When we hear about innovation in watchmaking, it’s almost always about materials, tooling for cases, dials, movements, complications, indications of time, or designs. Rarely (if ever) do we hear about innovation with finishing. To get to the bottom of these questions, we were fortunate enough to speak with Philippe Narbel.
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 MoreUntil recently, pop culture figures sporting high-end timepieces was a reality almost exclusively reserved for the “big” brands – Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Rolex, Richard Mille, Cartier, etc. Small-scale, artisanal watchmaking was simply never in that realm. Things are changing though. Independent watchmaking is now increasingly found on the wrists of celebrities and in pop culture, and the question is, “why now?” Today, we’re diving into some of the more recent, pop culture moments for indie brands and laying out some thoughts on what has attracted more attention.
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 MoreThere’s a strong argument that Only Watch is the most remarkable auction in the watch industry. Occurring every other year, every edition features ~50 unique pieces from our favorite watchmakers and brands. With such an exceptional catalog of unique pieces, it’s fun, exciting, and grounded in an even better cause. Launched nearly 20 years ago, all proceeds go to support the research of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy – a genetic disorder that impacts 1 in every 3500 male births.
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 MoreOne of the defining aspects of fine watchmaking is finishing. While watch manufacturers have found ways to democratize iconic designs and even produce mechanical complications at scale, the world’s best finished timepieces are done so by hand and in small numbers. Today we’re taking a closer look at some of the finishing techniques that often embody an astute attention to detail by the watchmaker / brand.
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 MoreAuctioned this past weekend (May 13-14 2023) in Geneva for ~ US$450,000, we’re diving into the backstory of this extraordinary timepiece and its significance in modern independent watchmaking.
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 MoreEvery year, the watchmaking world comes together to release and celebrate its latest creations at Watches and Wonders in Geneva. We had the pleasure of attending the event this year, saw many friends, even more exciting timepieces, and filmed some great videos on our YouTube channel. During the week, social media is bombarded with releases to such an extent that it can feel like a whirlwind for collectors. A week removed from the flurry of new releases, we’re taking a step back to shed a light on some of our favorites from Watches and Wonders 2023.
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 MoreThe future of independent watchmaking is bright. While AHCI started in Switzerland, independent watchmaking today is thoroughly global. We’ve seen exceptional talent spring out of places far from the traditional watchmaking capitals of Geneva, Vallée du Joux, and Glashütte. One of the young watchmakers that has particularly captured our attention is in the heart of Berlin – Felipe Pikullik.
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 MoreToday, we’re focusing on some emerging trends that we’ve observed in independent watchmaking over the last five years. Laying out what has changed will help us better understand where things are heading in the future.
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.
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