The writing automaton in the film, Hugo (photo courtesy IMDB)

All About Automata: Mechanical Magic (With Action Videos) – Reprise

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Today’s high-end automata beautifully illustrate that extraordinary engineering can be combined with impressive artistic crafts to wonderful ends. But even in the highest quality examples, the principles of what drives automata are largely the same as they have been for centuries because most are based on very straightforward mechanical principles to create motion. Everything you ever wanted to know about automata is right here.

Read more

Collecting Watches And Cars: What’s The Same And What’s Different? – Reprise

/4 Comments/in , , /by

Cars and watches, watches and cars: they do seem to go together! Scratch almost any watch lover and you’re going to find a car lover just under the surface. GaryG talks with his pal “Enzo” in this interesting discussion about the similarities and dissimilarities of car and watch collecting.

Read more

The World’s Best Wine? No Contest: Romanée-Conti By Domaine De La Romanée-Conti – Reprise

/3 Comments/in /by

There is one wine producer that has taken on almost mythical status in recent years: Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. And one of its wines, Romanée-Conti, stands out above all others. Many wine lovers, perhaps most, consider it to be the very best wine in the world. Ken Gargett is one of them.

Read more

2021 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este On Lake Como, Italy: Sensational Cars, Breathtaking Scenery, And Beautiful A. Lange & Söhne Watches 

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

A. Lange & Söhne sponsors the world’s most luxurious vintage car event, the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza, and has done so since 2012. The event has taken place every year (except one) on gorgeous Lake Como in Italy since 1929. Elizabeth Doerr went to the 2021 event and shares her impressions of the elegant event with us here.

Read more

Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill 2012 Champagne: It Matches The Hype. And Then Some

/4 Comments/in /by

As Sir Winston Churchill said, “My tastes are simple: I am easily satisfied with the best.” He would surely have been more than satisfied with this brilliant Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill 2012 champagne. The great man also thought that a magnum of champagne is the perfect size for two gentlemen to have over lunch, especially if one isn’t drinking. But what is his relationship with this great champagne house?

Read more
Bathys Hawaii Cesium-133

Measuring The Time Between The Seconds: The Truth Behind High-Frequency Movements – Reprise

/0 Comments/in , /by

Marketing material for the modern mechanical watch almost always includes a description of the the movement’s frequency. You may have even sensed that the higher the frequency, the more accurate a movement gets. But is this entirely true? Find out here.

Read more

Wrist Watching: 3 Of Eddie Van Halen’s Watches As Amazing As His Guitar Solos . . . From Jaeger-LeCoultre, Corum, And Bell & Ross – Reprise

/7 Comments/in , /by

Van Halen was the catalyst kicking off Elizabeth Doerr’s lifelong passion for rock music as the first band she stumbled across in this genre (but most certainly not the last). One cursory listen to “Eruption” and she was hooked on rock for life. In honor of the anniversary of Eddie Van Halen’s untimely death on October 6, 2020, cue “Eruption” and take a look at three tasteful and fun watches the guitar god owned and wore.

Read more

Black Pudding: Cooking With Blood And Other Culinary Oddities (Warning: Not For The Squeamish)

/7 Comments/in , /by

If you do not know what black pudding is you may be thinking a decadent dessert, perhaps a very dark chocolate cake type of thing. If you do know what it is then you are either suddenly thinking of how delicious it is and how long before you can next enjoy one or you are running for the hills, thinking how utterly disgusting and how on earth could anyone even look at one, let alone eat it. Here is all you ever needed to know about black pudding.

Read more
Fitting Rolex balance wheel and Parachrom hairspring

Is Silicon Here To Stay In (Rolex) Watch Movements? – Reprise

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Hairsprings are miniscule. Generally no more than one centimeter in overall diameter when coiled, they are roughly 50 microns thick and 150 microns wide. Tiny they may be, but insignificant they are not. In fact, they are so significant that Rolex refers to them as “the guardians of time.” But what do silicon hairsprings bring to the table? Watchmaker Ashton Tracy explains why he went from skeptic to fan.

Read more

Hamlet Paredes And The Master’s Art Of Blending And Rolling Cigars

/8 Comments/in , /by

Hamlet Paredes is one of the planet’s great cigar rollers and a great friend of Ken Gargett’s. Here Ken provides an abbreviated account of the life and times of Hamlet, all wrapped up in tobacco leaves and entertaining dialogue.

Read more