For much of January you have heard us refer to the SIHH as the first trade show of the year, as the world’s premiere luxury watch show and as THE place where many of the world’s foremost brands showcase their newest inventions. Additionally, we have been bringing you pre-SIHH news and products, as well as…
Made in honor of the contemporary Australian jazz musician James Morrison, and his ongoing contribution to the development of the next generation of jazz musicians, Oris unveils yet another winner in its Jazz collection: the James Morrison Academy of Music Limited Edition watch. The timepiece supports his eponymous music academy in Australia. The 38mm watch…
Around the World: Parmigiani Restores History
In the Parmigiani workshops in Fleurier, amazing restoration work takes place. Sometimes that work is on Parmigiani watches or other brands, on very old clocks and specialty pieces. Today, when I visited the private workshops, I was fortunate enough to get a glimpse of the watchmakers restoring several important 1800’s pieces. One they had just…
Watch Stops 2011: SIHH — Audemars Piguet and a Legacy of a Different Sort
This year marks the 10th and final year that Audemars Piguet will work with Arnold Schwarzenegger in a collaboration that has not only lasted 10 years, but also has sold collector Royal Oak watches with Schwarzenegger’s “co-touch” on it, and has raised more than $10 million for his charity, the After-School All Stars Foundation for…
Around the World: Hot Air Ballooning in Gstaad with Parmigiani
When most people think of hot air ballooning, they think of warm weather climates such as New Mexico –where one of the most famous balloon festivals takes place annually. Today, however, I had the distinct pleasure of ballooning over the Alps in Gstaad, Switzerland, with luxury watch brand Parmigiani Fleurier, who is one of the…
Around the World: Parmigiani Speeds Along
Sitting in the Pichler GFG AG garage, one of the most elite luxury car dealerships in Feutersoey, Gstaad, Switzerland, I am sitting inside the Bugatti Veyron SuperSport 16.4, the world’s fastest production car. It broke records and so now the Bugatti Supersport watch by Parmigiani is the world’s fastest watch. The watch was worn by…
Watch Stops 2011: SIHH Greubel Forsey IP2
Watchmakers Stephen Forsey and Robert Greubel continue their quest for perfection and pursuit of excellence. Their newest piece is the Invention Piece 2, Tribute to the Quadruple Tourbillon. The tourbillion cages have been moved and one double tourbillion cage is now at 1:00, while the second double tourbillion cage is at 8:00. The watch has…
Watch Stops: SIHH 2011 Cartier Bears All
It has always been in Cartier’s nature to create some of the most stunning animal watches in the world. From its early days, this brand gave us the legendary panther watches that we have come to love and identify with the brand. Now, at this year’s SIHH, Cartier pulls out all the stops and brings…
Watch Stops 2011: SIHH Cartier Gets Control of Gravity with the Astroregulateur
An incredibly original movement that was five years in the making and has four patents pending, the 9800 MC Calibre, housed in the Rotonde de Cartier Astroregulateur watch, was unveiled today in Geneva and is Cartier’s answer to the effects of gravity on the mechanical movement. Heretofore, the only movement that could compensate for the…
The Glass/ Crystal Maker
One thing we don’t often think about when we look at the watch on our wrist is the clear glass or crystal that protects the dial. However, the making of a mineral crystal is an art in and of itself, and it takes a true specialist to be able to form the glass perfectly to…
Weekend Sojourn: Concocting the Perfect Cocktail
Want to test the skills of your favorite bartender? Ask him (or her) to make you a Manhattan. If he ducks behind the bar to consult a bartender’s guide, leave while you still can. Or better yet, learn how to make this classic cocktail yourself! Don’t do an eye roll. In case you didn’t know,…