Video: Controlled Chaos: Harry Winston’s Opus XI

Harry Winston Opus XI

Meet the Harry Winston Opus XI. The circles, spins and flips of carnival rides were what inspired Denis Giguet in his design of the Opus XI, unveiled last year as part of Harry Winston’s Opus series featuring offbeat watches conceived by various independent watchmakers. Every hour, on the hour, in the span of 2 or 3 seconds, the hour display – a system comprised of a multitude of wheels, … [Read more...]

Bonus Audio: Excerpts from WatchTime’s Interview with Peter Speake-Marin

Peter Speake-Marin

In WatchTime's February issue, on sale next week, executive editor Norma Buchanan profiles Peter Speake-Marin, the British watchmaker who has been plying his trade as an independent for a decade. Click below for audio excerpts from Buchanan's exclusive interview with Speake-Marin. … [Read more...]

Maîtres du Temps Rounds Out Chapter Two

Maitres du Temps Chapter 2 TCR in Titanium - Angle

Last year's headliner watch from Maîtres du Temps was undeniably the innovative Chapter Three Reveal — but the haute-de-gamme brand, which teams up noted independent watchmakers to produce limited, complicated models, also released a version of its Chapter Two timepiece in a sporty, round case, nicknamed TCR, for Triple Calendar Round. … [Read more...]

Antiquorum to Sponsor Geneva Time Exhibition

GTE_logo

Auction house Antiquorum will serve as an official sponsor of the Geneva Time Exhibition (GTE), a watch exhibition running concurrently with the larger, better-known SIHH watch salon in January, which showcases smaller, independent watchmakers. Since its launch in January 2010, the GTE's stated goal has been to bring together the leading independents under one roof, giving them the opportunity to … [Read more...]

Tech Talk: Montblanc’s TimeWriter II Chronographe Bi-Fréquence 1000

Montblanc TimeWriter II Bi-Frequence side

If three watches constitute a trend, then measuring milliseconds, or 1/1,000s of a second, is a trend. Two watch brands, each with high-speed horological histories, have launched mechanical chronographs claimed to be capable of accurately measuring 1/1,000s of a second. Last year, TAG Heuer debuted its Mikrotimer Flying 1000 Concept Chronograph, followed this year by the even faster Mikrogirder. … [Read more...]

Controlled Chaos: Harry Winston’s Opus XI

Harry Winston Opus XI

For a couple of seconds every hour, the dial looks like a mess, but then all is made clear. Meet the Harry Winston Opus XI. Click here to read WatchTime writer Martina Richter's in-depth report on the watch for our July-August issue, along with a video of how its ultra-complicated movement works. … [Read more...]

Stephen Forsey to be Keynote Speaker at AWCI 2012

AWCI Logo

Fans of both classical and modern horology, take note: the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute (AWCI) will be hosting its 2012 Convention and Educational Symposium on August 1st - 5th at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center in Colorado, and this year's headliners represent two generations of high watchmaking. Stephen Forsey, co-founder with Robert Greubel of the La Chaux-de-Fonds-based … [Read more...]

Roland G. Murphy’s American Way

Roland G. Murphy

Making a watch movement in Switzerland is one thing. Making one in the USA is quite another. Just ask Roland G. Murphy, founder of RGM Watch Company. Click here to read WatchTime's profile of Murphy and his brand as we kick off our "Salute to America" week devoted to American watchmaking and watches that celebrate America. … [Read more...]

MB&F and Sarpaneva Shoot for the Moon with New Horological Machine

MB&F MoonMachine by Sarpaneva

Finnish independent watchmaker Stepan Sarpaneva has joined MB&F's growing circle of "friends," collaborating with MB&F founder Max Büsser to develop the newest MB&F "horological machine," called the HM3 MoonMachine. Designed on the platform of MB&F's unconventional "Frog" model, it features an entirely new moon-phase complication designed by Sarpaneva. … [Read more...]

The Big Reveal: Maîtres du Temps Chapter Three

Maitres du Temps Chapter Three Reveal, front

Like many others, I was intrigued by the invitation to see the Maîtres du Temps Chapter Three "Reveal" at this year's Baselworld watch fair in Switzerland. Only when I finally got a good look at the shrouded-in-secrecy timepiece — the third model in the haut-de-gamme "Masters of Time" collection, which teams up noted independent watchmakers who pool their skills to produce innovative, … [Read more...]

Dominique Loiseau on Girard-Perregaux: The WatchTime Q&A

Watchmaker Dominique Loiseau

French-born watchmaker Dominique Loiseau first caught the attention of watch collectors in the 1980s, the great wasteland years of the mechanical watch industry when quartz ruled the watch-world roost. His complex and creative inventions, such the Rose des Temps clock, the Blancpain 1735 wristwatch and the 1f4 models from his own independent atelier, have made him a legend among the collector … [Read more...]

Speake-Marin Goes Back to His Roots With Renaissance Tourbillon Minute Repeater

Speake-Marin Renaissance front CU

While he was working at the Swiss movement manufacturer Renaud et Papi, British watchmaker Peter Speake-Marin created, on his own time, a pocketwatch with a tourbillon and two power trains that is today referred to as the Foundation Watch. It is so named because it established Speak-Marin's horological bonafides and provided the foundation for his own independent atelier, established in 2000. … [Read more...]

Scenes From Inside Basel/Geneva 2011 New York City and San Francisco

Inside Basel/Geneva was bigger and better than ever this year, with twice as many participating brands compared with last year - as many as 28 independent watchmakers and brands at the shows. Attendance also set all-time records - more than 300 guests in New York. This report includes more than 30 images from the New York City and San Francisco events. Let's see some watches! … [Read more...]

EU Probes Watch Manufacturers Over Parts Supply Policies

European Union (EU) antitrust regulators have announced that they will investigate claims that luxury watch manufacturers are refusing to supply spare parts to independent watchmakers and repairers, a breach of EU competition rules. The European Commission did not identify the companies involved in the probe, however Swatch Group has confirmed that it is one of the targets. … [Read more...]

Inside Basel/Geneva 2011 Kicks Off in Chicago and Miami

IBG 2011 opened in Chicago and Miami with record numbers of participating brands and best-ever attendance. The strong turnout, coupled with the most-ever brands and independent watchmakers at each show, meant moving to larger venues for 2011, making IBG 2011 a true watch fair. Come inside to see more than 30 images from the events, and don’t forget there are four shows still to come with even … [Read more...]

Visual Quiz: Independents

It’s time once again to test your watchspotting skills. This quiz presents a dozen examples of watches produced by independent watchmakers and small, independent brands. Each watch is partially obscured behind a jacket sleeve and shirt cuff. Can you identify the watchmakers? As always, the answers appear at the end of the quiz. Good luck! … [Read more...]

Inside Basel/Geneva 2011 Will Be Better Than Ever!

For watch enthusiasts and collectors, nothing beats an evening with fellow watch lovers, surrounded by the latest watches from the top brands, with knowledgeable executives on hand to answer questions. Add to the mix great food and wine and noted collector Jeff Kingston’s multi-media presentation of the Swiss show highlights, and it adds up to an event that simply can’t be missed! … [Read more...]

More Brands Added to Inside Basel/Geneva 2011; Record Number Participating

Now in its sixth year, Inside Basel/Geneva 2011 will be bigger than ever – much bigger. The shows are fully subscribed with 30 brands and independent watchmakers participating this year. This is your chance to see the latest watches from the 2011 Swiss shows, and more. Look inside to see who will be there and to reserve your spot! … [Read more...]

Geneva Time Exhibition

More than 35 independent watchmakers and brands will exhibit their work at the International Conference Center in Geneva. Learn more at the official website. … [Read more...]

12 FACES OF TIME Profiles Top Watchmakers

The mood was refreshingly festive inside a packed pavilion in front of Hall 1 at Basel as luminaries from the world of watches gathered to celebrate Elizabeth Doerr’s new book, 12 FACES OF TIME: HOROLOGICAL VIRTUOSOS. Slated for release this fall, 12 FACES is a non-commercial, close-up look at 12 leading independent watchmakers and their mechanical masterpieces. Leonid Khankin, owner and … [Read more...]