Vanessa-Mae visiting the Omega Pavilion in Sochi

Weekly Roundup: 14 February 2014

A happy Valentine’s Day to you!

* As we approach half-time at the Olympics, we’d like to direct your attention to the close of our first Olympic Week.

Watchmaker assembles the Vostok-Europe Lunokhod 2, the first to use a Soprod movement, in Vilnius, Lithuania. Photo courtesy Tim Temple Imagery

A Short History Of The Russian Watch Industry And Where It Is Today

When it comes to manufacturing in Russia and Eastern Europe, the typical items that most often spring to mind tend to be nesting dolls, Fabergé eggs, amber jewelry and many of the world’s best-built fighter jets and machine guns.

Speed skating crossing finish line

How Omega Masters The World Of Sports Timing In Sochi

Yesterday we took a short a look at the history of Omega’s sports timing. Today, we’d like to “virtually” take you to Sochi, to show you some of the interesting timekeeping technologies that Omega uses to track athletes’ performances.

Omega timing bobsleigh

Omega And Olympic Sports Timing

Right now the world turns its collective eyes to what is perhaps the one event that, despite political and social issues, has the power to unite: the Olympic Games. And not only in our little world of ticks and tocks does the world take note that one of the main sponsors is the watch brand Omega.

Sochi Winter Olympics logo

Russia, Spaceflight And Watches: Paving The Way For Ski Jumping Since 1930

As unbelievable as this may sound, scientific progress and athletic excellence usually go hand in hand. As technology advances, athletes receive assets to train harder and smarter with the best in new and novel equipment available.

Urwerk EMC fine tuning adjustment

Heartbeat: EMC By Urwerk

Urwerk’s EMC is the first high-end mechanical watch that uses sophisticated integrated electronics to monitor its own precision. A simple adjustment screw on the back allows the wearer to easily regulate the timing themselves.

FHH Mastery of time ribbon cutting ceremony. L-R: Ambassador Yutaka Nishimura; Ambassador Urs Bucher and wife; Swiss President Didier Burkhalter and wife; FHH president Fabienne Lupo

Weekly Roundup: 7 February 2014

* Celebrating the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Japan, the FHH presents an exhibition called The Mastery of Time, the first in a series of events honoring friendship between the two countries.

Inversion Principle by Fonderie 47: central 3-minute tourbillon, juming hours, retrograde minutes, dual display power reserve indicator

Forget Ploughs To Ploughshares: Fonderie 47 Transforms AK-47s Into Haute Horlogerie

It was all over the news just six weeks ago: Mikhail Kalashnikov, the inventor of the AK-47, had died at the age of 94. The weapon originating in post-World War II Soviet Union is one of the most widely used assault rifles in the world thanks to its low production costs, relatively simple design, durability, easy use, and – let’s face it – availability.

Sketch of the GreubelForsey double tourbillon 30° proof-of-concept Meccano

Quill & Pad Celebrates Launch With Free Prize Giveaway

Thanks to your support Quill & Pad has had a fantastic first month. To celebrate this momentous moment, we are having a party…a launch party! And you are invited.

Register to receive regular updates before March 3 and you will have a chance to win some serious “party favors”!

Linde Werdelin Oktopus Moon Tattoo dial

Heartbeat: Linde Werdelin Oktopus Moon Tattoo

In just over 10 years, Linde Werdelin have established themselves as a serious player in the highish-end sport watch category, with very credible claims in the domains of skiing and diving models.

However, for those looking for a dressier casual approach, Linde Werdelin do branch out of their more casual titanium case timepieces,