Under Pressure!
Some years ago, I had the curious pleasure of interviewing an offshore commercial diver. Burly, laconic and a sort of modern-day cowboy in rubber boots, he was an odd fellow, impressive, unknowable, apparently unflappable. In tones that lacked any inflexion, he described being hundreds of metres below the water where he was working on a […]
The Right Watch
Splashdown! Aurora 7 was four hours, 32 minutes and 47 seconds into its flight, travelling at over 17,000 miles per hour, orbiting over Hawaii for the third time when the gyro warning light appeared on Scott Carpenter’s control panel, requiring the manual firing of the retro rockets for re-entry. The mission up to that point […]
THE SHAPE OF TIME TO COME
“The historian’s special contribution is the discovery of the manifold shapes of time. The aim of the historian, regardless of his specialty in erudition, is to portray time. He is committed to the detection and description of the shape of time.” George Kubler, The Shape of Time, 1962. “And when he has conquered all the […]
Watches & Wonders, the reunion
Watches and Wonders has been the first major Swiss watch fair in over two years and, whilst it felt great to be back in a familiar environment, it felt simultaneously strange. The lack of both Asian and Russian attendees meant that the show seemed less busy than expected, but on the whole, it was as […]
It’s getting pretty complicated
Slowly but steadily watch brands have realised that women care about their wristwear. Gone are the days when you could just make a smaller version of your best-selling men’s watch, stick a few diamonds on it and sell it to the ladies. As women become increasingly independent and wealthy, take more space in boardrooms, on […]
Complexity and horological artistry
It was with much excitement that the watch industry flocked to the 2022 edition of Watches & Wonders after a three-year hiatus. Royalty brands like Patek Philippe were there to show everyone why they still are THE most collectable watches in the world. There is a sublime elegance to Patek Philippe. Despite the complexity and […]
She, He, They
From design to advertising campaigns, watch brands are proving their willingness to include gender neutral choices in their collections. For some – like Nomos – this is not new. From the word go their watches have looked good on any wrist; the simplicity and economy of their design breaking down all kinds of barriers of […]
King Arthur meets Game of Thrones
Roger Dubuis started its watchmaking journey 27 years ago, from the beginning stating his ground by creating striking timepieces that quickly caught the attention of watch collectors worldwide for their technical complexity and avant-garde designs. Their latest adventure reshapes our understanding of Hyper Horology by bringing to life the eighth iteration of their iconic Knights […]
Breguet Reine de Naples
In 1812, Abraham-Louis Breguet created the very first wristwatch for Napoleon’s sister, Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples. This historic piece, freely interpreted, is the inspiration for a feminine collection which has become legendary. Unfortunately, the original vanished at some point, lost forever… which somehow adds to the mystery and romanticism around many of Breguet’s timepieces. […]
Going green!
Green, not just as the colour but as a symbol of sustainability, has been fully embraced by luxury watch brands if the recent Watches & Wonders novelties are anything to guide us by. It may be that Covid-19 has taught us to slow down and appreciate the wonders of nature, it may be pure and […]
