Author Archive for Norma Buchanan

New from Parmigiani: Two Wristwatches Inspired by the Past

Parmigiani Fleurier has unveiled two new limited-edition wristwatches inspired by antique pocketwatches from a collection owned by Parmigiani Fleurier’s parent, the Sandoz Foundation. Both wristwatches are part of Parmigiani’s Toric collection. Find images, prices and wallpaper inside.

Salvaging Lange’s Most Complex Watch

When watchmaker Jan Silva got his first glimpse of the innards of the A. Lange & Söhne Grande Complication 42500 pocketwatch, made in 1902, his heart sank. He saw that restoring them to anything resembling a working movement would be a Herculean labor.

30 Minutes with Lutz Bethge
Montblanc’s CEO discusses the brand’s high-watchmaking ambitions.

When Montblanc unveiled its Metamorphosis watch at the SIHH watch show in Geneva in January, many believed it would be years before the exotic new chronograph would be ready for market. After all, the watch, with its 567 components, seemed hopelessly complex. The prototype on display was kept behind glass: it didn’t work well enough for a live demonstration.

The Man Behind the Brand: Pierre Jaquet-Droz

Pierre Jaquet-Droz was a real devil.

Or at least people thought so. In 1758, Jaquet-Droz, whose name lives on in the high-end mechanical-watch brand owned by the Swatch Group, scared so many people with his mysterious, other-worldly machines that he was suspected of witchcraft.

Swiss Watch Industry Loses “Just” 4,200 Jobs

It could have been worse. Last year, Swiss watch companies eliminated “only” 4,200 jobs, compared with the more than 5,000 that some officials had predicted. Employment is now 49,097, a decline of 7.9% from 2008, and nearly the same as in 2007. Manufacturing jobs were hardest hit, declining 9.8%, to 36,275.

TIME TEST: It’s Automatic

How much do you know about self-winding watches, past and present? Sharpen your pencil and set that cerebral rotor a’spinning. Answers, as usual, appear at the end.

Time Test: French Twist

Watchmaking has its own mini-language: a set of French terms with specific horological definitions. Match the following words with their meanings. The answers appear at the bottom in the form of 3-C, 5-G, etc. (To find out how to pronounce these words, see Part 2 of our Pronunciation Guide in the WatchTime.com “Reference Center” section.)

TIME TEST: The Name Game

Ever wonder how your watch got its name? Test your knowledge of watch-brand handles by matching these brand names with the explanations of the origins. Answers take the form 1-C, 2-G, etc. Good luck!

TIME TEST: Signed, Sealed, Delivered

How much do you know about the various quality seals and certificates awarded to watch movements these days? Find out by taking the WatchTime test. As always, the answers appear at the bottom.

BNB: RIP

Movement maker BNB Concept is out of business. But its founder, and many of its watchmakers, have found a new gig.