The watchmen: collecting fine timepieces today is about more than mere wrist bling. Those who embrace this obsessive hobby appreciate aesthetics, mechanical precision, and of course, history. The most hard core among them also seek to cheat time

RODEO DRIVE IN BEVERLY HILLS styles itself as the intersection of luxury, fashion, and entertainment--a tourist mecca where well-heeled shoppers flock to make five- or six-figure impulse buys. For a [...]