Radium Watch Dials And Radium Girls: Who Would Have Thought ‘Eating’ Radioactive Material Was Deadly?
One of the last of the so-called Radium Girls passed away at the age of 107 in late 2014. These were women working in factories tasked with painting the numerals and other markings on watch dials with a luminous paint comprising glue, water, and radium powder. Little did they know the consequences this job would have.
Jaquet Droz’s Aesthetic Writing Instrument (aka Nice Pen)
Jaquet Droz’s dials are some of the most beautiful in the world of watches due to their timeless simplicity. To me, it makes perfect sense to translate this beautiful, minimistically inclined design to other lifestyle objects, in this case a high-quality writing instrument and matching cufflinks. As I don’t wear French cuff shirts, I opted to give the pen a try for a few weeks and test out Jaquet Droz’s first foray into this area.
Rolex Sea-Dweller Reference 1665 With ‘Rare’ Rail Dial
The collector community has christened vintage Rolex models with a great many nicknames. One of these is the “rail” dial. While the exact origins of the word “rail” are not clear, this name is used for Rolex dials on which the letter C within the two lines stating “superlative chronometer” and “officially certified” line up as straight as train tracks. Have a look at an Oyster Perpetual Sea-Dweller, a watch water-resistant to a depth of 610 meters (2,000 feet), with a “rare” rail dial.
Magic Or Science? Revelation R01 Double Complication Tourbillon And Its Now-You-See-It-Now-You-Don’t Dial
We now live in an age of technology that is very advanced – and getting more advanced every day. One incredible example of modern technology that could have been mistaken for magic in olden times is the nanometric optical disc of Revelation watches. These dials mechanically change from transparent to completely opaque with a twist of the bezel. My personal favorite is the R01 Double Complication Tourbillon.
Historic Swiss Brand Angelus Is Back And Presents The U10 Tourbillon Lumière
The La Joux-Perret-based team behind Arnold & Son has relaunched revered Swiss brand Angelus and presents the very contemporary U10 Tourbillon Lumière, which pays respect to Angelus’ period travel clocks in the shape of its case and to 1960s-1970s design with its funky dial.
Give Me Five! From The 2015 Bovet Collection
Bovet is one of the quiet achievers in Swiss watchmaking. Here are a just few timepieces from the Bovet collection that caught my eye at the brand’s January exhibition in Geneva: Amadeo Fleurier Miss Audrey, Amadeo Fleurier Virtuoso Tourbillon V, Amadeo Fleurier Braveheart Tourbillon, Récital 12 Monsieur Dimier, and Récital 15. The names are as poetic as the watches!
Edelberg: A New Take On Pens
I really can’t talk about Edelberg products without talking about the people behind them as I’ve known father-and-son-team Carlo and Samuel Naldi for years. Edelberg writing instruments wield an ergonomic, high-style character that is somehow both trendy and classic and cutting-edge yet familiar.
Aurora Borealis: Stepan Sarpaneva Korona K01 Northern Lights And GoS Nordic Seasons
There are few brands, boutique brands, or even well-known watchmakers hailing from Scandinavia. However, during Baselworld, two of them launching new timepieces: GoS (Gustafsson and Sjögren) and Finnish watchmaker Stepan Sarpaneva.
Wristshots: The Story So Far
If you like watches at all, you have certainly seen wristshots, and perhaps you have even posted a few of your own. Like the selfie, wristshots seem to be ubiquitous these days. But where did wristshots come from, why do they exist, and what are the pitfalls to look out for?
The HYT Skull: Fad, Trend, Style, Or Movement?
In the world of passing fads and trends, many enter but few succeed. One trend that has been moving across the watch industry for a while is skull-related timepieces. And for me, the most on point and understandable skull watch can be none other than the HYT Skull. It stands out as a perfect synthesis of what the brand is about, what the brand’s customer will enjoy, and what is cool about skulls on watches in the first place.