The Geophysic True Second and Geophysic Universal Time are not just great value watches, they are great watches. Period. Jaeger-LeCoultre launched the first Geophysic in 1958 as an instrument for scientists working in the International Geophysical Year. The new collection takes that inspiration much further than could ever have been dreamed of in 1958.
I had the privilege of being invited to the recent pre-opening gala for the San Francisco exhibition of the works of Abraham-Louis Breguet.
Since the foundation of my collecting passion has a lot to do with gaining access to the behind the scenes world of watches, I made a point of shuffling my “day job” schedule to attend. And now you can come along.
Welcome to the 2015 edition of Quill & Pad’s early Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) predictions in which we pick our favorites and explain why. The six pre-selected finalists in the Striking category are the A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Minute Repeater, Akrivia Tourbillon Chiming Jump Hour, Christophe Claret Allegro, Franc Vila Inaccessible Tourbillon Minute Repeater, Girard-Perregaux Minute Repeater Tourbillon with Gold Bridges, and the Hublot Big Bang Alarm Repeater.
The HYT H3 is an increditastic piece of horology, and my favorite HYT to date. Just in case you don’t know what makes it so fantastic I’ll go through some of the main points that make me drool inside. The movement architecture is entirely new for the H3, and this allows for a remarkably different layout and new options for showing hours and minutes – and for presenting the mechanism to the wearer.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming may not be on the bucket list of many except the keen fly fishermen among you, but here are five reasons why nature lovers and photographers might consider a visit: stunning scenery, animal life, Yellowstone National Park, Brakeman burgers, and the northern lights. September is my favorite time to visit Jackson Hole because the summer tourists have thinned, the trees are starting to dress for fall, and the animals move down from the mountains to eat in warmer climes.
Welcome to the 2015 edition of Quill & Pad’s early Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) predictions in which we pick our favorites and explain why. The six pre-selected finalists in the Chronograph category are: Louis Moinet Memoris, Montblanc Heritage Chronométrie ExoTourbillon Minute Chronograph Vasco da Gama, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher, Longines Column-Wheel Single Push-Piece Chronograph, Piaget Altiplano Chrono, and the TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 18 Chronograph.
Bovet makes extraordinary watches. That is an absolute fact.
But what happens when Bovet decides to take its extraordinary know-how in craftsmanship and put it to good use in a svelte stainless steel watch that is simultaneously the brand’s new entry-level timepiece?
What comes out in the end is extraordinary. And at a price of just 16,800 Swiss francs (approximately $17,500).
The first timepiece to emerge from the new Ferdinand Berthoud brand is called FB 1. It is intended as a natural continuation of the work accomplished by Ferdinand Berthoud. “It has to be something special,” said the man behind the reborn brand, Chopard’s Karl-Friedrich Scheufele. “It’s a big responsibility to make the first Berthoud wristwatch meaningful and contemporary.”
In 1993, the Musée International d’Horlogerie in La Chaux-de-Fonds (MIH) created the Gaïa Award to honor the memory of one of the earliest partrons of the museum, Maurice Ditisheim. In sharp contrast to the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, which can be seen more as the Academy Awards or Oscars, the Gaïa has often been called the Nobel Prize of the watch industry. Anita Porchet is not the only deserving laureate this year. Giulio Papi and Jonathan Betts have also been honored.
Welcome to the 2015 edition of Quill & Pad’s early Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) predictions in which we pick our favorites and explain why. The six pre-selected finalists in the Ladies’ High-Mech category are the Bulgari Il Giardino Notturno, Chaumet’s Hortensia Creative Complication, Fabergé’s Lady Compliquée Peacock, the Jaquet Droz Lady 8 Flower, the Montblanc Bohème Perpetual Calendar Jewellery, and the Piaget Altiplano 1200S.