If you get hurt on this one call me: Philippe Dufour Simplicity

What’s So Special About Independent Watchmakers?

Whenever I think about a watch made by an independent watchmaker, a certain recollection comes to mind – one that could explain my passion for timepieces created by masters with diminutive production but gargantuan horological expertise. This particular story involves a watch brand, a trip to Switzerland, and what is normally a very casual thing: lunch.

Konstantin Chaykin Joker on the wrist

Baselworld 2017 Round Table: What We Liked And What We Didn’t Like

Please join our traditional Quill & Pad round table discussion on Baselworld 2017, where we discuss what we did and didn’t like at at the world’s largest annual watch exhibition.

MB&F Destination Moon

The Magic Is In What You Don’t See: MB&F Destination Moon Clock With L’Epée 1839

I absolutely love negative space. And now MB&F has now created a piece where the viewer’s imagination plays as important a role as the largely empty physical structure. That creation is Destination Moon, a rocket-shaped clock made in collaboration with L’Epée 1839.

Urwerk UR-T8 Transformer on the wrist

My 2017 SIHH Highlights, Shot With A Leica Q

At the 2017 SIHH in Geneva I particularly liked the Carré des Horlogers, as the SIHH independents’ hall is known, which showcases some of the industry’s finest creative minds producing amazing watches, both traditional and contemporary. So without further ado, here are my SIHH highlights, most of which come from that hall.

Ulysse Nardin InnoVision 2

SIHH 2017 Round Table: What We Liked And What We Didn’t Like (Warning: Modem-Burning Photo Fest!)

Please join our Quill & Pad round table discussion, where we talk about what we did and didn’t like at the 2017 SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie). And get ready for a cornucopia of beautiful photos and colorful opinions!

MB&F HM7 Aquapod Ti Blue in profile

Medusa In The Sea: Introducing The MB&F Horological Machine No. 7 Aquapod (Live Photos And Wristshots)

HM7, dubbed Aquapod, is the first aquatic timepiece by MB&F. And while this is not a dive watch per se, it does boast 50-meter water resistance, meaning you shouldn’t need to worry about going for a little swim. And it looks awesome!

HYT Skull Axl Rose on the wrist

7 Sensational Watches Introduced At Dubai Watch Week 2016

Dubai Watch Week just closed the sun-soaked doors of its 2016 edition during which much of the watch world enjoyed discovering new watches, interesting opinions, the culture of Dubai, the United Arab Emirates’ fastest growing city, and the immense hospitality of the Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, who staged the incredible show.

Please enjoy these 7 outstanding new watches launched during the 2016 edition of Dubai Watch Week.

MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual on the wrist

Why This Is The Best Calendar Watch Of 2016 (According To The GPHG) And One Of The Best Watches Ever! The MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual (Archive)

MB&F’s Legacy Machine Perpetual took the prize for Best Calendar Watch at the 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève and I thought it deserved that accolade and more. LM Perpetual has rewritten the architecture of the perpetual calendar, transforming this oft troublesome complication into a virtual masterpiece.

Laureates of the 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

What We Liked And What We Didn’t At The 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

The Quill & Pad panel reflects on watchmaking’s biggest night: the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, often described as the Oscars of watchmaking. In this segment, we chat about what we liked and what we didn’t like, which watches won and why we think they did.

We also express a bit of dismay at times.

MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual in platinum

Our Nearly Unanimous Predictions For The Aiguille d’Or, The Best Of The Best At The 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

Our panel members are nearly unanimous in their predictions for the winner of the top prize in the 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève: the Aiguille d’Or. While two members of the panel could not settle on just one winner, calling a tie between two and even three watches, for Ian the winner is crystal clear. Let us know which timepieces you think will be crowned with the Aiguille d’Or in 2016.