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.

Roland Iten RWC11 symmetrically adjustable watch clasp

Extravagant Mechanical Luxury: Roland Iten RWC11 Symmetrically Adjustable Watch Clasp

No problem is exceptionally easy to solve. Even the simplest task can sometimes take weeks of redesigns, prototypes, and problem-solving for a seemingly simple solution. The task of creating the perfectly adjustable watch clasp system is the type of problem that was irresistible for Roland Iten. So how did that turn out?

Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud FB 1

Chronomètre Ferdinand Berthoud FB 1, Winner Of The Aiguille d’Or At The 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

The first timepiece to emerge from the new Ferdinand Berthoud brand is called FB 1. “It has to be something special,” said the man behind the reborn brand, Chopard’s Karl-Friedrich Scheufele. And special it was: so special that the FB 1 took the Aiguille d’Or, the top prize at the 2016 GPHG. Read on to discover why.

Andreas Strehler Sauterelle à Lune Perpetuelle Exacte

Blood Moons, Lunar Tetrads, And The Andreas Strehler Sauterelle À Lune Perpétuelle (Archive)

The Andreas Strehler Sauterelle à Lune Perpétuelle contains a moon phase mechanism that will only need adjustment by one full day every 14,189.538 years. And not only does the Lune Perpétuelle have an extremely accurate moon phase, but with the help of the constant force mechanism it is even more accurate for the little intervals as well.

Kari Voutilainen accepting the prize for best Men's watch at the 2015 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève for the Voutilainen GMR

Live Stream Of The 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève English And French Starting 18:30 CET

Follow the 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) live in either English or French with our live video stream starting at 18:30 CET / 17:30 GMT) Thursday November 10.

Dubai Watch Week 2015

Watch World Meets Again In Dubai At DWW 2016: Quill & Pad Is There

The second edition of Dubai Watch Week runs 15 through 19 November, 2016 and promises to be three times larger than last year’s inaugural exhibition. The five-day event is organized by Seddiqi & Sons retailers and is the Gulf area’s largest dedicated watch event. Quill & Pad will be actively joining the fun!

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.

Light it up! Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox Boutique Edition 2016 glowing in the dark

Alarmingly Perfect: The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Memovox Boutique Edition

In the world of modern-interpretation-of-an-old-classic, the difference between hit and miss isn’t a knife edge, it’s a razor blade. And the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Memovox Boutique Edition manages to walk this fine line just right. In fact so right that try as I might I couldn’t find a flaw. I think it is absolutely perfect.

Pre-selected Petite Aiguille watches in the 2016 GPHG

Quill & Pad’s Predictions In The Petite Aiguille Category Of The 2016 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève

Welcome to the 2016 edition of Quill & Pad’s early Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève predictions in which the team picks favorites and explains why. The contenders are: Hermès Slim d’Hermès, Seiko Presage Automatic Chronograph Enamel Dial, Tiffany & Co. East West Automatic, Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze, Zenith Pilot Ton-Up, and Vulcain 50s Presidents’ Watch Tradition.

Gorilla Fastback relaxing on the grass with a friend

Design Freedom + Affordable Luxury: Gorilla Fastback By Octavio Garcia & Lukas Gopp

Creative freedom is what almost all designers yearn for. Which is why Octavio Garcia and Lukas Gopp, both previously of Audemars Piguet, have joined independent forces to create a new micro brand: Gorilla. Here is the first watch born of that union, one that is aimed at the WIS in all of us, but remains affordable.