Apple Shipped More Watches Than The Whole Swiss Watch Industry in Q4 2017
We already knew that the Apple Watch was becoming a heavyweight of the watchmaking industry. Back in 2016, during the annual “Key Note” press conference, Tim Cook claimed that Apple was second only to Rolex in worldwide sales. In September, Cook announced that Apple Watch has become the top-selling watch globally. A few days ago came the final blow: Apple is on its way to sell more watches than the entire Swiss watch industry.
Van Cleef & Arpels have long been recognised as one of the world’s most creative high jewellery houses. Taking inspiration from nature, magic and fairy tales, the Parisian Maison creates complex jewels of unusually high technical and design content – so that even the most extravagant pieces have a lightness, charm and wit. In recent years, Van Cleef & Arpels have also become recognised for their artistic and highly creative watches. But it is no mere arriviste in the world of horology. In the 1920s the famously elegant Louis Arpels designed the Ruban (‘ribbon’) watch, with a rectangular case that formed an unbroken line with the links of its gold bracelet. A 1927 pocket watch with a double retrograde display featured a robed Chinese Mandarin on the dial, whose arms indicate the hours on one side and the minutes on the other. Having coined the phrase “Jewels that tell the Time”, Van Cleef & Arpels have always endeavoured to blur the lines between high jewellery and horology. However, a decision made in 2006 has radically changed the Maison’s stature in watchmaking. Stanislas de Quercize, then the CEO, asked Nicolas Bos (Creative Director at the time, Bos succeeded de Quercize as…
If you follow the world of independent watchmaking you’re likely familiar with the name Peter Speake-Marin. Until recently, Speake-Marin was the man behind the eponymous watch brand. After 17 years, the English watchmaker stepped away from the brand (which is still in business) and announced a new venture – The Naked Watchmaker — a site that bills itself as a sort of horological encyclopaedia, utilising Peter’s formidable watchmaking skills to strip watches down to their barest essentials, taking numerous macro photos along the way, with brief (not overly technical) explanation. It’s an excellent resource, regardless of where you are on your watch journey. The other day we spotted a watch deconstruction we suspect a few of you might be interested in — the mighty Rolex Submariner. Thanks to its solid back, you don’t typically see inside the Sub. But if you’ve ever wondered what lies beneath that iconic dial, in minutest detail, you’ll want to click this link. Images via thenakedwatchmaker.com
