Kobold Himalaya Everest Edition

The Kathmandu Backstory: Michael Kobold And Sir Ranulph Fiennes On Conquering Everest, Being Loyal, And Literally Exercising Gratitude

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Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Michael Kobold first went to Kathmandu together in 2008, the latter having spontaneously decided to accompany his ambassador on a Mount Everest summit bid. They did not make it to the summit, but Kobold came back in 2009 and 2010 to successfully complete his bids despite life-endangering complications, becoming the first German national to summit Everest twice along the way. What then transpired is innovative and thankful.

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Until next time: McGonigle Tuscar One of Ten in white gold

Behind The Lens: McGonigle Tuscar One Of Ten

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For those of you who are regular readers of my “Behind the Lens” series, it’s no secret that my watch pals and I are big fans of independent watchmaking.

Here at Quill & Pad we’re also fans of the independents, prominently including Irish watchmaking brothers John and Stephen McGonigle.

Recently, I had the opportunity to photograph an example of the Tuscar One in Ten owned by a good friend. Let’s take a look at some of the results.

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Hublot private concert at Baselworld 2015 with singer Sebastian Bach (Skid Row), guitarist Tommy Thayer (Kiss), bass player Jack Blades (Night Ranger and Damn Yankees), and keyboard player Teddy “Zig Zag” Andreadis, who has toured with Guns N' Roses

Hublot Celebrates 10 Years Of Big Bang With Rock Concert Featuring Members Of Kiss, Skid Row, Night Ranger, And Guns N’ Roses

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In honor of ten years of the Big Bang, Hublot brought five bona fide rock stars to Baselworld 2015 to play a small concert for its clients to celebrate this grand achievement, thereby forming an extraordinary ‘80s supergroup: singer Sebastian Bach (Skid Row), guitarist Tommy Thayer (Kiss), bass player Jack Blades (Night Ranger and Damn Yankees), keyboard player Teddy “Zig Zag” Andreadis, who has toured with Guns N’ Roses, and watch aficionado and drummer from Kiss, Eric Singer.

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The glow-in-the-dark bat symbol of the Romain Jerome Batman DNA

‘Batman v Superman’: DC Comic Hero Immortalized By Jaeger-LeCoultre, Romain Jerome, And Montegrappa Timepieces

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The long-awaited recent release of the ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ trailer delights me to no end (it is also nice to see that Ben Affleck might actually turn out be a decent Batman; the few seconds of him in the trailer were shockingly good in my opinion). Without further ado, I’d like to call to memory a few timepieces that have commemorated Batman in recent history by Jaeger-LeCoultre, Romain Jerome, and Montegrappa.

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Zenith Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Grand Voyage II

Time For Adventure: Zenith Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Grand Voyage II

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Adventure and exploration happen every day and everywhere; there just happen to be explorers who make a little more noise about their exploits. And for that reason we know some of them by name – like Christopher Columbus.
Released this year, the Zenith Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Grand Voyage II outfitted with a gimbaled zero-gravity escapement and chain and fusée continues that path in a grand manner.

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Govberg OnTime app

Govberg Launches New App For Watch Enthusiasts

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Govberg Jewelers has just released a new app for the watch enthusiast called Govberg OnTime. The new multi-functional app allows the user to keep up on the latest watch industry happenings and product releases thanks to feeds from leading online publications and blogs. It also allows you to manage your collection’s information and buy/sell new and pre-owned timepieces.

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Dior VIII-Grand Bal "Cancan" in white ceramic

Dior’s 2015 Grand Bal VIII With Dial-Side Rotor And Scarab Beetle Elytra

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An automatic watch’s oscillating weight, or rotor, is what winds it up. It does so using the motion of one’s wrist. In many automatic watches, the rotor’s activity is clearly visible via a see-through case back. But in the Dior VIII Grand Bal, this essentially functional component is transformed into a gorgeously decorated focal point of the dial.

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Le Garde Temps, Naissance d’une Montre (unfinished prototype)

Le Garde Temps Project With Greubel Forsey And Philippe Dufour: Where It’s At And Where To Next

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The Le Garde Temps, Naissance d’une Montre project separates true lovers of watchmaking from the chaff: there is no big brand name on the dial, celebrity ambassadors, or expensive marketing campaign. It is pure watchmaking for it’s own sake to perpetuate traditional crafts and skills. There is, right now, in this universe, a watch that features the names Greubel Forsey and Philippe Dufour on its dial.

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Close up view of the dial side jump mechanisms of the Speake-Marin Jumping Hours

Here I Go Again: Speake-Marin Jumping Hours

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Here I get the chance to talk about something that our readers probably know I love all too well: a jump hour watch. But not just any jump hour watch, this time it’s the four-handed Speake-Marin Jumping Hours, a piece unique. I was extremely excited, not to mention anxious, to get my hands on this piece, but the wait was worth it.

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Angelus U10 Tourbillon Lumière

Photo Essay: The Angelus U10 Tourbillon Lumière

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When I first saw photos of the Angelus U10 Tourbillon Lumière I liked the technical aspects and thought it an audacious design likely to ignite heated debate in the passionate Angelus collectors’ community, but I wasn’t won over by the watch itself. I liked the fact that it existed, but it wasn’t really to my taste. But after I had seen and handled the U10 Tourbillon Lumière “in the metal,” I got it.

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