Entries by Elizabeth Doerr

Rolex And Wimbledon: A Match Made In Traditional (Tennis) Heaven

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“It’s wonderful that Rolex and Wimbledon have been partners for so long,” says Roger Federer, the greatest tennis player of all time and a Rolex ambassador. “They are both the perfect embodiment of grace and excellence.” Rolex And Wimbledon: there are few brands that fit so well together, emulating each other in a way – though a fully unplanned way – with their staunch holds on traditionalism and domination of their respective fields. Since 1978 they have transcended social, cultural, language, and even ideological barriers together.

Vacheron Constantin’s Harmony Collection: Poetry In Chronographic Motion

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By now it’s hardly a secret that the biggest brand anniversary celebration in 2015 belongs to Vacheron Constantin. Harmony is the name of one of the most important collections that the 260-year-old brand has launched in recent years, and the reasons for this are clear: five of the these seven Harmony models are in-house chronographs, and all seven boast immaculate design inspired by one of the brand’s first wristwatches from 1928 in a cushion-shaped case.

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.

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.

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!

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.

The 2015 Red Dot Has A New Watch Category. And The Winners Are . . . .

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There are an unusually large number of design awards, but not one of them holds a candle to the Red Dot, which is inarguably the most famous and important of them.

The Red Dot awards prizes for design in a multitude of categories, from refrigerators to lawn mowers and everything in between. These prizes are also awarded on many levels, e.g. Best of the Best, Honorable Mention, etc.

However, until the 2015 edition of the competition, there has never been a dedicated watch category.

Two of the watches in 2015 received the highest honor of Best of the Best: Horological Machine 6 Space Pirate by MB&F and the Apple Watch.

Vintage Jaeger — Not Jaeger-LeCoultre — Panda Dial 4 ATM

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You often see watches signed “LeCoultre,” but very rarely simply signed “Jaeger.” The reason is that Edmond Jaeger of Paris and Jacques-David LeCoultre of Le Sentier, Switzerland merged their businesses in the early 1900s and it became Jaeger-LeCoultre in 1937. While we often see the”LeCoultre” name on dials, we very, very rarely see one signed “Jaeger.” So, take a good long look, you may never see one again.

The Whimsical Song Of Jaquet Droz’s Charming Bird

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When historians, journalists, and informed clients think of Pierre Jaquet-Droz, thoughts soon automatically turn to the songbird. Adding the songbird to a modern Jaquet Droz timepiece celebrates the brand’s past and pays homage to its founder by reviving this ultra-rare miniaturized technology. The Charming Bird wristwatch is now in production. And all I can say is, “Wow!”