Grayson Tighe Series 5 for Blancpain

Can Writing Instruments Be As Collectible And Enthusiast-Infused As Watches? – Reprise

Nancy Olson ponders the question as to whether the pen scene has as many enthusiasts as the watch scene and whether writing instruments are just as collectible. Follow along as she gathers expert opinions on the subjects right here.

H. Moser & Cie. Endeavour Perpetual Moon Concept Vantablack on the wrist

How Vantablack And Other Coating Technologies Are Disrupting Watch Norms – Reprise

As material science progresses, the watch industry finds itself flush with ever more ways to disrupt the conventional norms of finishing and coating surfaces, many of which have persisted in traditional watchmaking for centuries. Joshua Munchow takes a look at some of this disruption and evolution, which recently culminated in the use of Vantablack.

Bollinger 2008 La Grande Année Champagne: Still Young, But Already A Classic

Winemakers across the Champagne region are still in raptures over the 2008s; the 2008 Dom Pérignon, for example, has been declared the greatest Dom ever made. And how does the Bollinger 2008 La Grande Année stack up for Ken Gargett? Find out here.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Grande Reverso with impressive rock setting

Diamond-Set Watches: Who Knew Fine Craftsmanship Was So Complicated? – Reprise

It turns out gem-setting is a lot more difficult than many appreciate. Diamond-setting watches requires the expertise and craftsmanship of about half a dozen highly skilled craftsmen, each a master of their craft, as highlighted here by Martin Green.

How The Watch Industry Is Testing Blockchain And Cryptocurrency, Plus Five Brands That Have Already Waded In

Blockchain may have its place; cryptocurrency remains a subject for debate. One thing is for sure: the watch industry is testing the marketability and benefits of both. Chris Malburg explains how each provides both risk and reward to five industry players.

Room 21 of Balcony House in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado: the long wooden beam was used as a sort of gnomon for astronomically ascertaining the solstice and equinox

How The Native American Ancestral Puebloans Kept Track Of Time – Reprise

If you’ve been lucky enough to travel to the “four corners” area of the southwestern United States (where U.S. states Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico “meet”), then you may have seen or even visited some of the cliff dwellings built by the ancient natives formerly known as Anasazi. Read on to find out what we know about how this ancient tribe of people now known as the Ancestral Puebloans kept time and why.

‘Agave’ (Get It?) My Heart To Tequila: A Brief History And Tasting Notes By A Very Recent Convert

Ken Gargett has been reliably informed that there are tequilas now considered quality spirits, designated for sipping – he admits that he swallowed this obvious falsehood on an occasion many years ago, but in the interests of research once again he sallied forth. Sharing the results of his investigations here, he dips into two high-end tequilas: Fortaleza and Calle 23. Olé!

Fitting Rolex balance wheel and Parachrom hairspring

Hairsprings: Origins, Progress, And (Dare I Say) Exciting Future

The tiny, delicate, nearly impossible-to-create hairspring is the one of the biggest advances for modern scientific technology there is. Joshua Munchow takes a dive into the muscle of the beating heart of most mechanical watches: the hairspring.

The Shinola Hotel In Detroit: Everything For The Watch Aficionado

The latest offering from Shinola is a gorgeous hotel planted smack in the center of Detroit: the long-awaited and brutally beautiful Shinola Hotel. Elizabeth Doerr reports on a night spent there.

Michter’s Kentucky Bourbon (Plus The Difference Between Whiskey, Whisky, And Bourbon)

Michter’s aim is to make small-batch or single-barrel products so the distillery has restricted itself to a maximum of 20 barrels for any of its small-batch products. And, as Ken Gargett reports, the Kentucky-based company is making superb bourbon.