by Jon Edwards

A Global Treasure Hunt

Catalyzed by the recent digitization of the EuropaStar archives, Serge Maillard and Martine Depresle are spearheading an effort to digitize the world's watch heritage in a globally accessible, online database that will be open to the public.

Grounding Breitling’s Aviation Image to Take the Brand to New Heights

From the brink of bankruptcy to a $3.3 billion valuation, Georges Kern’s “air, land, and sea” approach to making Breitling a more sustainable watch brand—both environmentally and fiscally—has accelerated its growth in a time of global upheaval and uncertainty.

Princely Grads

Despite having to navigate a very hands-on curriculum amidst a global pandemic, the first six students from Prince Horology Vocational Training Centre, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, are set to graduate in July.

Masse Mystérieuse

Yet another sublime mystery watch from the Cartier Maison. Although she has departed Cartier, this has the hallmarks of Carole Forestier-Kasapi's ingenuity written all over it.

I'd say I'm disappointed to see it lacks a free-sprung balance at this price point, but in a somewhat satisfying twist, this setup manages to deftly sidestep the impact of gravity on timekeeping performance, helping to mitigate one of the downsides of regulating pins.

Image credit Cartier

An Era of Change

Charlotta Eriksson on navigating Scandinavia's pre-eminent watch retailer, Nymans Ur 1851, through a transformational period in history.

Breguet's Workbench

The watchmaking bench used by Abraham-Louis Breguet, donated to France's Museum of Arts and Crafts by Héloïse Vuitel in 1893.

Image credit Musée des Arts et Métiers

Mind the Gap

A seriously split bi-metallic balance wheel.

Image credit Jon Edwards

Sartory Billard SB05

Interesting modular case construction, with individual lugs each screwed in place.

Image credit Bjorn Meier

As Hollow as It Looks

Having experimented with 3D-printed polyamide components for both watch parts and watch tools, I can state matter-of-factly that this watch is not going to stand the test of time. It is as much as gimmick as the NFT it's paired with.

Image credit SevenFriday

Voutilainen Vingt-8

A beautifully executed Voutilainen Vingt-8 with a tasteful dial, owned by a fellow Canadian. Frank Geelen discusses the journey to own it with the Vancouver-based collector who commissioned it.

Image credit VancouverWatchGuy

Inside the Omega Passion Museum

Hodinkee's Cole Pennington pays a visit to one of the largest private collections of Omega timepieces on the planet, hidden in a factory on the outskirts of Bangkok, to chat with its owner and curator, Khun Apichai.

Greubel Forsey Independent Again

Greubel Forsey has purchased back the 20% stake it sold to the Richemont Group in 2006. 100% of the brand's shares are now back in the hands of it founders, Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey, and the brand's Chief Executive, Antonio Calce.

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