And Now for Something a Little Different...

Yes, I have a soft spot for Glycine.  I am a certifiable Airman fanatic.  But what I like about Glycine is that they are aware that (sacrilegious though it may be) there is more to life than the Airman ; )

Courtesy of Glycine

Introducing the Glycine Classics Automatic.

Made By...

So an interesting discussion on Facebook regarding the legitimacy of putting Swiss Made on the dial of a watch when only a percentage is required to actually be, well, Swiss.

Now what I find fascinating in all of this is the "dog chasing its tale" picture that this paints for me:

1.  Watch company says - you should buy our watches, they are SWISS made which is, of course, the best!

2.  Well, we'd like to show you our facilities, but they are (of course) top secret!

3.  As you can see we are a true manufacture because we make our own movements right here!

4.  Well, no, we don't make our cases, dials, hands, crystals… we buy those from specialist suppliers…

5.  Well, no, we don't actually case (read assemble) the watches here.  It makes more sense for us to use an "assembling" company.

6.  We don't actually have production facilities "here", assembly is handled "elsewhere" - i.e. I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you ; )


So what does all of this really mean?

Well, I don't think that this is a "stop the press" news flash, but let's say that an unhealthy percentage of watch "brands" don't actually make watches.  So what exactly do they do?

Glad you asked!  Very often the "Brand" is some administrative offices that house sales, marketing, PR, Accounts Receivable, meeting room and the boss's office.  And POSSIBLY some storage for assembled watches before they get shipped.

So where are the other watches?  You mean apart from the "company watches" on the wrists of the employees there or the ones already put together awaiting dispatch to their distribution points?

Ah - this is the wonderfully elaborate shell game known as "Private Label".  Now what we would REASONABLY consider "private label" would mean that you are making a special watch for your company employees (Mercedes Benz did this back in 2002/2003 by making a manual winding alarm watch for their North American sales staff).  Okay, that makes sense.  A company orders a watch for its company, I get it.  Well, take that idea and feed it steroids and suddenly you become a "manufacturer for brands".

Okay you say to yourself, these private label companies must have ENORMOUS factories producing all of these watches.  Guess again.  Think of the "private label" company just like that brand that we were talking about earlier.  Administration offices.  And not coincidentally, "offices" in the "Far East".  While I am not an expert, I am fairly certain that Hong Kong is not a Swiss Canton.  Okay, so where do they "make" the watches?  Refer to point #6.

Think of the "private label" company as a general contractor.  Not unlike the folks who are putting your house together, they do the Swiss equivalent of driving down to the Home Depot to find the various parts, and then farm them out to the actual "assemblers" that bring it in for the best (i.e. lowest) price.

So, you go to your retail store to buy a brand "X" watch that was designed by a contracted designer.  The design was then sent to the private label company, who then farmed it out the various suppliers and assemblers and with a healthy dose of magic Swiss "pixie dust", the exclusive brand "X" watch is born.

One watch with hundreds of parents - It truly takes a village ; )

Backes & Strauss at Harrod's

This just in from Backes & Strauss -

Harrods Fine Watch Room launches exclusive Backes & Strauss watch collections

Screw Black Friday - Make it RED Everyday!

NOMOS - NOMOS is putting their money where their mouth is.

Courtesy of NOMOS

Graham Silverstone RS Skeleton

This just in from Graham -

Courtesy of Graham

Searching for Signs of Life at Vulcain

It is really hard to be in a one-sided love affair.  When you love someone (in this case a brand) and it does not return your affection...

Courtesy of Vulcain

I have been a Vulcain fan ever since I discovered them in that out of the way jewelers in Helsinki while killing time before a class I had to teach.

No to Sochi

A man must have a code.  It is easy to say stuff like that when you write a blog - it is almost too easy to hide behind someone else's bravado.  So here goes -

OMEGA - I am boycotting all coverage of the Sochi Olympics.  I will not cover any portion of it.  I think you are a great company, I love your watches and I will understand if you do not want to send me any more press releases.

BUT - I can't say okay anymore.

I do not agree with what is happening in Russia.  I do not agree with blind endorsement.

I LOVE what you are doing with ORBIS and other organizations.  You have a BIG HEART.  And you make some really amazing watches.  AND you do a lot of wonderful things for charity - PLEASE keep up the good work.  Not covering Sochi is NOT about you.

I realize, this is a small blog, a few people read it.  But I also think that ultimately you have to stand for something.  So I am standing for this.

15 Days with the GoS Stockholm

Starts now.

Ressence Type 3 - Credit Where Credit is Due!

Sometimes, sometimes the best man wins!

Courtesy of Ressence

And this is one of those times.

The Transfer Window and Christophe Claret

And just as the transfer window opens, the first change has been announced -

Wolfgang Sickenberg Courtesy of Christophe Claret

Christophe Claret wishes to inform you that Mr Stefan Feltgen, our Director of Operations, will leave at the end November 2013.

A&S Press Release Spiral Award - Best Breakthrough of the Year

Arnold & Son is honoured in Hong Kong with an award for Best Breakthrough of the Year

Courtesy of Arnold & Son

The Space Chronograph from Sinn

New - at least to me ; )

This is a limited edition now slated for 500 pieces.

Courtesy of Sinn

Holiday Reading

Courtesy of Atria Books/Simon & Schuster

This book has been out for nearly a year, but I suspect that it might have passed under many people's radar - including mine.

Happy Holidays from Baume & Mercier

The Transfer Window is Opening

Well pals and gals, it's that time of year once again.  Befuddled watch company owners/ board members will be pulling their heads out of their collective backsides as they finally come to grips with their balance sheets, see the red ink that has been accumulating for the past 11 months and say "how did that happen?"  As if it was some sort of sudden development.

And once again, action will be taken.  The same executives who were smiling confidently a few months ago, saying things like - "Yes, but we're REALLY big in the Mid-East", will be spending January and February punching up their resumes looking for a new "opportunity".

And those who haven't found something by BaselWorld will be populating the lobby area of the Ramada.  And actually this is my new business idea - start a headhunting firm specializing in the watch industry.  Simply camp out in the Ramada and put all of the executives on one side, put the HR representatives on the other, and do a sort of "speed dating" event.

I am joking.

Sort of.

Because ultimately, the watch industry continues to amaze me with its iron-clad unwillingness to learn from its mistakes.  "Well, executive X failed at three different companies - but let's have him run our company.  I am SURE that everything will be fine."  To my way of thinking, it is a bit like buying "retread tires" and then being surprised when you have a blow-out on the highway.

And this is not limited to Switzerland - although there does seem to be a real passion for this sort of willing suspension of disbelief.  Here in North America we see the same players, simply changing jerseys.

So who's fault is this?  I can't blame the CEOs or the North American troops.  Ultimately they are doing what they need to do to survive.  But it is a pretty startling reality.

If you continue to do the same thing, again and again, and somehow expect to get a different result...

The Transworld Round

Courtesy of Antoine Preziuso

The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac

This just in from Vacheron Constantin -

Courtesy of Vaheron Constantin

Métiers d’Art The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac 2014, year of the horse.

Raketa, What Did You Think Would Happen?

So…

This morning I awoke with this in my inbox:

"RAKETA" BEYOND THE LAW

Got your attention?  Good!  Here's the short form -

1.  As you know unless you have been living under a rock, in a cave, on one of the outlying planets of the solar system...OMEGA is a primary sponsor of the Sochi Winter Olympics.  As I am also sure you can imagine, sponsorship like that is not exactly inexpensive.

2.  Enter Raketa on the scene presenting the “Raketa for Sochi”. And I must say I loved the moxie! Essentially taking a watch, adorning the dial with the various events of the winter Olympics that are sponsored by, SOMEBODY ELSE! And then, and this was the masterstroke of marketing genius - or the very poorly thought out decision making process of too much liquor during a planning meeting -

you decide to do something that could get you litigated back into the Soviet era. You decide to promote this watch as an "homage" to the city of Sochi? With such "subtle" promotional photographs as this -

Courtesy of Raketa

3. The Olympic Committee moved to essentially "remind" Raketa that, in fact, they were in violation -

Courtesy of Raketa (I guess as they are the ones who sent it to me)

But as if this was not enough fun to start your day off with a laugh, then allow me to share the "shocked indignation" that Raketa expressed -

After a legal claim of the Olympic Committee, the “Raketa” Watch Factory is forced to stop sales of “Raketa for Sochi” series until December 22. Despite the fact that there was no offence against the competition law (Part 1, section 4, Article 14 of the Federal Law № 135-FZ  “On the Protection of Competition”,  July 26, 2006), the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia declared  watches illegal and asked to recall the collection from all the shops.

The Committee declares the ground for suit is “the production and sales of the limited collection “Sochi” that brings the false idea about the producer to be connected with the Olympic games”. It’s good to know that “Raketa” was the official timekeeper of 1980 Summer Olympics, so the connection is historical.

Considering the name of the collection “Raketa for Sochi” it is shoking how the use of the city name can break the law. According to this statement all producers of souvenirs, performers with their concerts and posters, tour agencies with their brochures are in danger of being involved in the lawsuit. Doubting the legalty of using the city name “Sochi” without linking to the Olympic Committee is equivalent to doubt the right to use “London” city name, which was the host city of the 2012 Summer Olympics. In that case all the souvenirs with “London” name on it should have been forbidden, then what would we bring from the capital of Great Britain as a memory gift?

The confirmation of legalty was required also to the use of symboliс images of winter sports. In this case the object of claim is not clear. From the beginnig of history cavemen had been schematically drawing the scenes of living and hunting. Nowadays icons are everywhere. Designers use them creating signs, billboards and magazines. A lot of sport clubs that have nothing in common with the Olympics place symbolic images of people doing different sports at their ads. At last, if anyone managed to doubt the legalty of using WC icons our society would have plunge into chaos!

Nevertheless, due to lack of law and administrative resourses to build up full protection the Watch Factory agreed to withdraw “Raketa for Sochi” series from the market until December 22. Thus, special limited collection “Raketa for Sochi” can only be found in the hands of lucky first buyers.

So I say this with all due respect, but honestly Raketa, what the F*&% did you think was going to happen? Maybe the Hayeks would invite you to their courtesy tent to watch the luge over vodka and caviar?!?

Unless…

you knew that this was exactly what would happen. In other words, you set out to attract the attention of the folks who enforce Olympic sponsorship agreements, did just enough to get a gentle spank…

(and this is the really "brilliant part") you fire off a press release chock-full of typos that manages to sound both paranoid and delusional at the same time! Well done!

I apologize, but as someone who lived through the cold war and actually remembers that there was once another place called the Soviet Union, this is a refreshing blast from the past! The puffed-up bravado, the willful suspension of common sense - spaceba Raketa! It's good to know that cold war style paranoia is alive and well ; )

Well, not to worry those of you in the west - we have our own puffed-up propaganda machine with the wonderfully misguided folks at Shinola - proudly making "REAL WATCHES" in Detroit - which apparently will soon be the new name for Geneva ; )

Elvis Has Left the Building…for now

One announcement that you might not have read or received in your "in box", is that Lionel Ladoire has stepped away from Ladoire and is pursuing another passion as a drummer.

So I want to take a moment, and ask everyone reading this to consider the "what ifs".

What if you hadn't become a butcher, baker or candlestick maker... what would you have been?  I myself always fancied myself an architect.  Anyone with access to my algebra grades thanks their own personal gods that this never happened.  I went to high school with truly remarkable young men and women.  And sneered and wondered why the best and the brightest hadn't gone off to Princeton, Harvard or Yale - because I surely would have - had I been one of the best and the brightest.   It is all too easy to judge from a soft, safe and warm point of view - particularly if you weren't as blessed as others.  And because you weren't so blessed, it is all the easier to be judgmental.

I think as watch fans, we suffer from our own presumed "ordinariness", and this, in turn makes us hoist unfair expectations onto the "extraordinariness" onto others.  We presume a lot.  And here's something to consider, I suspect that the CEO of Home Depot probably makes more than the CEO of Tissot - but it is not nearly as sexy, is it?

But if we are all honest with ourselves, let's face some certain facts - it is all too easy to be judgmental when you are not the artist, when you are not the creator.  When you were not similarly blessed.

So, Lionel, I wish you unsurpassed happiness and success.  While selfishly I wish you would come back and make watches, PLEASE - drum like the talented artist that you are.  And if/when you decide to come back and make watches - we will be waiting for you.

Roger W Smith - The Sorcerer's Apprentice

There are brands, there are "MEGA BRANDS", groups and conglomerates.  And then there are individuals -

Courtesy of Roger W. Smith

Embracing the Contagiri

Okay, in fairness, if you are reading this you have more than "one" watch.  So in that spirit, today I thought I'd embrace that idea.  This is the Contagiri from Giuliano Mazzuoli.

Courtesy of Giuliano Mazzuoli

The Complications of Desire

I often get asked - "Okay, money's no object... what watch would you choose?"

Courtesy of Vacheron Constantin

Yes, it would be this.  This is not a "brand new release".  It does not have a chronograph, second time zone, perpetual calendar - not dipped in "pixie dust"....

This is the Patrimony Contemporaine from Vacheron Constantin.

It is a beautiful, timeless watch.  Rose gold.  Hours, minutes, seconds.  And because I'm a sucker for "crazy" complications this also has a date function!

Behold - The Midnight Sun from GoS Watches!

This is the latest offering from GoS Watches -

Courtesy of GoS Watches

A Favorite from Sarpaneva

I realize that I have written about this particular Sarpaneva before, but true love is like that - it can last a lifetime.

Courtesy of Sarpaneva

Some New Chronograph Goodness from Baume & Mercier

This is a bit of an early SIHH Preview from Baume & Mercier

Courtesy of Baume & Mercier

Official Timekeeper of the Tecate Score Baja 1000

This just in from Graham -

Courtesy of Graham

Chronofighter Oversize Superlight Baja 1000 Limited edition of 200
Official Timekeeper of the Tecate Score Baja 1000

A Kinder, Gentler Wake-up from Braun

This is the BNC015-RC Projection Clock from the nice people at Braun.  And to day starts a 15 day review.

Now I realize that generally speaking this blog tends to be watch-centric, but we all have to wake up in the morning ; )

15 days with the Braun Projection Clock starts now.

A Few Words About the Joy of Failure with Vincent Calabrese

The author (read shameless fan) getting an autograph

So yesterday:
Up at 5:00 am for Skype calls with 2 different clients in Switzerland, write blog post, feed the cat, get cleaned up, off to the U for a 9:00 AM start.

Introducing Pinion!

So yesterday's opening of Salon QP also ushered in a new watch company from England - Pinion!

Courtesy of Pinion

This is the Axis - available in three versions.  Including Black DLC,

Courtesy of Pinion

Bronze (above) and stainless steel (below).

Courtesy of Pinion

Here is the info, straight from Pinion -

The watch, which is designed in England is influenced by the sharp designs of early 20th century military timepieces and instruments. The pure function of timekeeping with the Axis is straightforward due to the highly legible dial and coated sapphire crystal allowing clear vision of the time and date from all angles and lighting conditions.

Housed in a versatile 42mm steel case which is made from a single solid block of stainless steel and water resistant to 100 metres, the Axis is extremely robust. This structural integrity also employs shock resistance for the movement, making it perfect for multipurpose wear.

At the heart of every Pinion Axis is a highly dependable Swiss made automatic movement (ETA 2824-2) which is renowned for it’s reliability and accuracy having been used by fine watchmakers worldwide for many years. With 8 beats per second (28,800 per hour) the movement allows for high accuracy and when fully wound has a power reserve of 40 hours. The power is retained by wearing the watch, as subtle wrist movements power a winding rotor to keep the watch fully wound.

Completing the Axis, is a leather strap which is hand stitched and made from the finest hides and fastened to the wrist with a Pinion buckle.

The Pinion Axis has been designed and manufactured to the highest of standards using bespoke made Swiss and English parts. Any case treatment such as DLC coating and final finishing is conducted in England, prior to the watches being assembled and tested here by our highly experienced watchmakers.
Every Pinion Axis will be presented in a English made leather wallet. This will house the watch, manual, warranty card and each watch will be covered by an international 2 year manufacturers warranty.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
The following prices show UK retail (inc. VAT) and example US Dollars.
Axis Steel: £1,950 / $2,800 Axis Black: £2,150 / $3,000 Axis Bronze: £2,350 / $3,300
The watches will be available to order and buy from December, through Pinion direct or selected retailers and will be built and ready to ship in January 2014.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Movement: Self winding automatic Swiss movement ETA 2824-2, 25 jewels, power reserve 38
hours, 28,800bph, Pinion decorated rotor. Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Case: Stainless steel with brushed finish / Stainless steel with DLC coating / Bronze with brushed finish 42mm in diameter (excluding crown) strap lug width 22mm. Steel engraved screw down caseback with watch serial number engraving.Steel crown at 3H.
Crystal: Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
Dial: Satin black dial / Military green dial with numerals and indexes covered with Swiss
Superluminova® coating.
Hands: Steel hands with Swiss Superluminova® coating.
Water resistance: 10ATM (100 metres)
Strap: Hand made 22mm leather strap tapering to 20mm with a stainless steel pin buckle. 
Packaging: Leather wallet (Handmade in England)


ABOUT PINION

Founded in 2013 and based in South Oxfordshire, England, Pinion is a watch company that produces fine watches which are designed, finished, assembled and tested in the UK to the highest of standards.
The debut collection, called the ‘Pinion Axis’ is a timeless watch design presented in three variants: Steel, Black and Bronze. The 42mm timepiece has been designed to evoke: Simplicity, high legibility and hard-wearing robustness for daily and exceptional uses.

Pinion Watch Company is the vision and creation of experienced designer, Piers Berry. With many years in graphics and digital media, Piers’ love for watches and mechanical instruments inspired him to design his own watch and in doing so, created the Pinion Axis.

Not content with just the watch design, every aspect of Pinion is designed and produced by Piers. From the straps and packaging through to the watch photography and digital media, everything is painstakingly created by Piers to ensure his original vision is to exacting standards and the finest of quality.

The name 'Pinion' originates from the small but significant gear wheels, that sit at the very heart of every mechanical timepiece and are often used to drive the more visible parts like the hands in a watch. Being a small independent watch company, Pinion passionately embodies watchmaking from the heart.

THE MOTION WORKS
The Motion Works is the name for Pinion’s watch assembly and service centre which is based in England. Our watchmakers are qualified BHI (British Horology Institute) members and carrying many years of experience and knowledge, providing excellent technical assistance and support for our watches.
When making a Pinion watch, each one is first assembled with precision and care. Once complete, the watches are regulated and adjusted for timekeeping accuracy before being pressure tested for water resistance.
Every Pinion watch is supported by an international two year warranty. 

The GoS Winter Nights in Action!

This is courtesy of the nice folks at Picciones' -

UTTE Asprey Special Edition ‘Luxury Watch of the Year'

This just in from Arnold & Son -

Courtesy of Arnold & Son

Gravity Fire from ARMIN STROM

This just in from ARMIN STROM -

Courtesy of Armin Strom

ARMIN STROM Gravity is the first watch from the Biel-based Manufacture to feature an automatic winding mechanism with micro rotor.

A Few Minutes with Uwe Ahrendt

Courtesy of NOMOS Glashütte

Tempus Fugit - What was your first watch?  Was it a gift?  Is there a story behind it?

Uwe Ahrendt - Right after university, on the day I received my Diploma, I bought myself an IWC Ingenieur timepiece; I had written my thesis at IWC.  I still like it, even though it stays in a drawer in my bedside table these days.

TF - When you were a boy, what did you want to be when you "grew up"?

UA - I didn’t necessarily want to become a watchmaker—and, in that sense, I was an exception in Glashütte. But I always answered “something with technology” when I was asked as a child. That, at least, was somewhat free from ideology in the GDR years.

TF - Where did you go to school?  What did you study?

UA - In Glashütte: I attended elementary school, graduating in 10^th grade, before heading to the notable (and notorious) Engineering College, also in Glashütte—we used to have some wild parties there! After that, I completed a joint degree in Mittweida: Business Administration and Engineering.

TF - How did you get involved in the watch industry in the first place?

UA - My great grandfather, grandfather, and father: they were all watchmakers. They all tick-tocked. 

TF - What brought you to NOMOS in the first place?

UA - My wife, Heike. She got to know Roland in 1994/95, after approaching him with: “You’re the one with the beautiful watches, aren’t you?” Heike introduced us in 1996; and then in 2000 I started at NOMOS.

TF - What is special about NOMOS?

UA - The very high added value and the great degree of in-house production, but also the fact that an independent watchmaking company is able to produce beautiful timepieces at affordable prices. And, of course, the combination of Glashütte and Berlin: we construct the watches in Glashütte—this is the best place to do it, as this is where the experts are. And we bring them to the rest of the world via Berlin, as Berlin is the European capital for art and design. People there are simply more internationally minded: this is why our design and marketing is done there, around 200 kilometers north of Glashütte. 

Courtesy of NOMOS Glashütte

TF - I realize that it might be difficult, but what is your favorite NOMOS?

UA - Right now, my favorite watch to wear is Ahoi Datum—but Lambda Weissgold has also caught my eye, so I may have to change allegiance at some point.  

TF - What is the biggest market for NOMOS Glashütte?

UA - It’s still Germany at the moment. But our global market is growing: we are seeing more and more demand from overseas, more retailers, media attention, interest… we’re expanding!

TF - What are some of the biggest challenges facing NOMOS?

UA - We want to hold our ground in an industry that is increasingly run by corporations. We don’t want to grow too quickly, but rather in a consistent, controlled manner. We also want to continue increasing the degree of in-house production for our key price range of up to 2000 EUR—and offer our customers top quality watches for very fair prices. Since we do everything from A to Z ourselves, we are able to ensure quality at every stage—but that’s not always the cheapest option…

TF - What is a typical day in the life of Uwe Ahrendt?

UA - Get up, make sure the kids eat breakfast, into the office for 7:30am, back home around 7pm (doing the sort of things Managing Directors usually get up to in between). Drink a beer in the evenings, annoy the family and head to bed. (And missing out on sport again!)

TF - Up to this point, what has been the greatest achievement for NOMOS?

UA - That we’re still here—and growing, in fact: flooding, 9/11, global economic crisis. None of this affected us, apparently. We survived it all and in 2005, at the half-way point, we started constructing our own movements in-house. Now we are producing haute horologie models, have expanded the number of employees, are in rude health financially—and are still very much enjoying what we’re doing. We’re continuously evolving and aiming for ‘The Three Es’; that is, Ethics, Enthusiasm, and Excellence. I don’t think there’s anything I’d rather be doing than working for NOMOS Glashütte with my colleagues. 

TF - What do you like to do in your spare time?

UA - I have three kids. And of course, they’re the ones I want to spend my free time with.  That said, the pile of books I’ve either started or not got round to yet is threatening to tip over soon…

TF - If you weren't doing this, what do you think you might be doing?

UA - I’d probably be working for one of our competitors—maybe I’d still be at Lange & Söhne, as I was before I started at NOMOS Glashütte.

TF - What advice do you have for future watch company leaders?

UA - Be patient, keep things realistic, be passionate about your work. But you should also never forget that there are more important things in life than watches. 

The Hollywoodland Watch form Girard-Perregaux

This just in from Girard-Perregaux -

Courtesy of Girard-Perregaux

A Bit of Shameless Self-Promotion

As many of you know, I do some work for different watch and pen companies.  I try very hard to keep that separate from what I write about here because it can leave the wrong impression.

So this is a ONE TIME use of the space here at Tempus Fugit for a bit of shameless self-promotion.

I am the owner of the Oberlin Pen Company -

The Oberlin Pen Company was the result of a lot of inspiration that I have received from many of the brands that I have written about.

From Beat Weinmann of ochs und junior I have come to appreciate the importance of transparency - of knowing exactly where the products come from that you buy - even the luxuries.  So to that end, I have partnered with the Edison Pen Company of Ohio to produce the first series of pens.  All of the pens are made in Ohio, with the fountain pens using high quality German nibs.

From Samuel Naldi of Edelberg, I have learned the importance of having an attractive product, and having a stylish presentation.

From Lisa Delane of Tigerlilly Skye, and Yasmina Pedrini of Frederique Constant/Alpina I have learned the importance of trying to give something back to a charitable cause not because you should, but because you want to.

And from my interactions with Jean Claude-Biver, I have learned the importance of sharing the story.

The Oberlin Pen Company is an experiment in communication. There will be no big budget, no paid advertising or product placement. Whether this venture will live or die will be completely up to those people who choose to support it.

So what's in it for you? A very cool limited edition. But there is more to it than that, because one of the guiding ideals of the Oberlin Pen Company is to try and do something good. So to that end, a percentage of every pen sold will be donated to charity.

If you are interested in learning more, or in purchasing one of these limited editions, please contact me directly. The price for the Roller Ball will be $200 US plus shipping. For the Fountain Pen it will be $250 US plus shipping.

CONTACT OBERLIN PEN COMPANY

Feeling Introspective with SWATCH

One of my favorite watches, believe it or not, was the SWATCH Body and Soul that I bought when I came back to the US after living years abroad.

Courtesy of SWATCH

Logical Stars from GAVOX

Sometimes you get some very nice surprises over the weekend.  And yesterday was no exception.

Courtesy of GAVOX

This is the latest offering from GAVOX - a series of self-winding watches.

The Tipping Point

So it was a very interesting day for me today.  I went for a ride on my bici.  The same ride that I take every Saturday (and if I'm lucky) Sunday.  Today I took a right turn where I normally go straight.  And I found myself on this long, steady, beautiful climb.  It went up, and up, and up.  Slowly, steadily I kept   pedaling.  And cheezy as it sounds, for a moment I was somewhere else.  And as often is the case, I got to thinking about watches and how so often both watch brands and us (the people who follow them) we don't take that right turn.  

So tonight I wanted to share some people that I think are taking that right turn, taking us to that unexpected place.  A watch is, ultimately, just a mechanism.  And for better or worse, the world does not NEED any more watches - and to talk to some of the people manning fairly important and senior positions at some of the biggest, most "exclusive" brands, I am often left with the feeling that they might as well be working for a toothpaste company.  There is no spark, there is no passion.  They are virtually inanimate objects.   

So who is passionate?  

Martin Braun for one.  Here is someone who got the "fuzzy end of the lollipop" when his brand became a part of the Franck Mueller group.  It would have been easy for him to wait for another bigger brand to come in, but he had a vision.  And today he is seeing the results of that passion and vision.  Antoine Martin has steadily developed into something special.

Another Martin - Martin Pauli.  I think what I love about Angular Momentum/Manu Propria is that Martin came into the watch world not necessarily by "design", but rather THROUGH design.  These days he has a following of devoted collectors that truly spans the globe.  He is not someone who seeks the spotlight, but rather lets the beautiful designs on his watch dials do the talking.  He could take the easy approach and have someone else simply stamp his dials - but this is a fellow interested in (and practicing) numerous artistic disciplines, and that passion shows through in what he is doing.

Adrien Choux.  The owner of the Chinese Timekeeper although born in France, chose to make his life in Asia - most specifically in Hong Kong.  Consider that this is someone who was steadily climbing the Richemont career ladder with Panerai.  someone holding onto the "golden ticket"... decides to go his own way, to take that right turn and to launch his version of a luxury Chinese watch.  

Patrik Sjögren.  Computer scientist/engineer turned watch maker.  Again - it would have been so easy to carry on with what he was doing.  But there was something more driving him towards the decision to become a watch maker.  And then it went further - to produce his own watches.  And not just any watches.  GoS watches are quickly gaining a very strong following for people attracted not just to the unique cases, but the beautifully finished dials.

So the next time you're going out watch shopping, instead of heading straight to the "usual suspects", take a right turn and check out something unique.  Yes, it is a watch - a micro machine.  But it is something that was conceived, designed and made by a person.  And really, it should be about people.

Behold the Splitrock Big Numbers!

This is something neat from Pierre DeRoche -

Courtesy of Pierre DeRoche