In Focus: Romain Gauthier’s Breathtaking Patented Ruby Link Chain From Logical One

Here at Quill & Pad we are quite smitten by Romain Gauthier’s award-winning Logical One. But one thing that often gets glossed over somewhat is the subject of one of this watch’s four patents: the incredible high-precision chain made of synthetic ruby links. Combined with the snail cam, it is this element that provides the ingenious movement with constant force.

7 years ago

Point Of Reference: The Standards Of The Geneva Seal

The Geneva Seal is very old, having been proposed on November 6, 1886 by the Grand Council of the Republic and Canton of Geneva as a way to certify a level of quality for which the canton was becoming known. Every piece produced with the Geneva Seal is equally outstanding, so let’s have a look at what goes into attaining this coveted seal.

7 years ago

The AgenGraphe By Agenhor: The Most Significant Chronograph Since . . . Since The Invention Of The Chronograph

The initial key concepts for the AgenGraphe chronograph included having the elapsed time indicators displaying around the center hole so that the indications were large and highly legible, and that the minute and hour displays jumped instantaneously so that there could be no confusion when reading elapsed time. But the new chronograph ended up offering much more than that. Much more!

7 years ago

Are Watch Winders Good For Anything?

A client recently asked me if there are any benefits to using automatic watch winders. The short answer is that I have two viewpoints on watch winders. Click to learn the pros and cons as I see them.

7 years ago

Making The Escapement, Remontoir, And Timing For Derek Pratt’s Reconstruction Of John Harrison‘s H4, The World’s First Precision Marine Chronometer (Part 3 of 3)

This is part 3 of a three-part series about Derek Pratt’s reconstruction of John Harrison’s Longitude Prize-winning H4, which was the world’s first precision marine chronometer. This article was first published in ‘The Horological Journal’ (HJ) in April 2015, who we thank for graciously granting permission to republish on Quill & Pad.

7 years ago

Here’s Why: Stainless Steel Is The Most Precious Metal

In the world of watches, especially with regards to collecting, rarity is a large factor contributing to the cost of a luxury timepiece. The reason is because rarity is almost always an implied condition that seems beyond control – like it just happens. In this article Joshua explains why he thinks that out of all the metals, especially the white metals like platinum and white gold, stainless steel is absolutely the most precious metal.

7 years ago

A Comprehensive Retrospective Looking Back On 10 Years Of Ulysse Nardin’s Pioneering InnoVision Technology

Ulysse Nardin is the watch world’s pioneer in “new” technologies.
Though it might seem anachronistic that a 163-year-old company famed for its marine chronometers would be the one to start a revolution of this type in mechanical watchmaking, that is just what Ulysse Nardin did by leading the search for the perfect materials and advanced geometery to aid in cutting lubrication and improving watch efficiency.
Here we take a look back at the technologies leading up to the introduction of 2007’s InnoVision and why that particular concept watch was so notable.

7 years ago

Looking Back On 10 Years Of Ulysse Nardin’s Pioneering InnoVision Technology

Ulysse Nardin is the watch world’s pioneer in “new” technologies. Though it might seem anachronistic that a 163-year-old company famed for its marine chronometers would be the one to start a revolution of this type in mechanical watchmaking, that is just what Ulysse Nardin did by leading the search for the perfect materials and advanced geometery. Here we take a look back at the technologies leading up to the introduction of 2007’s InnoVision and why that particular concept watch was so notable.

7 years ago