Back in the mid-1990s, the watch industry was very different from what it is today and mechanical watchmaking was still in its renaissance. Very few watch brands actually manufactured movements in-house, and even fewer brands had the ability or industrial capacity to reimagine the escapement and the oscillator, together called the regulating organ and these […]
The genius and madness are separated by a very thin line. Weirdos and rebels, people who are different enough, crazy enough, are the ones who change the world. In that respect, the Ulysse Nardin Freak could not be more aptly named. This innovative, disruptive avant-garde masterpiece smashed all conventions and simply changed what’s on our […]
After looking back at our guide on chronographs, explaining some of the finest details explaining how this type of watch actually works, it is time for our “rewind” column to look at another important, technical topic: finishing and decoration in watchmaking. How to explain the difference between a luxury watch and an ultra-desirable, yet often […]
Chronographs are certainly amongst the most popular watches. However, the word chronograph refers to a complication, an additional function to the display of the time, not as a fixed type of watch. As such, you’ll find chronographs in all price segments – basically, from 3-digit prices to almost infinity. A chronograph can be accessible, can […]
Have you ever wondered how Swatch Group brands like Tissot, Certina, Hamilton and Mido can make reliable, robust and accurate mechanical watches of good quality at very reasonable prices? Take a look inside the cases and you’ll see the answer ticking there: the movement that seriously raises the bar for the entire industry. Its name: […]
Some technical solutions “belong” to certain brands. Although Carl F. Bucherer is neither the creator nor the only brand to use peripheral winding movements, the Lucerne-based manufacturer can be said to have made the peripheral rotor a trademark technical solution. Better yet, Carl F. Bucherer presented its Double Peripheral Tourbillon in 2018, evidencing its desire […]
In 2018, Audemars Piguet introduced a concept watch named RD#2. It was based on a Royal Oak, it was very thin, it was even 2mm thinner than the iconic Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin 15202. The most impressive feature was that it even comprised a perpetual calendar. This year, Audemars Piguet introduces the final version of […]
Karsten Fraessdorf, the founder of Montres KF, has been a watchmaker since he was a teenager. Restoring old clocks and pocket watches, he learned all about classic escapements and chronometry. Over the past decade, Karsten Fraessdorf has created several watches, and by created, we mean literally created from the ground up with self-developed movements, often […]
Operating somewhat anonymously within the watch industry, this company keeps its impressive client list confidential. Yet, if you are into watches, there’s a good chance the name Dubois-Dépraz will be familiar. That’s because it is one of the most prominent suppliers in the industry. The company has made a name for itself manufacturing parts and […]
You may own an old watch that says “Incabloc” on its dial. This was rather common, back in the days. If the name is unknown by most of the people that are not into watches, there was a time when it was very popular. Back in the mid-20thcentury, the “Incabloc” trademark was a sign of […]