Glashütte Original PanoMaticInverse in red gold

Ode To Three-Quarter Plate Movements: A Poem

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In a recent article about the Glashütte Original PanoMaticInverse, author Joshua Munchow introduced the PanoMaticInverse’s distinctive three-quarter movement plate with a poem. We thought it was quite a good poem, and we think it deserves its own post. Why the three-quarter plate? In simple terms, three-quarter and full movement plates are the only way to absolutely know that everything is held perfectly in place with no possible chance of shifting or alignment issues.

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Patek Philippe 5304R Grand Complication

175 Years Of Heritage And Legacy: The Patek Philippe 5304R Grand Complication

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Patek Philippe’s 5304R comes across as a good-looking watch with a casual, complicated skeletonized dial from the front. There is nothing ostentatious about it, nothing that screams for attention. Instead there it sits on your wrist, like a gentleman in a top hat, politely saying good evening to any who should glance its way.

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Tourbillon Pre-Selected Watches: Round Table Discussion Of The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2014

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Just look at the contenders in this heavyweight Tourbillon division: Breguet Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Automatique, Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon, Grönefeld Parallax Tourbillon, Montblanc Villeret ExoTourbillon Rattrapante, TAG Heuer Carrera MikroPendulum Tourbillon, and the Blancpain Villeret 12-Day One-Minute Flying Tourbillon. Our panel just managed to reach a majority decision, but it was a close race.

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Just a few of the pens in Nancy Olson's collection of fine writing instruments

Putting The ‘Quill’ In Quill & Pad: Introducing Resident ‘Pen Expert’ Nancy Olson

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Today we introduce the latest resident writer to Quill & Pad, one who literally puts the “quill” into it! Nancy Olson has been an advocate of pens and the art of handwriting for twenty-five years, as well as probably the foremost authority on fine writing instruments, and we have the immense pleasure of adding yet another layer to our repertoire of luxury journalism and musings.

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Tambour Twin Chrono by Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton’s Journey To Watch Nirvana (Or Meyrin)

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Louis Vuitton embarks down a colorful path that may lead to the brand becoming a big player in the luxury watch industry as head of the iconic leather brand’s watch and jewelry division, Hamdi Chatti, recently revealed. And this alongside stunning pieces of haute horologie such as the Tambour TwinChrono and the Escale worldtimer. Is Chatti looking to change Louis Vuitton’s existing strategies, forcing it to morph into something it has never been before?

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Striking Pre-Selected Watches: Round Table Discussion Of The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2014

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The complications are getting ever more difficult and chiming watches are really at the crossroads of art and craft. Pre-selected in the Striking category are the Hublot Classic Fusion Cathedral Tourbillon Minute Repeater, Claude Meylan La Répétition 5, Urban Jürgensen & Sønner Tourbillon Minute Repeater Regulator, Christophe Claret Soprano, Bulgari Ammiraglio Del Tempo, and Breguet Classique La Musicale.

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Ressence Type 3 on the wrist

How Do They Do That? The Ressence Type 3

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The Ressence Type 3 is really in a class by itself and I knew, or thought that I knew, just how different it was to other mechanical timepieces. But on a recent visit to an atelier in Switzerland where the Type 3 is assembled, I was profoundly surprised (yet again) at just how dissimilar many of the components in the Type 3 are to those found in more “normal” mechanical watch movements.

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Ludovic Ballouard Upside Down with mother of pearl dial

When Confusion Paves The Way To Awe: The Ludovic Ballouard Upside Down

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The world can be very confusing. But confusion is a tricky concept, with a medical definition to match. For this reason, it should come as no surprise that when I first saw the Ludovic Ballouard Upside Down I had a moment of total confusion. I didn’t even know what was confusing me, I just felt like something was wrong. And then I noticed it: all the numbers were upside down.

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Despite a plethora of indications, all displays are easily read and logically

Augustus by Lang & Heyne: No More Forgotten Anniversary Excuses

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A completely new indication, or indications, within an existing category of complications comes up only once in a blue moon. Until the Augustus, calendar complications consisted of indications for date, day, month, moon phase, annual calendars and perpetual calendars/leap year, tides, and astronomical elements such as star charts. That reads like a fairly comprehensive list, but none until now help to avoid the disappointment of forgetting a wedding anniversary or birthday.

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An historic A. Lange & Sohne pocket watch from the film commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Lange 1

A. Lange & Söhne Looks Back On 20 Years Of The Lange 1 And 25 Years Of German Reunification: Film Premiere

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In October 2014, Germany celebrates 25 years of reunification and A. Lange & Söhne celebrates 20 years since the truly iconic Lange 1 was introduced. Quill & Pad has the immense honor of presenting a new film to you with a great deal of never-before-seen footage ahead of its October 25 premier in Dresden.

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