Object of desire: the author’s grandfather’s dress pocket watch

My Grandfather, The Watch Collector

When my grandfather passed away, he left a watch in safekeeping for me and I treasure it to this day. Fully forty years later, I inherited a previously unseen box of my grandfather’s watches, revealing him to have been what I had become: a watch collector.

Head on: the Ludovic Ballouard Upside Down

Why I Bought It: Ludovic Ballouard Upside Down

What is the real difference between a novelty watch and a classic timepiece? Is it possible to make a watch providing a novel and entertaining display of time that is wearable in a variety of settings and will be respected years from now? I believe that I own such a piece: the Ludovic Ballouard Upside Down.

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.

Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Ronde Des Papillons

My Favorite Whimsical Watches – And Then Some

Whimsy, frivolity, playfulness: these are not adjectives one often hears used to describe haute horlogerie. And yet these words accurately describe many watches or clocks built over the centuries. Take a journey with me now to discover my favorite modern whimsical masterpieces.

Assertive, clean finishing of the A. Lange & Söhne Lange Double Split movement

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

Like many people, my starting point for serious watches was with a well-priced brand long known for its expertise in developing movements, justly viewed as offering good value for money – but not necessarily for the refinement of its movement finishing, at least on its less expensive pieces. What have I learned since then?

Tiret Kanye West

My Vote For The 5 Ugliest Watches Ever

As the saying goes, “There’s an ass for every seat.” I still find it so hard to believe that some watch designs are ever even considered, much less actually produced and ultimately purchased. In fairness, the following list may not actually contain the five ugliest watches ever, but they sure aren’t easy on the eyes.

De Bethune DB25L Starry Sky on the wrist of Mo Coppoletta

The Collector’s View: Tattooist Mo Coppoletta On Watches (Archive)

“Whether collecting art or watches, when I fall in love with something, then I need to understand, I need to research deeply,” Mo Coppeletta explains. “You may have taste, but if that isn’t backed up with knowledge then it is superficial.” Read on to discover how Mo got into collecting watches and which are his favorites.

The author’s Bucherer Chronometer

A Watch Collection Begins: GaryG And His Bucherer Chronometer

Just as the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, a collection, no matter its eventual size or value, begins with a single watch. This is the story of the first watch that I bought for myself, one that I still own and wear 45 years later: a chronometer bearing the Bucherer name.

Pierce Brosnan wearing a Panerai Luminor in "After-The-Sunset"

The On- And Off-Screen Watches Of Brosnan, Pierce Brosnan

Pierce Brosnan’s personal and professional timepieces have included big names like Rolex, Cartier, Omega, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Panerai, but also intriguingly Speake-Marin. What influence do the roles he plays have on his personal watch taste? Martin Green provides the answer.

Foundational piece: the author’s Vianney Halter Antiqua

Why I Bought It: Vianney Halter Antiqua

A piece that for me is a long-term keeper, is the wonderful Antiqua by Vianney Halter. The truth is that I fell for the Antiqua when I first saw one more than a dozen years ago; while many of my friends will freely confess that at the time they were at first put off by its looks, I was smitten from the start. But that’s not all that I love about this watch.