I recently went to a boutique opening thrown by Richard Mille in Munich. Sounds like fun, but think about it for a minute: who opens a standalone boutique in a country filled with really, really traditionally minded collectors – in this financial atmosphere? And, there was a surprise in store, in this case it was a new ambassador. Meet world rally champion Sébastien Ogier.
Hybrids in the watch world are rare, but in general perform the same way as hybrid automobiles, with chronometric performance improved significantly thanks to the quartz. For many it was a bit unexpected for Piaget, the “king of ultra-thin watches,” to introduce the Emperador Coussin XL 700P in 2016, but it did not emerge from thin air; it is the latest in a 40-year legacy of quartz innovation.
Kim Djapri, a watchmaker with Lang & Heyne and boutique manager at Tempus Arte in Dresden, exhibited at the A.H.C.I.’s Baselworld 2016 booth a micro-brand and a timepiece all his own. His new brand Bélier is the banner under which his new watch, christened Reverse, has been built. This watch is perfect allegory for reflection in a timepiece.
Styljoux unveiled another twist on writing instruments with the new Le Calibre collection, whose sleek look belies what’s going on inside the barrel. The limited-edition pens with sapphire crystal barrels incorporate a weight adjustment mechanism that engages by simply twisting the ring on top of the barrel and effectively changing the center of gravity to the taste of the pen user. Wow!
Again, if every picture tells a story, this one is likely to be interesting. It was taken on the shores of the solidly frozen Torneträsk (Lake Träsk). What fun, funny, or sarcastic caption can you suggest for this image? Let us know in the comments.
André Kusni is only 17 years old, yet the teenager already owns several horological masterpieces and plans on collecting many more. Kusni first came in contact with fine watches when his grandmother gifted him a Rolex Submariner Deepsea Sea-Dweller. Since then, the fortunate teenager lives his passion, now mostly attracted to rather rare watches made by independent boutique brands.
I am always excited when I see a new example of whimsy in the world. And Van Cleef & Arpels is always a good source of whimsy; the brand’s latest Poetic Complications creation, the Lady Arpels Ronde des Papillons, exemplifies this. It takes a very serious and complicated new movement and uses it for a fanciful display of beauty and cheer that includes exquisitely hand-painted butterflies and a swallow as hour and minute indicators.
This week, for Photo Caption Competition No. 17, we have what looks like a still life of a piratical skull with a sense of humor. What fun, funny, or sarcastic caption would you give this photo? Let us know in the comments!
Maserati, bearer of the mighty trident from Modena, recently introduced the very first SUV in the brand’s history with the Levante. Why? Because evolution is essential to survival. Read on to discover what makes this 4×4 so special, apart from the Maserati badge, that is.
These three apparently diverse photos have (at least) one horological link in common. What do you think is the strongest common thread that links these three images is and how?