Book Review: ‘The Wristwatch Handbook’ By Ryan Schmidt

Fans of the art of watchmaking are in luck: not only can they read a beautifully written and comprehensive overview of what goes into the making of a watch. Ryan Schmidt is a newly engrossed watch enthusiast – and his enthusiasm and knowledge permeates the tone of his book, a comprehensive tome called ‘The Wristwatch Handbook.’

8 years ago

Unanimous Predictions In The Sports Category Of The 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

Quill & Pad’s early 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève predictions in which the team picks favorites and explains why. In contention this year are the Tudor Black Bay Dark, the Eberhard & Co. Scafograf 300, Montblanc’s TimeWalker ExoTourbillon Minute Chronograph Limited Edition, the TAG Heuer Heuer Monza Chronograph, Ressence’s Type 5b, and the Ulysse Nardin Grand Deck Marine Tourbillon.

8 years ago

Behind The Lens: Patek Philippe Reference 5074P Minute Repeater

Here begins a very special three-part series looking at, and listening to, two of Patek Philippe’s splendid minute repeaters: References 5074P and 5078P. If there’s any curiosity about which of the two I prefer, I’ll get that question out of the way right now: I consider the 5074P to be one of the finest contemporary wristwatches; it is a piece that awes me every time I handle one.

8 years ago

Aussie GTG Desk Shot: Or Is It?

This photo was taken of just a few of the watches at a recent collector’s GTG (get-togtether) in Brisbane, Australia.
But what else could explain this diverse array of mechanical marvels?
And I’ll add bonus points for naming all of the watches correctly.

8 years ago

Predictions In The Calendar Category Of The 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

Welcome to Quill & Pad’s 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève predictions in the Calendar category in which the team picks favorites and explains why. The pre-selected watches in the running for this category are: the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar, H. Moser & Cie.’s Endeavour Perpetual Calendar Concept Funky Blue, the Chopard L.U.C Perpetual Chrono, Andersen Genève’s Perpetuel Secular Calendar “20th Anniversary” Blue Gold Dial, the Andreas Strehler Lune Exacte, and the MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual.

8 years ago

Fabergé’s Lady Levity Combines Original Mechanics With Unique Design

Attention: if you just take a casual glance at Fabergé’s Lady Levity you will probably miss it. It is only when you step back and look carefully that the full artistic complexity of the dial is revealed: the man-in-the-moon motif at the center of Lady Levity’s dial. But this is no ordinary man in the moon . . .

8 years ago

Quill & Pad’s Predictions In The Jewellery Category Of The 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

Welcome to Quill & Pad’s 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève predictions in the Jewellery category in which the team picks favorites and explains why. The pre-selected watches in the running for this category are: the Voutilainen Scintillante, Audemars Piguet’s Diamond Fury, Graff’s Princess Butterfly, the Chanel Secret Watch Signature Grenat, the Hublot Big Bang Impact Bang, and Chopard’s Precious Chopard Watch.

8 years ago

Ground Control To Major Tom, “Help Is On Its Way!”: Astrograph By Caran d’Ache and MB&F

Caran d’Ache is a Geneva-based manufacture of pencils and fountain pens. And Caran d’Ache is a manufacture in the true sense of the word ― much like MB&F, one of today’s most forward-thinking watch brands. Even though the two manufactures generally exhibit very different design language, they have come together more than successfully for the exceptional Astrograph, a pen that is also an MB&F Machine.

8 years ago