Category: independent watchmaking

Auction – Christie’s To Auction 24 Unique Moritz Grossmann Online, for the Brand’s 10th Anniversary

While the name Moritz Grossmann refers to a great watchmaker and the founder and director of the German School of Watchmaking in Glashütte, back in the 19th century, the brand as we know it today is still rather new on the German watchmaking scene. However, this year is an important step for the brand, which has been founded back in 2008. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of its rebirth, Moritz Grossmann releases 24 one-off timepieces representing the past, present and future of the brand, to be sold online through the world’s leading auction house, Christie’s.

7 years ago

Introducing – Minase, Mechanical Watches from a Japanese Microbrand (Live Pics)

The microbrand watch scene seems infinite. With an explosion of new brands, we’ve reached a point where it has become impossible to keep track of these, from high-end to low-end, and everything in between. Multiple brands have come and gone over the past years. Among these, Minase, a Japanese brand, stands out with a unique […]

7 years ago

Pre-SIHH 2019 – Laurent Ferrier Galet Annual Calendar School Piece Opaline Black & White

At the SIHH last year, Laurent Ferrier introduced a superb watch, both visually and technically: the Galet Annual Calendar School Piece. Not only it brought a brand-new movement, hand-wound and with a clever annual calendar display but the design, totally in line with our perception of Ferrier, was just beautiful. And there was that pale yellow gold case too… One of favourite “indie” watches of 2018. As part of the Pre-SIHH 2019 novelties, the Geneva-based brand is launching new versions of this watch, the Laurent Ferrier Galet Annual Calendar School Piece Opaline Black & White, with new dial colours and finishes.

7 years ago

Pre-SIHH 2019 – HYT H20 “Time Is Fluid” (Hands-On)

Since 2012, HYT has measured time in a non-conformist way, uniting esthetics, technology and somehow philosophy. Time is fluid and its flow is displayed by liquids moved by a mechanical movement (To learn more about the company and its innovative, patented technology, you can watch our recent video here.) Presented in 2018, the H0 and H20 models express the flow of time with smooth curves, fluid shapes and virtually no straight lines. It showcases the brands raison d’êtrein a striking way. The fluidic time indication is presented in full glory, under an impressive cloche-like sapphire crystal. This allows a 360° visibility of the time and of the mechanical movement’s architecture.

7 years ago

Independent Watchmaking – In Conversation with “Monsieur” Philippe Dufour

Philippe Dufour is a living legend. The independent watchmaker is one of most (if not the most) revered craftsmen in the industry and his watches are regarded as the ultimate in traditional hand-finishing. We visited the 70-year-old master in the small village of Le Solliat, in the Vallée de Joux. There, Philippe Dufour crafts his watches entirely by hand, elevating the art of watchmaking to the highest level. Visiting his workshop is a unique experience. It is exactly what you have dreamed about, and yet everything is a surprise and catches your attention: old tools, ancient machines, drawers, books, raw materials… This place has soul.

7 years ago

Hands-on – Brellum Duobox Pandial Black-DLC

Brellum is a niche independent watch brand that was launched just two years ago by Sebastien Muller, a fourth-generation watchmaker in the Swiss Jura. His first model, the Duobox, is a no-nonsense chronograph offering excellent value for the money. Recently, the collection received a cool-looking Panda version (white dial with black sub-counters) – the “Pandial”, reviewed here – and today, this model gains boldness with a new black DLC-coated case. Meet the Brellum Duobox Pandial Black-DLC.

7 years ago

Introducing – The Habring2 Erwin LAB01 – A Bronze Edition from the Newly-Created Massena LAB

On one side: William Massena, one of those inescapable names of the watch industry. A former head of an auction house, Managing Director of one of the largest watch forums, he is first and foremost an avid watch collector and a true connoisseur. On the other side is Habring², a small, independent watchmaker from Austria with superb craftsmanship and interesting (but not overpriced) complications. So what happens when you mix these two? The Habring² Erwin LAB01 Bronze, the result of William’s new project, the Massena LAB.

7 years ago

Review – Urwerk UR-111C – Reimagining Time

As part of the brand’s ‘Special Projects’ line, the UR-111C is Urwerk at its best, a mature watch that soars with mechanical ingenuity and a design ethos straight out of Blade Runner. Although it does not bear the hallmark satellite hour hands we have come to associate with the brand, the UR-111C is packed with imaginative displays (jumping hours, linear retrograde minutes, optical fibre-augmented seconds) and a look and feel that is 100% Urwerk.

7 years ago

Independent Watchmaking – In Conversation with Kari Voutilainen

Kari Voutilainen is one of the most respected and revered independent watchmakers. The watches of this Finnish-born master watchmaker (no more than 50 pieces per year) are crafted to a level that cannot be achieved in mass production. We climbed the steep stairway of his Môtiers workshop to meet the master and understand why he is determined to remain an independent watchmaker.

7 years ago