Sarpaneva Korona Northern Lights

Stepan Sarpaneva’s Striking Korona K0 Northern Lights

One of the most intriguing sets of watches I had the pleasure to see at Baselworld 2015 was Stepan Sarpaneva’s Korona K0 Northern Lights. The vivid colors (blue, violet, green) really capture the essence of Sarpaneva creations, and does so in the designer’s typically understated manner. And it’s not Sarpaneva’s iconic moon that takes center stage here; what really captured my attention was the extreme lume.

Corum Bubble Vintage

Why I Bought It: The Corum Bubble Vintage

I have a fairly narrow frame of reference when it comes to buying watches for myself: my taste runs to independents, in-house movements, and superlative hand-finishing. So why on earth am I sitting here typing about the Corum Bubble, which is from a big (for me) brand and outfitted with an ETA 2892 movement with an industrial finish? Well, this is why I bought it.

Petite Aiguille watches pre-selected for the 2015 GPHG. Clockwise from top left: Hermès Slim d'Hermès, Habring2 Felix, Bulgari Diagono Magnesium, Zenith Elite 6150, Tudor North Flag, and Montblanc Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum

Quill & Pad’s Predictions For The Petite Aiguille Category Of The 2015 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

Welcome to the 2015 edition of Quill & Pad’s early Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) predictions in which we pick our favorites and explain why. The six pre-selected finalists are the Bulgari Diagono Magnesium, Habring2’s Felix, the Hermès Slim d’Hermès, Montblanc’s Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum, the Tudor North Flag, and the Zenith Elite 6150.

The business end of an automatic lathe at the Nomos manufacture in which the component being turned spins while the cutting tool is stable

Focus On Technology: Multi-Axis Machining – A Primer

It occurred to me one day, while explaining to a visitor to my “office” how the machine “knows” where the part is, that many people have very little exposure to the machinery that literally builds so many wristwatch components today. So for your reading pleasure, I break down the basics of milling machines and turning centers, the multi-axis machines that have become a cornerstone of modern fabrication in the watch industry.

Mechanical-Exception watches pre-selected for the 2015 GPHG. Clockwise from top left: Christophe Claret Maestoso, Hautlence Vortex, HYT H3, Jaquet Droz The Charming Bird, Emmanuel Bouchet Complication One, and Dewitt Academia Mathematical

Quill & Pad’s Predictions For The Mechanical Exception Category Of The 2015 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

Welcome to the 2015 edition of Quill & Pad’s early Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) predictions in which we pick our favorites and explain why. The six pre-selected finalists in the Mechanical Exception category are the Christophe Claret Maestoso, Dewitt Academia Mathematical, Emmanuel Bouchet Complication One, Hautlence Vortex, HYT H3, and Jaquet Droz’s The Charming Bird.

Lange & Söhne 1815 Chronograph

12 Watches You Need To See From Hong Kong’s Watches & Wonders 2015

Watches & Wonders, inaugurated three years ago as an Asian version of the SIHH, has evolved into an important horological exhibition for local press and watch aficionados thanks to its strategic location in Hong Kong. Here we bring you an overview of 12 interesting timepieces launched at this prestigious fair.

Glashütte Original Sixties Iconic Blue

Sixties Iconic: Glashütte Original’s Richly Multicolored Homage To Vintage East German Style

in 2007, something a little lighter entered the Glashütte Original collection: a watch called the Senator Sixties, which could be even classified as fun. Building on that, the look of the new Glashütte Original Sixties Iconic collection features historic visuals created using the actual stamps of dial supplier Th. Müller utilized in the 1960s. But what will really take you by surprise is the range of funky colors.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic Universal Time in pink gold on the wrist

Stunning New Geophysic Collection From Jaeger-LeCoultre: True Second And Universal Time

The Geophysic True Second and Geophysic Universal Time are not just great value watches, they are great watches. Period. Jaeger-LeCoultre launched the first Geophysic in 1958 as an instrument for scientists working in the International Geophysical Year. The new collection takes that inspiration much further than could ever have been dreamed of in 1958.

Good enough to eat – literally

You Are There: Breguet’s Art And Innovation In Watchmaking Exhibition

I had the privilege of being invited to the recent pre-opening gala for the San Francisco exhibition of the works of Abraham-Louis Breguet.

Since the foundation of my collecting passion has a lot to do with gaining access to the behind the scenes world of watches, I made a point of shuffling my “day job” schedule to attend. And now you can come along.

Striking watches pre-selected for the 2015 GPHG. Clockwise from top left: A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Minute Repeater, Akrivia Tourbillon Chiming Jump Hour, Girard-Perregaux Minute Repeater Tourbillon with Gold Bridges, Hublot Big Bang Alarm Repeater, Franc Vila Inaccessible Tourbillon Minute Repeater and Christophe Claret Allegro

Quill & Pad’s Predictions For The Striking Category Of The 2015 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

Welcome to the 2015 edition of Quill & Pad’s early Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) predictions in which we pick our favorites and explain why. The six pre-selected finalists in the Striking category are the A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Minute Repeater, Akrivia Tourbillon Chiming Jump Hour, Christophe Claret Allegro, Franc Vila Inaccessible Tourbillon Minute Repeater, Girard-Perregaux Minute Repeater Tourbillon with Gold Bridges, and the Hublot Big Bang Alarm Repeater.