Results for Geneva Seal (Poinçon de Genève)

DEVELOPING: Baselworld and Retailers React to Rolex, Patek, Tudor, Chanel & Chopard Exiting Basel Fair

Auctions: Porsche, RM Sotheby's To Auction Last 911 (991), Special LE Porsche Design Chronograph, In COVID-19 Fundraiser With United Way

For a very good cause, two compelling machines.

Business News: Swiss Watch Exports Forecast to Drop 25% in 2020

Swiss private bank Vontobel has just published its highly-regarded annual report on the luxury watch industry – the news for 2020 is grim. Put together by a team led by managing director Rene Weber, the Vontobel Luxury Goods Shop predicts a 25% fall in Swiss watch exports in 2020 – the biggest drop in 50 years as a result of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. A proxy for the global luxury watch market, Swiss watch exports declined 22% during the 2008 financial crisis, and recovered swiftly the year after. But during the financial crisis there were no store or factory closures, and no halt to international travel. Since mid-March most watch brands, including giants Rolex and Patek Philippe, have shut their factories, or introduced short-time work, with between 60-70% of employees at Swatch Group working reduced hours. File photo of the Rolex factory in Bienne that’s gone quiet for now. Photo – Rolex At the peak of the pandemic in China, when practically the entire country was in lockdown, Vontobel estimated February sales fell 80%, something it expects will be repeated throughout the rest of the world. And even e-commerce is not enough to alleviate the situation substantially, because of logistical challenges. The report notes that as of mid-March,”the Swiss watch industry has come to an almost global standstill.” Unsurprisingly, the bank expects the pandemic to result in a steeper fall and slower recovery for the Swiss watch industry. The bank expects a s...

Hands-On: The Seiko Presage Homage To The Crown Chronograph

Three references capturing the Crown Chronograph’s design cues.

Why We Will Keep Writing About Watches You Can’t Afford, And Why You (Hopefully) Will Continue To Read This Under The COVID-19 Cloud

Have you seen the prices of high-end (and not so high-end) wristwatches? Crazy! None of us can afford the watches that we want, and the world economy is tanking. So in the middle of the coronavirus crisis why are we still publishing pointless stories about watches and why are you still reading them? Ian Skellern shares his theory here.

5 New Watches By Independent Watchmakers We Would Have Seen At Watches & Wonders (SIHH) Or Baselworld 2020 By Urwerk, HYT, H. Moser & Cie, And Arnold & Son

Elizabeth Doerr highlights five new watches by independent watchmakers that we would have seen for the first time at Watches & Wonders or Baselworld 2020, had these fairs run as scheduled in late April.

Business News: Swiss Watch Exports to Hong Kong Post Biggest Fall in 20 Years

Trade body Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH) just released its monthly export figures for Swiss watches – a proxy for the broader luxury watch market since Swiss timepieces dominate – and the February numbers are bleak. The month’s statistics illustrate two obvious trends that have shaped in the industry recently: the COVID-19 coronavirus is having a massive impact, and low-cost Swiss watches are being trounced by low-cost smartwatches. An Asian crisis, for now Compared with February last year, the value of exports globally declined by 9.2% – with export volume plunging 22.2% – but as the report notes darkly, the drop “does not yet fully reflect the actual situation in certain markets.” Unsurprisingly, the steepest declines were in the biggest Asian markets – China and Hong Kong – which suffered the worst period of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic in the first two months of the year. The biggest fall was in Hong Kong, where exports fell 42% – the largest monthly decline in 20 years. The city imported just CHF143m of Swiss watches, compared to CHF246m for the same month last year. Exports to China fell 51.5% to CHF73m, from CHF151m for February 2019. February was merely an acceleration of a months-long decline. For the first three months of the year, exports to Hong Kong have fallen 33% compared to the same period last year, while exports to China are down 22%. Though exports to other large markets like the United States, Singapore, and Germa...

Leap Day Giveaway: We Have A Winner Of A Gorilla Fastback GT Bandit!

And we have a winner for our February 29 Leap Year competition: find out here how one lucky Quill & Pad reader will soon be receiving her new Gorilla Fastback GT Bandit!

Baselworld 2020 Postponed Due to COVID-19

What many have been expecting has now been confirmed: BaselWorld 2020 is officially postponed. Read our take on the situation inside.

Hands On: Ferdinand Berthoud Chronomètre FB 1 “Oeuvre d’Or”

Backed by Chopard and taking the name of a noted 18th century French watchmaker, Ferdinand Berthoud made its debut in 2015 with the Chronomètre FB 1. Though unusual in style with an octagonal case, the FB 1 boasts an impressively constructed movement developed and manufactured by the same facility responsible for Chopard’s top-of-the-line L.U.C calibres; the project was the brainchild of Chopard co-president Karl-Friedrich Scheufele. At its core the FB 1 is an elaborate – and delightfully anachronistic – tribute to 18th century marine chronometers inside and out. The subject of four patents, the unusual calibre is very much antiquarian horology; it is constructed with pillar-style architecture and contains a chain-and-fusée, feeler-and-cone power reserve mechanism, and a large tourbillon with central seconds. Since the debut of the FB 1, there have been as many as ten subsequent variations – which is probably too many but it doesn’t diminish from the intrinsic, technical qualities of the watch – with one of the most recent being the Chronomètre FB 1 “Oeuvre d’Or” launched last year. Mechanically identical to the other iterations, the Oeuvre d’Or is distinguished by extra decoration, namely an engraved and grained gold dial as well as gold movement bridges engraved with a repeating pyramid motif. The Oeuvre d’Or FB 1.1-2 in white gold A tribute to marine chronometry Modern day Berthoud watches are inspired by the works of its 18th century namesak...

Michel Perchin Timepiece #1: From Pens To Watches, Elegance Reigns

For the Michel Perchin Model #1, designer and brand owner Patrick Pinkston works with a well-versed goldsmith workshop in the United Kingdom that he describes as “literally fabricating one case at a time.” There, each 36 x 55 mm white gold case is hand-finished and engraved. What else makes this independently crafted timepiece notable? Nancy Olson has the full story.

Throwback Sundays: Six Watches to Spend Your “Angpow” Money On, from Our Archives

In this week's Throwback Sundays column, we take a look at six potential watches that you can consider buying using your angpow money.

Just Because: Three Grand Seiko Boutique Pieces You Probably Haven't Seen

These cool special editions dropped under the radar, but you should know about them.

Bovet Virtuoso IX: Double-Faced Masterpiece Featuring Tourbillon, Large Date, Second Time Zone, World Time, Plus 10-Day Power Reserve With Spherical Winding - Reprise

The Bovet Virtuoso IX combines a (double-face) flying tourbillon with two time zones, large date, an impressive power reserve of ten days, plus the brand's patented Amadeo convertible case. What more need we say?

MB&F; Legacy Machine Thunderdome: The World’s Fastest Triple-Axis Tourbillon - You Can’t Miss It! (Plus Videos)

Legacy Machine Thunderdome is a wild combination of understated mechanical beauty and extreme horological exploration developed in concert with Eric Coudray and Kari Voutilainen. Here, Joshua Munchow digs into the most interesting aspects of this latest superstar from MB&F;.

HODINKEE Radio: Episode 71: Jesse Johnson & How To Make A Limited Edition Watch

Some people are just collectors through and through.

Review: When Hands Just Don’t Cut It - The Genus GNS 1

We bring you the details and our thoughts on the new Genus GNS 1, winner of the GPHG Mechanical Exception Watch Prize 2019.

In-Depth: Everything You Need To Know About Million-Dollar Rolexes

Forget the hype and celebrate the top of the top.

The Independent Watchmakers’ Struggle: Why It’s So Hard And What They Can Do - Reprise

GaryG loves independent watchmaking and independent watchmakers; one of his great joys as a collector is having the feeling that, in a small way, he is supporting their efforts. So he put some thought into why independent watchmakers struggle in a business sense and how they can remain relevant in changing market situations.

Tutima Patria Admiral: Blue Blazes For Every Day

Blue has become a tradition of sorts these days in high-end stainless steel sports watches, yet Tutima's Patria is not a member of that club. While a few modest design changes could have very well made that an ambition, Tutima made the Patria more of an everyday dress watch. Here Martin Green explains why that is perfect.

Review: An Aviator Returns to Life - The Blancpain Air Command Chronograph

A legendary pilot's watch comes back as a re-issue. Here, we bring you the details and our thoughts on the Blancpain Air Command Chronograph.

In-Depth: The Ochs Und Junior Day/Night

A radically simple version of one of watchmaking's most romantic complications.

Found: Three Of The Best Lange 1s Ever Made Are Up For Sale, And Not At One Of The Big Four Auction Houses

Closed caseback, honey gold, stainless steel. Need I say more?

Happenings: David Walter To Lecture At The Horological Society Of New York

The famous clockmaker will discuss the world of independent horology.

Rapport: Reasons to get wound up

There are only a handful of brands who specialise in such items, one of which is Rapport, founded in 1898 by an ambitious 20-year-old watchmaker by the name of Maurice A. Rapport.

Seiko Celebrates Chronograph History with December Duo

In the 50th year of the automatic chronograph, Seiko celebrates with two 1960s-inspired chronographs slated for December release this year.

Happenings: Maria & Richard Habring To Lecture At The Horological Society Of New York

The independent watchmakers will discuss designing and producing proprietary watch movements.

Sotheby’s Removes A. Lange & Söhne No. 41000 ‘Jahrhunderttourbillon’ From November 2019 Masterworks Of Time Auction - And You Won’t Believe Why

Sotheby’s justifiably described the tourbillon pocket watch No. 41000 as the most important watch made by A. Lange & Söhne. Nicknamed the Jahrhunderttourbillon ("tourbillon of the century") and introduced in 1900, it was until recently part of Sotheby’s bombastic Masterworks of Time auction. However, Sotheby's has removed the Jahrhunderttourbillon from the upcoming November auction and here Elizabeth Doerr reveals why.

The Collector’s View: AP CODE 11.59 - why I bought it, and why I don’t regret it.

Collector Christian Kretschmar tells of his love story with his Audemars Piguet CODE 11.59 Self-Winding watch. Why he bought it, and why he has no regrets.

Bring a Loupe: A '70s Rolex Day Date, An Omega R17.8 Tank, And A Tissot Made For The Horological Institute Of America

Another Friday, another selection of great watches from around the web.