WatchTime’s November-December Issue is On Sale Now!


WatchTime December 2014 CoverThe November-December issue of WatchTime is on newsstands now (and also in the WatchTime online shop), featuring our test of the Omega Speedmaster Mark II, a showcase of Patek Philippe’s 24 most historic wristwatches, a horological tour of Switzerland’s Vallée de Joux,  and more. Scroll down for highlights from the issue…

• In the cover feature, “A Sleeker Speedy,” Jens Koch tests the recently re-released Omega Speedmaster Mark II, a more streamlined version of the Speedmaster that landed on the moon in 1969. Koch’s hands-on analysis provides all the pros and cons of this retro-styled timepiece, and Nik Schölzel provides original photos of the watch and its movement. (You may also download this article from the WatchTime online store.)

• “Patek Philippe Milestones,” written by watch historian Gisbert Brunner, marks the prestigious brand’s 175th anniversary with an exploration of its most important wristwatches, from the very first Patek Philippe wristwatch, to the first perpetual calendar for the wrist, to modern achievements like the recent manual-wind chronograph, Ref. 5170. (This article is also available for download from the WatchTime shop.)

• Norma Buchanan leads a tour of the “world capital of high-mech horology,” Switzerland’s Vallée de Joux, in “Vale of Gears.” (Download it here.) This full-length feature provides a historical perspective on the valley’s prominent role in watchmaking, as well as important info about the brands that are based there, including Blancpain, Audemars Piguet, and Jaeger-LeCoultre.

• In “Nonstandard Time,” Martina Richter reviews the Glashütte Original Senator Chronograph Panorama Date, an elegant but unconventional-looking watch outfitted with the German company’s brand-new automatic chronograph movement, Caliber 37. Original photos are by OK-Photography; download the article here.

• For the feature “Saving DeWitt,” Joe Thompson conducted an exclusive interview with Montres DeWitt founder Jerome de Witt’s wife — and the company’s new CEO — Viviane de Witt. Thompson’s story reveals how Madame de Witt’s intervention helped save the troubled boutique watch brand and how her influence is being felt in the new DeWitt watch collections. (Click here for an audio excerpt from our interview with Viviane de Witt.)

• In “Home Grown” Mike Disher conducts a test of a distinctive pilots’ watch made in the U.S.A., the RGM 801 Aircraft. “Locavore” watch collectors in the States will appreciate the in-depth exploration of the watch and its pocketwatch-inspired movement, Caliber 801, made in Lancaster, PA. Photos are by Robert Atkinson.

• Plus: more tests and features, and news from around the watch industry, including Alexander Krupp’s test of the Bell & Ross BR 03-92, Jay Deshpande’s historical feature on the invention of the balance spring, and a portfolio of new ladies’ watches to help with your holiday shopping.

WatchTime December 2014  Cover

Leave a Reply