Swatch Touch Zero One

Swatch Group Gets Serious About Connected Watches, Plans Launch Of New Products Late 2018

Swatch Group and CSEM (Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology) announced on February 5, 2017 that the two entities have collaborated to develop a Swiss made “ecosystem” for “connected objects.”

Derek Pratt’s H4 showing the completed movement and Charles Scarr’s piercing and engraving

Making The Escapement, Remontoir, And Timing For Derek Pratt’s Reconstruction Of John Harrison‘s H4, The World’s First Precision Marine Chronometer (Part 3 of 3)

This is part 3 of a three-part series about Derek Pratt’s reconstruction of John Harrison’s Longitude Prize-winning H4, which was the world’s first precision marine chronometer. This article was first published in ‘The Horological Journal’ (HJ) in April 2015, who we thank for graciously granting permission to republish on Quill & Pad.

A finished diamond pallet beside a match head for Derek Pratt's John Harrison H4 reconstruction

Making The Diamond Pallets For Derek Pratt’s Reconstruction Of John Harrison‘s H4, The World’s First Precision Marine Chronometer (Part 2 of 3)

Here we present the second part in a three-part series about the making of Derek Pratt’s reconstruction of John Harrison’s H4. This part was written by Carl Murray of Frodsham. This article was first published in ‘The Horological Journal’ (HJ) in March 2015, who we thank for permission to republish on Quill & Pad.

Reconstruction of Jhon Harrison's H4 by Derek Pratt, which was finished by Frodshams (image courtesy British Horological Journal)

Derek Pratt’s Reconstruction Of John Harrison’s H4, The World’s First Precision Marine Chronometer (Part 1 of 3)

Here we present the first part in a three-part series about the making of Derek Pratt’s H4 reconstruction. This part was written by Roger Stevenson, chief watchmaker at Frodsham. This article was first published in the ‘The Horological Journal’ (HJ) in February 2015 and we thank them for the gracious permission to republish it on Quill & Pad.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Classique in stainless steel

Here’s Why: Stainless Steel Is The Most Precious Metal

In the world of watches, especially with regards to collecting, rarity is a large factor contributing to the cost of a luxury timepiece. The reason is because rarity is almost always an implied condition that seems beyond control – like it just happens. In this article Joshua explains why he thinks that out of all the metals, especially the white metals like platinum and white gold, stainless steel is absolutely the most precious metal.

PVD black case of the Ulysse Nardin’s InnoVision

Looking Back On 10 Years Of Ulysse Nardin’s Pioneering InnoVision Technology

Ulysse Nardin is the watch world’s pioneer in “new” technologies. Though it might seem anachronistic that a 163-year-old company famed for its marine chronometers would be the one to start a revolution of this type in mechanical watchmaking, that is just what Ulysse Nardin did by leading the search for the perfect materials and advanced geometery. Here we take a look back at the technologies leading up to the introduction of 2007’s InnoVision and why that particular concept watch was so notable.

Close up look at the dial of the Ulysse Nardin Grand Deck Marine Tourbillon

The Retrograde: One Of My Favorite Complications

The retrograde indication is one of my favorite “Because We Can” (BWC) complications. Gears are an amazing invention and have allowed watchmakers to make incredible creations. Simple gear systems leave a multitude of openings for creativity. Look at some great examples of it here!

Bathys Hawaii Cesium-133

Measuring The Time Between The Seconds: The Truth Behind High-Frequency Movements

Marketing material for the modern mechanical watch almost always includes a description of the the movement’s frequency. You may have even sensed that the higher the frequency, the more accurate a movement gets. But is this entirely true? Find out here.

Sauterelle à Lune Perpétuelle fitting very nicely on the wrist of the yours truely

The 8 Most Accurate Moon Phase Wristwatches Today (Archive)

Waxing poetically about moon phases has gotten me excited enough to take a trip through certain “phases” of engineering excellence . Here we bring you the eight most accurate moon phases currently fitted into a wristwatch. Join us on this odyssey through space and time.

Ouchhh!!! This Rolex Submariner has seen better times

5 Unexpected Ways You Might Damage A Mechanical Watch

Timepiece repairs can be expensive and often take a long time, so you generally want to avoid damaging a watch. It’s obvious that throwing your watch against a wall, running over it with a Bentley, or smashing it with a hammer are things to to avoid. However, not everything that can damage a watch is so obvious, so here I list five common things you may not be aware of that can damage a watch and how to prevent them.