Pre-selected Jewellery watches in the 2015 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

Quill & Pad’s Predictions For The Jewellery Category Of The 2015 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Geneve

Welcome to the 2015 edition of Quill & Pad’s early Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) predictions in which we pick our favorites and explain why. The six pre-selected finalists in the Jewellery category are the audacious Audemars Piguet Diamond Punk, Bulgari’s MVSA High Jewellery Watch, the Chaumet Joséphine Aigrette Impériale, de Grisogono’s fluid Grappoli, the colorful Fabergé Summer in Provence Multicoloured Sapphire, and the Piaget Extremely Piaget Double Sided Cuff Watch.

MCT Frequential One F110 looking good on the wrist

A Xenomorph From Continuing Evolution: MCT Frequential One F110

The MCT Frequential One F110 shares DNA and some familiar form with its neighboring population of the Sequential One and Sequential Two, but it is an end population that is truly itself. It’s something new.

New mechanics with familiar form

Mechanically speaking, the Frequential One F110 is a very new watch. Stylistically speaking, it is clearly a co-evolved result of what has come before. Gone are the rotating prisms, the large minute hand indicating the jump hour, and the three-quarter ring that jumps to uncover the current hour. But what replaces them?

Artistic crafts pre-selected for the 2015 GPHG. Clockwise from top left: Romain Gauthier Logical one Secret Kakau Höfke, Blancpain Villeret with Shakudo dial, Girard-Perregaux The Chambers of Wonders - The New World, Hermès Slim d'Hermès Koma Kurabé, Piaget Altiplano Scrimshaw, and Harry Winston Premier Precious Butterfly Automatic 36mm

Quill & Pad’s Predictions For The Artistic Crafts Category Of The 2015 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

Welcome to the 2015 edition of Quill & Pad’s early Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) predictions in which we pick our favorites and explain why. The six finalists in the Artistic Crafts category are the Blancpain Villeret cadran Shakudo, Girard-Perregaux The Chambers of Wonders – The New World, Harry Winston Premier Precious Butterfly Automatic 36mm, Hermès Slim d’Hermès Koma Kurabe, Piaget Altiplano Scrimshaw, and the Romain Gauthier Logical One Secret Kakau Höfke.

Petite Aiguille watches pre-selected for the 2015 GPHG. Clockwise from top left: Hermès Slim d'Hermès, Habring2 Felix, Bulgari Diagono Magnesium, Zenith Elite 6150, Tudor North Flag, and Montblanc Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum

Quill & Pad’s Predictions For The Petite Aiguille Category Of The 2015 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

Welcome to the 2015 edition of Quill & Pad’s early Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) predictions in which we pick our favorites and explain why. The six pre-selected finalists are the Bulgari Diagono Magnesium, Habring2’s Felix, the Hermès Slim d’Hermès, Montblanc’s Heritage Spirit Orbis Terrarum, the Tudor North Flag, and the Zenith Elite 6150.

The business end of an automatic lathe at the Nomos manufacture in which the component being turned spins while the cutting tool is stable

Focus On Technology: Multi-Axis Machining – A Primer

It occurred to me one day, while explaining to a visitor to my “office” how the machine “knows” where the part is, that many people have very little exposure to the machinery that literally builds so many wristwatch components today. So for your reading pleasure, I break down the basics of milling machines and turning centers, the multi-axis machines that have become a cornerstone of modern fabrication in the watch industry.

Mechanical-Exception watches pre-selected for the 2015 GPHG. Clockwise from top left: Christophe Claret Maestoso, Hautlence Vortex, HYT H3, Jaquet Droz The Charming Bird, Emmanuel Bouchet Complication One, and Dewitt Academia Mathematical

Quill & Pad’s Predictions For The Mechanical Exception Category Of The 2015 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

Welcome to the 2015 edition of Quill & Pad’s early Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) predictions in which we pick our favorites and explain why. The six pre-selected finalists in the Mechanical Exception category are the Christophe Claret Maestoso, Dewitt Academia Mathematical, Emmanuel Bouchet Complication One, Hautlence Vortex, HYT H3, and Jaquet Droz’s The Charming Bird.

Lange & Söhne 1815 Chronograph

12 Watches You Need To See From Hong Kong’s Watches & Wonders 2015

Watches & Wonders, inaugurated three years ago as an Asian version of the SIHH, has evolved into an important horological exhibition for local press and watch aficionados thanks to its strategic location in Hong Kong. Here we bring you an overview of 12 interesting timepieces launched at this prestigious fair.

Glashütte Original Sixties Iconic Blue

Sixties Iconic: Glashütte Original’s Richly Multicolored Homage To Vintage East German Style

in 2007, something a little lighter entered the Glashütte Original collection: a watch called the Senator Sixties, which could be even classified as fun. Building on that, the look of the new Glashütte Original Sixties Iconic collection features historic visuals created using the actual stamps of dial supplier Th. Müller utilized in the 1960s. But what will really take you by surprise is the range of funky colors.

Good enough to eat – literally

You Are There: Breguet’s Art And Innovation In Watchmaking Exhibition

I had the privilege of being invited to the recent pre-opening gala for the San Francisco exhibition of the works of Abraham-Louis Breguet.

Since the foundation of my collecting passion has a lot to do with gaining access to the behind the scenes world of watches, I made a point of shuffling my “day job” schedule to attend. And now you can come along.

Striking watches pre-selected for the 2015 GPHG. Clockwise from top left: A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Minute Repeater, Akrivia Tourbillon Chiming Jump Hour, Girard-Perregaux Minute Repeater Tourbillon with Gold Bridges, Hublot Big Bang Alarm Repeater, Franc Vila Inaccessible Tourbillon Minute Repeater and Christophe Claret Allegro

Quill & Pad’s Predictions For The Striking Category Of The 2015 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

Welcome to the 2015 edition of Quill & Pad’s early Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) predictions in which we pick our favorites and explain why. The six pre-selected finalists in the Striking category are the A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk Minute Repeater, Akrivia Tourbillon Chiming Jump Hour, Christophe Claret Allegro, Franc Vila Inaccessible Tourbillon Minute Repeater, Girard-Perregaux Minute Repeater Tourbillon with Gold Bridges, and the Hublot Big Bang Alarm Repeater.