Romain Gauthier Logical one at William & Son, London

William & Son, London: A Destination For The Unique, The Unusual, And The Fantastic

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One of the most important boutique openings took place in the heart of Mayfair with a launch party on June 24, 2015. William Asprey – a seventh-generation Asprey – opened the doors on a spacious new three-storey boutique. William & Son is a retailer with a distinctive Britishness about it, stocking bespoke luxury home wares, glasswares, writing instruments, and timepieces from brands and boutique makers such as Romain Gauthier, Breguet, De Bethune, Graham, H. Moser & Cie, Laurent Ferrier, F.P. Journe, Breva, and Ludovic Ballouard.

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The Rolling Stones

Paint It Black: Zenith (And I) On Tour With The Rolling Stones

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It had been a long time since I’d been to a rock concert, let alone experience “the greatest rock band of all time.” So when Zenith offered me two tickets to the Dallas leg of the Rolling Stones’ multi-city North American Zip Code Tour at AT&T Stadium (home of the Dallas Cowboys), I jumped at the chance. I sprung them on my husband, who was equally excited about taking an overnight trip from our home in Houston.

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Eric Singer dressed for work

Kiss Drummer Eric Singer Joins The 2015 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie De Genève Jury

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Since its reboot four years ago, the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève – watchmaking’s highest profile event, often described as the “Oscars of watchmaking” – has attracted a few celebrity watch collectors to the jury in addition to some of the most knowledgeable experts in the world of watches.

Kiss drummer Eric Singer, an avid watch collector for decades, is the latest. During a recent interview session, he struck me not only as a serious collector, but also as an honest-to-goodness “watch guy.” I am very pleased he has joined the jury of this excellent event.

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Tourbillon Cylindrique Geosphères Vasco da Gama

World Travel Made Easy: Montblanc Villeret Tourbillon Cylindrique Geosphères Vasco da Gama

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The Tourbillon Cylindrique Geosphères Vasco da Gama is an insanely awesome watch style-wise, and the movement mechanics prove to be equally interesting to the WIS in all of us. It features two sapphire crystal half spheres painted to look like the northern and southern hemispheres side by side. Twenty-four lines of latitude and longitude indicating time zones are debossed on these tiny half globes. And that’s not all!

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The Carrera Panamericana Begat The TAG Heuer Carrera

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I thought that the Mille Miglia was absolutely crazy and was amazed that an event like that could be held at all. Only in Italy . . . or so I thought until recently when I learnt more about the insane Carrera Panamericana.

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"Cat on a Clothesline" by Jeff Koons. Cute, but is it 10 million dollars of cuteness?

Baselworld Vs. Art Basel: A Look Between The 2015 Fairs

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I have been involved in the watch world for 26 years; my first visit to Baselworld was in 1991. The massive fair halls have undergone two major reconstructive changes during this long period, in addition to several smaller updates. The last major reconstruction was finished in 2013. In no way, though, was I prepared for how the complex looks and feels when Art Basel is on compared to how I know it during the hustle and bustle of Baselworld.

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L-Evolution Tourbillon Carrousel By Blancpain

L-Evolution Tourbillon Carrousel By Blancpain: Whirlwind And Karussel Converge

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The most significant difference between the tourbillon and the karussel is that Bonniksen’s device is driven by the third wheel (the transmission wheel between the wheels driving the minutes and seconds) instead of the fourth wheel (which also drives the second hand) like Breguet’s revolving whirlwind. This fact makes the karussel much sturdier and less prone to shock than the traditional tourbillon. But that’s not all: what about a watch that combines both? Extraordinary!

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Sun and moon: the Classic Janvier by Vianney Halter

You Are There: Visiting The Vianney Halter Workshop

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One of the great things about making friends in the watchmaking communities is that sooner or later, one starts receiving invitations to visit the places where the beautiful handwork in horology actually happens: the manufactures of the big brands and the ateliers of the independents. I’ve now had the opportunity to take part in many such visits and I can tell you with some confidence that there is nothing quite like visiting with Vianney Halter at his workshop in the small Swiss town of Sainte-Croix, Switzerland.

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6 Ways To Spot A Fake Watch, Even If You Don’t Know How To Spot A Fake Watch

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One evening while we were sipping away at his ex-wife’s stock of 1945 Pétrus, my buddy Slippery Steve and I contemplated a few of the essential questions in life, the kind that rarely find a real answer. Where do I come from? Is there life after death? Can I wear brown shoes after 6:00 PM? Is my Audemars Piguet a fake? Following on that conversation, Slippery Steve and I offer you six easy ways to recognize if your watch is fake. No prior knowledge needed and entertaining photography guaranteed!

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The Audemars Piguet "Synchronicity" art installation by Robin Meier at Art Basel 2015

Art Basel 2015: Synchronicity And Resonance Characterize Audemars Piguet Installation With Robin Meier

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“It’s a tent,” Audemars Piguet CEO François-Henry Bennahmias jokingly explained during Art Basel at the opening of Robin Meier’s installation “Synchronicity,” pointing to the large, soft structure barely discernible behind him in the dark room. It did indeed look like a tent. A tent encompassing the most unusual type of art installation I had ever seen. Welcome to the world of synchronous firefly flashes and grasshopper chirps in the name of art.

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