Why So Serious? Lighten Up With The Hautlence Labyrinth
Have you ever realized that some people just don’t get jokes? When during Baselworld 2016 Hautlence released something unusual called Labyrinth, I knew things were about to get fun. And fun they got!
Behind The Lens: Patek Philippe Ref. 5950A-001 Split-Seconds Chronograph
Given my recent musings on these pages about the relative roles of rarity and complication in driving the value of a watch, it seems appropriate to dedicate this “Behind the Lens” entry to a piece that is both complicated and limited in production: Patek Philippe’s Reference 5950A. What’s so special about this watch? Well, first of all it’s a split-seconds chronograph. What else?
Caption Competition No. 25: Now That’s A Pothole!
This photo was taken in what was then Zaire, but is now the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and it highlights what happens if a small pothole is not repaired . . . it just keeps getting larger and larger until it can literally swallow trucks whole. What other stories can you suggest for this photo? Please share your suggestions in the comments.
Blancpain’s Pen Pal: Canadian Pen Maker Grayson Tighe
A watch brand adding writing instruments to its repertoire is not breaking news, but it is notable when a company focuses the same amount of attention and care on its pens as it does on its watches. Such was the case when almost ten years ago now, Blancpain engaged Canadian pen designer and maker Grayson Tighe to produce its writing instruments.
HYT Watches’ Vincent Perriard Talks About New ‘Brand Friend’: Guns ‘N’ Roses’ Axl Rose
To say that I was excited when I received the news that HYT had hooked up with Axl Rose is an understatement. For me, this news just clicked beautifully into place in my head: HYT with its rock-and-roll attitude and Axl Rose, the at times controversial front man of Guns ‘N’ Roses and now AC/DC. Hell yeah, this makes sense! Let me tell you why.
Ballon Bleu De Cartier Moon Phase: Once In A Blue Moon
When Cartier introduced the Drive de Cartier at SIHH 2016, I did not expect to find a new addition to the Ballon Bleu family in one of the brand’s signature red and gold boxes. Especially not a Ballon Bleu with moon phase. In Cartier’s rich history, the moon phase has been largely and conspicuously absent. Why?
5 Unexpected Ways You Might Damage A Mechanical Watch
Timepiece repairs can be expensive and often take a long time, so you generally want to avoid damaging a watch. It’s obvious that throwing your watch against a wall, running over it with a Bentley, or smashing it with a hammer are things to to avoid. However, not everything that can damage a watch is so obvious, so here I list five common things you may not be aware of that can damage a watch and how to prevent them.
Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Off-Centered: A Paragon Of Tranquility
Jaquet Droz is pretty well known for creating ultra-clean, minimal watch designs utilizing things like single-hand 24-hour displays, onyx and enamel dials, and small offset subdials, which are all highlighted in the Grande Seconde collection. And within that collection a new frontrunner has emerged to compete for the title of my favorite Jaquet Droz timepiece: the Grand Seconde Off-Centered.
Why I Pimped My Rolex
The watch nerd that I am, I rarely immediately wear my new watches; I like to put them aside for a few days and let the anticipation grow. When the day finally came that it was time to wear my new Rolex, I took it out of the box and proudly put it on my wrist. And then horror struck. I didn’t feel anything, not a thing! Zilch, nada, niente! What to do?
Caption Competition No. 24: Which Way Is Front?
The car is a prototype by Pininfarina for Lancia from 1957 called the “Florida II” and it was the personal car of Mr. Pinin Farina for many years. This was one of the most influentially stylistic cars of its era. But why on earth do the windscreen and steering wheel appear to be at opposite ends of the cabin? What might this car really have been designed for?