Diagram from a book by Urbain Jürgensen, part of the F.P. Journe/Sabrier library at the Journe atelier in Geneva

F.P. Journe Displays Extensive Library Of Jean-Claude Sabrier At Geneva Atelier

If you’ve never been to visit François-Paul Journe’s atelier in the heart of Geneva, now would be a very good time to visit it. Aside from the astounding watches you will likely encounter on display, there are a great number of other interesting objects a fan of good watchmaking shouldn’t miss. Including the nearly one thousand books, historical manuscripts, letters, and catalogs once belonging to the extensive horological library of departed historical expert Jean-Claude Sabrier.

Two great decimal repeaters: the Kari Voutilainen Masterpiece 8 (left) and the A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Minute Repeater

Sounding Off: A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Minute Repeater vs. Kari Voutilainen Masterpiece 8

Recently, GaryG presented his take on the Kari Voutilainen Masterpiece 8 while Elizabeth wrote about the A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Minute Repeater.

Here Gary, Elizabeth, and Ian compare and discuss six areas of these two rare and very technical timepieces: design, innovation, operation, finishing, sound, and overall impression.

And there’s a video so you can see and hear both decimal repeaters to make your own comparison.

Slim d’Hermes Mille Fleurs Du Mexique

Mille Fleurs Du Mexique: The Slim d’Hermès ‘Visits’ Mexico With Mother-Of-Pearl And Miniature Painting

If you’ve ever been to Mexico, you know that vivid colors are the order of the day, particularly when it comes to local art forms. La Montre Hermès envisioned the dial of the svelte Slim d’Hermès Mille Fleurs du Mexique wristwatch as a painting framed by a circle of white gold instead of a square wooden frame. The Mexican tapestry motif taken from an original Hermès scarf is painstakingly applied by hand to create a miniature painting on a fragile mother-of-pearl dial.

A. Lange und Söhne Zeitwerk Minute Repeater

A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Minute Repeater: A Decimal Repeater With Attitude!

Using the Zeitwerk as the model to house A. Lange & Söhne’s first repeating wristwatch, the appropriately named Zeitwerk Minute Repeater, which just happens to be a decimal repeater, is nothing short of genius. This repeating wristwatch is not intended to be a traditional classic. But it is intended to rock the collector’s world with its fireworks of technical prowess and perfect finishing. We analyze this nearly $470,000 masterpiece according to six main criteria: design, innovation, operation, finishing, sound, and overall impression.

Smooth operator: repeater actuation slider, Voutilainen Masterpiece 8

Kari Voutilainen Masterpiece 8 Decimal Repeater

One of the big introductions of 2015 in the collector’s world was A. Lange & Söhne’s Zeitwerk Minute Repeater: a watch that both shows and chimes off the time using a “decimal” format of hours, tens of minutes, and minutes rather than the more traditional hours, quarters (15 minutes), and minutes. But the first decimal repeating wristwatch to reach the market wasn’t the Zeitwerk Minute Repeater. It was by independent watchmaker Kari Voutilainen.

A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Striking Time wristshot

A Watch Nerd’s 7 Favorite “Digital” Watches

It will come as no surprise to anyone who has read my pieces in the past that I like a good jump hour mechanism. Actually, I love a good jump hour mechanism. There is just something about that instantaneous change driven entirely by mechanical means that fascinates me. And yet not all “digital” watches require the use of jump hours and minutes; some don’t even use a jump at all yet still read digitally. So today I want to break down a list of my seven (plus change) favorite “digital” watches.

IWC Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 55

9 Brand-New Pre-SIHH 2016 Watches By Jaeger-LeCoultre, Richard Mille, Piaget, Montblanc And More

In this age of digital information, watch companies try to get ahead of the competition by releasing news on their new timepieces ahead of the big watch fairs. The 2016 edition is no different, and in honor of the upcoming 26th edition of the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), we present you with an overview of some of the new models that have already been revealed, including timepieces by Jaeger-LeCoultre, Richard Mille, Piaget, Montblanc, MB&F, H. Moser & Cie, HYT, and Roger Dubuis.

Photo Caption Competition No. 3 Starring Vianney Halter

Thanks to all who submitted entries to our Photo Caption Competition No. 2 on Facebook, Twitter, and in the comments of this post. Here are the best captions from Photo Caption Competition No. 2, plus the advent of Photo Caption Competition No. 3 starring none other than Mr. Vianney Halter.

Sheaffer Scuderia Ferrari fountain pen (open cap)

Sheaffer Partners With Prancing Horse To Create The Scuderia Ferrari Writing Collection

Sheaffer launched the Ferrari collection of writing instruments as an official licensed product in a wise move to broaden its appeal. This year, the Scuderia Ferrari Collection by Sheaffer includes Taranis-style pens in the automotive legend’s famed rosso corsa (racing red) color with chrome-plate trim and the Ferrari prancing horse logo on the clip.

Story Board: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso à Eclipses

85 Years Of The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso

It perhaps seems like overkill to “celebrate” an anniversary like 85 years, but when you’re a wristwatch as old and as evergreen as the Reverso, it somehow becomes appropriate. In honor of the long and successful career of the horological icon, let’s take a brief look back over the last 85 years of this truly authentic timepiece, an original in the world of watches.