Looking back at the entire collection of Horological Machines by Max Büsser and Friends, there is no denying the extreme audacity of the designs. Inspirations are eclectic and highly original, from vintage supercars to jetfighter engines, jellyfish to spaceships, a panda, a frog, a bulldog and even something that I’ll leave to your own imagination… For […]
In 2020, Urwerk bid farewell to the UR-210, one of its most iconic watches, with the announcement of its final edition. Shortly after that, the UR-220 Falcon emerged, retaining the easily recognizable features of its predecessor while introducing a new case, redesigned movement, and additional functions. Fast forward three years, Urwerk founders Baumgartner and Frei […]
Whenever birthdays or anniversaries are celebrated, brands like to go the extra mile in creating something truly cool or special. These celebratory pieces can become icons in their own right, as they often have special features, unique materials or never-to-be-repeated colour combinations. Omega has done it with the Seamaster, Audemars Piguet with the Royal Oak […]
The project of Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, co-president of Chopard, Ferdinand Berthoud has established a very strong presence in the minds of independent and high-end watchmaking enthusiasts. The FB3, a complex time-only watch, is the third pillar of the brand. Sophisticate yet understated, this elegant chronometer is a superb display of fine workmanship, meticulous attention to detail […]
In 2022, I had the great pleasure of meeting Ondřej Berkus in person and spending a day at his workshop. The experience was like nothing I had ever experienced, and I decided to write about it here as my way of remembering every detail of the visit. Nearly exactly one year later, I had the […]
Consistency is a key factor in any fledgling watchmaking brand and Ming Thein’s watchmaking project, a.k.a MING Watches, has stuck its course of coherent design producing a style that is recognisable and judging by its sales, widely admired. To celebrate the brand’s fifth anniversary in 2022, Ming unveiled a sophisticated monopusher chronograph in titanium with […]
Look at this watch… It’s the new Havender model by a Scandinavian brand named Arcanaut, co-founded by James Thompson, a.k.a Black Badger. Look closely at its dial, and you’ll think that it’s a nice, rather undefinable lavender-toned composite material. In a way, you’d be right to think so, but there is more to know about it […]
Atypical careers in watchmaking are rare, if not exceptional. Most of today’s watchmakers work to the mandates of marketing and Excel spreadsheets and tend to be conventional and conformist. There are, however, some rare exceptions and Yvan Arpa, founder of ArtyA, is one of them. Flamboyant and unpredictable, unfiltered and out of the ordinary, just […]
Minase is a Japanese micro-brand specialising in complex cases and dials with superlative handmade finishings. Since the focus is primarily on the external elements of the watch, Minase often turns to traditional Japanese artistic techniques to decorate the dial. The latest Minase Divido models flaunt incredible handmade dials using Urushi lacquer mixed with paint and […]
Finding simpler solutions to complex problems is the overriding philosophy at Ochs und Junior, the brand founded by Ludwig Oechslin in 2006. Developing complications with as few components as possible, combined with a radical minimalist design, are hallmark features of Ochs und Junior. The moon phase complication, which is accurate for 3,478 years, was introduced […]