Announcements: Applications Now Being Accepted For The Horological Society Of New York Henry B. Fried Scholarship
Are you a watchmaking student? Apply now for awards up to $10,000!
Bring a Loupe: A Fortis Marinemaster, A ’60s Tudor Sub, And A Rolex Ref. 3525
Your weekly round-up of the best vintage watches from around the web.
Hands-on – The New MeisterSinger Astroscope, using Constellations in an Unusual Way
The motto ‘just different’ is clichéd and meaningless, but if any brand can pull it off, it’s got be MeisterSinger. And the best thing about it is that it’s not just different for the sake of being different. There’s real thought behind being different. This certainly goes for the signature single-hand display. And that is […]
HOW TO: Buy a Valentine's Day watch in 90 secs
Buying a watch for anyone other than yourself is a difficult thing to do, for exactly the same reasons it is so enjoyable to wear a watch at all – it is a deeply personal decision. This challenge is amplified when you’re faced with the 14th of February, and are standing at the counter of a boutique with three watches in front of you, unable to be sure of which is the best one. Luckily for you, we have arranged a 90-second refresher on what to consider when purchasing a Valentine’s Day watch for your significant other, which outlines the three keys to success in this high-pressure environment. There’s no need to thank us, your successful Valentine’s Day gifting is enough.
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Hands-on – The New Maurice Lacroix Aikon Chronograph Skeleton
Continuing its expansion strategy, Maurice Lacroix presents the Aikon Chronograph Skeleton, the first skeletonised chronograph movement in its Aikon Automatic line-up. The openworked chronograph movement is not new; it was first featured in the Masterpiece collection and reappears today in the virile case of the brand’s vision of an accessible luxury sports watch. The modern, […]
Californication: 4 of the best California dial watches
For an industry with such a rich tapestry of history, it’s surprising to realise just how many mysteries remain unanswered in the world of horology: Who really wore the Explorer up Everest? Who bought Paul Newman’s Daytona? And why is the California dial called the California dial? While Tenzing Norgay probably knows the answer to the first question, and Aurel Bacs definitely knows the answer to the second, nobody really knows the answer to that last question. Some theorise that the “California dial”, which splits half the numerals on a watch’s dial between Roman and Arabic, is so-called because that particular design was exceedingly popular in the state of California in the ’30s and ’40s. Others speculate that it’s because of a notable Californian watchmaker dial and refinisher, Kirk Rich, who was churning out this particular design in the 1970s. The truth is, we’re probably never going to know the real answer to this question, but we do know one thing for certain — a watch with a California dial is a good-looking thing, and below are four timepieces you can still purchase with the distinctive design: Panerai Radiomir California – 47MM Panerai has a very long history with the…
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Great 'Grams: Dial details and custom cases
This week on Great ‘Grams we get up close and personal with the number of the beast, a custom Eastern Arabic dial from an independent watchmaker, and a very rare Rolex thought to be sold by a retailer off the coast of Miami. The Bahamas-based retailer in question is John Bull, established in 1929 and a current-day Authorised Dealer of Rolex, who once sold some rather unusual sports watches. There is little information out there on these watches, but it seems that John Bull would modify the cases of a handful of Rolex watches with a bark finish and engrave the caseback with the name of the boutique and sometimes an edition number. While it seems unbelievable that a retailer would be allowed to modify a Rolex prior to sale, a comparison could be drawn to some early examples of Rolex watches that featured both the Rolex and Tiffany & Co. signatures, which were sold by the New York retailer and had the Tiffany & Co. stamp applied at the boutique. Examples of John Bull Rolex sports watches that have come up for auction include Daytonas, Submariners, and GMT-Masters, but in small numbers as a result of their rarity. It’s a…
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Franck Muller offers watchmaking that comes from the heart
Editor’s note: Today, love is in the air. Florists are being run off their feet, restaurants are booked out and Cupid has spent the week on the archery range. If you’re planning to get a gift for your significant other, you’d better hurry up, but don’t forget to make sure your gift is a romantic one. As the air is thick with passion this fine Friday, we can’t help but consider one of the most expressively passionate watches of the last few years, the Franck Muller Cintrée Curvex ladies tourbillon. Complete with a heart-shaped tourbillon cage, diamond-set flanks and an intimately curved case that wraps around the wrist, it’s a watch that shouts to the world that romance is far from dead. In a world overflowing with safe-and-similar watch designs, Franck Muller is a breath of fresh air. As in this ladies tourbillon (a recent addition to the Cintrée Curvex Collection), the confident use of colour, the beautiful balance of traditional and avant-garde, the refined details on the dial, and the voluptuous curves of the case have been signatures of the brand since it was founded by the eponymous Mr Muller 28 years ago. For anyone whose interest in watches…
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Business News: Vacheron Constantin Announces New NY Boutique On East 57th Street
The new boutique will mark a dramatic new presence for Vacheron in New York City.
Hands-on – Bell & Ross BR 03-92 GREY LUM – And a Look at the Entire LUM Collection
Inspired by dashboard flight instruments… This statement alone could easily define most of Bell & Ross’ creations. Whether we talk about the design of the watch itself, its features or the quest for optimal legibility, both day and night. The latter is particularly important for today’s matter because there’s a new watch in the LUM […]