Passion
Friday, May 17th 2013
While Patek Philippe again claimed the most valuable lot at the spring auction session in Geneva, Rolex confirmed its ascension with a new world record at Christie's. In contrast, several dozen lots went unsold. A mixed bag is perhaps the best description of the spring session of auctions in Geneva, held May 11th, 12th and 13th, and this on more than one count. While several records and some strong results were seen for Rolex wristwatches, several others failed to find a buyer. This reflects reticence among bidders, particularly with respect to coloured watches whose authenticity can be difficult to prove. Eyebrows were also raised in the room among specialists who were surprised by the level of absenteeism among European investors and collectors. Nonetheless, this latest session produced …
Fabrice Eschmann
News
Thursday, May 16th 2013
Sistem51, the new Swatch self-winding mechanical movement, is to be assembled and adjusted entirely by machine. This groundbreaking development seems destined not only to give Swatch a major boost, but also to raise a lot of questions about the mechanical watch sector in general. Nick Hayek, the CEO of Swatch Group, had already given advance warning of this new revolution. It was at Baselworld tha…
Michel Jeannot / WtheJournal.com
News
Wednesday, May 15th 2013
The Charming Bird, whose feathered creature flaps its wings and sings beneath its sapphire dome, was one of the most remarked-upon pieces at this year's Baselworld. Embracing childhood wonder, tradition and next-generation technology, Jaquet Droz has carved itself a new niche. It was Nicolas Hayek himself who set the wheels in motion, but it was only at this year's Baselworld that the public final…
Louis Nardin
Passion
Monday, May 13th 2013
The Bavarian National Museum houses one of the most important clock and watch collections in Germany. In addition to remarkable table clocks dating from the 16th and 17th centuries and various large Baroque clocks, mainly owned by the Wittelsbach fam…
Raphael Beuing
Passion
Wednesday, May 8th 2013
The appeal of the Geneva brand never stops growing, a situation that partly reflects the peaks that Patek Philippe has already reached. The heart is torn between the Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon offered by Antiquorum (estimated at CHF 1 - 1.5 m…
Fabrice Eschmann
News
Tuesday, May 7th 2013
Jaquet Droz celebrates its 275th anniversary; Blancpain marks 60 years for the Fifty Fathoms; Breguet trains the spotlight on the tourbillon. The three names in Swatch Group under the stewardship of Marc Alexander Hayek are off to a roaring start in …
Christophe Roulet
News
Monday, May 6th 2013
Two exceptional watches join Blancpain's Le Brassus collection this year: a Carrousel Répétition Minutes Chronographe Flyback and a Tourbillon Carrousel. These unprecedented combinations of complications swell the ranks of Blancpain's outstanding cre…
Christophe Roulet
News
Friday, May 3rd 2013
Breguet's reminder that "over the past ten years, the brand has registered more than a hundred patents, most of which concern improvements to timekeeping precision and striking mechanisms" was a chance to spotlight one in particular. Filed on Novembe…
Christophe Roulet
News
Friday, May 3rd 2013
Antonio Calce can breathe freely at last: the news was announced as a prelude to Baselworld 2013, Corum has just been bought by China Haidian. The group, notably involved in watch brand distribution in China, had already acquired Eterna in 2011. The …
Julie Mégevand / WtheJournal.com
