Watches NEWS
Union Glashutte 1893 Johannes Durrstein Edition Power Reserve
The Glashutte region in South-East Germany is home to many very interesting watch manufacturers, ranging from relatively affordable to proper high-end stuff. The region is famous for a very distinct style of watchmaking, which radiates through pretty much any brand currently in operation. Clean, legible, nicely finished and often with clever and practical complications, it seems Germans simply do things differently. A brand we never covered before, for no apparent reason by the way, is Union Glashutte. With designs that tie in with the region’s aesthetical codes, Union Glashutte produces solely mechanical watches under the Swatch Group umbrella. But, as we’re about to see through the Union Glashutte 1893 Johannes Durrstein Edition Power Reserve, there’s plenty to say about this brand.The history of Union Glashutte goes back a century and a half and is intertwined with several other high-end watchmaking companies from the Glashutte region. The story starts in 1874 when
Xavier Markl's Top 10 of the SIHH 2017
The SIHH 2017 was my 19th attendance to the Geneva-based fair. What a pleasure to tour the inescapable Geneva Haute Horlogerie rendez-vous, which has been great vintage indeed! Here's my top ten favorite watches, after over 2,000 pictures shot. These are presented without specific order, focusing on gents watches (no mention therefore of the magnificent jeweled watches from Cartier, Piaget or Van Cleef and Arpels). A tough choice but as we had to pick ten, here we go with my personal highlightsGreubel Forsey Grande SonnerieThe grande sonnerie and petite sonnerie hold a special place in the world of Haute Horlogerie. There is only a handful of watchmakers capable of manufacturing such works of arts, often regarded as the ultimate horological complication. Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey are adding a 24-second inclined tourbillon to their impressive Grande Sonnerie. The power-hungry strike-work mechanism is powered by its one barrel wound by a micro-rotor to fulfill its function for lo
A closer look at the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Sandstone
Colour has become a key protagonist in the watch world these days. We've seen just about every colour under the sun splashed across dials, and many brands tout a simple change of dial colour as a novelty. Colour can be fun, but it can also get tiring. A vibrant purple dial might be tempting, but after a couple of years might start to look dated. After all, Pantone produces an official colour every year. This year the colour was Very Peri, a rather ugly shade of mauve that is described as a symbol of the global zeitgeist of the moment and the transition we are going through. A tall order for any colour, but it is an example of how colours are associated with periods of time. Like almost every watch brand, Omega has turned its hand to the paint box and relied on colourful dials to change the mood of its Seamaster Aqua Terra, including a mandatory and very handsome green model in 2020. Released earlier this year, the Aqua Terra turned up with nine different colour options for the dial and
Ochs & Junior Calendario CentAnni Perpetual Calendar
Where other brands choose the path of complexity and try to outdo one another in parts count, Ochs & Junior goes the opposite direction. In a literal pursuit of simplicity, the independent watchmaking brand is famous for doing extremely creative things with as little as possible. This includes an Annual Calendar with only three moving parts and an extremely accurate moon phase indication using only five components. Slightly breaking with tradition, as the latest series of watches will not be customisable, Ochs & Junior continues its dedication to simplification with the new Ochs & Junior Calendario Cent'Anni CCA Perpetual Calendar.Collectors and enthusiasts familiar with the brand will know the history and philosophy, yet it remains a fascinating story to tell. Ochs & Junior is the brainchild of Dr Ludwig Oechslin, a legendary name in the watchmaking world. The Ulysse Nardin Freak is widely regarded as his biggest achievement since it was the first production watch ever
The 2021 Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921 Editions
Vacheron Constantin's famous cushion-shaped watch with an intriguing twist celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. The twist that has made the Historiques American 1921 such a legendary watch is its diagonal time display and crown perched on the upper right corner of the case. To commemorate its centennial, Vacheron unveils two white gold models, in 40mm and 36.5mm cases, and a special limited 40mm platinum edition that will form part of the Collection Excellence Platine. All three models are powered by Vacheron's in-house manual-winding calibre 4400 AS. Let's have a closer look. Roaring TwentiesA century later and still going strong, Vacheron Constantin's American 1921 was produced primarily for the American market between 1919 and 1921 in very limited numbers. Coinciding with the Roaring Twenties, the American 1921 captured the design mood of the decade and the newfound optimism following the end of WW1. Widespread prosperity animated a consumer c