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If you don’t have a Facebook page or a Twitter account, you’re probably not considered among the most “plugged in” of today. Practically everyone has a BlackBerry these days; texting has replaced phone calls, which were replaced by emails which just about buried the idea of actually composing a hand written letter. For companies looking to promote their products and services it became mandatory years ago to have a website; that was considered an “electronic business card”. Websites are inexpensive ways that can reach mass numbers of people, and now, if companies don’t have the latest tools of social media working in their favor they may be losing out. Hence a new study to find out who’s plugged in where and how they rank.

It’s called the “Digital IQ” ranking system and was designed by the L2 Luxury Lab of the New York University (NYU) Stern School of Business. The study cover 109 luxury brands, but we are focusing on results for luxury watch brands only. Each brand’s website was analyzed for search engine optimization, aesthetics, interactivity and use of social media (Twitter, Facebook, etc.)

Based upon how each brand scored, they were placed in different categories, the top being “Genius”, “Gifted”, “Average”, “Challenged,” and “Feeble.”

TAG Heuer was the only luxury watch brand to receive rank of “Genius” and came in eighth overall. (Apple was number one, followed by BMW, Audi, Sony, Porsche, Louis Vuitton and Ralph Lauren; the latter two companies do in fact make men’s and women’s luxury watches.

One may have thought that Rolex would come in as king but not so. Rolex, along with Swarovski and Cartier, all placed in the “Gifted” category.

Those luxury watch brands that have “average” websites were: Chopard, Hublot, Movado, Van Cleef and Arpels, Omega, Bvlgari and Piaget.

These next brands placed in the “challenged” ranks: IWC, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Vacheron Constantin, and Harry Winston.

There was only one watch brand among the jewelry brands that came in last and classified as “feeble”. This “honor” goes to Franck Muller.

There was also a note made about the fact that most high end luxury watch and jewelry brands use words like “exclusive, sophisticated, luxurious, etc” when describing themselves and although images of their products on the websites are stunning, the search engine optimization and user interface / interactivity are anything but.

Of the brands studied, TAG Heuer was the only one that quickly and efficiently provided links to authorized retailers. Breitling was not included in this study, but if you go its website, you’ll notice that you can only enter once you’ve clicked on a listing of authorized retailers.

Others like Rolex, Movado and Hublot have such links but it requires between three and six clicks to get the information.

In the watch category, TAG was the only brand to include links to authorized retailers on the Web. In addition, with the exception of TAG, Rolex, Hublot and Movado, the sites of other watch brands analyzed in the study require three to six clicks to navigate from the product display page to retail location information.

The study gives the watch category props, though, in terms of social media. Findings reveal that watch brands have more presence on social media platforms than most luxury brands.

As for social media, the study reports that luxury watch brands utilize social media platforms more than compared to other luxury brands (clothing, automobiles, etc.)

David Yurman is the only brand that links to its Twitter account directly from its website and that Cartier and Tiffany are the only watch / jewelry brands that have a significant number of fans on Facebook.

Copyright (c) 2009 Chandra L Coleman

The “Digital IQ” test showed that Tag Heuer and Cartier [http://www.buzzaboutwatches.com/luxury/watches/cartier-watches-2/] are doing an excellent job managing their online brand. For more information about these and other luxury watches, check out http://www.buzzaboutwatches.com.

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2009 is proving to be the year that makers of luxury watches figure out a new way to advertise their products and “a la iPhone” seems to be the venue of choice.

Bell & Ross, Breitling, Piaget and Jaeger-LeCoultre have all come out with their own iPhone applications, each offering more advanced features than the last.

Here’s a review of what each application offers:

Bell & Ross was the first luxury watch brand to release an iPhone app and it is the most basic.

Of course the app tells time, that goes without being said and offer the functionality of being able to shake the phone to recharge the automatic winding feature of the watch. There are numerous Bell & Ross watches that can be downloaded, with a choice of different colors and designs.

Bell & Ross specifically creates high-end watches for professionals such as air force pilots, deep sea divers, and anti-mine military squads among others. The inspiration for the functional design of their watches is taken from the one main instrument that all these professionals rely on the most: the dashboard and this functional priority takes precedence over design. In other words: “the essential is never compromised by the superfluous.”

Breitling was next up and compared to the iPhone applications that came after it, is also pretty basic in its offerings.

Breitling’s approach is a bit different than Bell & Ross’s in that the app promotes a single watch rather than the whole brand. The Breitling app focuses on one watch; the company’s newest chronograph called the Chronomat BO1.

The app gives an extremely detailed and precise description of the Chronomat BO1, including technical data, video and 360° views of the watch. A unique configurator allows for hundreds of possible customized versions of the model to be visualized. A point-of-sale location-tracking system enables the person to locate the nearest authorized Breitling retailer. With the release of Piaget’s iPhone app, things start to get interesting.

The Piaget app is specifically for one watch; the Polo FortyFive Chronograph GMT. This is a new sort of watch for Piaget to produce and one that Piaget wants people to see. The PoloFortyFive is a luxury sports watch that is named after the 45 minutes that a polo match lasts and showcases what is a “first” for Piaget – combining titanium, injected rubber and steel. The 45mm sized case is made out of titanium and has a sporty silver dial, index markers, and a rubber strap with steel hinges. The automatic movement is manufactured in-house with a flyback chronograph and second time zone GMT function, sweep seconds, and big date complication. The bracelet is crafted from stainless steel, titanium and rubber.

Piaget recently gave one of these Polo 45 Chronographs to Fernando Torres, the well known Spanish soccer player who plays for both the Liverpool and Spanish national teams, to facilitate the image that Piaget can also make a great sports luxury watch.

Like the actual watch, which is quite handsome and stylish, the iPhone app gives the user an attractive way of seeing what time it is, while also being able to measure independent intervals of time. The app actually mimics the flyback function of the watch and permits the user to start a new time sequence without having to stop the central chronograph hand.

Like all other luxury watch brand apps, there is a “localization” feature which allows users to locate the closest Piaget boutique.

The last app to be reviewed here is by Jaeger-LeCoultre. Jaeger definitely takes this whole iPhone application concept to new levels.

On Jaeger-LeCoultre’s website the app is described as: “Driven by the passion for horological technologies and faithful to its avant-garde spirit, Jaeger-LeCoultre is opening the first iPhone watchmaking initiation school.”

Yes. You can actually take online classes and learn how Jaeger assembles some of its most well known watches, such as the reverse Squadra model. There are six classes to choose from. During these classes the user will learn and even get to practice certain techniques like assembling a chronograph mechanism, decorating and jewelling a movement and polishing, engraving and gem-setting the case.

The best and most enticing part of the Jaeger-LeCoultre app? If you download it, take the class and do well, you will be entered into a drawing where one winner gets selected and then sent on a trip to Switzerland to see the Jaeger manufacture.

As the these apps get better and better, who’s to know which luxury watch brand will come out with the next one and what it will offer. The competition is on. Who’s next?

Copyright (c) 2009 Chandra L Coleman

Get all the latest buzz about luxury watches and watch technology including information about Breitling, Bell & Ross, Jaeger Lecoultre and more at http://www.buzzaboutwatches.com.

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There are many people who believe that wearing the right kind of watch is important for them. Such people never go out at important places without their watch. A watch connects an individual with the time. Those people who love to wear luxury watches do not think that the only purpose of a watch is to tell the time. Such people relate a watch with luxury, status and identity. Here we are talking about wrist watches.

There are numerous brands of luxury watches. It is true that some people spend a lot of their money in buying watches. Some people also have a hobby of collecting magnificent time pieces. Those people who think that a watch is only meant for telling the time can never understand the charm of luxury watches. Only those people, who understand that a watch is also used to represent one’s personality, can understand the importance of buying a watch from a popular brand.

Breitling, Cartier, Christian Dior, Diesel, Dunhill, Ebel, Fossil, Frederique Constant are some of the brands which offer luxury watches. A lot of time is given in manufacturing every watch from these brands. Highly specialized craftsmen and professionals spend a lot of their time in searching for the finest materials and advanced technologies which are used in making these watches. These watches are made for those people who belong to the upper strata of society. If anyone sees a watch from one of these brands on your wrist, he/she will get to know about your status and style instantly.

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The author writes articles as a hobby on various subjects and has done a great deal of research both on and offline. Please visit his websites on How to Find A Person For Free and facts about various types of US Government Grants.

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An interview with Markus Harris, the Director of Communications for the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, gives us good insight into what propels one to buy a watch and what kinds of watches are hot right now.

At the time of the interview which was conducted by The Palm Beach Post, Mr. Harris was asked what kind of watch he was wearing? The answer may surprise you However, his bottom line is that watches are emotional purchases, things that are bought because they become family heirlooms and as in Harris’ case, that doesn’t mean it has to cost a lot.

He wears a 1906 Elgin pocket watch bought by his great-grandfather and which has been in his family for three generations. Because of its gold case it’s worth about $300, but that’s it. These days with the price of gold having sky-rocketed it’s hard to buy a gold watch for that amount.

Being made out of gold is one thing that will make a watch expensive. The brand that produces the watch is also a factor, if it is a jewelry watch or not, what kind of movements it has and what other precious metals may be used – such as gold and platinum. Many watches are made from stainless steel and the watchmaking industry is also using titanium and carbon fiber to create new looks and light-weight timepieces.

The number of complications of a luxury watch also contributes to the price – a second hand, chronometer, chimes and other features are “extras”, as can be the decorative design / engraving, etc.

A brand like Rolex, because of its name and reputation, can and does command high prices. However, there are many, many luxury watches produced by smaller, boutique – like companies that are so unique and produced in such limited editions that they can command upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Of course, these pieces are sure to be jewelry watches, decked out in diamonds and other jewels.

Fans of Rolex watches will always love owning and buying more Rolexes, however today, there are so many choices that it almost seems “passe” to buy a Rolex. A lot of celebrities favor Rolex and this has kept the brand alive, especially among today’s young rich and famous. Other brands favored by celebrities include Breitling and Audemars Piguet. Of course, Cartier watches will always be loved and sought after.

Another thing which can influence the price of a watch is when it was made. There is a comeback in vintage watches. Like vintage cars, if the piece has been well preserved and runs well, then it can fetch an even higher price because it will appeal to people’s emotions and memories of the “old times.”

When asked about his favorite watch, Mr. Harris responds that he currently likes anything by Gallet and has always been a fan of Patek Philippe. When it comes to American-made watches he has an affinity for those from the 1950’s, specifically the Omega Speedmaster and Rolex Oyster.

When asked what he thinks is the most “important” watch today, he responds by saying he likes some of the experimental designs of Japanese watches (the one Japanese brand that most people know is Seiko) and that URWERK’s UR 202 is “quite intriguing; the mechanical use of twin turbines in an automatic. That’s cutting-edge horology.” URWERK is a German company that was founded by two brothers in 1997. Taken from the company’s website, a description of the UR 202 reads “time on the UR-202 is displayed using telescopic minute hands operating through the middle of three orbiting and revolving hour satellites. It is the world’s first wristwatch featuring an innovative new winding system regulated by compressing air utilizing miniature turbines.”

Mr. Harris is not the first to make comment of what has become the “trend of the year” among luxury watches, which is that the difference between men’s watches and women’s watches is fading; many companies don’t want to market a watch as one or the other anymore because many women favor the larger faced watches that are made for men and men are starting to favor jewelry watches more as well. Vintage watches are making a comeback among both groups.

The decision to purchase luxury watches has more to do with pure emotion than any other factor. Men’s watches and women’s watches from Breitling, Tag Heuer, Audemars Piguet and other luxury brands invoke certain emotions in people that persuade them to make the purchase. For more information about designer watches, check out http://www.watchesonnet.com.

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In this article, we will take a look at the best luxury watches for men. Often, a watch is the only piece of jewelry that a man will wear. A watch defines a man’s look and tone. So which luxury watch should you buy and how can you get the best price? Let’s have a look.

If you are ever strolling the mall, you will always see little boutique watch stores with beautiful watches. Watches are the one type of jewelry that are advertised for men as well as for women. Sure, men wear bracelets and often wedding rings but the main jewelry staple for a man is the watch.

How often do you see very successful men in a very ordinary watch? The answer is never. Successful men wear luxury, masculine, and often sporty watches. These watches help define and compliment their character.

Many people think that a really nice watch for a man runs into the thousands of dollars. While this is sometimes true, it is certainly possible to get quality, elegant, character defining watches for less than $1,000.

The key is to buy the watches online. There is always a watch store online featuring that watch that you saw in the mall at a much lower price. For instance, you will often find a watch online for $1,000 that is featured at the mall for $2,500. This is simple economics. The online store does not need to pay for the space at the mall, the cache of location, and the price of presence. So, when you see that watch at the mall, check its price online before you purchase at the brick and mortar store.

So, let’s take a look at the five best luxury watch deals that you can find online for this Christmas Holiday Season.

Tag Heuer rules the luxury watch category for men. This is because their line of watches is elegant, masculine, sporty and priced better than the other brands. Their TAG Heuer Men’s Silver Aquaracer Watch, offered at the mall for over $1,500, can be had over the Christmas season for $850. The Aquaracer is Tag’s most powerful product line and simply looks stunning. Tag Heuer also offers their TAG Heuer Men’s Automatic Aquaracer Watch at great holiday savings. From the same Aquracer product line, this Tag Heuer watch has a classic look and feel. It is available right now at a savings of over $1,000.

The Omega line of men’s watches defines class, style, and an athletic look for a man. Their feature collection is known as the James Bond collection. There are two Omega watches available this Christmas season at drastically reduced prices: the Omega Men’s Seamaster 300M “James Bond” Automatic Chronometer Watch and the Omega Men’s Speedmaster Automatic Chronograph Watch. Any man’s character is enhanced with one of these watches on his arm.

Finally, we offer the crème-de-la-crème of men’s watches: the Rolex. Rolex has defined men’s watches for generations. When a man has a Rolex, it speaks volumes. The Rolex man is not working to climb the ladder of success, he has succeeded. You can find special deals this season on the Rolex Submariner signature brand.

Find each of these watches on the Christmas Gifts for Men 2009 page at The Christmas Store Online, where you can find the Best Christmas Gifts for 2009. The author, Richard Mas, is a retail specialist and senior editor at The Christmas Store Online.

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The holidays are approaching and whether you’re the boss or you have one, that uncomfortable annual question of if and what to buy him/ her or your employees comes up.

Well, here are some perfect answers. If you are the boss and want to buy your employees something that will last them a lifetime and endear each and every one of them to you, a watch is a great choice. Not to mention, they will have no good excuse for being late anymore and they will have that professional look about them, as a luxury watch makes a statement.

If you not the boss and have one and want to be nice, then you and your colleagues can pool your funds together and get your boss a really nice, brand new watch (at a major discount mind you).

Whether you’re buying for a male or female boss or a mixed group of employees, here are some great watches. (Model numbers are included so that you may do a quick Internet search to find the lowest prices available; just Google the model number).

All the watches that I am about to share with you are black in some way. Black is the most common color used in watchmaking since it looks good with all metals, stainless steel, gold (yellow, rose), or platinum and provides a striking contrast for diamonds or other precious gems or stones used on a watch. Take into account the immense popularity of the black rubber strap on luxury watches and you see why we’re going with black in some way, shape or form.

All but one of the below brand name, luxury watches can be found for less than $1,000. All you have to do is choose.

First, let’s talk men’s watches. Take TAG Heuer and Raymond Weil; both are great companies that make handsome watches with the large face that has become so popular.

TAG Heuer is known for many collections and its Monaco series is one of these. The all black TAG men’s Monaco Automatic Chronograph is a great watch. With its square stainless steel case and bezel, black dial, which have black chronograph features and black leather strap, this watch is super stylish. Look it up using model # CW2111.FC6177. This is the only watch mentioned in this article that costs upwards of $1,000.

The Tango Chronograph by Raymond Weil sells for less than $1,000 yet looks like a million bucks. The rectangular stainless steel face, black dial and subdial and sporty black rubber strap place this watch in the “must have” category. See it using model # 48811-SR-05200.

TAG Heuer has long had a relationship with Formula 1 racing and has consistently produced sporty men’s watches that give please both luxury watch enthusiasts as well as racing car fans. This new Formula 1 men’s watch is the newest member of the TAG / Formula 1 family and won’t disappoint. With its 44mm sized case and black dial and black subdial with large, white hour hands, this watch gives off a look of power and speed. At just over $1,000 check it out using model number CAH7010.BA0854.

And now, for the ladies: three gorgeous women’s watches and remember, depending on her personality, you can also always buy a man’s watch for a woman.

There are just as many black women’s luxury watches out there today. The Link by TAG Heuer is one that offers a black face and diamonds for under $1,000. See this elegant, yet sporty watch by referencing model # WJ1318.BA0572.

Since Michele makes watches exclusively for women, they are big on what’s fashionable and the all-black Tahitian ceramic watch is a real head-turner. Again, selling for less than $1,000, if you love black, you’ll love this watch, with model # MWW12A000006.

Movado was the main luxury watch company that made black dials famous. The sleek black dial with no numbers is Movado’s signature look, so this beauty, the Ono with its stainless steel jewelry bracelet is a beauty, especially at less than $900. See the wome’s Ono by entering model number 0605815.

So, you see, with all these choices, you can buy the absolute perfect corporate gift for your boss or employees this holiday season. Any of these watches will greatly impress the recipient and every time he or she wears it, that person will think of you and smile.

Now, don’t we all want a happy work environment?

Luxury watches make great corporate gifts. Check out the full line of Tag Heuer, Raymond Weil, and Michele watches for men and women at http://www.watchesonnet.com.

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Men’s and ladies Burberry fashion luxury watches both follow the same timeless style; elegance and simplicity. The men’s fashion watches tend to be more practical and utilitarian in design compared to the elegance of the ladies counterpart. Men’s and ladies Burberry fashion luxury watches both exude a classical feel that can only come from a company that is backed with over 150 years in the fashion industry.

Burberry are known mostly for their check tartan classic design. This classic tartan check can be found on many of their fashion accessories including the wrist band of some of their men’s and ladies Burberry fashion luxury watches. What many people probably don’t know is that they are also great at making ladies watches that are so distinctively elegant they could be mistaken for a piece of jewelry.

One of their latest designs is a ladies pearl charm watch. The wrist band is more like a bracelet and is made from three strings of cultured pearls. The bracelet is so delicate that you almost miss seeing the watch face itself. The face of the watch is covered by a heart shaped locket which is so daintily presented. The bracelet is fasted by a T-bar clasp that is made from sterling silver.

Men’s and ladies Burberry fashion luxury watches dominate the fashion industry and their latest men’s design is no exception. Always the balance of classy yet practical the stainless steel chronographic watch is no surprise. Crafted with the finest precision engineering this watch will be sure to pass the test of time. More than just a practical timepiece, this ready to wear design features some iconic details that have been imprinted deeply into the Burberry couture over its 150 year history. The stainless steel dial is etched with the famous Burberry checks. The strap compliments the dial with a bracelet style that is both durable and comfortable to wear.

Some features of the latest men’s and ladies Burberry fashion luxury watches include elegant and unique watch bands in stainless steel, leather and fabrics. Many of the ladies watches are beginning to resemble bracelets including the latest coin charm watch. Some on the men’s watches have the typical chronograph face almost always backed up with the classic tartan check etched into the background somewhere. The men’s watches have adjustable wrist bands that are usually made with a clasp however many of the ladies watches are emerging with a new design that incorporates this T-bar clasp.

The Burberry brand has been associated with quality, innovation and fashion for 150 years, ever since the young Thomas Burberry started his workshop on outdoor wear all those years ago. Since then, the name has grown into a worldwide fashion icon and the men’s and ladies Burberry fashion luxury watches are a testament to the quality, workmanship, innovation and timeless beauty the brand name is most well known for.

Christmas sale of the newest Burberry Luxury Fashion watches at Burberry watches Store

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Women define their look and their tone with the jewelry that they choose. A luxury watch on a woman’s arm defines her style, elegance, adventure, and beauty. Over the Christmas Holiday season, you can find great opportunities to get luxury women’s watches at very good deals.

Buying a luxury women’s watch is no small decision. Unless you have unlimited means, you will want to choose wisely. Unlike men, many women wear various forms of other jewelry that they need to consider before buying a luxury watch.

A luxury watch for a women must compliment her existing jewelry without overpowering it. For example, when a women dons a fine necklace and earring, she wants that to stand out. If she chooses a watch that is too decorative, it may draw attention away from her where she wants it to be.

Thus, the best luxury watches for women should be elegant, simple, and complimentary. Additionally, it should be a watch that she feels comfortable wearing in all facets of her life. Whether she is at the pool or at a board meeting, this watch should characterize her multiple levels of being, playful, elegant, casual, and stylish.

For Christmas 2009, there are amazing deals at a watch store online on the best women’s watches that offer tremendous savings. Watches that normally cost upwards of $3,000 can be had during the Christmas 2009 season for less than $1,000.

The two most prominent names in women’s watches, TAG Heuer and Cartier, are leading the way this year with huge savings on their leading product lines.

Currently, the best selling luxury watch for women is the TAG Heuer Women’s Link Diamond Accented Watch. Normally found in the mall for about $2,900, you can get this absolutely stunning watch for $999. This stainless steel watch with diamonds accents accentuates the arm of a woman and speaks volumes about her. She is bold, fashionable, sporty, and in control.

TAG also finds their Aquaracer product line among the top luxury watches for women this Holiday season. The TAG Aquaracer line features a combination of sporty and elegant and is a watch that can be worn anywhere.

Slightly more expensive are the Cartier watches for women. Their signature Roadster product line for women features strength, character, beauty, and durability. These Roadster watches are subtle yet powerful and are the absolute pinnacle of quality and luxury for a women.

Also available at significant savings is the Cartier Women’s Tank Francaise Stainless Steel Gold watch. With genuine gold highlights and a rectangular face, this Cartier watch for women embodies elegance, class, and femininity.

Take advantage of these incredible holiday values to get the best in women’s luxury watches this Christmas.

Each of these watches and much more can be found on the Christmas Gift for Her page at the Christmas Store Online, where you can find the Best Christmas Gifts for 2009. The author, Richard Mas, is a retail specialist and senior editor at The Christmas Store Online.

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Any brand selling any product will do better if they have a famous face behind it. Granted, if you are famous then one will only ally him or herself with brands that are respected, well-known and can afford to pay well for getting the rights to plaster a famous face next to whatever it is selling, whether it be water (Jennifer Aniston for SmartWater), shoes (all those that have at one point or another endorsed Nike), and in this case, luxury watches.

Luxury watch brands have all the qualities that put them in a position to be able to pay the (typically) millions of dollars that they do to all types of celebrities. These qualities include solid reputations, rich histories (almost every single one comes from Switzerland or another European country), and the use of high-quality and exclusive precious metals and stones, all which result in the production of something that can cost up to hundreds of thousands of dollars: a luxury men’s watch or a luxury women’s watch.

Here is a review of four watch brands that have celebrity spokespeople of all kinds. Some you will know immediately, some you may know the face but not the name and others, you may not know at all. Who is the hottest? Which luxury watch brand has the best group of spokespeople? You decide.

I would say that every ambassador for Movado is well-known, hands down. Movado watches are sleek and elegant and can be sporty as well (hence the last three male ambassadors mentioned here).

Actress Kerry Washington; you may not immediately know her name but will instantly recognize her face. She is most known for her performance in the movie “Ray” which came out in 2004 and was signed to Movado in 2005.

Actress and former child model Amanda Seyfried (her name may be unfamiliar but as soon as you see her face, you’re like “oh yeah!”) is the youngest of Movado’s ambassadors. She has appeared in the movies “Maama Mia!” and “Mean Girls” and stars in the HBO series “Big Love” this season.

Mikhail Baryshnikov, the name needs little introduction; he’s one of the most talented dancers of all time and has been a Movado Ambassador since 2004.

Wynton Marsalis, jazz trumpeter and Grammy award winner, is Movado’s longest-running spokesmen having been with the brand since 1998.

Now, here come the athletes: tennis super star Pete Sampras, baseball player Derek Jeter and football QB Tom Brady are all Movado spokesmen who represent the brand’s more sporty collections like the Movado Series 800 as well as its men’s luxury collection like the ESQ.

Half of Omega ambassadors need no introduction as they are huge stars in their respective fields. Cindy Crawford, Nicole Kidman, George Clooney, Michael Phelps, James Bond and Michael Schumacher all “work” for Omega in addition to their “day jobs”. Lesser known ambassadors (in the U.S. at least) is Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi, Indian actor Abhishek Bachchan and Russian swimmer Alexander Popov. However, the strength that these spokespeople have is that in their countries of origin they are super well know and more and more luxury watch brands are closing boutiques in the U.S. and Europe and heading toward places like Asia, the Middle East and Russia.

TAG Heuer is similar to Omega in that it has internationally known stars promoting its brand, mixed with men and women specifically known in their countries. TAG recently opened its eighth store in the Middle East and is obviously focusing on growth in this part of the world, so should soon be adding a famous Arab face to its roster.

Tiger Woods, Maria Sharapova and Leonardo DiCaprio are mega stars. Other TAG ambassadors include the Finnish race car drivers Heikki Kovalainen and Kimi Räikkönen, and Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan. Longines is yet another Swiss luxury watch brand whose motto is that “elegance is an attitude,” therefore its spokespeople are called Ambassadors of elegance.

Longines has two of the most recognized (not to mention married to each other) tennis celebrities ever: Andre Agassi and Stefi Graf, but then there are a handful of lesser known (way lesser known) ambassadors as well, among them Lithuanian actress Ingeborga Dapkunaite, Aaron Kwok Fu Shing, who is known as the “Michael Jackson of Hong Kong” and Indian beauty Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who in 1994 won the title of “Miss World”, and has been a Longines ambassador for 10 years.

The strategy of having both super well known and lesser known (in the U.S.) spokespeople is a marketing concept that has worked well for the luxury watch business. As for which of these spokespeople is the hottest depends on your own personal taste.

Copyright (c) 2009 Chandra L Coleman

Celebrities and luxury watches go hand in hand. Learn all about partnerships and endorsements for design watch brands including Movado, Tag Heuer, Breitling, Omega and more at http://www.buzzaboutwatches.com.

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In the world of the rich and famous, luxury watches, are easy gifts to give. It seems it has become almost customary for celebrities to gift each other high end watches at any point during their relationship, even within the first few months.

Apparently, spending thousands and sometimes tens of thousands of dollars on a watch for a relatively new girlfriend or boyfriend is all good in Hollywood.

The ironic thing is that when rich people date other rich people, there almost seems to be competition in who can buy who what and in one upping each other’s purchases.

For example, John Mayer seems to be the king of buying Rolex watches for his girlfriends, and if I’m not mistaken, the same Rolex. He bought both Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Aniston gold Rolex watches. Mayer gave Jessica Simpson a Rolex Datejust Jubilee Men’s Watch with an Oyster Bracelet. When he dated Jennifer (the entire relationship lasted only four months!) he gave her a Ladies Oyster Datejust with black face and pink hour markers. The one girlfriend who came previous to these two but who walked with nothing was Cameron Diaz.

In her case, Cameron is quite capable of buying herself a Rolex or any other kind of women’s luxury watch, or jewelry watch. So is Aniston. In fact, she seems to have a weakness for Cartier watches. She has been seen wearing a Cartier Tank Louis, a Cartier Tank Chinoise, and a Cartier Roadster, among other vintage Cartier watches.

This past summer the gossip mill started again that because Jen was seen wearing the Rolex Mayer had given her, it meant she was trying to send him messages that she wanted to rekindle their romance. Fat chance. If a girl is given a nice watch or ring or handbag, she should be able to enjoy it as long as the memories of the ex don’t ruin the moment.

Due to their large cash flow, stars like Aniston would never need to sell an item such as a luxury watch. However, Jessica Simpson, whose career (not to mention personal life) is struggling, may want to think about parting with the Rolex from Mayer; she could probably get more for it being that Mayer gave it to her. Hey, did Tony Romo give her anything?

Another recent female celebrity to give a luxury men’s watch to her man is Khloe Kardashian. After only months of dating, Khloe and Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom married. Right after the wedding, Lamar turned 30 and Khloe gave him a solid gold Breitling watch for his birthday. She says “he is a watch collector, so he was beyond happy.” While most Breitlings do not cost as much as a Rolex, they can and while it was not reported how much the watch was valued at, Breitlings can range in price from $2,000 to more than $100,000. Among the jet set crowd of Hollywood, Breitling watches have become quite the status symbol. Made for aviation pilots, these watches come with a high number of complications and unique movements; two factors which influence the price of a watch. Not to mention that they are made from precious metals. However, unlike Rolexes, Cartier watches, Breitling watches are not typically jewelry watches – the kind that are decked out in lots of bling.

Although there are other types of watches bought and worn by celebrities, like Omega watches, TAG Heuer and Bvlgari watches, these do not seem to be the preferred brand that one celeb may buy for another. In that case, Rolex takes the cake.

If you ever get the chance to date a celebrity or anybody rich for that matter, make sure to get your watch, but be unique and go for something less common. Ideas include: Panerai, Audemars Piguet, Chopard, Gucci watches, etc. Ca-ching!

Luxury watches are very common gifts among celebrities. Major watch brands such as Audemars Piguet, Cartier, Breitling, Gucci and Chopard are very popular among famous people. For more news and buzz about mens watches and womens watches, check out http://www.buzzaboutwatches.com.

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Of course you already know that rarity sells. Offer something desirable, and unique, like a book that’s also autographed by someone well known, and as far as prices go the sky’s the limit. Much the same applies to items created in restricted numbers by major companies like Lladro (porcelain), Baccarat (glass), Waterford (crystal), Swarovski (crystal), Steiff (bears), and, generally speaking, the lower the number produced the higher the price will be.

Most limited production items grow rarer, more valuable, as some get broken or pass through the family as heirlooms and unlikely to re-enter the market.

But ‘limited edition’ is a term open to lots of different interpretations and the area is packed with scams.

From bona-fide companies, limited production means only a specific number are produced or an unlimited number will be produced within a specified time scale. So you might find just 100 items produced, usually numbered 1:100, 2:100, and so on, and these tend to be the rarest and potentially more valuable of all. Items for which production ends on a specific date might still reach mass market production figures, especially with aggressive marketing during the production period. But there will be a time when all production stops and the market begins to dry and prices start to rise.

And that’s where genuine limited production normally ends and you must be careful both buying and selling some so-called ‘limited edition’ items. This is because you’ll find firms selling ‘limited edition’ items which investigation shows are limited only by numbers that can possibly be produced from now to forever!

Genuine limited production is good news for eBay sellers, but expensive too and risky for buyers at auction or from private owners, who later find the item doesn’t sell except for less than the purchase price.

Thankfully, there’s a great way to create your own limited edition items and make big profits now and in years to come, even where your production run has long sold out.

This is what you need to know:

* On and off eBay you’ll see manufacturers offering 10, 100, 1000 copies of their own creations, individually numbered, sometimes signed. My first experience of genuine limited production items fetching fabulous prices in the short and long-term, was about ten years ago, and featured artists and craftworkers selling through collectors’ magazines. Among them was Bo Bears who then created just ten copies of each new bear design; today they sell between six and fifteen copies of each new design, priced £150 or thereabouts to several hundred pounds. In fact Bo Bears is just one of many producers of limited edition items, others make pottery, dolls, mouse ornaments. Maker is not always the most important factor, what is important is that the basic item is desirable in its own right, and, as a limited edition is genuinely subject to the laws of demand and supply and likely to grow in value fast.

* Choose something that’s collectible for it’s own sake, like teddy bears, dolls, hand-painted depictions of famous buildings, prints of original oil paintings and watercolours. Let eBay help you choose: go to ‘Advanced search’, top right of any eBay screen, next page type in ‘limited edition’, tick ‘completed auctions’, study limited edition items that have already fetched high prices. Model your own creations on these. My favourites right now and items I’d like to sell? Strange coloured Teddy bears (no gold, beige, brown for me; I want navy blue, purple, tartan); lifelike baby dolls; hand-made jewellery with exclusive charms; hand-made, hand-painted, hand-signed plates depicting guess what? Yes, my favourite: Boxer dogs!

* Look for items you can have created specially for you, such as dolls and teddies, paintings, china ornaments. Here’s a good idea: look in very old magazines and newspapers, preferably published in the USA before 1923 – they’re in the public domain – look for patterns to resurrect for your business. Approach craftworkers and artists to create a limited number of copies, or create these items yourself. Get outsiders to sign a contract of secrecy and exclusivity, meaning they can’t produce copies except for you and they must keep the instructions secret and hand them back when production ends.

* Have each piece numbered, 1 of 10, 1 of 1000, for example, and include artist signatures.

* Keep numbers as low as possible, ten items might be worth more cumulatively than 1000 items. Once production ends, describe products as ‘Retired’, it sounds much grander than ‘end-of-line’.

* Add a certificate of authenticity for all items, giving artist details and individual production numbers. Create the certificate of authenticity in passport or birth certificate fashion and add novelty value to dolls and bears designed for collecting rather than play purposes.

* Open a secondary market for limited edition items. This is where original items are resold after being discarded or passed on by original owners. Secondary market values can be way higher than original prices so it’s worth telling original buyers you’ll buy back their purchases later. Better still, rather than buy the item again, offer to sell it as a trading assistant on eBay. You could even insist that you get first chance of reclaiming these items for your own stock or to resell on original buyers’ behalf.

Avril Harper is a business writer and eBay PowerSeller who has produced several guides to making money from eBay, including MAKE MONEY TEARING UP OLD BOOKS AND MAGAZINES AND SELLING THEM ON EBAY which you can read about at:http://www.magstoriches.com 103 POWERSELLER TIPS can be downloaded with other freely distributable reports and eBooks at http://www.avrilharper.com

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The Invicta watch is an affordable range of luxurious watches. This make of Swiss watches is known for creating fine timepieces which are economically priced. It is one of the fastest growing watch companies of the world.

The word Invicta is Latin for invincible and the company was founded by Raphael Picard in Switzerland in 1837. They have been around for more than a century. Both manual and automatic watches were created by Invicta in exceptional designs and great elegance but offered for sale at very affordable prices.

In the early 70’s when the quartz revolution hit the watch market, the invicta suffered like all the other Swiss watches did. But the company did not die and reorganized itself in 1991 with the sole purpose of creating designer watches and making them available to the public at low rates.

The Invicta watches have high standards just like their expensive Swiss brothers, but are available at prices which are within a common man’s reach.

Some of the famous watches are Angel, Pro Diver and Elite. These lines have watches that share platforms with many big Swiss companies.

The Pro Diver is undoubtedly one of the more valued Invicta watches and finds it’s place in most watch collections. Even today the pro diver has maximum sales amongst the entire Invicta collection.

The Skeletonised movement watch which shows the entire skeleton of the watch has been most intriguing. Like their expensive counterparts these watches are made of high quality materials like anti reflective sapphire crystals and Swiss produced automatic as well as manual movements.

The Lupah Swiss Chronograph is one of the newer models. These watches have a very diverse collection but one thing is common to all its watches, they make a common man feel like royalty.

The invicta watches have a higher end too. They have created the 18 k gold dragon Lupah Automatic and also the 37-carat Pave which has 4,600 uncut diamonds. The subaqua NOMA which has a meteorite dial as well as the limited edition Ocean Ghost speak of their great watch making skills.

Invicta watches are made available not only for men and women but also in a range called baby Lupah. These watches have colorful straps and one can buy one watch and a variety of straps to go with it. Such economical yet fashionable ideas are the Invicta Forte.

Though the Invicta watches are low cost they do require some basic maintenances. There are certain guidelines to increase the life of your collection.

One must always show the watch to a licensed dealer if the watch needs fixing. The watch should be kept in a watch box that has cushions to prevent it from getting scratched. But most importantly one should consider investing in a watch winder so as to cut down on the crown wear and tear thus adding years to the watches life.

I believe it would be correct to say that a smart buyer who wants value for his money will definitely have in his collection an Invicta watch

For more information on watches try visiting http://www.Watches4All.com, a website that specializes in providing watch related tips, advice and resources to include information on the best Invicta Watches.

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Trying to compare vs. Tag Heuer? Movado? Omega? Rolex?

This is a graduation gift for a close family member from multiple family members.

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