats right 25 MILLION! These timepieces retain value and have increased in value over time such as the Patek Philippe reference No. 1518 whereas only four were made. This watch is estimated at $6,000,000.00 alone. It is a perpetual calendar chronograph. Check out his collection here

Patek Philippe Ref. No. 1518

Celebrities and C level executives are known to collect watches. Old vintage and very rare timepieces can increase by 50% in value over time. The key is knowing what is a good investment from a watch you just happen to fancy. Jay-z and Arnold Schwarzenegger are big collectors of Audemars Piguet and Sylvester Stallone is a known collector of Panerai. Speaking of the California Governor/ Terminator bringer of the apocalypse, Schwarzenegger’s End of Days Audemars Piguet originally sold for $13,600 in 1999 and now sells for roughly $85,000 because only 500 were made. The Rolex Daytona dubbed the Paul Newman sold for $3000 when it was first introduced to the market and now sells for $100,000.

If your interested in becoming a watch collector please contact us here

If you want to sell your luxury watch and fetch collectors price contact us here