Entries by Ian Skellern

Want To Launch A High-End Watch Brand? What The 9 New Independents At SIHH 2016 Teach Us

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Post-SIHH reports indicate that the inclusion of the so-called indies was a big success for both visitors and the small brands alike, but also that there was a little grumbling from some of the large established SIHH brands generated by the fact that visitors to the fair remarked − with justification − that there were more interesting watches in the Carré des Horlogers than in the rest of the SIHH altogether. What can the industry learn from their inclusion in 2016’s first fair?

Photo Caption Competition No. 5 Starring A De Bethune (Or Two)

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Today we have a horologically themed caption competition that involves one of my favorite brands: De Bethune.

The photo below was shot at SIHH 2016, and I have to thank regular contributors Simon Cudd and Joshua Munchow for posing as wrist models. I will not reveal who is wearing which watch, but regular readers are likely to be able to make a fairly educated guess. Leave your caption ideas in the comments!

It’s Transparently Brilliant! HM6 SV By MB&F

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It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of the MB&F HM6, but, it does have a serious design issue: except for that flying tourbillon, the incredible movement is hidden under a protective titanium case. And what a pity: it’s as if only half of the watch was available to be appreciated. The case shape reflects the movement architecture, but the movement architecture is concealed by the case . . . or it was until HM6 SV came along!

Presenting EMC2 Time Hunter By Urwerk: Ugly Duckling Takes First Step To Swanhood

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The original EMC was designed from the outset to be a platform for validating Urwerk’s mechanical/electronic hybrid concept; to be a technical instrument rather than a full-fledged conventional wristwatch.

But EMC2 now looks like a wristwatch. I still wouldn’t call it pretty, not while sober anyway, but “good looking in a macho way” isn’t so much of a stretch.

Welcome To The First Quill & Pad Photo Caption Competition

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We see a lot of photos here at Quill & Pad that have us scratching our heads, not all of which are of watches. Unfortunately, the vast majority of these images are destined to remain digitally encoded on a hard drive tucked away in a cupboard, probably never to be seen again. So for your (hopeful) enjoyment we have decided to start a photo caption competition in which we publish an image. The following Saturday we will publish the best caption (or captions) received for a lot of lighthearted fun.

Roger Smith Series 4 Triple Calendar: Excellence In Hand-Crafted English Watchmaking

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The Isle of Man’s Roger Smith has long had an appreciation for triple calendar wristwatches, finding harmonious balance and purity in the triple calendar indications of day, date, and month. Having successfully redeveloped the George Daniels-invented co-axial escapement to be both smaller and more efficient, the time was right to introduce a new model: The Series 4 triple calendar.