Switzerland

March 1, 2024

Overlooked No More: Betty Fiechter, Pioneer in the World of Watches

She started out at Blancpain as an apprentice and eventually took over as owner, a move that one colleague noted was “totally unprecedented” for a woman. […]
February 26, 2024

Visiting Nude Saunas in Austria and Germany Without Feeling Awkward

Austria and Germany abound with popular resorts called thermen where getting the full sauna experience typically means having to take it all off. Had I ever […]
February 14, 2024

This Watchmaker Admits to a Longtime Obsession

Bernhard Lederer says the escapement, the part of a mechanical timepiece that regulates the gears, has fascinated him for decades. In the almost five decades that […]
January 18, 2024

A Medieval Tale Told in Watches

The Knights of the Round Table collection by Roger Dubuis continues its exploration of the tale of King Arthur, this time with an icy scene. The […]
November 7, 2023

Sustainability in Watches: A Story in 6 Pieces

The industry’s response to calls for change has been complex, but the debut of these watches over the last 50 years provides some insight. In 2017, […]
November 7, 2023

What’s in a (Watch) Name?

Brands have taken their names from people, places and unusual things. All watches tell time, and some do a whole lot more. But the name of […]
October 19, 2023

Watchmakers Know That Polish Counts

The centuries-old art of finissage commands attention from brands and collectors alike. In the world of high watchmaking, beauty is more than surface deep. Some of […]
July 23, 2023

Form Watches Can Be Fruit, Fauna or Almost Anything at All

The industry term for such fanciful timepieces is form watches, and their origin story stretches back at least 500 years. It’s a bracelet! It’s a brooch! […]
July 23, 2023

A School Watch Gets the Prize

After the F.P. Journe competition revealed the 2023 winner, one jury member said Alexandre Hazemann’s student project “looks like a commercial watch.” Name Alexandre Hazemann Age […]
June 15, 2023

The Simple Reasons for Collecting Complicated Watches

Some timepieces contain as many as 40 functions, but how many do their owners understand? BASEL, Switzerland — With 1,155 parts in the movement and 40 […]