Industry News – Swiss Watch Exports Collapse by 81.3% in April 2020

There is no doubt that the global COVID-19 pandemic will take a heavy toll on the watch industry. After two consecutive months of decrease (-9% in February and -22% in March), The Swiss Watch Federation (FHS) has just released its statistics for the month of April 2020 and, as expected, exports fell sharply. A direct […]

5 years ago

In-Depth – The Merging of Pocket Watches and Wristwatches – Conversions, Design Influences and Hybrids Maintain a Common DNA

Upgrading expensive mechanical devices is a centuries-old concept that prevents premature obsolescence as times change. In the American Wild West of the 19th century, black powder revolvers were commonly converted to shoot modern cartridges, forgoing the need to replace a vital necessity. Cameras are another example, such as early 20th-century screw-mount Leica rangefinders. The original […]

5 years ago

Event – Baselworld Schnitzel Dinner And Wondering If It Will Happen Again

Every year, since my second year attending Baselworld, and always on the Saturday halfway during the 10-day fair, there’s the infamous schnitzel dinner. With the current state of Baselworld, Rolex and Patek moving to the Geneva-based fair and leaving behind the Baselworld management, MCH shareholders, exhibiting brands and journalists wondering if we will ever see a next edition of this for-the watch-world so important fair, I’m wondering…  Tonight would have been the 10th edition of the Schnitzel Dinner where all the cool independent watchmakers and online journalists gather, to eat schnitzel and fries, and to drink beer, and most importantly, to have a good time. Will there ever be a next edition of Schnitzel Dinner? 

5 years ago

Event – Baselworld Schnitzel Dinner and Wondering if it Will Ever Happen Again

Every year, since my second year attending Baselworld, and always on the Saturday halfway during the 10-day fair, there’s the infamous schnitzel dinner. With the current state of Baselworld, Rolex and Patek moving to the Geneva-based fair and leaving behind the Baselworld management, MCH shareholders, exhibiting brands and journalists wondering if we will ever see a next edition of this for-the watch-world so important fair, I’m wondering…  Tonight would have been the 10th edition of the Schnitzel Dinner where all the cool independent watchmakers and online journalists gather, to eat schnitzel and fries, and to drink beer, and most importantly, to have a good time. Will there ever be a next edition of Schnitzel Dinner? 

5 years ago

Rewind – What Makes a Dive Watch a Dive Watch?

As one of the most desirable types of watches around, the dive watch concept – which dates back to the mid-1950s – has been explored at great length by almost all the brands of Swiss, Japanese or German watch industry. Although most watch enthusiasts know what a dive watch looks like, the concept goes way […]

5 years ago

Interview – Bernard Werk, Watch Journalist who Started Watch Brand GYRE for a Good Cause

Next week will see the launch of a new Kickstarter brand called Gyre. We’ve seen quite a lot of initiatives like this in the last five years, but this one promises to be completely different. Its founder is Bernard Werk, a man whom I’ve known for more than fifteen years, a man who (back in the days) gave me the chance to write for his magazine. Bernard is a seasoned watch journalist and the owner of Watching, the oldest watch publication in The Netherlands. With Gyre he plans to raise awareness for ocean pollution while raising money for its clean-up as well. I spoke to Bernard about his fresh idea and how that turned into a 3-year hurdle race now finally nearing completion with the launch of the Gyre SeaCleaner.

5 years ago