Results for Sotheby's Important Watches

Build The Future On The Foundation Of The Past

Rare Watches: F.P. Journe Tourbillon Remontoir d’Egalité with a gorgeous mother of pearl dial

Francois Paul Journe. A talented watchmaker. I had the pleasure of meeting with FP way back when he was yet a nobody…and had just made his first tourbillon remontoir d’egalité. The original looked like it was made in his garage, and indeed it was. But recently, I had the pleasure of spending a week withRead More

Watchmaker portraits: Stephen Forsey and Robert Greubel

A series of portraits I took, with the intention to create a set for an exhibition. Master watchmakers are the soul of the industry, I wanted to capture some of that powerful character which makes them enigmatic to the watch collecting public. These are great genii who know how to work with their hands. Today,Read More

Details: Gronefeld One Hertz

I earlier featured the Gronefeld brothers and their amazing work here. But today, I dig a bit deeper, and show some extreme macros. All these images are magnified to the full frame size of the Hasselblad H3d-39, whose sensor is 48mmx36mm, and will stand upsizing to prints which can cover a wall 3m in widthRead More

Gronefeld One Hertz, the brothers and another watch

The Gronefeld brothers in Holland are one of the secrets of high end horology. Independents, they were both trained in the stables of Renaud et Papi. And have been making their own watches, as well as contracting for others from their little workshop in The Netherlands. I had the opportunity to meet them several timesRead More

Breguet Double Tourbillon

When Breguet announced the Double Tourbillon in , I was skeptical. Skeptical because it sounded more like a showoff watch than one which has true horological significance and beauty. But recently, I was reacquainted with the 5347, and came away quite impressed. Breguet Classique Double Tourbillon Ref. 5347 The watch features a double tourbillon, eachRead More

Introducing Movements of Asia: Singapore brand

Introducing Movements of Asia. A home grown Singapore brand. Designed by Sean Wai…a tactiturn architect turned watch brand do-it-all in Singapore, assembled in Singapore with Chinese parts. I first came to know Sean from his other hobby company…Soul Bikes. The only titanium bicycle frame brand to be based in Singapore. The frames are completely designedRead More

MBF Moonmachine: a collaboration of MBF and Sarpaneva

Max Bussier’s MBF is rather innovative…that’s an understatement. The watches coming out from his stable is truly stretches the imagination, and the wonderful stories he can tell to describe them equally wonderful. It is with great interest that I can now present the HM3 Frog Moonmachine. A variant of the HM3 Frog, with its bulgingRead More

Ladoire Black Widow

Ladoire’s Black Widow Photographed on location in the Geneva Time Exhibition. I had some time to photograph the interesting Ladoire Black Widow. Known various as Mr. Green, Mr. Black according to the colour treatment of the bridges, the watch is quite interesting in the way it tells time…openworked dial, multilayered three regualtor off set hours,Read More

Hublot Key of Time

Faster or slower by flicking a switch…the Hublot Key of Time Known variously as Hublot MP-02 and Key of Time, the concept of willfully being able to make your watch go faster or slower is an interesting, and conversational subject. Initially conceived by Mathias Butlet at BNB Concept (now owned by Hublot), I was notRead More

The Grand Seiko Spring Drive Chronograph

One of my favourite watch making house is the often overlooked Seiko. They have a long history and tradition of making fine timepieces as well as of innovation. But most collectors focus too much on Swiss timepieces. But yes, Virginia, excellent watches do come from outside Switzerland. Germany, and increasingly England, and of course Japan.Read More

Girard Perreguax La Esmeralda: historically important watch

Up close and personal with the Girard Perregaux Esmeralda, pocket watch with three golden bridges. I reported on the remake of the famous Tourbillon with 3 golden bridges pocket watch some time ago during the exhibition of the GP treasures in Singapore. What I did not say then, was I was privillaged to be allowedRead More

Roger Dubuis Excalibur Double Tourbillon Skeleton

Roger Dubuis Excalibur Skeleton Double Tourbillon. Interesting watch. I was commissioned to photograph this watch for Revolution Magazine. The final approved photographs appeared in Revolution Asia 28. The electronic version is available for free download of Revolution magazine issue 28 here. I photographed the watch with my trusty Hasselblad H3D-39 with the HC 4/120 macro.Read More

Independence The Art of Horology…a visit to the store in Hong Kong.

Independent Watchmaking Salon in Hong Kong March of the Independents It is no secret that I am an ardent admirer of independent watchmakers. I was one of the first to invest in Philippe Dufour, by purchasing and writing about him. As early as 1999, I wrote an early article which appeared in The Business TimesRead More

A. Lange & Sohne: Richard Lange Pour le Merite

The Lange Richard Lange Pour le Merite is one of the 4 watches within the Lange collection which carry the fusee and chain mechanism. This particular example is owned by a good friend of mine. And I had the pleasure to photograph this watch under very dim conditions of a Michelin starred restaurant in Dresden…theRead More

Kari Voutilainen No 28

I have been following the career of the illustrious Finnish watchmaker, Kari Voutilainen for a while. He makes interesting pieces, quite well finished. Take for example the decimal repeater…where instead of striking the quarters and minutes, the watch actually strikes the same way as we read the time…in tens of minutes, then minutes. Brilliant. HisRead More

GP celebrates 220 years of watchmaking with Worldwide Travelling Exhibition…first leg: Singapore

Girard Perregaux is one of the Grande Dames of horology…and this year, they celebrate their 220th anniversary. They are showcasing 220 years of watchmaking history and expertise in a travelling exhibition. I will cover the event and exhibition today, and next week, will present you with high resolution photographs of two of the most outstandingRead More

Urwerk UR1001 - another uber cool watch from Urwerk

Urwerk – their principals Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei, is one of the independent watchmakers to watch (pun intended). Their creations are always interesting…pieces of contemporary horology: with interesting techniques, pushing the envelope with the use and adaptation of industrial coatings on watchmaking. And Felix and Martin, and their PR Supremo Yasine have always beenRead More

Lange Connoisseur Akademie: Lektion Zwei

posted on Timezone.com Lange Forum on July 12 I was reminded my M…yes, as in Bond’s boss…me being the intrepid 00P…:-) that I have not yet reported on Lektion Zwei. My apologies, as the last few weeks have been busy with the book that I have had to push back on other activities. The bookRead More

Lange’s Engraving Dept

The engraving department within A. Lange & Sohne is perhaps rather famous. Every watch produced carries a hand engraved balance cock. These bear the signatures of the engravers, and can be recognised by them with a quick examination. But equally interesting, and arguably perhaps more so, are the engraving and enameling work done for theRead More

Kari Voutilainen Observertoire

Kari Voutilainen’s simple time only watch…a la Dufour’s Simplicity is the Observertoire. I had the oppportunity to photograph this masterpiece in Motiers in January, after the SIHH when I visited with some good friends. The dial shows great restraint, and looks extremely handsome. The rose engine turned dial is made onsite at Kari’s premises. IRead More

H. Moser Perpetual 1: Most uncluttered perpetual calendar

H. Moser is an interesting company, recently exploded into the scene with some very innovative watches. Featured here is the perpetual calendar. In many calendars, the dial is usually so complicated, it is hard to read the time, and even harder to read the calendar indications. Not so with the Moser. This roundabout thinking hasRead More

Vianney Halter Janvier Lune et Soleil

Vianney Halter is a very interesting watchmaker. Intensely passionate about his craft, and insanely loyal to producing everything inhouse in his little farmhouse in St.Croix – a little village up in the mountains in the Swiss Jura. Visiting his workshops are like visiting a toystore for a man who still loves to play with everythingRead More

Debethune 2011 Novelties

Debethune always have interesting things to show at the periphery of SIHH. Housed once again in one of the function rooms at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Geneva, David Zaneta and his genius partner Denis Flageolet have come up with yet another amazing crop of products. As usual I had the pleasure of beingRead More

SIHH 2011: Greubel Forsey Invention Piece No 2

Greubel Forsey charted the course of their firm with what they call a series of inventions. In SIHH 2011, they released the Invention Piece No. 2.

SIHH 2011: A. Lange & Sohne Part 2

More novelties from ALS in SIHH 2011 Lange also introduced some new entry level watches to complete the Saxonia line. The line is now quite complete with the Saxonia Automatic, the Saxonial Flat Handwound, and the Saxonia World Time. First the Saxonia Automatic. The movement is a new movement, with a full rotor instead ofRead More

Laurent Ferrier Gallet Tourbillon

Laurent Ferrier…the first offering from this doyen of traditional watchmaking. Laurent used to work within the studios of Patek Philippe, and this year, he introduced a landmark piece bearing his name on the dial. The Gallet Tourbillon is a masterpiece of watchmaking. Totally traditional, fully classical in design, layout and finish. Available as an enamelRead More

SIHH 2010: ALS Homage Moonphase and Lange 1 Tourbillon

We continue with the Homage series in honey gold. The 1815 Moonphase is a rehash of the original Emil Lange 1815 Moonphase which has been doing very well in the auction scene. The character of the 1815 dial design is apparent in the new watch. But the design shows a totally new watch…featuring the vapourRead More

Rare Watches: Patek Philippe Ref. 5101

Watchscape of the Patek Philippe Ref. 5101 Tourbillon in a rectangular case with form movement in platinum. A gem of a rare watch.

AP: Royal Oak Offshore Grand Prix

Audemars Piguet Offshore Grand Prix: Click here for a large 1920 pixel wide wallpaper of the dial side.