The Horological Halfwit: An Unquenchable Obsession With Eberhard

When I was a kid, my father used to call me “Johnny One Note.” Why? Because I would become obsessed with one particular thing, and that’s all I’d talk about for weeks, until the mania finally ran its course. It was a very appealing trait, I’m sure. Amongst my odd and varied childhood obsessions, one of the strangest was an intense romance with a hand-engraving tool (I just realized how that sounds). I had expansive dreams of hand-tooling assorted leather goods with the names of my friends, or customizing glassware with ribald phrases. Really, when I look back, it’s a miracle I had any friends at all.

9 years ago

Elegance in Purity – Up Close & Personal with The Laurent Ferrier Galet Micro-Rotor “Montre Ecole”

“Purity” is, to me, a very desirable notion. This word has a great echo in my books and really is positively oriented. Nothing like “clean” or “uncluttered”. I personally have a soft spot for minimalistic design, for the beauty of a shape and of proportions, for the delicate curves and angles that create an object and that makes it bold, unique and desirable. I love minimalistic and simple approach in design, in furnitures, in architecture and, surprisingly (or not…), in watches. To me, purity also goes along the word detail; because purity and simplicity doesn’t mean void. And that’s where purity becomes beauty… and this where the Laurent Ferrier Galet Micro-Rotor “Montre Ecole” caught me.

9 years ago

Haute Complication: Breguet Tradition 7087 Minute Repeater Tourbillon

Few complications are as prestigious as the tourbillon. While many brands have one in their collection, there is still something special about getting it from the brand that invented it: Breguet, especially when it is not just a tourbillon, but they add something to it!

9 years ago

Hands-On: The Blancpain Villeret Annual Calendar GMT In Steel

The Blancpain Villeret Annual Calendar GMT was a Baselworld 2016 novelty, and when it was introduced at the show it generated a lot of interest thanks to the combination of its case material (steel), its user-friendliness (considerable), and its delivery of bang for the buck (lots, at least, in relative terms). I finally managed to get my hands on one and spent a few days with it, to find out whether or not the initial positive impression stands up to longer exposure.

9 years ago

Review: The Ressence Type 1 Squared – Thin & Dressy

Founded in 2010, Ressence is a brand which satiated an underserved segment. Taking a very mechanical, very analogue method of time keeping and displaying time in a thoroughly futuristic almost digital way. As a result, Ressence is to watchmaking what Pebble was to Silicon Valley, an innovative horological start-up with industrial…

9 years ago

Hands-On with the Urwerk UR-T8, the Reversible Metal Beast

Urwerk has been making remarkably avant-garde watches for two decades now, but it did not produce a reversible watch, until SIHH 2017. That’s where the watchmaker took the covers off the UR-T8, a limited edition to mark its 20th anniversary. Made of titanium, the front and back plates of the case are covered in an […]

9 years ago

Pure… In Green – Introducing the H. Moser & Cie. Venturer Small Seconds XL Purity Cosmic Green

As of now, you should know that H. Moser & Cie hallmark is all about purity – and a certain rebellious spirit about a touchy subject, Swiss Made… Purity goes all along Moser watches, from the uncluttered dials, to the lack of logos (that is simply unique in the industry) or the case. Yet, purity doesn’t mean plain, boring or void of interest. The brand achieved to be bold, with no artifices. How? With a distinctive shape, distinctive dials and, more surprising, bright colors. Following the spirit of the Funky Blue dial, which has become the brand’s signature, H. Moser & Cie. now introduces the Venturer Small Seconds XL, their largest watch, now in a “Purity” version and with an audacious Cosmic Green dial.

9 years ago

Transparency vs. Legitimacy: Demystifying the Luxury Watch Industry Pt 1.

Given its importance in our perma-growth model of global economics, conspicuous consumption makes the world go round. In general, the luxury industry stands as a world unto itself, it defies traditional business models in that it supplies a desire for goods that people arguably need, at super-premium prices (thus enjoying exceptional profit…

9 years ago

MOONWATCH ONLY – 60 Years of OMEGA Speedmaster

We are proud to show you some previews of the upcoming Moonwatch Only – 60 Years of Omega Speedmaster edition. It is the new and updated version of the Moonwatch Only book that was introduced in 2014. The book that should be the standard for all books on watches just got better (and more complete). Moonwatch […]

9 years ago