What sells watches? This is the 20 billion Swiss franc question in today’s challenging economic climate.For at least part of the answer to what sells watches (and how to buy them in down markets), we can learn a lot from two of the steadiest performers in the watch industry.
One of my favorite complications is the moon phase, and an appropriately magnificent example is the Arnold & Son HM Double Hemisphere Perpetual Moon. This watch is among the biggest and boldest moon phase watches in existence, and it is one of my favorite pieces from Arnold & Son.
Recently, a good friend and avid collector gave me the mouth-watering opportunity to photograph two splendid Patek Philippe minute repeaters: the 5074P and 5078P. If you’re one of those people who believe in wearing a watch with your tuxedo, I don’t think you’d ever go wrong in pulling the 5078P out of the safe to wear. What else is interesting about it?
No problem is exceptionally easy to solve. Even the simplest task can sometimes take weeks of redesigns, prototypes, and problem-solving for a seemingly simple solution. The task of creating the perfectly adjustable watch clasp system is the type of problem that was irresistible for Roland Iten. So how did that turn out?
The Andreas Strehler Sauterelle à Lune Perpétuelle contains a moon phase mechanism that will only need adjustment by one full day every 14,189.538 years. And not only does the Lune Perpétuelle have an extremely accurate moon phase, but with the help of the constant force mechanism it is even more accurate for the little intervals as well.
The second edition of Dubai Watch Week runs 15 through 19 November, 2016 and promises to be three times larger than last year’s inaugural exhibition. The five-day event is organized by Seddiqi & Sons retailers and is the Gulf area’s largest dedicated watch event. Quill & Pad will be actively joining the fun!
Our panel members are nearly unanimous in their predictions for the winner of the top prize in the 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève: the Aiguille d’Or. While two members of the panel could not settle on just one winner, calling a tie between two and even three watches, for Ian the winner is crystal clear. Let us know which timepieces you think will be crowned with the Aiguille d’Or in 2016.
In an insightful move Montblanc chose this year, the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare death (or what the company delicately calls the “anniversary of his life’s achievements”), to honor him with an annual Writers Edition limited edition pen full of symbolism.
Welcome to the 2016 edition of Quill & Pad’s early Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève predictions in which the team picks favorites and explains why. In the Mechanical Exception category our panel is split, but one mechanically exceptional timepiece here did garner more votes than the others.
At SalonQP 2016, London’s premier watch show, Quill & Pad will have a bigger presence than ever before with both myself and Ian actively taking part in the exhibition. Ian will be hosting the seminar “In conversation: Kari Voutilainen” while I have curated the exhibition, “Métiers d’Art: Art of Time.”