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Jack Forster goes hands-on with the Cartier Masse Mystérieuse.

The symmetry of the movement architecture is even more impressive on the back than the front.

The company behind the design-led, diamond-growth technology used to create the 2.5 carat diamond crown of the Tag Heuer Carrera Plasma Tourbillon Nanograph.

The Tag Heuer emblem floating within the crown is a nice touch. The process employed by Capsoul to create this crown for Tag Heuer also enables them to inlay other colours of diamond, including black diamond, directly within the the lattice of perfectly clear diamond (and vice versa) allowing for incredibly diverse outcomes that are crafted from 100% pure diamond.

While synthetic diamond has been around for over half a century, it seems we're finally approaching the scale that would render the mass production of diamond crystals to protect the dial of a watch viable. Scratch-resistant sapphire crystals seemed like science fiction when Rolex first debuted one with the unveiling of the the Oysterquartz in 1970. Now they're ubiquitous in the realm of mechanical watches. I'm excited to see who will be the first to market with a truly scratch-proof crystal, machined entirely from a single piece of monocrystalline diamond.

Also known as Thomson structures, in honour of William Guglielmo Thomson who published his findings 4 years prior to Count Alois von Beckh Widmanstätten.

Widmanstätten structures refer to distinct pattern of nickel–iron crystal lattices that form in meteoroids as a result of the extremely slow cooling of molten metal that occurs in the vacuum of space.

Crystal structures, like these, that are large enough to see with the naked eye are extremely rare in metals found on earth.

He’d start each day by drawing a circle with his compass, intersecting it with lines as if dividing into a pie, then dive right in with brushes and paint

Reporting for Hodinkee, Ming Liu, relays Genta's artistic process as recounted by his widow, Evelyne Genta.

Painted by Gérald Genta circa 1976.

One of the key images making the rounds in the Aion Group's latest press release depicts a sterile, Rolex caliber 3135. First produced in 1988, most of the patents on this caliber are now expired. While it is viable a new French upstart would have the audacity to bring a clone into mass production (the same way Sellita et al did with several ETA calibers after the associated patents expired), the prospect of it seemed suspicious. Particularly in light of the Aion Group's recent acquisition of Felsa's assets. Felsa, itself, having quite the back catalog of movements to choose from. Sure enough, it turns out this image first appeared online circa early 2020 and, like nearly every other photo of a movement on the group's website, is a stock photo licensed from LightField Studios.

On an infinite timescale, I think it is inevitable that a mass manufacturer of watch movements will eventually clone the 3135, and with good reason—it is a superlatively well-engineered watch movement. Indeed, a number of movements now coming out of China are already about 90% of the way there. The question is, will anyone ever come close to the best-in-class oscillator and supreme metallurgical expertise of the real-deal?

As one might expect, the thickness imbued by the layers of sapphire crystal is appreciably more pronounced than in the renders. Nevertheless, the end effect is wonderfully whimsical.

In addition to being the first Chief Model Designer at Lego, a position that she held until the age of 70, Dagny Holm also paved the way as the first woman to hold a senior title at The Lego Group.

Inside Tudor HQ with Jack Forster.

Crafted in France, between 1780 and 1810.

On a trek to verify the highest peak east of the Mississippi, which now bears his name, Mitchell slipped and fell to his death near the summit. Over a century later, the watch still bears the supposed time of his death on June 27, 1857. A poignant reminder of our frailty and the brevity our time here on this beautiful planet.