Montblanc Villeret Tourbillon Cylindrique Geosphères Vasco da Gama

BOOM! Montblanc’s Explorer-Inspired Heritage Chronométrie Collection

Montblanc’s watch division was motivated by Vasco De Gama, a Portuguese navigator, to write a horologically inspirational tale of pioneering spirit by creating a line of special edition watches accompanying the new Heritage Chronométrie collection.

Richard Mille RM 51-02 Diamond Twister

SIHH 2015 Photo Essay Monday: Ralph Lauren, Richard Mille, And Montblanc

Monday is usually a fairly easy day at the SIHH as the press conferences start later to allow visitors time to check in and get badges, etc. The Quill & Pad team kicked off SIHH 2015 with the Ralph Lauren, Richard Mille, and Montblanc press conferences.

The stunning De Bethune DB25T Zodiac on the wrist

SIHH 2015 Photo Essay Sunday: De Bethune, Urwerk, Laurent Ferrier, Revelation, Christophe Claret, Speake-Marin

Paradoxically, the SIHH really begins at least a day before its doors open; Sunday is the time to visit the smaller brands holding private exhibitions Geneva. So we put on our Sunday best and headed into town for a busy day of meetings with De Bethune, Urwerk, Laurent Ferrier, Revelation, Christophe Claret, Speake-Marin.

Roger Dubuis Excalibur Automatic Skeleton

Enlightenment And Nothingness: Roger Dubuis Excalibur Automatic Skeleton

The art of skeletonizing a watch is definitely a rare skill, but so is creating a skeleton movement from the ground up to conceive only the essential right from the start: in essence, the most nothingness possible.

For the art of skeletonization, emptiness is the holy grail that is emphatically sought.

One great example was released at SIHH 2015: the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Automatic Skeleton. Like the majority of the Excalibur Skeleton pieces, it’s a skeleton movement instead of a skeleton-ized movement.

Greubel Forsey GMT with red gold dial

SIHH 2015: Greubel Forsey In Black, Gold, And Understated

Greubel Forsey has begun the new year with a bang by presenting three new models at the 2015 SIHH: GMT Black, GMT with a striking red gold dial, and the all-new, beautifully pared-down, Tourbillon 24 Secondes Vision.

Alan Turing statue wearing a Bremont Codebreaker at Bletchley Park

“Alan Turing” Wearing A Bremont Victory At Bletchley Park

Cumberbatch portrays Alan Turing in the film “The Imitation Game”. Turing was instrumental to the Allied effort during World War II by leading a group of English mathematicians working at Bletchley Park to crack the German Enigma codes. Have a look at the Turing statue wearing a Bremont Victory for a brief second. What a fitting tribute!

Parmigiani's Dragon

Celebrating 25 Years Of SIHH

It is impossible to think that the SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie) has been around for 25 years already…you know what they say, tempus fugit (time flies). The Geneva fair began in 1991 with five exhibitors: Cartier, Piaget and Baume & Mercier Gérald Genta and Daniel Roth.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Tribute to Reverso 1931 on the author’s wrist

Why I Bought It: Jaeger-LeCoultre Tribute To Reverso 1931

Over the twenty-odd years I’ve been buying “serious” watches, I’ve purchased more pieces bearing the Jaeger-LeCoultre brand name than any other, by far. Within the Jaeger-LeCoultre pantheon, one watch sub-group stands out for me: the Reverso. Between my wife and I, we’ve bought a total of seven Reverso models. Given that, why add another? In this instance, the Reverso Tribute to 1931?

Breguet fountain pen with cap on and off

Breguet: The Pen Whisperer

When it comes to a brand like Breguet, one expects nothing but the very best in every aspect of its representation. So I figured its pens, like its recent jewelry collections, would be solid and elegant expressions of the company’s overriding sense of quality and innovation. I was right.

McGonigle Tuscar Bánú in red gold

Interconnectivity And Independence: The McGonigle Tuscar

Brothers John and Stephen McGonigle from Athlone, Ireland are fine examples of the independent spirit, and this is evident in their unique Tuscar timepiece, which features a highly distinctive in-house movement with subtle details reflecting their Irish heritage.