helvetia automatic swiss star 380

Strong demand in China fueled a 2.7 percent rise in Swiss watch exports in January, the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH) reported in a press release. It was the first rise in 14 months. Exports to China rose 87 percent, while exports to Singaporemore than doubled and demand in Hong Kong rose 26 percent. These gains offset continuing weakness in exports to the United States, which saw a 34 percent drop.Related PostsSwatch Group Upbeat About 2010Swiss Watch Demand Drops in SeptemberSwiss Watch Industry Takes Beating in MaySwiss Watchmakers Hit the SkidsSwatch Numbers Worst in a DecadeSwiss Watch Industry in Crisis?Financial Crisis' Lastest Victim: Swiss Watch Exports, SalesSwiss Watch Exports Fall Sharply in Q1 2009

Victorinox Swiss Army Dive Master 500 Mecha diving watchFor the year 2009, Victorinox Swiss Army has updated its Dive Master collection of diving watches with this 500 Mecha model.Available in three different colors and coming either on a color-keyed rubber strap or a metal bracelet, the Victorinox Swiss Army Dive Master 500 Mecha is a nice alternative much more expensive models like TAG Heuer Aquaracer 500m Calibre 5 or, say, DOXA Sub 600T-Graph.The watch has a diameter of only 43mm, however its lugs seem to be on the longer side, so one should actually try the 500 Mecha on his/her own wrist before ordering one on eBay or from some other online retailer.Its 3-dimensional dial with large hour indices and broad sword-shaped hands offer enough contrast even in poor lighting conditions. There also seems to a generous amount of lume on them and on the first 20 minutes on the outer rotating bezel.The watch comes powered by a time-proven ETA 2892-A2 automatic movement. Both reliable and accurate, the caliber often serves as a base movement for much more expensive watches like, for example, Omega, Breitling, Perrelet and even Ulysse Nardin. Of course, movements that go to Omega or UN undergo strict quality control procedures, but even watches powered the most basic ETA 2892-A2 calibers rarely give their owners too much trouble.The watch’s transparent caseback offers good view at the movement, but, judging by the available photos, there is not much to look at. Besides the company’s logo painted on the rotor, there is no additional decoration. Well, you didn’t expect one on a watch priced below $1000, did you?