Manhattan from Brooklyn artwork on the back of the unique piece Patek Philippe created for the Art of Watches Grand Exhibition in New York

Give Me Five! 5 American-Themed Rare Handcraft Watches At Patek Philippe’s 2017 Art Of Watches Grand Exhibition In New York

Here are five American-themed timepieces decorated with rare handcrafts that I thought stood out at the recent Patek Philippe Art of Watches Grand Exhibition in New York.

Louis Moinet Space Mystery in pink gold

Louis Moinet Space Mystery: Amino Acids Abound!

The Louis Moinet Space Mystery features a new invention christened the “satellite tourbillon.” Space Mystery also boasts fragments of meteorites from the moon, Mars, and a fragment of carbonaceous chondrite meteorite containing amino acids, whose origins may go back further than the creation of our solar system. A watch nerd enigma to follow us on!

Black Badger AGT Ultra and Super-LumiNova provide a blue lume spectacular when the lights go down on MB&F HM6 Alien Nation

MB&F’s Horological Machine 6 Alien Nation: Space Invaders Aren’t Coming, They’re Already Here!

As if MB&F’s HM6 wasn’t already wild enough, HM6 Alien Nation features something you have never seen in a watch and are unlikely to ever see again: six white gold aliens, which appear to be “crewing” the “spaceship.”

Vintage LeCoultre Galaxy

How, When, And Why Diamond-Set Watches For Men Were Commonly Accepted And The Importance America Played

Post-war United States boasted unique market conditions that allowed for diamond-set men’s watches from a variety of brands to thrive. Martin Green takes us on a journey to discover how and why diamond-set watches became part of the American Dream.

Fire Fly by Antoine Preziuso

Antoine Preziuso (Independent Watchmaker), Antonella Joannou (Dressage Champion), Dandy (Horse), And Fire Fly (Watch)

My life revolves around the usually disparate worlds of fine watchmaking and looking after equines; two universes that are so different it’s difficult to imagine how they might intersect. Yet intersect they did in the most unusual and entertaining way thanks to Antoine Preziuso and a Swiss dressage champion.

Schofield + Cudd leather weave strap

Imaginative Watch Straps By Schofield + Cudd Profess The ‘Art Of Strappage’

Quill & Pad contributor Simon Cudd has seldom worn a standard original strap on any watch he has ever owned. He has now teamed up with Giles Ellis, founder of Schofield Watch Company, to create original, bespoke straps under the name Schofield + Cudd.

The caliber 3500 movement visible through the display back of the Vacheron Constantin Harmony Ultra-Thin Grande Complication Chronograph

Automatic Watches Are For Watch Enthusiasts: A Counterpoint Here’s Why

Connoisseurs, as I wrote previously, want to connect with their watches, desiring an object to behold and cherish for its beauty, rarity, or complexity. Enthusiasts, on the other hand, like to wear their watches, use their watches, and maybe even abuse their watches when they utilize them as the tools they are.

Give Me Five! 5 Unanticipated Exhibits At Patek Philippe’s Art Of Watches Grand Exhibition In New York

Elizabeth shares the best and most surprising things she saw at the Patek Philippe Art of Watches Grand Exhibition recently held in New York City, starting with five incredible timepieces she did not expect to see there.

Parting shot: traveling in style with the Habring2 Doppel 2.0 on the author’s wrist

In Praise Of Habring2: A Collector’s View

If you’re just beginning to collect the works of independent watchmakers, I’m here to suggest that you give careful consideration to watches from Habring2, the small independent watchmaking company headed by Austrian couple Maria Kristina and Richard Habring.

Piaget Black Tie Vintage Watch For OW17

Piaget’s Black Tie Vintage For Only Watch 2017: Not Your Typical Piaget, Yet Still A Quintessential Piaget

One of the 49 brands donating watches in 2017 is Piaget, who created a very special version of its Black Tie Vintage with a brown Pietersite dial for the occasion. It is one of those watches that begs the question: is a Piaget that isn’t ultra-slim still a Piaget?