Let's travel back to 1930. At a small factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds, some of the world's finest hand-wound chronograph movements are assembled and fitted into their proper cases. This factory is the home base to a rapidly-growing, but relatively young, Swiss watch company called Movado.
Read MoreNo other watch brand is as connected to sports as Richard Mille. Whether you're in the stands at Le Mans or only feet from centre court at Rolland Garros, you're apt to spot one of Richard Mille's creations somewhere in the crowd (or strapped on an athlete's wrist). The RM011 Orange Storm is more than perfect for a fast-paced environment....
Read MoreBack in August, I had the pleasure of visiting Chopard's Madison Avenue boutique. I explored the collection, conversed with brand representatives, and learned the history of this 155 year-old watch manufacture. Following my visit, I posted a write-up about two incredible dress watches which blew me away. On one piece, the chamfering on the case was superb, the circular graining on the movement was also an elegant touch, and the dial (porcelain, by the way) was pretty cool. The other wristwatch was a ladies' timepiece....
Read MoreLast year, Hublot launched the first edition of the Big Bang Unico: A wristwatch from their most celebrated collection featuring an innovative in-house flyback chronograph movement. Hublot has now introduced a more recent variation of this piece, the Big Bang Unico "All Black."
Read MoreToday, I met with Chopard at the company's lavish boutique on Madison Avenue. Aside from their million-dollar jewels, Chopard has a lengthy history of producing many of Switzerland's finest mechanical timepieces. Being one of Switzerland's last independently owned manufacturers, carrying on old-world craftsmanship in their watchmaking is a cornerstone of their business. What I focus on here are two watches that I believe are of paramount quality, aesthetically simple yet striking, and deliver superior accuracy and precision.
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In June of 2011, F.P.Journe unveiled the Centigraphe Sport: The first, and only all-aluminum wristwatch to ever be proffered to the public. The ability to manufacture a wristwatch with a feather-like weight coupled with post-contemporary looks was a distinction for Journe and a horological coup.
Read MorePhilippe Dufour is the creator of some of the world’s most unornamented, but sophisticated wristwatches. For my readers who are not familiar with who this “living legend" is, I’ll give you a quick history lesson. Born in the mid-20th century, Dufour was raised in Vallee, Switzerland, a paradise for watchmakers. At the age of 15, he left his home and studied horology at the Sentier, developing his passion while he was quite young (sounds like someone we know?) Dufour had been so superbly trained at his school that he was approached by Jaeger-LeCoultre to join them as a watchmaker, where his mentor at the time, master watchmaker Gabriel Locatelli, helped to open many doors for the young Dufour.
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