Restricted area: Blancpain erotic watch

Warning, Watchporn Inside: X-Rated Timepieces By Blancpain (Video)

Classic on the front, party in the back: that about sums up the traditional erotic timepiece. And one of the modern masters of the erotic watch is Blancpain. In this excellent video by The Watches TV, you will discover what “hot horologerie” is all about!

Dial side of the Patek Philippe Reference 5370P

Why I Bought It: Patek Philippe Reference 5370P

The first weekend of November 2016 was a big one for me: in addition to attending the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, I collected not one, not two, but three spectacular watches. The watch I left home certain to bring back was one that I had been waiting patiently for since January 2016: the split-seconds chronograph Reference 5370P from Patek Philippe. Here’s why I bought it.

Döttling’s Morosini safe open

Are Watch Winders Good For Anything?

A client recently asked me if there are any benefits to using automatic watch winders. The short answer is that I have two viewpoints on watch winders. Click to learn the pros and cons as I see them.

Navigating The Grey Market: A Retail Expert Explains The Whys And Wherefores

Friends, colleagues, and clients have posed many questions about the grey market for fine timepieces over the years. Most recently, my post ‘A Cautionary Tale on Buying New Watches Online’ was met with quite a few comments, quite possibly leaving more questions than answers. Here are a few answers.

Vallée de Joux style: movement detail of the Philippe Dufour Simplicity

Does Hand Finishing Matter? A Collector’s View Of Movement Decoration (Archive)

Anyone who visits online watch forums with any frequency very likely comes across at least a few heated discussions of “finishing,” a topic that seems to fascinate, and divide, enthusiasts. What is it and why are opinions divided?

Martin Green's grail Louis Cartier Tank

What’s It Like To Get Your Grail Watch And Live With It? The Story Of My Louis Cartier Tank

A grail watch can be pretty much anything. But one thing a grail watch always is is personal. Very personal. I was introduced to my personal grail watch by a close friend of mine who had recently treated himself to a new watch: a pre-Collection Privée Cartier Paris Louis Cartier Tank in platinum.

Ulysse Nardin Marine Aqua Perpetual Limited Edition

A Cautionary Tale On Buying New Watches Online

Though this cautionary example of buying a new watch online is not new, with the current influx (or perhaps “flood” is a better word) of grey market watches to mainstream channels it’s perhaps more poignant today than ever before. Read how you can protect yourself when buying pre-owned timepieces from unknown online sources.

Rarity plus condition: Tiffany-labeled Rolex “Paul Newman” Daytona sold through Phillips

Year-End Auctions 2016: I Came, I Saw, I Learned, I Bought

This is the second year in a row that I’ve had the opportunity to attend the November watch auctions in Geneva. On last year’s trip, a good friend and I had the pleasure of participating in several events organized by Patek Philippe as well as the biennial OnlyWatch auction. This year, we returned for the previews and salesroom action at major houses including Phillips, Christie’s, and Sotheby’s.

Exercise in coherence: Rolex GMT Master II

The Top 10 Most Popular Posts Of 2016 On Quill & Pad . . . And, No, They Weren’t All About Rolex!

As read by you,­­ here are the Top 10 most viewed articles on Quill & Pad for 2016. A few may even provide a (pleasant) surprise. So without further ado and in no particular order we present the top 10 most popular posts of 2016.

Jean Daniel Nicolas Two-Minute Tourbillon by Mr. Daniel Roth in pink gold (photo courtesy Guy Lucas de Peslouan)

The Watch That Changed My Life: The Jean Daniel Nicolas Two-Minute Tourbillon By Mr. Daniel Roth (Archive)

Many watches hold a special significance for their owners. The watch I am chronicling here didn’t just change someone’s life, it changed MY life: the Jean Daniel Nicolas Two-Minute Tourbillon by Daniel Roth.