There once was a time when a gentleman’s daily ritual involved the winding of his watch. Whether in the morning before leaving for work or in the evening after removing it for bed, it was a moment for connection and contemplation. The rise of self-winding, or automatic, movements has all but consigned this custom to […]
Read MoreWith telling the time now as simple as tapping a home screen, it can be easy to forget that watches are machines of exquisite craftsmanship. Even the simplest of mechanical movements can have a mesmeric effect, with hundreds of individual parts ticking like, well, clockwork. And some manufactures go one cog further. “Horological complications are […]
Read MoreWatches have, to some degree, long been customisable. A second strap is often second nature to some luxury brands (which you’d hope for, given the price tag), while others settle for an engraving to the caseback – ‘Happy 21st Adam’ and so on. For some, however, the personal touch needs to be more a thump. […]
Read MoreHear the words Bell & Ross and you think ‘pilot’ or maybe, if you’re being really specific, ‘cockpit instruments’. Which isn’t surprising considering this brand was set up by a team of specialists in aeronautical instruments. After conquering the air, however, Bell & Ross has decided to plumb the depths once more, but this time […]
Read MoreIn the world of fine watches (or haute horlogerie if you want to sound swish and Swiss), statement pieces are more divisive than any wide leg trouser. Too gauche for the purists and too, well, statement, for the rest, a quick search on a dedicated forum will reveal keyboard wars of near-nuclear proportions. Though just […]
Read MoreWith over 26 movies and seven actors playing the man on film, James Bond has had a lot of birthdays. Now, to mark three colliding anniversaries – Tomorrow Never Dies is 20, The Spy Who Loved Me 40, while You Only Live Twice is now half a century old – Omega has released a brand […]
Read MoreIn the watch world, it’s easy to dismiss anything affordable as sub-par. If there’s no automatic movement, diamonds or big brand name – and with those things, a sizeable price tag – then it’s apparently not worth your time. Well, we can confirm that thinking as a load of tosh. “A good watch needn’t cost […]
Read MoreIt’s no secret that luxury watches are expensive. But in some cases, a sought-after timepiece’s resale price can far exceed its initial RRP. From (very) limited editions to grand complications that celebrate quality craftsmanship, the world’s most expensive watches could set you back more than what you’d cough up for a yacht. Or a Chelsea […]
Read MoreWhile 2016 has served up a series of unexpected events, what’s happened in the watch industry this year has been more predictable. Companies have begun a shift West as the US and European markets grow larger than those in the fast-shrinking East, making this year (and next) all about bigger, more affordable steel watches. Jury’s […]
Read MoreTrend forecasting is no mean feat. Pinpointing what’s superfluous and what’ll stick involves considering hundreds of brands and designers, not to mention potential political and financial shifts. Changing attitudes, changing faces, celebrity endorsements – you name it, trend forecasters consider it. Yet while fashion has its year-round conveyor belt of collections, the watch world has […]
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