Many passionate fans of high watchmaking have likely heard of WOSTEP, however few know what this cryptic acronym really means. The answer is “Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Education Program.” WOSTEP was born in 1966 and therefore turns 50 this year. Happy birthday to this great institution!
The Graf von Faber-Castell collection – or “Graf” as it’s known to pen buffs – is Faber-Castell’s top-of-the-line series of pens; it includes premium writing instruments, like the recently released Pen of the Year, among others. The Pen of the Year for 2016 was inspired by Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, a 1,441-room residence that became the cultural and political center of the Hapsburg Empire.
The quasi-humanoid team at De Bethune tries to convince us that this comet-born device is an instrument for telling the time. What do you think this intergalactic artifact is really for? Please leave your comments, captions, stories, and suggestions in the comments.
We are big fans of Bouchet’s work in general and the ingeniously complicated Complication One in particular. What we were shown at Baselworld 2016, though, was truly imaginative: funky new, definitely out-of-the-ordinary colors for such a serious and technical timepiece.
My biggest concern with the Jaguar F-Pace was actually with the styling: Jaguars have always been elegant creatures – and an SUV must be one of the least elegant automobiles there is. But in the capable hands of Ian Callum, Jaguar’s design director, who hates SUVs as much as I do, the result is a car that fits beautifully in Jaguar’s current lineup while maintaining a certain feline elegance.
Like many people, my starting point for serious watches was with a well-priced brand long known for its expertise in developing movements, justly viewed as offering good value for money – but not necessarily for the refinement of its movement finishing, at least on its less expensive pieces. What have I learned since then?
I saw this “hand” with disconcertingly realistic fingers impatiently tapping at the MB&F M.A.D.Gallery in Geneva. Entitled “Fingers Mk III by Nik Ramage for Laikingland,” it is actually a piece of playful mechanical art. But what else might you use a handy device like this for? Leave your suggestions in the comments.
As a sports fan, I have been keeping track of what’s going on at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. What has really caught my eye thus far is the fact that there have been four athletes wearing a wristwatch while competing in their various events . . . and all four are wearing Richard Mille timepieces.
As the saying goes, “There’s an ass for every seat.” I still find it so hard to believe that some watch designs are ever even considered, much less actually produced and ultimately purchased. In fairness, the following list may not actually contain the five ugliest watches ever, but they sure aren’t easy on the eyes.
Beginning in September, a Montblanc for BMW Centennial Fountain Pen will accompany each of the 100 new BMW 7 Series Jubilee Edition The Next 100 Years autos purchased at BMW dealerships. The distinctive design of the car’s Merino leather interior is replicated on the intricate grid design of the pen’s cap and barrel. What else is special about this writing instrument? Read on to find out.