Latest news with #watchmaking
Khaleej Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Les Cabinotiers Temporis Duo Grand Complication Openface is a lyrical celebration of time
In the world of watchmaking, few names carry the weight of history quite like Vacheron Constantin. The Swiss maison's 270-year legacy of being the world's oldest watchmaker in continuous production perfectly embodies humankind's quest to capture time and distil its mysteries within the confines of a metal case. Across that remarkable journey, the brand has tackled the grandest of complications and pushed the boundaries of horological expression. Yet, even for this fabled watchmaker, bringing together a split-seconds chronograph, a minute repeater, and a tourbillon in a wristwatch remains an extraordinary feat. These three complications, each formidable on its own, have tested generations of craftsmen. While they have shared space in the occasional grand pocket watch, uniting them in a single wristwatch remains a rare achievement. Vacheron Constantin first explored this daring combination in 2022 with a one-of-a-kind Les Cabinotiers timepiece powered by calibre 2757. Now, with the singular Les Cabinotiers Temporis Duo Grand Complication Openface — another one-off creation — the maison reveals the intricate beauty of the movement through a sapphire dial and caseback. Seen up close, the Temporis Duo Grand Complication Openface is a breathtaking spectacle. Its open worked sapphire dial, scarcely half a millimetre thick, offers an intimate view of the mechanical ballet beneath. Driving this marvel is the calibre 2757 S, a masterpiece of modern watchmaking composed of 696 meticulously finished components. From the split-seconds chronograph that captures parallel moments with elegant precision, to the minute repeater that strikes the hours, quarters, and minutes with remarkable clarity, every function reflects Vacheron Constantin's relentless pursuit of perfection. Anchoring it all is the tourbillon regulator, fitted with a spherical hairspring, quietly resisting the pull of gravity to keep time steady and true. And yet, the watch wears its technical brilliance lightly. Thoughtful choices such as titanium, silicon, and aluminium within the movement help reduce weight and friction, enhancing performance and preserving energy. Together, they sustain a generous 50-hour power reserve, even with the chronograph engaged. Frosted and polished surfaces, warm 5N pink gold accents, and a rich olive-green strap lend contemporary flair to this vessel of timeless craft. The 45mm pink gold case frames it all, substantial yet harmonious on the wrist. But beyond the complexity and beauty, there is a deeply human story. Much like the cabinotiers — the master watchmakers of Geneva who, centuries ago, crafted bespoke marvels for discerning patrons — a single artisan at Vacheron Constantin saw this creation through from start to finish. From the first bevel to the final adjustment, every polished edge, every satin-brushed surface, every hidden screw speaks of patience, skill, and a craft reverently passed down through generations. With the Les Cabinotiers Temporis Duo Grand Complication Openface, Vacheron Constantin invites us to witness the passage of time, to feel it, and to hear it. This is not merely a technical triumph, but a lyrical celebration of time's fleeting beauty, captured forever in metal, sapphire, and sound.
Bloomberg
11-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Can $6,200 Watches Bring the Timepiece Industry Back to Chicago?
Newsletter Watches That's what the founders of the Cornell Watch Co. believe. Hello fellow watch nerds! It's Chris Rovzar, editor of Bloomberg Pursuits, here with another movement-based missive. Today the Wind Up Watch Fair begins in Chicago, where dozens of international watchmaking brands will showcase their wares to thousands of enthusiasts. I won't be there, but I hope some of you are planning to go check it out. Did you know that the greater Chicago area was once one of the world's great watchmaking hubs? Elgin National Watch Co., an early leading producer of wristwatches, was founded there before moving to nearby Elgin, Illinois, and many other important companies were in operation in the region around a century ago.
South China Morning Post
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
Style Edit: Richard Mille rolls out the limited edition RM 30-01 Le Mans Classic to mark the race for vintage cars it's named after
Few watchmakers have a motorsport connection as deep as Richard Mille's . This isn't just about sponsorships or branding, it's about being part of the racing themselves. Since 2002, the brand has been a principal partner of Le Mans Classic, with its founders – Richard Mille himself and Dominique Guenat – getting behind the wheel in the past. That tradition continues with the next generation, as Maxime Guenat, Dominique's son, now competes in top-tier historic racing. Their involvement perpetuates a long-standing tradition of celebrating mechanical mastery – on the wrist and on the track. Richard Mille RM 30-01 Le Mans Classic. Photo: Handout To mark the 12th edition of Le Mans Classic, which ran from July 3-6, 2025, Richard Mille dropped the RM 30-01 Le Mans Classic, a 150-piece limited edition that leans into the brand's motorsport DNA with precision and flair. Every edition of the race since 2008 has inspired its own Richard Mille timepiece, and this year's race is no exception. Designed in the event's signature green and white, the latest watch features titanium bezels wrapped around a Green Quartz TPT caseband, topped off with a race-ready green rubber strap that is vented like a classic car's grille. Advertisement The RM 30-01 Le Mans Classic is styled to evoke the layout of a race circuit. Photo: Handout Flip it over and the sapphire crystal caseback displays the Le Mans Classic logo – a detail that cements the timepiece's connection to the iconic event. The dial side is just as striking, packed with features and clever visual cues. The skeletonised layout evokes the geometry of a race circuit, while the updated calibre RMAR2 movement introduces a new 24-hour counter. At '16', a green background marks the start time of the 24 Hours of Le Mans – a subtle tribute to the moment the green flag waves the cars off on their epic endurance drive. The sapphire crystal caseback displays the Le Mans Classic logo. Photo: Handout Under the hood, the movement's clutch engagement indicator (at 11 o'clock) tells the wearer if the rotor is active or disengaged, while the function selector (at 3 o'clock) allows for switching between winding, setting and neutral modes. A 55-hour power reserve is displayed through the skeletonised baseplate and titanium bridges, keeping the engine going long after the crowds have cleared the grandstands. The RM 30-01 Le Mans Classic has a function selector at 3 o'clock to switch between winding, setting and neutral modes. Photo: Handout With around 750 vintage racing cars competing across six historic categories – or grids – on the 13.6km Sarthe circuit at Le Mans, the RM 30-01 doesn't just commemorate a moment, it keeps pace with a century of speed. More than a watch, this is a mechanical tribute to endurance, elegance and the thrill of the race.
South China Morning Post
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Making the case: Rolex's Everose and Hublot's Magic Gold and King Gold show off the latest in watchmaking alloy excellence
There's no shortage of innovation in horology, but lately, it's not just happening inside the case – it is the case. At Watches and Wonders 2025 , proprietary gold alloys stole the spotlight in some of the year's most significant launches. These aren't your traditional precious metals – they're patented blends developed by brands to enhance hardness, prevent fading, improve colour stability and create materials as distinctive as any dial or movement. A. Lange & Söhne rendered its newest Odysseus in Honeygold. Photo: Handout Advertisement A prime example is A. Lange & Söhne, the German watchmaker revered for its exceptional engineering and low-volume approach. Its newest Odysseus Chronograph is rendered in Honeygold – a proprietary 18k gold alloy developed in 2010 with a hue between yellow and rose, reminiscent of honey. Used in only 14 references to date and reserved for limited editions and commemorative pieces, Honeygold isn't just notable for its tone – it's also significantly harder than conventional 18k gold, thanks to a custom mineral blend and specialised heat treatment. A. Lange & Söhne's Honeygold alloy has a hue somewhere between yellow and rose. Photo: Handout This new Odysseus marks the first time Honeygold has been used in one of the brand's sportier models. Limited to 100 pieces, the 42.5mm watch features a newly developed integrated Honeygold bracelet and a brown, granular-textured dial. It's powered by the L156.1 Datomatic calibre, which delivers a 50-hour power reserve and 120 metres of water resistance – making it one of the most technically robust applications of Honeygold to date. Pianist Yuja Wang wears a Rolex Land-Dweller 36 in Everose gold with a diamond-set bezel. Photo: Handout Watchmaking goliath Rolex , meanwhile, puts its proprietary Everose gold centre stage in the new Oyster Perpetual Land-Dweller 36. First introduced in 2005, Everose addresses one of pink gold's primary weaknesses – tone degradation – by including a trace amount of platinum to preserve its colour over time. In the new Land-Dweller 36, the alloy is used throughout the case and bracelet and a honeycomb-pattern, laser-etched dial. One model adds a diamond-set bezel and baguette-cut diamonds as hour markers. Inside, the range uses the calibre 7135, which includes the brand's new Dynapulse escapement, a Syloxi silicon hairspring and a ceramic balance staff – delivering a 66-hour power reserve. A specially engineered Flat Jubilee bracelet in Everose gold, featuring ceramic inserts and a concealed clasp, ensures a seamless finish. Montblanc 1858 Geo Annual Calendar in Lime Gold. Photo: Handout
Forbes
01-07-2025
- Forbes
The Ultimate Travel Souvenirs From France Or Switzerland
Building your own watch, jewelry or Swiss knife in Paris or Geneva is fun and creates a high-quality ... More bespoke souvenir unique to you and your travels A few years ago I had one of the more memorable travel experiences of my career when I attended a watchmaking workshop in Geneva and made my own Swiss watch. It's mechanical, it's gorgeous and every time I wear it I get compliments. It was the ultimate Swiss souvenir. But Intium, the excellent and innovative company that pioneered DIY watchmaking, has since expanded to other locations and more fascinating 'make it yourself' projects, and all of these combine the best of happy memory travel keepsakes. Whether you make a simple watch or a very fancy one, custom jewelry or your very own bespoke Swiss Army-style multi-blade utility knife, you can go home with the ultimate travel souvenirs from France or Switzerland. Paris, Geneva or Le Noirmont The highest luxury end of the Intium DIY range is building your own mechanical watch with a rare ... More tourbillon movement, like these. I wrote about the Geneva watchmaking experience in detail here at Forbes. But while the city is a logical place to do it, historically associated with the fine watch industry and home to Rolex, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, and Audemars Piguet, there are other options. Most notably, Intium, the company that operates the workshops, expanded to Paris, one of the most popular tourism cities in the world, in 2024 (read more about the Parios store here at Forbes). They also have a third workshop in the heart of Switzerland's historic Jura watchmaking region, in Le Noirmont, between Bern and Basel. Custom jewlery, in gold or silver with or with precious stones, is another "Do It Yourself" craft ... More experience Intium offers in France and Switzerland. Three locations mean three times the options for travelers, but the latest big addition is the introduction of the all-new knife making classes, which I just tried. Multi-function utility knives are one of the most famous and iconic Swiss products, but these are better looking and better quality than the widely available mass-market brands. Basically, it is the same approach to creating a knife that Swiss watchmakers take to make fine timepieces, starting with the highest quality parts. Sharper, higher quality steel blades are manufactured by a Swiss company specializing in intricate watch components, and the program lets each attendee choose their own mix of blades and accessories. These include some useful and rarely seen options such as a tick removal tool with built-in magnifying glass, something that unfortunately is becoming much more important (just the other day the New York Times ran an article on the geographic spread of ticks and the diseases they carry). You choose every component of the knife, from blades and tools to cover material and color. You also choose the exterior of the knife, from the solid-colored plastic hues we associate with these kinds of tools to exotic and heavily grained hardwoods to satin finished titanium. Blades can be normal or matte black finishes. Assembling a knife at a workstation in one of Intium's workshops. I replaced the traditional Swiss Army knife I used to carry on hiking trips with this new one for a weeklong trip to Spain with picnics along the way and immediately noticed the better design and functionality in addition to having a better-looking knife that was a memorable keepsake. The blades are better, stronger and sharper, and in one ultra-simple example of thoughtful design, they put more coils on a longer wine cork remover than normal. That has always been one of the more frustrating functions of these knives, which either don't go in the cork far enough, or when they do, leave no room for your fingers to fit around the body and provide leverage. Easier opening of wine on a trip to Europe is an immediate and appreciated advantage. In addition, the Intium knives all have locking blades, a much safer design, one that releases easily at the push of a button. The finished product isn't just customized by you, it's the highest quality. This one evn inlcudes a ... More handy tick remover with magnifying glass for those of us who live in areas with ticks. The make your own Swiss knife classes are shorter, more accessible and more affordable than the watch classes, and it was just a perfect way to spend a morning in Geneva after an overnight flight. My wife and I arrived at the studio, which is a short walk from any of the top luxury hotels in the city, we had a great time, and now we have his and her mementos of our trip that we actually use (I just wrote a detailed profile of one of the city's great hotels, the Forbes 5-Star Mandarin-Oriental Geneva, here at Forbes). 2-hour classes start at just $234, including taking home the knife you just made. The watchmaking classes are longer and more complex, but also involve choosing every component to ... More make a truly one-of-a-kind timepiece. For watches, the slate of classes has expanded from the basic mechanical watch I made to include a more sophisticated watch with the most collectible complication of all, a tourbillon movement. Make your own watch classes that include taking one home begin at about $2,000 and run all the way the over $19,000 for the tourbillion. The jewelry making classes let you solder, hammer, shape and bend silver or gold into one-of-a-kind wearables. Many couples do this together to make their own bespoke wedding bands even more special. It is also popular with those who want to repurpose a family gemstone or diamond in a new way, and it is a special and romantic way to craft a diamond engagement ring. A basic silver ring course begins at $590 and goes to $800 with semi-precious stones, while a two-ring couples class begins at $1,490. A gold and diamond engagement ring starts at around $3,000, and a pair of 18-carat gold wedding bands can be made together for $4,380. Custom classes are offered to expand the selection of precious stones. A finished product, even Intium's most basic watch is still gorgeous, with a mechnaical Swiss ... More movement. Having now done two of the three Intium offerings, I cannot recommend the experience enough. Studios are beautiful, with well-equipped workstations and expert instruction, and if you are into watches, just the insights and knowledge you gain about mechanical movements and complications is worth the price of admission. For all the classes, the one-of-a-kind keepsakes are more special than store bought products, and truly the ultimate travel souvenirs.
