Ludwig Oechslin has achieved an astronomical moon indication based on just four individual components. Intelligent minimalism and aesthetic clarity.Ludwig Oechslin already made a huge impression with the Freak and the Trillogy of Time he created for Ulysse Nardin.Later he created the MIH Watch with an annual calendar comprising of only 9 components and later the Ochs und Junior Anno Cinquanta wher...
When Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced the Memovox International, earlier this year, I had no idea it had an ancestor. However while browsing Ebay last night, I found a beautiful vintage version of the Memovox International. I never saw the old version before, but it looks great. Check it out.At SIHH 2010 Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced?the Master Memovox International, originally created for the brand's 12...
Moonfire is not a book about watches. However since it’s about the historic Apollo 11 Moon landing, i think most Omega Speedmaster collectors will find it an interesting book. Especially now the price dropped drastically. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 Moon landing, Taschen Publishers and Norman Mailer joined forces to create a unique tribute to the defining sc...
Sometimes you see a watch and you immediately ‘fall in love’ with it. This does not happen too often, but what if this happens with two watches from the same brand? Recently a friend mailed me about a watch that was for sale at a local watch store. He knoww I have a weak spot for mono-poussoir chronographs. The watch was a Roger Dubuis Hommage Mono-poussoir in white gold with a salmon ...
TAG Heuer and the Porsche Club of America launch the Monaco 55, a very limited collector's edition.Last month i wrote about my first ‘love’ in watches, my Heuer Autavia. However?the first mechanical watch i ever seriously took a looked at, was a TAG Heuer Monaco, which is still one of my favorites. When i heard TAG Heuer released a (very) limited edition Monaco to celebrate the 55th an...
Most collectors have a personal preference. Some collectors focus mainly on dive watches, some on chronograph and some have a ‘weak spot’ for a certain brand. A good friend collects Cartier watches, not just any Cartier but mainly from the Collection Privee. Another good friend collects watches from A. Lange und Sohne and he has some extraordinary pieces. My initial personal preference...
Statistics of Monochrome show an increased search for independent watchmakers. Although it’s easy to find information online, it is difficult to see their watches yourself…. unless you’re close to one of the few boutiques selling watches from independent watchmakers.Before making the decision to buy a watch, most watch collectors like to see and feel a watch.?In most parts of the...
I think every watch collector remembers that first watch that made an incredible impression. The watch was so beautiful and intriguing, you kept thinking about it. But why was it so expensive? Over the years i’ve had quite a few watches. Sometimes when i look at the photos of the watches that came and went away, i see how my taste for watches changed. It also makes me remember watches that u...
This morning i read a post about Cartier and i just want to share it. I was blown away by the Cartier’s respect for their own design heritage. I’ve yet to see another brand that is so consistent in their design throughout several product lines… and it’s done with a lot of attention for detail.The photo shows the Cartier Tortue Mono-poussoir with matching Tortue belt buckle ...
Bremont Watches is a relatively new watch brand from the UK. Yes indeed, a British watch brand. And it’s a very interesting brand. Last year a friend told me about a new and very nice watch brand. After looking at some photos of their watches, i was interested but could not fully relate to his immense enthusiasm. The photos showed nice ‘aviation’ watches, more or less like the IW...
The quest of making a watch brand successful isn’t an easy one. Especially?because of the ecenomic recession, it might seem difficult. There is however another (surprising) reason why it’s so difficult to keep a watch brand successful.Over at The Watch Lounge, guest author Olivier Muller, wrote three four (edited by Mono) excellent stories about the difficulty of choosing between innov...
Another interesting day at Baselworld… and besides several meetings and running into some of the very best watchmakers on planet earth during a book-signing, it was also time to finally get my new MIH Watch!Today the book 12 Faces of Time was officially released with a book-signing. Elizabeth Doerr, writer, and Ralf Baumgarten, photographer, really did an excellent job. Not only is the book ...
Tonight i read an article about two Cartier Mono-poussoirs and Cartier’s rich horological history…. An absolute must-read for watch aficionados!The last few years Cartier surprised me with the new collection. The ending of the Collection Privee Cartier Paris was kind of a shock. However the size of Cartier’s top-end complicated watches was a bigger shock. I’ve always looked...
It’s been roughly 9 months since I bought my ‘grail-watch’, the Korona K1 from the Finnish watchmaker Stepan Sarpaneva. So enough experience to sit down and write about this watch that’s been on my wrist almost permanently for almost 9 months. My Sarpaneva Korona K1 was my first watch from an independent watchmaker and also my most luxurious/expensive watch ever. When Stepa...
One of the things that really amazed me this year was the lack of pre-releases before the Salon International de Haute Horlogerie (SIHH). Now the SIHH 2010 is almost finished, the pre-releases for Baselworld are already here!The only serieous SIHH pre-release?came from?Lange und Sohne. In December i already posted the?new Lange 1 Daymatic, which?instantly became my favorite Lange 1 and probably?my...
Finding a perfect vacation watch is a subject that has kept me busy for some years. When Linde Werdelin heard about my vacation plans they immediately?asked me to test their 2-Timer. Is?this the perfect vacation watch?During the month of January i’m on vacation in India. No luxurious vacation, a basic backpacking trip that starts in Goa for?a few days of pure relaxation!?Linde Werdelin was s...
I’ve seen the different?Linde Werdelin straps, which i think are very nice. Recently i fond out they also have a bracelet, which?really suits the typical LindeWerdelin design. In my opnion it really completes their watches. Take a look.? Earlier this month, i wrote about the 5-day test-drive Linde Werdelin offers to people who are interested their watches. Linde Werdelin was so kind to borro...
Jaeger-LeCoultre wins the Chronometrie 2009 International timing competition for mechanical wristwatches with the Master Tourbillon.?In fact Jaeger-LeCoultre won not only the first price, also picked up second place for the Reverso Gyro Tourbillon 2.The two Jaeger-LeCoultre watches were adjusted by a team led by the firm's technical director, Mr Jean-Claude Meylan. The photo below shows the moveme...
Lange & Sohne present their new Lange 1 Daymatic. With a completely new automatic movement with a centrally placed rotor! Will this be my new favorite Lange 1?Lange & Sohne present their first SIHH 2010 novelty, a new Lange 1 automatic! Yes it’s kind of shocking, at least at first. A Lange 1 with an automatic movement. The Lange 1 collection has been applauded world wide by watch lov...
TAG Heuer’s new caliber 1887 is already subject to discussion, only a few days after it’s release. Even TAG Heuer’s CEO J.C. Babin mingles in the discussion on the world’s biggest watch forum Watchuseek and weblog Calibre 11. December 2nd 2009 TAG Heuer released a new automatic chronograph, caliber 1887. According to the press release, calibre 1887 is the fifth movement des...
Independent watchmakers and the ‘BIG name’ brands are very different. Yet they all aim for the same goal, which is making (and selling) beautiful watches. In a series of articles i will share some?observations and thoughts.In my first chronicle about Independent Watchmakers & the ‘BIG name’ brands I wrote about the difference in reputation and the role of marketing. The...
Calibre 11 is the first automatic chronograph and the name of a new weblog dedicated to Vintage Heuer watches. If you’re into vintage Heuer watches, you might want to check it out. Since my first ‘expensive’ watch, a vintage Heuer Autavia, i’m a huge fan of vintage Heuer watches. Especially their chronographs. The fact they made the first automatic chronograph ever, also ad...
Once a year Lange und Sohne and a LOG member host a dinner for a number of watch collectors and aficionados. A few weeks ago i was invited for this dinner and had the chance to see the Zeitwerk, Pour Le Merite Tourbillon and Double Split in the metal. LOG stands for Lange Owners Group. The name doesn’t leave much to explain. Once a year A.Lange und Sohne asks several LOG members, regionally ...
The pocket watch movement Unitas 6497 is a reliable workhorse. It’s being used in numerous watches… not only pocket watches! It actually got the most fame because it was used by Panerai. Since Panerai gained name and fame among watch collectors, so did the movement Panerai used in most of their watches of that time, Unitas caliber 6497. The last few years there are numerous brands usin...
Sometimes you see a watch that immediately grabs your attention. For me the Audemars Piguet Millenary Piano Forte is such a watch. Is this the perfect dress watch? I can still remember the first time i saw an advertisement for the Millenary Piano Forte. Deeply impressed…?A few days ago i was looking through the catalog of the upcoming Antiquorum auction. Seeing a Audemars Piguet Millenary fo...
When astronauts are orbiting the world things that break down have to be repaired, even a watch. Here’s a great video showing repair of an Omega SpeedmasterX-33. The Omega Speedmaster X-33 collection is completely unique from all of the other Speedmasters, starting with the movement. The Speedmaster X-33 features an analog and digital display. Ad - Scroll to continue with article ...
On September 24th the charity auction Only Watch will be held in Monaco. Many of the most prestigious Swiss watch brands created a unique watch for this charity event that is held during the Monaco Yacht Show.?All the proceeds of the Only Watch charity auction will be donated to the research of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The next Only Watch auction is organized in close collaboration with Patriz...
Portero Private is a luxury sales website, offering special sales for members only. Right now they have an amazing Panerai sale! Portero Private - special Panerai sale for membersPortero Private is a members-only private sale site for luxury goods like watches, pens & jewelery. The special sales are only for a limited time, which could be from 24 up to 72 hours. On offer are not only new luxur...
Raymond Weil releases a new model in the Don Giovanni Cosi Grande collection, the Jumping Hour. Watches with jumping hours exist since 1830 but it took until 1921 before the first wrist watches with this complication was available.Raymond Weil is one of those watch brands that somehow does not get that much attention on the internet. While their availability in AD’s (at least in Western Euro...
Omega released a new model in the Seamaster Aqua Terra collection, the Seamaster Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra GMT Chronograph. Of course another Omega with their famous co-axial escapement, but did you know how the co-axial escapement ended up in Omega’s watches?Since the introduction of the new Seamaster Aqua Terra collection, these watches have the new co-axial escapement. So does the new Se...