Colorful watch straps at Jean Rousseau, London

Watch Straps: Jean Rousseau And The Current State Of The Strap Industry

We tend to forget that the production of straps is an industry in and of itself, which functions both reactively and proactively. Manufacture Jean Rousseau not only offers prêt-a-porter watch straps, but also crafts custom-made products. Learn more about it here!

Penfolds Grange 2014

Penfolds Grange 2014: Meeting High Expectations, Plus The Fascinating History Of Australia’s Best Wine (It Began As A Failure)

Even though Penfolds releases all its top wines – the “Penfolds Collection” – at the same time, eyes of wine lovers around the world are always focused on one wine: Grange! Here Ken Gargett reviews the 2014 Grange. Plus he shares the early history of Grange and explains how the first tastings were a complete flop in quite colorful language.

Cartier Panthère cufflinks in gold

Cartier’s Cufflinks And Watches: Sophistication With A Nicely Personal Touch

Since its very early years, one of Cartier’s strengths aside from jewelry and watches has surprisingly been accessories for men. In fact, cufflinks appeared in Cartier records as far back as 1859. Here George Cramer explores modern and vintage options for a nice personal touch.

De Bethune DB25 Starry Varius Chronomètre Tourbillon

Quill & Pad’s Predictions For The Aiguille d’Or Of The 2018 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, And We Have 4 Winners

The GPHG defines the Aiguille d’Or category as, “a prize rewarding the best overall watch among all categories and is the most prestigious award.” Judging that is no easy task, and our panel has predicted four possible winners: the De Bethune DB25 Starry Varius Chronomètre Tourbillon, Ulysse Nardin Freak Vision, Habring2 Doppel-Felix, and Akrivia Chronomètre Contemporain. Read on to see why.

Armin Strom Masterpiece 1 Dual Time Resonance

Armin Strom Masterpiece 1 Dual Time Resonance: Simplifying With Complexity

The Armin Strom Dual Time Resonance is part of an entirely new line: the Masterpiece collection. As the inaugural timepiece, it holds the distinction of bearing the title Masterpiece 1 and sets a new direction for the brand. The resonance concept as a whole is one of the least explored systems in all of horology and here it is displayed in all its glory. Joshua Munchow explains how.

Nomos Glashütte’s automatic Caliber DUW 3001, only 3.2 mm in height, next to a small pile of stamps

How Does Nomos Glashütte Make A Beautiful Watch With Manufacture Movement For Under $3,000? (Reprise)

How can Nomos Glashütte make a watch with a manufacture movement for about €1,000 when most Swiss brands can’t? To get the details, Elizabeth Doerr asked managing director and partner in the Saxon brand, Uwe Ahrendt, to explain some of the elements that go into the calculations. You might be surprised at his answers.

Omega co-axial-escapement

Customer Service: Hotly Debated And Introduced At A Snail’s Pace, The Five-Year Warranty Becomes The New Standard

Good customer service has been a hotly debated topic in the watch industry for decades. The increase in both service intervals and warranty periods is certainly a welcome one, but it does beg the question what changed? In the years leading up to 2015, what dramatic horological advancements were discovered to make longer service intervals possible? Watchmaker Ashton Tracy investigates.

A pre-owned Omega Speedmaster on the wrist (photo courtesy Bob’s Watches)

Decoding Omega References: 14 Magic Digits And Codification Tables Revealed – Reprise

Many watch enthusiasts dream of owning at least one timepiece by Omega. And maybe even a second or a third. The Swiss brand definitely ranks among the most popular watch firms ever. To give you an idea of the overwhelming variety in the current Omega watch world, Sabine Zwettler has put together a guideline of references.

A brace of Patel Philippe Reference 5196 Calatravas

Death Of The Dress Watch: Is It Time To Write Its Obituary? – Reprise

As the resident gentleman of Quill & Pad, Martin Green feels that the time is soon approaching to write an obituary announcing the death of the dress watch. He thinks that its passing is coming and it’s not an isolated event, but it still hurts.

Serra de Estrela cheese

Serra De Estrela Cheese: Rich, Ripe, And Full Of Intense, Tangy Flavors

Ken Gargett first encountered Serra de Estrela in Oporto at a lunch. He thinks, however, that it has not received its dues outside Portugal and can only assume that is because no one seems to associate cheese with that country – a gross oversight, which he rectifies here..