The Swatch Group released its half-year report for 2016 on July 21. The good news is that the Swatch Group has not laid off or fired even one employee despite the decrease in profit, a strategy that I believe will pay off in the end. Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek talked to Swiss television about the current situation, and he explains that his mood remains optimistic.
In 1783, just as the queen of France, Marie Antoinette, was sitting for a portrait an officer of the queen’s guard visited Abraham-Louis Breguet’s workshop: Queen Marie Antoinette desired a pocket watch containing all known horological complications at the time. It took 44 years to complete and is perhaps the most famous watch in history; as much for its intriguing story as its ingenious mechanics.
During a recent trip to Paris, I stopped by Hermès’ Faubourg Saint-Honoré boutique to look at the Crafting Time exhibition. A highlight was the intriguing Hermès Arceau Pocket Ailes et Ecailles, whose dial is uniquely embellished with scarab beetle elytra fragments in a beautiful shimmering mosaic.
The first of the Ulysse Nardin Marine line arrived in 1996 in tribute to the 150th anniversary of the brand founded in 1846, and it was very simply christened with the words “Marine Chronometer 1846.” It marked the beginning of what has become one of the brand’s most recognized collections.
Too little is usually written about the few great watchmakers located in the United States. And, admittedly, they are few and far between. Here is a glimpse into the work of Roland Murphy of RGM by way of my own watch, the RGM Reference 151BE, shot against the backdrops of the Grand Canyon and Yosemite National Park.
Horse racing is really about elegance – the way the animals move as they gallop, the dressed up day out for the spectators, and of course the hats. For many at Chantilly, the day is more about fashion in the grandstands than the jockeys and fillies giving it their all on the track.
To say that I was excited when I received the news that HYT had hooked up with Axl Rose is an understatement. For me, this news just clicked beautifully into place in my head: HYT with its rock-and-roll attitude and Axl Rose, the at times controversial front man of Guns ‘N’ Roses and now AC/DC. Hell yeah, this makes sense! Let me tell you why.
Seventeen years ago the Rallye des Princesses (Princess Rally) was staged for the first time. Adding even more elegance, glamour, and performance, Richard Mille joined the event as principle sponsor in 2015.
Richard Mille invited Nola Martin and I on this year’s road trip, which took place May 28 through June 2, 2016. We were given a shiny new BMW press car with which to follow the rally, thereby gaining firsthand experience to find out what it takes to complete this beautiful journey.
The Vacheron Constantin Overseas collection now includes a gorgeous world time model.
It all started with the aptly named 222, launched in 1977 on the occasion of Vacheron Constantin’s 222nd anniversary. In 1996, the Genevan brand came out with the Overseas line of sporty casual watches, a direct descendant.
When I asked Alain Silberstein about his watches for MB&F, the French designer grinned beneath his ever-present mustache and replied, “This one is definitely more my style.” There are many more elements ensuring that this version of LM1 is one that will never be forgotten thanks to the extraordinary creative collaboration between Silberstein and MB&F founder Maximilian Büsser.