by Jon Edwards

Origami Robotics

From the Reconfigurable Robotics Lab at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Mission to Mars

Robert-Jan Broer with an early hands-on of the Mars variant of the Omega × Swatch Speedmaster MoonSwatch.

Swatch × Omega

This limited release MoonSwatch from Swatch and Omega is stellar delight at a down-to-earth price-point.

While not typically one to wear loud colours, I'm particularly drawn to the red bioceramic, Mars x Alaska Project variant.

Image credit The Swatch Group

Turning a Sliding Pinion

Demonstration of fabricating a sliding pinion (a crucial component for winding and setting the time on a mechanical watch) using a Tornos SwissNano CNC machine.

Inside Vitsoe

The six-decade-old company intent on enabling and manufacturing products designed to last.

“I have a deep problem with a capitalist system that benefits a few at the expense of many. We’re doing our little bit to change it.”

Principled perspective from its current co-owner, Mark Adams.

Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra

So thin that its engineers and designers had to ditch the crown.

This is the company's 8th record breaker in 8 years. 8 sides. 8 patent applications. I'm surprised they didn't limit it to a run of 8 pieces. It's certainly understandable why Bulgari has limited this to a run of just 10, though. While I'm sure it's a delight on the wrist, I can see a piece this delicate returning for service often if worn with any degree of regularity. Particularly in light of the omission of various safety mechanisms typically found around the escapement and oscillator. That said, the engineering exhibited in this chef-d'œuvre is nevertheless impressive and the hybrid tungsten carbide mainplate that doubles as the caseback may prove any supposition of fragility unfounded—provided it doesn't fracture.

Beyond being the current record holder as the world's thinnest mechanical watch, it is entirely feasible the Octo Finissimo Ultra might very well house the thinnest free-sprung balance wheel ever produced.

Image credit Bvlgari

Retronasal Olfaction

Or why the gases trapped inside of the bubbles that make up the majority of the volume of a loaf of bread also provide the majority of its flavour.

A Brief History of the Pilot Watch

Cole Pennington is back in Thailand to journey through the history of aviation and timekeeping with pilot watch collector, Andy Tolley.

Making Aerogel

The price for a slice of aerogel from BuyAerogel.com suddenly seems very, very reasonable.

Aion Group SA Acquires Felsa

With intent to revive industrial watchmaking in France.

Watch Manufacture

A Swiss ébauche factory, resurrected in the south of France (by the Aion Group), operating under a new English name.

Swatch × Damien Hirst

A delightfully playful and minimal take on the Mickey Mouse watch.

Image credit Sotheby's

The Watch Retailer Conundrum

“As you get into a relationship with them and become an authorized dealer, it’s a limited partnership with an understanding that, at any point, they can choose not to be your partner.” – Leonard Goldberg

Micro RC Smart Car

This is an impressive hand-built, small-scale mod—right down to fully functional steering and lighting.

Fun fact, the "smart" in Smart Car is a quasi-acronym for Swatch Mercedes ART. The watchmaker, Swatch, and car maker, Mercedes, worked together on the initial prototypes for the original Smart Car. When Mercedes chose not to continue pursuing making the vehicle electric and opted to go all-in on scaling up production for a gasoline-powered version instead, Nicholas G. Hayek Sr. pulled Swatch out of the project.

Cutting the Right Corners

Felipe Pikullik serves up confident interior anglage at an accessible price point.

Image credit Felipe Pikullik

Furlan Marri

Serving up all the little details that certain collectors opine over, Furlan Marri's mechaquartz-powered timepieces serve up delightful value packaged in an enduring aesthetic from the golden age of mechanical chronographs.

Image credit Furlan Marri

Monster Fever

Cole Pennington kicks off a new video series for Hodinkee, Watches in the Wild, with a trip to the Kingdom of Thailand to chat with Seiko mega-collector, Khun M, and Hiroyuki Akashi, Managing Director of Seiko Thailand.

Tiny

I've had the Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber 101 set up as an ebay alert for over a decade, in hopes of acquiring one to perform an in-depth disassembly and review at some point. Today is the first time a complete movement has popped up, albeit in a fully functional watch. While justifiable for what it is, $10,000 CAD is too steep to rationalize spending simply to take it to pieces. For now, here's a candid picture of what once was—and may very well still be—the smallest mechanical watch movement ever mass produced.

Image from ebay listing