These two duelists are both called Sherman and they are actually extremely high-quality 8-day clocks by MB&F and l’Epée 1839, Switzerland’s only specialised high-end clock manufacture.
But what I’d like to know this week is: what on earth are they fighting over?
Are they even fighting each other at all?
Transparency fascinates, especially when it’s used in design. And what better way is there to reveal the inner workings of something than to remove the covers and reveal its very soul? At Baselworld 2016, we found five examples of the ultimate in transparency by brands as diverse as 4N, Rebellion, Hublot, MB&F, and Bell & Ross.
Post-SIHH reports indicate that the inclusion of the so-called indies was a big success for both visitors and the small brands alike, but also that there was a little grumbling from some of the large established SIHH brands generated by the fact that visitors to the fair remarked − with justification − that there were more interesting watches in the Carré des Horlogers than in the rest of the SIHH altogether. What can the industry learn from their inclusion in 2016’s first fair?
It’s already been six consecutive years that I’ve had the delightful experience of going through SIHH week with several of my closest friends. Our closing discussions centered around four questions, which were focused more tightly on SIHH itself this year due to the inclusion of nine independent watchmakers: what watch did you think was best of show at SIHH? What was the worst watch of the show? What watch displayed at the show would you buy if money were no object? What watch did you see on display that would you buy with your own money?
It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of the MB&F HM6, but, it does have a serious design issue: except for that flying tourbillon, the incredible movement is hidden under a protective titanium case. And what a pity: it’s as if only half of the watch was available to be appreciated. The case shape reflects the movement architecture, but the movement architecture is concealed by the case . . . or it was until HM6 SV came along!
It will come as no surprise to anyone who has read my pieces in the past that I like a good jump hour mechanism. Actually, I love a good jump hour mechanism. There is just something about that instantaneous change driven entirely by mechanical means that fascinates me. And yet not all “digital” watches require the use of jump hours and minutes; some don’t even use a jump at all yet still read digitally. So today I want to break down a list of my seven (plus change) favorite “digital” watches.
In this age of digital information, watch companies try to get ahead of the competition by releasing news on their new timepieces ahead of the big watch fairs. The 2016 edition is no different, and in honor of the upcoming 26th edition of the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), we present you with an overview of some of the new models that have already been revealed, including timepieces by Jaeger-LeCoultre, Richard Mille, Piaget, Montblanc, MB&F, H. Moser & Cie, HYT, and Roger Dubuis.
The Watchstars awards jury comprises a very large panel of international writers and journalists. It is the massive size of this jury that often produces interesting results. The 2015/2016 edition of Watchstars just came to a close, and the winners in five categories were announced with four brands taking honors. Find out more here!
The Saatchi Gallery on Kings Road in trendy Chelsea has played host to SalonQP in London for the past four years. It is a fantastic venue and a great place for the brands attending to showcase their wares.
What an eclectic mix of brands and watches on show this year, too! Come with me on a virtual tour.
I’m all for evolution, especially continual evolution in watchmaking. However, from time to time we need revolution as well as evolution, and the former is severely lacking. While MB&F’s Legacy Machine Perpetual looks to all intents and purposes like one of the least radical timepieces created in the brand’s ten-year history, make no mistake: it is revolution, not evolution.