Every fortnight, our newsletter provides you with exciting news from the world of mechanical watches and the latest stories from our magazine.
News
Editorials
The history of the most expensive Omega watches ever offered at auction is simultaneously a narrative of the brand’s greatest achievements, its illustrious heritage, and the most exquisite models it has produced throughout its long corporate history. The timepieces’ lofty…
Manager Günter Blümlein, who made such a major contribution to the successful reestablishment of A. Lange & Söhne, once summarised the company’s philosophy as follows: ‘An A. Lange watch is a total work of art. It combines the watchmakers’ passion…
If there’s one thing Piaget is known for, it’s gold. One of the only horology houses to cast its own gold, Piaget’s work with the material has long been recognised in the industry, from its so-called ‘coin watches’ of the…
Whether it’s Sofia Richie, Natasha from Sex and the City, or influencer The Gstaad Guy’s ‘Constance’ serving as your inspiration, ‘quiet luxury’ remains the hottest trend this summer – and I would make the case that this dashingly handsome collector’s…
If there’s one thing you should know about Frederique Constant, it’s that the brand is on the up. In recent years, under the savvy leadership of CEO Niels Eggerding, the Swiss horology house has streamlined its watches, refined its target…
These days, Vacheron Constantin seems to reach new heights every five minutes. Ever more in the eyes of the public and not just connoisseurs, the horology house recently burst through the billion-franc mark, as it achieved a phenomenal 1.097 billion Swiss francs…
Manufacture
Jaeger-LeCoultre, often dubbed the ‘Watchmaker of Watchmakers’, has a long history of supplying parts to esteemed brands like Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Cartier. Today a fully integrated manufacture producing some of the most coveted and complicated luxury watches in…
‘Born in Saxony’ – so goes the slogan of Lang & Heyne, a watch manufacture from the small German town of Radeberg near Dresden. It’s a name known only to true connoisseurs and watch aficionados; only around 150 watches are…
When one thinks of Swiss-made watches, what springs to mind? For some of us, it’s a luxurious boutique in the heart of an affluent metropolis. For others, it’s a fast-paced car rally with watch-branded banners plastered over the track. But…
Richard Mille’s company history is marked by an unprecedented rise. In 2001, the first Richard Mille watch, the RM 001, made an immediate impact with its tourbillon regulator and a six-figure price tag, causing the brand to stand out from…
Style
The first German Concours of Elegance – at least the first one to be deserving of the name – is only an hour’s flight from Hamburg, yet travelling through Germany during the summer holidays is inevitably a challenge, as hundreds…
Many roads lead to Rome, but only one charmingly uses the eternal city as a turning point. This story demonstrates what it means to have driven the legendary 1000-mile race from Brescia to Rome and back yourself. On the wrist,…
A Lange & Söhne is proof of the fact that automobile culture and rare wristwatches come together particularly well when the collectors of both categories are not the ostentatious type. A good example of this can be found at the…
On a balmy summer evening at the end of September, the first guests are arriving at Milan’s Cartier boutique on Via Monte Napoleone in the city’s luxury district. We take the glass elevator with its own doorman to the fourth…
In retrospect, those responsible at the New York Parson School of Design are likely now less than pleased that they turned down an application from a certain Matthew M. Williams in 2004. Had the renowned design school accepted him, they…
CEO Talks
Over the last few decades, Rado has established itself as a leader in the watch industry with the processing of ceramic and is now a pioneer in this field. The watchmaker now offers a colour palette of over 20 colours…
When you talk to Catherine Rénier about watches, you immediately sense the enthusiasm, deep respect and humility that the CEO of Jaeger-LeCoultre feels for watchmaking. We met Catherine Rénier in Munich on the occasion of the new boutique opening on…
A couple of shots as a car backfires abruptly break up our interview. With a smile, Wilhelm Schmid apologises: “James Bond sends his regards.” Next door, collector Fritz Burkard is showing off one of the most famous Aston Martin Coupés…
Matthias Breschan, the CEO of Longines – one of the most successful watch brands in the Swatch Group – travelled from Zurich to Sylt, Germany’s northernmost island, especially for this day. The occasion was the brand’s new pop-up installation, taking…
Ben Küffer, CEO and co-founder of the Norqain brand, is the wunderkind of Swiss watch start-ups. No other young watch brand has been able to establish itself so successfully so quickly. Only founded in 2018, Küffer was already able to…
Collector's Choice
Kristian Haagen is a self-described “Barbour-wearing, ’67 Series 2A owning, middle-aged watch collector” with eight published books under his belt to date. To the rest of the watch community, Haagen is a renowned Danish photojournalist, collector and auction house consultant.…
Respected as a man, gentleman, and businessman, George Glasgow Junior is the mastermind behind George Cleverley, the renowned shoemaker of Old Bond Street’s Royal Arcade. But George’s style extends far beyond bespoke shoes; he is also the proud and passionate…
When he received his university tuition fees and a few months of rent from his family in advance, he invested it in an OMEGA Speedmaster watch. Fortunately, his application for a scholarship was granted, and his education and accommodation were…
Having lived on the West Coast his entire life, it’s not surprising, that his first watch was a Nixon, the epitome of a surf watch. As nobody in his family was ever interested in watches and he never inherited a…
Who can actually claim to have owned a watch from a Hollywood icon? When @bzabodyn214 bought his Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5065A from a local dealer, some research quickly revealed that the original owner was none other than Charlie Sheen and…
Guides
Launched in 2011, following the Big Bang, King Power, and Classic Fusion lines, Hublot’s Masterpiece (MP) collection marked the brand’s intensified focus on grand complications. Jean-Claude Biver, then CEO of Hublot, described the collection as the next step towards “more…
30 years is actually not a very long period in the watch industry, which tends to move in generations. But when A. Lange & Söhne looks back this autumn to October 24, 1994, the collector community won’t be able to…
Swisswatches is delighted to present the watch community with the industry’s very first ‘Boutique Travel Guide’. In this new segment, we will share not only the very best watch boutiques in town, but also the other most exciting things available…
Swisswatches is delighted to present the watch community with the industry’s very first ‘Boutique Travel Guide’. In this new segment, we will share not only the very best watch boutiques in town, but also the other most exciting things available…