Focus On Materials: Primer On The Science of Steel, The Stuff Of Cases, Mainsprings, Hairsprings, Pinions, Escapements And The Backbone Of Watchmaking – Reprise
Joshua Munchow talks about steel here, the metal that made the world! Watch cases and other movement components are commonly made from certain stainless steels, 304 and 316L being the most frequent. It also happens that some brands hold exclusive rights to use specific alloys in the production of its watches. Here’s what you should know about steel.
Q: Who Was Alfred Helwig? A: Inventor Of The Flying Tourbillon
Close to 120 years after Abraham-Louis Breguet patented the tourbillon, master watchmaker Alfred Helwig (1886-1974) created a “flying” tourbillon at the German School of Watchmaking in Glashütte. The flying tourbillon became somewhat characteristic of Glashütte and lives on in a few very special watches today. Who was Alfred Helwig? Find out here.
Petermann Bédat Seconde Morte: Dead Seconds, Independently (Video)
Petermann Bédat is a young company comprising a youthful duo of independent watchmakers by the names of Gaël Petermann and Florian Bédat. Their first watch features a deadbeat style of seconds created with the help of grand master Dominique Renaud. Our friends at The Watches TV hosted Gaël Petermann and Florian Bédat in their Geneva studio to find out more. Watch their talk here!
Complete List And Photos Of All Shortlisted Watches In The 2020 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG)
The 2020 edition of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) has just published the list of shortlisted (“nominated”) watches in the run-up to the eagerly anticipated red-carpet event in Geneva on November 12. Elizabeth Doerr shares all of the finalist watches in each category here. Let us know your favorites!
Breguet Tradition Quantième Rétrograde 7597: The Power Of A Date (Live Photos)
Not only Martin Green thinks that a date has the power to swiftly ruin the appearance of a watch. But that didn’t happen to Breguet’s latest addition to the Tradition family, the smart Quantième Rétrograde 7597 with its clever new date function. See for yourself!
John-Mikaël Flaux: Time That Moves & Magical Machines
Joshua Munchow feels a philosophical bond with John-Mikaël Flaux, an independent watchmaker and automaton designer, just from how Flaux describes himself and why he creates. Joshua loves the mechanical marvels he constructs, but it’s deeper than the result of his craftsmanship: Flaux is a mechanically curious person and his passion comes through in the objects he makes. Find out exactly what those are right here.
Joshua Munchow On Oster Jewelers ‘Keeping Time’ Podcast
Oster Jewelers recently published the latest episode of its very cool ‘Keeping Time’ podcast featuring our very own nerdwriter, Joshua Munchow! In it, Joshua and Oster Jewelers owner Jeremy Oster explore a wide range of subjects, ranging from the history and development of hairsprings to trends in watchmaking today. And you can find out which watch Joshua can’t stand if you listen.
Seiko’s Secret: Specialist Haute Horlogerie Micro Artist Division In Japan – Reprise
Seiko’s story is much more complicated than most people might think. This is a manufacturer that not only followed a trend, but actually created some of its own, capitalizing on expertise, knowledge, and skills that were practically the mother of necessity for this manufacturer located so far away from the established European centers of watchmaking. Including its extraordinary Micro Artist Division, its little-known department for high horology.
Hamilton Khaki Navy BeLOWZERO In ‘Tenet,’ The First Action Spectacle In Theaters Post COVID-19 Lockdowns
‘Tenet’ is not the first time Hamilton has collaborated with wristwatches on a Christopher Nolan movie; the first was The Murph created for ‘Interstellar’ back in 2014. And like ‘Interstellar,’ ‘Tenet’ uses time as one of its main themes, running like a gold thread through the complicated plot. Elizabeth Doerr takes a look at the Navy Khaki BeLOWZERO models that Hamilton created as a prop and as a limited edition release.
What Makes A Daily Wearer Wristwatch? – Reprise
GaryG wears all of the watches in his collection, though some watches are more suited to daily wear than others. A reader’s question got Gary thinking, both about which pieces in his assortment are the go-to routine watches for frequent wear and, at a more fundamental level, what makes a watch a “daily wearer.” Read his opinion on that right here.