In view of the current situation and the spread of the coronavirus, the two major watch shows of 2020 have been cancelled. Here are the relevant press releases.
WATCHES & WONDERS GENEVA
In view of the latest developments concerning the worldwide spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, it is the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie’s duty, as organizer of Watches & Wonders Geneva, to anticipate the potential risks that travels and important international gatherings could entail.
Therefore, in order to protect the health and wellbeing of all our guests, press, partners and teams, the decision has been taken to cancel the upcoming edition of Watches & Wonders Geneva (formerly known as the SIHH) and its ‘In the City’ program, initially due to take place in Geneva from April 25th to 29th2020.
The Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie understands the disappointment this year’s cancellation may cause, and remains at the disposal of its partners and guests for any queries they may have.The FHH is already working on the organization of 2021 edition of Watches & Wonders Geneva.
BASELWORLD
For health safety reasons and in accordance with the precautionary principle following the bans of large-scale public and private events issued today by the Swiss federal and cantonal authorities, Baselworld announces that it has taken the decision to postpone the show to Thursday 28th January 2021 to Tuesday 2nd February 2021 (Press Day on Wednesday 27th January), due to concerns related to Covid-19.
Baselworld, which was to be held from April 30th to May 5th , 2020, has taken this difficult decision in close consultation with its partners and the health authorities in charge, in whom Baselworld has full confidence for their expertise and recommendations for the benefit of exhibitors, visitors and collaborators. Following today’s official ban on large public gatherings which meant direct repercussions for the show, Baselworld had no other option than to make a decision as all preparations, in particular, construction in the halls and of the stands was scheduled to commence next week (start March).
venerdì 28 febbraio 2020
mercoledì 26 febbraio 2020
Bibliography / Bibliografia
ENGLISH (il testo italiano è sotto l'immagine)
Discerning
watch lovers should not be content with what the web has to offer. I am talking
about books, and not only those I wrote myself. This website features a comprehensive
list of the printed sources I researched over the last 30 years. It is
constantly updated as I come by new or out-of-print publications, and includes my own ratings expressed in stars. I recommend a
visit if you wish to deepen your knowledge of one or more subjects in
connection with the history of watchmaking. The Bibliography page is waiting
for you!ITALIANO
sabato 22 febbraio 2020
Vintage Ads - Z.R.C. (1966)
ENGLISH (il testo italiano è sotto l'immagine)
"Designed for Divers by Diving Experts – The Z.R.C. 300 means perfect
diving security". Zuccolo-Rochet &
Cie. (Z.R.C.) was the French case manufacturer that created this “Grands Fonds”
(“Great Depth”) watch in the mid-1960s. Its main features were the monobloc
case waterproof up to 300m and the crown located at 6 o’clock to offer better
protection. Additional advantages included the highly luminous “magnum” hands, unidirectional
rotating bezel and extensible bracelet. Do you like vintage watch ads? Visit the page about Watch Ads, my two-volume pictorial history of communication and design in 20th Century watchmaking. You can also watch the video about the publication and download a 20-page preview of Volume 1.
The vintage ads presented in this Blog are not featured in the Watch Ads books.
ITALIANO
Ti piacciono le pubblicità d'epoca? Visita la pagina su Watch Ads, la mia storia illustrata in due volumi della comunicazione e del design nell'orologeria del Novecento. Guarda il video sull'opera e scarica l'anteprima di 20 pagine del Volume 1.
Gli annunci pubblicitari d'epoca che vedi in questo Blog non sono presentati nei volumi Watch Ads.
martedì 18 febbraio 2020
Vintage boxes - Longines (1950s)
ENGLISH (il
testo italiano è in fondo alla pagina)
Longines presentation boxes were among the richest in information. The
English text printed inside the lid suggests that this one was meant for the leading
market of the time, that of the United States - “The world’s most honored watch
– 10 Worlds Fair Great Prizes – 28 Gold Medals Awards – Classified “first” by
the Great Government Observatories – Official watch for Championship Sports the
world over – The premier watch of Aviation, Exploration, & Science”. Both
sides of the lid feature some of the medals mentioned in the text. A color
catalog of the time is shown above the box. Do you like vintage boxes? Then The Museum Collection is a must-read for you. My book about 100 milestones of 20th Century watchmaking features a wide selection of presentation boxes in the Appendixes. Watch the video clip about the publication and download a 20-page preview.
The vintage boxes presented in this Blog are not featured in The Museum Collection.
Le scatole Longines erano tra le più ricche d’informazioni. Il testo inglese all’interno del coperchio indica che questo esemplare era destinato al mercato più importante dell’epoca, quello americano. “L’orologio più premiato del mondo – 10 Gran Premi nelle Fiere Mondiali – 28 Medaglie d’Oro – Classificato “primo” dai Grandi Osservatori Governativi – Orologio ufficiale dei grandi eventi sportivi in tutto il mondo – L’orologio preferito dall’Aviazione, dall’Esplorazione e dalla Scienza”. Su entrambi i lati del coperchio sono riprodotte alcune delle medaglie citate nel testo. Sopra la scatola appare un catalogo a colori dello stesso periodo.
Ti piacciono le scatole d'epoca? Allora The Museum Collection è la lettura che fa per te. Il mio libro su 100 icone dell’orologeria del Novecento contiene un’ampia selezione di scatole vintage nelle Appendici. Guarda il video sull'opera e scarica l'anteprima di 20 pagine del Volume 1.
Le scatole vintage presentate in questo Blog non appaiono in The Museum Collection.
venerdì 14 febbraio 2020
Vintage library - The Canton of Neuchâtel (1948)
ENGLISH
(il testo italiano è in fondo alla pagina)
In 1948, the Canton of Neuchâtel celebrated its 100th
anniversary as a Republic associated to the Swiss Confederation. This 700-page
book, published by the Canton’s government and printed by Courvoisier from La
Chaux-de-Fonds, deals with the local economic and cultural life.
Watchmaking does the lion’s share of the industrial
activities as a whole, making up half the pages of the relevant chapter.
A few timepieces manufactured in the Canton. Collectors
will readily recognize the Chronomat by Breitling.
A workshop at Fontainemelon, the world’s oldest raw
movements manufacturer.
The second half of the book features the portraits of
several companies. A 3-page report deals with Spillmann & Cie., a casemaker
from La Chaux-de-Fonds. The text points out that Spillmann manufactures
waterproof watch cases since 1926 and gives a few interesting details about the
production process, but does not disclose the name of the company’s main
customer. We now know that it was Rolex, which entrusted Spillmann with the industrialization
of the Oyster patent.
ITALIANO
Nel 1948, il Cantone di Neuchâtel celebrò i 100 anni dalla sua fondazione come Repubblica associata alla Confederazione Elvetica. Questo libro di 700 pagine, pubblicato dal governo locale e stampato da Courvoisier di La Chaux-de-Fonds, tratta la vita economica e culturale della regione.
L’orologeria fa la parte del leone nel settore della produzione industriale, occupando metà delle pagine del relativo capitolo.
Terza foto dall'alto: alcuni orologi prodotti nel Cantone. I collezionisti riconosceranno subito il Chronomat di Breitling.
Quarta foto dall'alto: un reparto di Fontainemelon, il produttore di movimenti grezzi più antico del mondo.
Ultima foto: la seconda metà del libro contiene i ritratti di numerose ditte. Tre pagine sono dedicate a Spillmann & Cie., fabbricante di casse a La Chaux-de-Fonds. Il testo sottolinea che Spillmman produce casse impermeabili fin dal 1926 e fornisce dettagli interessanti sul processo di fabbricazione, ma non rivela il nome del cliente principale. Oggi sappiamo che si trattava di Rolex, che affidò a Spillmann l’industrializzazione del brevetto Oyster.
lunedì 10 febbraio 2020
New Watches
This post features a few
noteworthy recent releases.
ARNOLD & SON
Time Pyramid Tourbillon – The A&S 8615 movement is built on three
levels with the tourbillon, which carries subsidiary seconds, and the two
power-reserve indicators superposed by the sapphire crystal hour dial, itself
crowned with a ring to indicate the minutes.
AUDEMARS
PIGUET
Royal Oak Self-Winding Chronograph – In order to adapt the Royal Oak's octagonal forms to the
new 38mm case, watchmakers have rethought the Grande Tapisserie-patterned dial.
A rhodium treatment ensures that the three chronograph counters and small
seconds stand out against the anthracite dial.
BLANCPAIN
Fifty Fathoms Barakuda – Back in the 1960s, the brand supplied the German Navy
with Fifty Fathoms watches via Barakuda, a manufacturer and distributor of
diving equipment. Now the watchmaker is reviving a civilian equivalent of its
legendary dive watch as a limited edition with a distinctly vintage air.
BREITLING
Navitimer Ref. 806 1959 Re-Edition – Nearly identical to the original 1959 watch, this
model also features a few concessions to modernity in the increased
water-resistance (now 30 metres), Super-LumiNova® on the dial and Breitling's
new B09 calibre; a manual-winding movement inspired by the
renowned B01.
TAG HEUER
Autavia Isograph – Autavia is back in seven cockpit-inspired iterations
including this one in bronze complete with a smoky-effect green dial and a
black ceramic bezel. Only the word Isograph on the dial reveals the presence of
the brand's carbon-composite balance spring, part of the chronometer-certified
Calibre 5.
martedì 4 febbraio 2020
Masterpieces of the past - Vacheron & Constantin (1819)
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