Entries by Ian Skellern

Blue Vs. Green At Baselworld 2018: Green Isn’t The New Blue (Hint: It’s Green)

Baselworld 2018 began for the Quill & Pad team on Wednesday, March 21, and from our very first meetings it looked obvious that green was back. But is it the new blue?

The follow day further confirmed that view as we saw one fantastic green-themed watch after another. On remarking on the apparent predominance of green this year over the perennial blue to one brand representative, their reply was, “Green is the new blue.” But two days do not a Baselworld make and blue came back in force.

Come On, Nomos, The Ace x Nomos Orion 100 Years Of De Stijl Is Really Just Taking The Mickey

I read my colleague Martin Green’s article on the Nomos Orion de Stijl in Ace Jewelers x Nomos: Celebrating 100 Years Of ‘De Stijl,’ first with interest then with incredulity. And while I’ve used the term “taking the Mickey” in the title here, I really meant something else. Find out what about this limited edition should have been noticed by everyone!

The AgenGraphe By Agenhor: The Most Significant Chronograph Since . . . Since The Invention Of The Chronograph

The initial key concepts for the AgenGraphe chronograph included having the elapsed time indicators displaying around the center hole so that the indications were large and highly legible, and that the minute and hour displays jumped instantaneously so that there could be no confusion when reading elapsed time. But the new chronograph ended up offering much more than that. Much more!

Best Exhibition Of Independent Watchmaking Of 2018 (Outside SIHH): Philippe Dufour, Kari Voutilainen, Jean Daniel Nicolas/Daniel Roth, Vianney Halter, Christophe Claret, De Bethune/Denis Flageollet, Hajime Asaoka, Romain Gauthier, Roger W. Smith, Ludovic Ballouard, Laurent Ferrier, Christian Klings, And George Daniels In Rome, New York, Hong Kong, And London

‘Watchmakers: The Masters of Art Horology’ is an international traveling exhibition of watches by 13 of the world’s best independent watchmakers and horologists. This special exhibition of horological art was created by the Maxima Gallery in Rome at the behest of gallery director Claudio Proietti.

Urwerk AMC: Atomic (Clock) Mechanical Control Is A 21st Century Version Of Abraham-Louis Breguet’s Sympathique Clocks But Much, Much Better (Geiger Counter Not Included)

Here’s a prediction by Ian Skellern: the relatively nondescript AMC movement Urwerk presented at the 2018 SIHH will not only become one of the horological highlights of the year but will take its place among history’s most significant timepieces. Ever. That’s a bold statement, he knows. Especially when all we have at present from Urwerk is the slave watch movement. Here Ian explains why he thinks AMC is so significant.

Watch Journalism In 2018: What’s Wrong, How To Improve . . . And Why The Biggest Problem Is YOU

There are two main problems in watch journalism as I see things today – and this is from the viewpoint of a watch enthusiast, watch collector, (former) watch brand social media manager, watch publisher, watch photographer, and watch journalist: 1) low average quality of horological articles and 2) often obscure incentives. What might be done? Here are some possible answers.