Raphmeisters Faves: May 2008... Art on your wrist

To the question, which watch is right for you, my advice is ask yourself how you like its looks on and off your wrist. for me the looks of the watch and its suitability on me come first, next comes the mechanics, pedigree, philosophy, history and all other frilly stuff ;) Thank God too that what one might find good looking may not appeal to another otherwise we would all be buying the same watches, driving the same car, courting the same... uhm you get the picture.

our taste is shaped by what we are exposed to.. art in all its forms, film, cinema, music.. marketing in all its power and glory, ads, mags, PR etc.. family and social situations and exposure (from meeting one or 2 watchlovers to full blown watch related events and gtgs) and so on.

What follows is just me noting what are my current faves are and what you would have to pay me to wear ;) kidding... They will change as time goes by but for now these are my May 08 selections :)

Favorite watches
Vianney Halter Antiqua, Urwerk 103 & 201 Blackened, FPJ Resonance, AP ROO Rubens Barichello II Ti & EOD, AP RO Quantieme Perpetual Squelette

Classics for me...
Rolex Sub(no date) or Seadweller and variants, Omega Cal 321 Speedmaster, Panerai Luminor and 127/217/203 family, Rolex Daytona, AP Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore, Lange 1, IWC Portuguese(especially the IWC Portuguese Perpetual Calendar Rose Gold Black dial), Patek Calatravas & Nautiluses

Fave Brands: Love a range of pieces
Vianney Halter, Audemars Piguet, Rolex, Urwerk, Panerai, Patek Phillippe, FPJ, IWC, Jaeger LeCoultre

Brands I like or have potential
Richard Mille, Thomas Prescher, Ulysse Nardin, De Bethune, Seiko, Hautlence, Kari Voutilainen, Harry Winston, Dufour, MB&F, Casio G-Shock

Brands that have some work to do to get into raphmeisters good books... i think some will but others won't ever make the grade... we'll see
Anonimo, DeWitt, Omega, Sinn, Bell & Ross, Vacheron Constantin, Hublot, Concord, Bulgari, Tag Heuer, Carl F Bucherer, Hysek, Breitling, Chronoswiss, Gerald Genta, Daniel Roth, Giuliano Mazzuoli, Milus, Breguet, Glashutte Original, Chophard, Corum, Perrelet, Bulova, Campanola, Glycine, Chanel, Montblanc, Dunhill, Jacob & Co, Zenith, Wyler, Franck Muller, Cvstos, Parmigiani, Greubel Forsey, Ball, Fortis, Graham, U-Boat, Longines, Ebel, Oris, Jaquet Droz, Cartier, Girard Perregaux, BRM, Eterna, Azimuth, Louis Erard, Vulcain, Maurice Lacroix, Blancpain, Romain Jerome, Baume & Mercier, Porsche Design, de Grisogono, Pierre Kunz, Hermes, H Moser & Cie, Piaget, Tissot, Roger Dubuis, Jean Richard, HD3, Bovet, Manometro, Dubey & Schldenbrand, Federique Constant, Alpina, Tudor, Ferrari by OP, Jean Mariet & Gillman, Rodolphe, Delacour, Gerald Charles, Martin Braun, Hamilton, watches that don't appear in the other categories above will most likely fall into this one too...