In 2019, we celebrated Urwerk’s launch of the UR-100— the brand’s smallest and slimmest watch to date. The model by Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei was an instant home run, and so are all the other iterations of the watch from the Blue Planet to the “C3PO” to the UR-100V Ultraviolet to the Time and Culture I. This is one of the most dynamic, exceptional canvas for the mastermind duo’s most creative ideas. Now, Felix and Martin have returned with another edition – the Time and Culture II.
Read MoreEvery year, the GPHG Awards celebrates excellence and creativity in the watchmaking industry. Brands submit timepieces for awards in different categories, and an academy of industry players vote, first on finalists, and then for winners. With this year’s edition occurring after auction season on November 9, 2023, votes were tallied and finalists announced this week. There are six finalists in each of the fifteen categories spanning everything from Men’s to Ladies’ to Complication and more.
Read MoreKicking off Geneva Watch Days 2023 a few days early, MB&F presents another stunning addition to the brand’s catalog – the Horological Machine N°9 Sapphire Vision. HM9-SV with its fully sapphire case is born from the motivation to show the world the stunning engine in this timepiece.
Read MoreWith the rise in popularity of independent watchmaking though, we’ve seen a series of knock-on effects that directly impact the market and the experience of collectors – wait times on delivery can be years, resale and auction prices regularly shatter records, and value-mindedness is central in deciding on what to purchase. Today, we’re laying out our thoughts on the status of the indie watch market – what we expected, where the market is now, and where it’s headed.
Read MoreThe last few years have been exceptional for the publication of books by independent watchmakers and brands. They provide a level of depth that is difficult to present on social media. From our vantage point, it’s not a coincidence that these publications are becoming more frequent as the community around independent watchmaking continues to grow rapidly – the audience is there and yearns for more stories. Without revealing too many spoilers, we’re diving into two aspects of Hands of Time that make it an enjoyable read.
Read MoreAfter a nearly 6 year hiatus from the brand’s “automotive inspired” timepieces, Max Büsser and friends are back with a new release – the HM8 Mark 2. Limited to 33 in each of the timepiece’s colorways, the HM8 Mark 2 takes everything that MB&F fans have loved in this automotive series over the last 10+ years and has made it more technical, more legible, even more modern, and easier to wear.
Read MoreWe’re continuing on our journey through the most iconic timepieces from modern independents. Though it is nearly impossible to pick only one, we’re focusing on the DB28 and diving into the aspects that define this timepiece as an icon in modern independent watchmaking.
Read MoreWe were curious to learn more about the brand’s journey and caught up with Claude, the master watchmaker behind Armin Strom, to dive deeper into where things started and how the brand has built its momentum.
Read MoreWith the auction of Urwerk’s UR-102 “TimeForArt,” the brand showcased its new UR-102 for the very first time. Now, only a few months after that auction, Felix and Martin are back with another exceptional pièce unique: the UR-105M Trinity. This timepiece is also headed to auction and is sure to find its home with an avid independent watchmaking collector.
Read MoreDe Bethune has a collection that embodies the extremes of Denis Flageollet’s creativity – the Dream Watch. Back again with a new release, we’re thrilled to present the DBD “Season 2,” designed in collaboration with hip-hop artist and indie watch superfan, Swizz Beats.
Read MoreWe’ve known Rexhep Rexhepi since the earliest days of AkriviA. One of the leaders of the young generations of independent watchmakers, the man and his team have over-delivered on expectations since the brand’s arrival on the scene more than a decade ago. For us though, the AK-06 holds a special place in the growth and development of one of the craft’s most beloved watchmakers. Today, we’re diving into the aspects that define the AK-06 as an icon in modern independent watchmaking.
Read MoreThere are many ways that a watch movement can be considered great. It could be its complication, simplicity, finishing, three-dimensionality, symmetry, asymmetry, materials, or any combination of all of these things. In today’s world, these various factors are not all created equal though. One from this list occupies a disproportionately large amount of attention in the watch world: finishing.
Read MoreContinuing our series on iconic watches in modern independent watchmaking, we’d be remiss in our duties to overlook F.P. Journe’s Chronomètre à Résonance. While some of the master watchmaker’s more recent timepieces have gained popular attention (the Chronomètre Bleu, Chronomètre Souverain), the Chronomètre à Résonance is the watch that elevated François-Paul Journe to one of the greatest watchmakers in the history of horology.
Read MoreWhat makes an iconic watch? With this series on icons in modern independent watchmaking, we’re going to shed light on some of the aspects that define these timepieces, above and beyond the metal. And what better place to start than Urwerk’s UR-103, the brand’s first serially produced timepiece that laid the foundation for an extensive catalog of marvels in modern horology.
Read MoreThat’s what we’re digging into today, the challenges that pushed watchmakers and creatives in independent watchmaking the most. We spoke with two watchmakers, Jean-François Mojon and Sylvain Pinaud, as well as one of the chief creative minds amongst independents, Max Büsser, to hear their input on what challenges they face.
Read MoreFor collectors and enthusiasts, last year was a strong indicator that creative momentum is building amongst indies. Looking back on the last 12 months, we should be excited for what’s in store for 2023. Before we move on from last year, our team gathered to name some of our favorite timepieces from 2022. Here’s our picks and why.
Read MoreWith the arrival of MB&F The First Fifteen Years, it's a rare opportunity to immerse oneself into the company and its creations in a comprehensive way. The catalogue raisonné, usually reserved for an artist’s corpus, is a fitting format given the burst creativity that MB&F has brought forth across dozens of timepieces and 20 in-house calibres. Writers Suzanne Wong and William Messena do not disappoint in their handling of the MB&F story. Less of a book review and more of a love letter, we wanted to cast a spotlight on some things that stood out in between the lines.
Read MoreAuction season is in full swing with Phillips The New York Watch Auction: Seven on December 10-11. This will be another great event for indies with the auction catalog marked by timepieces from Kudoke, F.P. Journe, De Bethune, MB&F, Andersen Genève. Amongst the lots, there is an exceptional unique piece from Urwerk – the UR-102 “ArtForTime.” Donated by the brand with proceeds going to the Swiss Institute to support contemporary art and artists, the reloaded UR-102 was created in collaboration with Cooper Jacoby.
Read MoreAn unimaginable reality not long ago, the question is, how did time-only watches ascend to such heights that they regularly attain grail status amongst collectors? What factors drove the rise of “simple” timepieces to the top?
Read MoreIt’s that time of the year again – the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) is around the corner. An annual award ceremony for the luxury watchmaking industry, the event crowns the year’s best timepieces across 15 categories. With many independent watchmakers in the mix, we have had the privilege to handle some of the watches amongst the short-listed nominees.
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