Ah, watch cases! As regular readers may recall, GaryG has a particular fascination with the outer shells that encase, protect, and enhance the ticking mechanical wonders within. And if watch cases fascinate, why not visit a few case makers? Let’s go!
What is the most precious element of any watch brand? Its manufacture? Its skilled employees? Its brand ambassadors? Its boutiques? Martin Green thinks that it’s none of those, because the most important asset of a brand is its so-called DNA. Here he explains how brands better used their heritage at the 2018 SIHH.
The new “Chopin” watch brand is from an unexpected place: Poland. Łukasz Doskocz’s home country might be well known for its fine spirits, excellent cuisine, expansive nature, and exceptional hospitality, but watchmaking? Not so much. However, Łukasz feels that this first watch deserves some of our attention.
There is no shortage of choice for powerful luxurious cruisers, which begs the question that if such incredible, every-wish-fulfilling cars exist why would you buy Bentley’s new Flying Spur? Martin Green thinks that the answer is simple: because it is a Bentley. As the new Flying Spur so elegantly illustrates.
Ken Gargett believes that the Craggy Range’s Le Sol is one of those wines that will age with grace for many years, but that it is simply so full of joy and so delicious as it is now that a lot of bottles will die young. And here is why.
Hairsprings are miniscule. Generally no more than one centimeter in overall diameter when coiled, they are roughly 50 microns thick and 150 microns wide. Tiny they may be, but insignificant they are not. In fact, they are so significant that Rolex refers to them as “the guardians of time.” But what do silicon hairsprings bring to the table? Watchmaker Ashton Tracy explains why he went from skeptic to fan.
It sometimes escapes notice, but between A. Lange & Söhne’s Lange 1 and Tourbillon Pour le Mérite resides the Saxonia, whose name refers to the federal state in which Glashütte is located: Saxony. Here, Sabine Zwettler provides a rundown of the history of one of the German brand’s understated second-row stars.
Elizabeth Doerr and John Keil discuss the meaning of the 25th anniversary of the Lange 1 and in particular inspect the Lange 1 Anniversary Edition in white gold in some detail on John’s new collaborative video channel WatchWithUs.
Filming on the new, and still untitled, 25th film in the James Bond series has now shifted to London, and footage appearing in the media has confirmed the reappearance of the Aston Martin V8 from ‘The Living Daylights’ as well as the movie’s star Daniel Craig in more scenes in a suit and tie while sporting a split lip and bruised knuckles. Recent set photographs have also allowed a much better look at the Omega Seamaster 007 for ‘Bond 25’ on 007’s wrist, so here’s an update.
George Daniels’ first Space Traveller, which is one of the most famous pieces of the late Erivan Haub’s tremendous collection, hit the auction block on July 2, 2019 as part of Sotheby’s Masterworks of Time. The definitive highlight of the first of the four auction segments, it hammered for an astounding $4,561,407/£3,615,000.