ARMEN DARAKJIAN, Darakjian Jewelers Birmingham, Mich.
“My No. 1 best-seller is the rose gold 44mm Audemars Piguet for $46,800. The popularity of Audemars Piguet is really unsurpassed. They are the leader in the industry as the most desirable sport watch available for those looking for ‘not what your neighbor has.’ The strength of the brand not only is derived by the timeless styles they create, but the initiatives taken by the company as a whole, most of the time light years before any other brand put it into motion. They are predictive of what is going to happen in the watch market and make decisions that fortify their strength when those predictions come true. Their ambassador program has been as calculated as a surgeon calculating his next cut, bringing in all walks of life wanting the finest the world has to offer. Audemars Piguet’s production capacity doesn’t come close to satisfying the demand that is out there, keeping the brand, its integrity and image just as Switzerland wants it.”
“My No. 2 best-seller is Ulysse Nardin’s Executive Dual Time Steel in blue at $9,400. At a more moderate price point, the Ulysse Nardin Executive Dual Time is a sure-fire hit! The whole collection is a great seller offering the dual time client a more contemporary look while offering an easy to read dial. The patented movement is designed so that the traveler has the ease of reading the main dial. You simply set your home time in the dual time window and the buttons at 10 o’clock and 8 o’clock are one hour quick and adjust the hour hand forward and backwards—a far cry from all the brands that display the second time zone in a small dial making it harder to read. The ceramic bezel gives that contemporary touch and the option of crocodile or rubber strap even makes it the perfect vacation watch.”
GREG SIMONIAN, Westime
Los Angeles, Calif.
“Our two best-sellers are Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak Chronograph in stainless steel with the black dial (41mm), priced at $24,300, and Hublot’s Big Bang Ferrari ‘Speciale’ in gray ceramic, $27,300.”
“The Royal Oak in steel is such an iconic timepiece, and any collector of AP wants to have one in his/her collection. This size, with the black dial, makes it very modern. The Speciale is really a beautifully designed sports watch from Hublot, with an instantly identifiable style and the added cachet of being a limited edition.”
DENIS BOULLE, de Boulle Diamond & Jewelry
Dallas, Texas
“Through the last decade America has adored the two following watches from Rolex and Patek Philippe, and they continue to be our best-sellers.”
“The Rolex Submariner is the classic sports watch that was James Bond’s original tool of choice. The watch is, to put it simply, the most iconic men’s sports watch available. The watch is reliable, looks good under any circumstances and is produced with some of the most stringent quality controls in the entire world. Rolex has constantly worked to improve it over the years.”
“On the other hand, the Patek Philippe Calatrava in 18k gold has become the most timeless dress watch to have been created. The Patek Philippe Calatrava was originally introduced in 1932 and has been considered the flagship model of the brand since. Patek Philippe’s Calatrava 5119J displays all that has ever been important for a dress watch. With a timeless design, unparalleled attention to detail and the finest watchmaking on the planet from Patek Philippe, it is no wonder that this watch has found admirers & collectors around the world.”
“Neither of these watches will ever go out of style, which makes them inherently collectable.”
RAY GRENON, Grenon’s of Newport
Newport, R.I.
“My customers are quite different than the average store. Most stores have people looking for the most advertised brands; my customers tend to like the more obscure brands. My customers are people that have already owned the Rolexes and Cartiers and now they want something different.”
“So, my first best-seller is the Speake-Marin Resilience, which has a fantastic genuine enamel dial and is just such a classic-looking timepiece I think it will still look good 50 years from now. Peter Speake-Marine’s experience with restoring vintage pieces is really evident with the clean dial and those beautiful blued spade hands that look like they came off a vintage British pocket watch. Just an elegant design. He’s managed to come up with a design that is distinctive yet not funky; it is (no pun intended) timeless. And it costs $27,850.”
“My second best-seller is the Schaumburg Moon Gala, because the photorealistic moon really catches the eye. The extra-cool feature is that when the lights go out, the moon display is also luminescent! This is the same watch that Martin Braun offered (with a different case and dial) but the Schaumburg is a fraction of the price.”
JEREMY OSTER, Oster Jewelers
Denver, Colo.
“Bremont has become a very popular brand for us. In particular, the MBII always gets a lot of attention. At just $5,495 this watch offers an excellent value with tremendous appeal to all those who appreciate the strong aviation connection. For our Colorado customers, this watch is perfect for wearing with a suit and then also wearing it for the outdoor activities that are so much a part of living in the Rockies.”
“Also, we have had excellent success with the Ulysse Nardin 43mm Marine Chronometer collection. At $10,300 our customers appreciate the amazing history of this brand as well as the quality offered with the in-house caliber. The design and size just seems to appeal to those who maybe wish to own one great watch. It also offers tremendous prestige without the cache of being a watch that everyone recognizes.”
