Friday, May 17th 2013
Japan Wednesday, October 3rd 2012
Three faces of watchmaking in Japan
Land of excellence, Japan embraces watchmaking in the person of Hajime Asaoka, a self-taught young watchmaker, as well as through research by Swiss historian Pierre-Yves Donzé, and the reopening of the Seiko Museum.
Worlds away from Switzerland in every sense, Japan is experiencing some important developments in watchmaking. Hajime Asaoka from Tokyo, a designer who trained at one of the country's top schools, got it into his head to make watches, with astonishing results. He learned his craft from George Daniels' book Watchmaking and by watching YouTube. He aims to exhibit at Baselworld in 2013, possibly as a member of the AHCI. In the meantime, he gave us a glimpse of his talent.
> Hajime Asaoka, the watchmaker from Tokyo
Visiting Fellow at the University of Kyoto, the Swiss historian Pierre-Yves Donzé questions whether Japanese quartz watches really were responsible for bringing Swiss mechanical watchmaking to its knees. His conclusions are clear: the industry was no longer competitive because it was too diversified and lacked rational organisation. Something Nicolas Hayek would put right. As for Rolex, he suggests it may well have escaped the quartz crisis altogether.
> Japanese quartz didn't kill the Swiss watch industry
In its redesigned and renovated museum in Tokyo, Seiko tells the story of how a retailer gave rise to one of the country's biggest industrial groups, with a fascinating staging of its rich watchmaking heritage and some surprising discoveries.
> The Seiko Museum in Tokyo
Louis Nardin - Osaka
Hublot
Monday, April 29th 2013
Interviewed at Baselworld 2013, Jean-Claude Biver, Chairman of Hublot, discusses the driving forces that keep the brand on a permanent upward trajectory.
"No innovation, no future!"
Interviewed at Baselworld 2013, Jean-Claude Biver, Chairman of Hublot, discusses the driving forces that keep the brand on a permanent upward trajectory.
Omega
Monday, April 29th 2013
The Co-Axial is ubiquitous at Omega, in its calibres, in its communication, and now in its genes. Hardly surprising, then, that the company has made co-axial technology its rallying cry for 2013. Stephen Urquhart, President of Omega, explains.
The Co-Axial movement is second nature for Omega
The Co-Axial is ubiquitous at Omega, in its calibres, in its communication, and now in its genes. Hardly surprising, then, that the company has made co-axial technology its rallying cry for 2013. Stephen Urquhart, President of Omega, explains.
Christophe Claret
Sunday, April 28th 2013
For a long time, Christophe Claret - 25 years of grande complication watchmaking under his belt - worked in the shadow of the leading watch companies. The response to a tough business climate, his Dual Tow sowed the seeds for the brand that bears his name. Kantharos, presented at Baselworld 2013, confirms this second direction for the brand. An explanation from the master watchmaker himself.
Christophe Claret, the unsung hero makes some noise
For a long time, Christophe Claret - 25 years of grande complication watchmaking under his belt - worked in the shadow of the leading watch companies. The response to a tough business climate, his Dual Tow sowed the seeds for the brand that bears his name. Kantharos, presented at Baselworld 2013, confirms this second direction for the brand. An explanation from the master watchmaker himself.
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