Elizabeth Doerr is partial to the use of meteorite in watches because it’s literally the heart of a shooting star; when she gazes at a meteorite dial, she sees a tamed piece of heaven catching the time as it passes. Here she highlights five watch brands also seduced by the beauty of meteorite that made their debuts in 2019.
As the Swatch Group has now left Baselworld – and this appears to be a permanent thing – we discuss the very first Time to Move event consisting of the Swatch Group’s six premium brands Breguet, Blancpain, Jaquet Droz, Glashütte Original, Harry Winston, and Omega. The event comprised almost 200 journalists from 21 countries, which traveled between the brands’ Swiss factories. Jump on the bus for a Swiss (S)watch tour with Elizabeth Doerr and Martin Green.
To celebrate Jaquet Droz’s 280th anniversary, the brand wanted something very special: the unique piece Parrot Repeater Pocket Watch features miniature painting, oven-fired enamel painting, hand-engraving, bas relief engraving, paillonné, and gem setting. Every visible surface has been lovingly attended to in a rich pallet of arts and crafts. Job done!
Despite seeing aventurine in six new wristwatches at SIHH 2018 – more than the number of new tourbillons Elizabeth counted – it remains a decorative artisanal element used only by luxury watchmakers in small series or unique pieces for its beauty and decorative properties. While there is some public uncertainty about the origin of aventurine, it continues to add mysterious shine and scintillating glamour to watches. Here is what aventurine really is and where it comes from.
The Matterhorn is the premier symbol of Switzerland with its nearly symmetrical, pyramid-like peak ranging above the Alps and overlooking the town of Zermatt. And the dial of the Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Moon Serpentine is carved right from Matterhorn rock. Elizabeth Doerr provides us with the how and why.
Chinese New Year of the Pig is upon us, and a few brands have created special edition timepieces to celebrate. Here are eight artistic porcine-themed watches by Jaquet Droz, Vacheron Constantin, Chopard, and Blancpain.
At Baselworld 2018, Jaquet Droz introduced a set of new Lady 8 Petite timepieces. The new, smaller versions offer the tactile cabochon forming the top half of the eight pattern the watch’s design is based upon. Elizabeth felt it nearly impossible not to rub that stone like a Buddha belly or a good luck charm when the watch was on her wrist, as it irresistibly draws you in with the beauty of its smooth surface.
An impressive range of 30 international luxury watch brands will welcome horological enthusiasts, connoisseurs, and collectors to WatchTime New York on October 26 and 27, 2018. Held in Manhattan’s Gotham Hall, WatchTime New York offers plenty of opportunity for enthusiasts and the curious alike to get in contact with brands and try on their watches. Sabine Zwettler highlights five watches to look out for at the fair.
For moon-struck astronomy fans looking for a fix until the next lunar eclipse takes place on January 20 in 2019, here are five beautiful haute horlogerie moon phases watches, all powered by manufacture calibers.
Alexander Doerr hadn’t really paid much attention to opals before, but upon closer inspection realized that this gemstone is extraordinary – they are shrouded in mystery and well worth learning more about. Looking at an opal is like looking at fireworks or even looking into a galaxy. And two Swiss watch brands specialize in using the fiery gemstone in watches are Jaquet Droz and Piaget.