Ulysse Nardin Freak Vision

Our Predictions In The Mechanical Exception Category Of The 2018 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

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Welcome to the 2018 edition of Quill & Pad’s Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève predictions in which the team picks favorites and explains why. The GPHG foundation describes the Mechanical Exception category for watches entered as: “men’s or ladies’ watches with a special mechanism such as an innovative or sophisticated display, an automaton, a belt-driven movement, a striking or other acoustic function, or any other original and/or exceptional horological concept.”

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anOrdain Model 1 with blue oven-fired enamel dial

anOrdain Offers Affordable Enamel Dials Made In Scotland Powered By Swiss Mechanical Movements: Results Of Long-Term Test

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Affordable enamel dials made in Scotland and powered by Swiss mechanical movements? Elizabeth Doerr investigated anOrdain further to see for herself what this was all about and shares what she learned here.

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MoonMachine 2 in titanium by MB&F with Stepan Sarpaneva

MB&F MoonMachine 2 And The Proverbial Wolf Moon

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Joshua Munchow thinks of the new MB&F MoonMachine 2 as the “wolf MoonMachine.” Built on the HM8 platform, it contains only the third moon phase complication in MB&F’s history. But there has never been one quite like this!

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Philippe Dufour Simplicity

The Independent Watchmakers’ Struggle: Why It’s So Hard And What They Can Do To Better Survive (Archive)

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GaryG loves independent watchmaking and independent watchmakers; one of his great joys as a collector is having the feeling that, in a small way, he is supporting their efforts. So he put some thought into why independent watchmakers struggle in a business sense and how they can remain relevant in changing market situations.

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3 New Timepieces From Germany To Smooth The Transition From Colorful Fall To Gray Winter

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Not every autumn day is full of intense Indian summer hues. Gray, windy, unpleasant weather provides the perfect occasion to go on a horological trip . . . to Germany. Here are three timepieces of German provenance by Nomos Glashütte, Wempe, and Sattler to help stave off any autumn anxiety.

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De Bethune DB28 with silicon/platinum annular balance

The Schmidt List: 5 Extraordinary Balance Wheels (Archive)

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The balance wheel is the regulatory organ of a mechanical watch, which is expected to deliver a consistent frequency with a tolerance of as little as 0.001 percent. With so much at stake, why complicate things by altering a pure and simple geometric shape? Why reinvent the wheel? Here Ryan Schmidt presents five balances that reinvented the wheel.

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Habring2 Doppel-Felix on the wrist of Richard Habring

Our Predictions In The Petite Aiguille Category Of The 2018 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève And Our Panel Is Split Between Two Favorites

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What a diverse selection we have in the Petite Aiguille category. Ian Skellern thinks that if you bought all six pre-selected watches you would have an excellent collection of 2018 contemporary watchmaking. This is a very competitive price range, and at this level customers have serious expectations of both quality and delight. We pick our winners here; which one is your favorite?

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Montegrappa Privilege

Montegrappa Privilege Pen: Forget Something Old, Something New; Here’s Something Discontinued

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One of the first times that Martin Green walked into high-end pen store P.W. Akkerman in The Hague – one of the few shops of its kind to survive – there was a Montegrappa Privilege on display that made a lasting impression on him. Fast forward a few years and here we are . . .

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Mornington Peninsula vineyards

Mornington Peninsula Wines Of Australia: Majestic Victorian Burgundies With Equally Majestic Views

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Most good wine regions in Australia are delightfully scenic. But few are quite as picturesque as the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia. Located just to the south of Melbourne, Australia’s second largest city, it is easy to visit for a day trip, but Ken Gargett thinks it’s much more fun to stay a few days.

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De Bethune DB25 Starry Varius Chronomètre Tourbillon

Our Predictions In The Chronometry Category Of The 2018 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie De Genève: A Clear Favorite Emerges

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Welcome to the 2018 edition of Quill & Pad’s Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève predictions in which the team picks favorites and explains why. Here we take on the Chronometry category for watches entered as: “mechanical watches that contain at least one tourbillon and/or a special escapement and/or another development improving precision timekeeping. Additional indications and/or complications are admissible.”

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