Archives: Watch History

Blog No. 8: Blue Notes

How, when, where, who, but above all why? Speculation about an unusual, mystery Tudor.     He slapped the wad of cash on the table. “Four thousand euros. Take it or leave it.” Ordinarily, my penury would dictate that such … Continue reading

IWC Pilot’s Watch Mk XV

  You want iconic? Are you after something so utterly immune to the whims of fashion that your great grandson will thank you for buying it in the first place? Amongst military watch aficionados, right up there with 1953 Omegas, … Continue reading

Longines 175th Anniversary

  Do the Swiss “party”? Not in the way that, say, Americans exercise the concept, but they do know how to mark the years. Because Longines is finally getting the push it has long deserved – re-launched, in a manner … Continue reading

Modern Classics: The Glycine Airman

24-hour dials are one of those experiences that watch enthusiasts have to try at least once. They’re like manual gearboxes, varifocal glasses or Marmite: you’ll either love them or hate them … as I learned when I wore one during … Continue reading

The Cartier Tank

    Wonderful irony: a watch named after a fearsome piece of military hardware has evolved into the quintessence of elegance. Cartier’s Tank, beaten only by its stable mate – the Santos – for sheer longevity, was so-named because its … Continue reading

The Ones That Got Away: Daniel JeanRichard Highlands

Interviewing Dr. Luigi Macaluso of Girard-Perregaux is a privilege: there are few watch brand CEOs who balance intimate knowledge of horology with genuine enthusiasm, while never issuing a single whiff of hard-sell. And if there are any arguments that on … Continue reading

Omega’s Olympic Watches

  Forget all of the crass, exploitative nonsense surrounding the upcoming Olympics, the stuffed toys, the cheesy logo, the inevitable tea set. One long-standing tradition held dear by Omega aficionados will not be ignored for London 2012: the release of … Continue reading

The Ones That Got Away: MHR

One day, a book will be written about the brave brands that kept the faith during the years between the arrival of quartz and the revival of mechanical watches. If you weren’t a watch enthusiast 15 or 20 years ago, … Continue reading