Tag Archives: watchmaking

Many of today’s finest watch manufactures offer their timepieces in a choice of case metals; the three most common alloys used are high grade stainless steel, eighteen karat gold, and increasingly platinum. Stainless steel is by far the most common alloy used for watch cases and bracelets today because of …

In watchmaking there are 3 grand complications. Holologists often speak of 3 classic high complications collectively known as “grandes complication”. They are the Perpetual Calendar, the Tourbillon, and the Minute Repeater. Perpetual Calendar A perpetual calendar is a mechanism that automatically takes into account the varying number of days in …

Manual Wind The owner of this type of watch winds the watch regularly. Hand winding is what makes the watch run. When the watch runs out of energy produced by the hand winding, the watch stops. In some cases, some manual wind watches are more efficient then other manual wind …

Consider an exotic car like a Ferrari: People who own and covet these fine cars will admit to some occasion or another where a given car had to receive some attention (sometimes multiple times) for maintenance, or adjustment; yet this seldom blunts their enthusiasm to enjoy their Ferrari(s) to the …

The other day, I came across an interesting and thought provoking analytical article, written by a certain Mr. Jean-Claude Nicolet, a watchmaker and professor in La Chaux de Fonds. http://www.europastar.com/watch-knowledge/1004082417-the-tourbillon.html In the article, the author presents his case that the tourbillon regulator is, for all purposes, a needlessly complex horological …

So often you hear supposed watch collectors ask, “does that brand make their own movements?” The general idea being that any company that makes a entire movement (or 90% plus) in-house is defined as a true manufacturer and therefore a more collectable brand. I used to think this way but …

Traditional watchmaking is a craft that has continued for hundreds of years. Originally all movements were manually wound and had to be wound daily to stay on time. There was also the problem of over winding the watch. After some time watchmakers developed the automatic winding movement to eliminate the …

To many laypersons who have begun their fascination with luxury watchmaking, the terms “mechanical watch” and “automatic” are interchangeable. They eagerly look for a “sweeping” second hand to tell them that the watch is an automatic, and therefore fine or valuable. That sure described me. Remember the 80’s, when the “reliable” …

Some people are of the opinion that Roger Dubuis produces watches that are more about fashion than fine watchmaking. I respectfully beg to differ. Regardless of whether you find their bold, expressive style fabulously beautiful, or overwhelmingly flamboyant, one simply must admire the horological achievements of the brand born in …