There are high-end watch brands titled with a person’s name that have no reference to a specific human being. But more often than not in horology, there are actual people behind watch brands with human-sounding names. And there is hardly a brand more human in Elizabeth Doerr’s estimation than Armin Strom, an independent Swiss manufacture making some of the highest quality timepieces on the market.
Elizabeth Doerr is partial to the use of meteorite in watches because it’s literally the heart of a shooting star; when she gazes at a meteorite dial, she sees a tamed piece of heaven catching the time as it passes. Here she highlights five watch brands also seduced by the beauty of meteorite that made their debuts in 2019.
In January 2019, A. Lange & Söhne kicked off a series of celebratory special editions in honor of the quarter-century anniversary of its flagship watch – one of the watch industry’s true icons. Elizabeth Doerr takes a detailed look at the five anniversary editions that have thus far surfaced in the first half of 2019.
Chopard is a perennial favorite of the rich and famous in cinema, fashion, and red-carpet events. But Elizabeth Doerr has never seen watches and jewelry by this Geneva maker of the extraordinary take on such a starring role in a movie as Chopard does in the musical Elton John biopic ‘Rocketman.’ Here she shares a few of the horological stars of the highly recommended film.
The new Tutima Patria Admiral Blue features the brand’s characteristic three-quarter plate and lavish finishing that includes Glashütte ribbing and screw-mounted gold chatons visible through a sapphire crystal case back. And of course there’s that gorgeous blue enamel dial made to fall in love with. This is what we call casual elegance!
The belle of the ball at the Julien’s Auctions sale of Burt Reynolds’ belongings will undoubtedly be the last Pontiac Trans Am that the actor personally owned. But there are also a few watches that might interest, including a Panerai Luminor Marina.
The modern story of the reborn Patria watch brand begins with Jolyon Lambert, a 31-year-old British industrial designer. Having spoken to Lambert at length and handled the reborn brand’s first new watch, Elizabeth Doerr reports on the Brigadier column-wheel flyback chronograph.
At Hermès, corners are never cut. And this becomes abundantly clear when talking to Guillaume de Seynes, member of the Hermès family and managing director in charge of the manufacturing division and equity investments. Quill & Pad’s Elizabeth Doerr recently had the chance to chat with de Seynes to understand the brand’s corporate philosophies and history in watches a little better.
Benjamin Millepied is perhaps the most famous choreographer working in ballet today. And he has been a Richard Mille ambassador for many years. Elizabeth Doerr sat down with Benjamin to discuss the partnership and his life in dance.
As the Swatch Group has now left Baselworld – and this appears to be a permanent thing – we discuss the very first Time to Move event consisting of the Swatch Group’s six premium brands Breguet, Blancpain, Jaquet Droz, Glashütte Original, Harry Winston, and Omega. The event comprised almost 200 journalists from 21 countries, which traveled between the brands’ Swiss factories. Jump on the bus for a Swiss (S)watch tour with Elizabeth Doerr and Martin Green.