As the holiday season comes to a head, we’ve taken the time to curate some of our favourite articles from the past. So, curl up close to the fire (or, for the Aussies, the air con!) and relax as we give you a rundown of our best Watch Education Articles to date!
We at WatchAdvice have a passion for all things horology. Over the years, we have never been ones to shy away from giving kudos to the very best of the watchmaking industry. From the finest brands, to the watchmakers, and even to the watches themselves, we have delighted in bringing Australia some of the best watch content available!
However, with the sheer amount of content we’ve released, it can be hard for us to track down some of our own favourite articles from the past. That’s why we’ve decided to create this list of must-read articles that truly showcase our dedication to horological storytelling and discovery. So, if you’re a seasoned watch vet, a newbie collector, or just insanely interested in the subject (like me), don’t hesitate to read on as I collate some of the best Watch Education articles we’ve written!
I’m New To Watches. What Am I Looking At?
I know this is a recent release, but I felt that in a list dedicated to Watch Education, it’s best to start here. In my experience of talking to others about mechanical watches, they would either zone out and nod vacantly or ask clueless questions. For example, if I was talking about my own Tudor Black Bay GMT, I would be asked “So what’s the battery life on that one like?” To a hardcore watch enthusiast, it might sound trivial. But to someone with no experience in the topic, smartwatches and department store timepieces might be all they know!
So, instead of keeping the gates of horology shut on those who might be curious, we decided to create a new article about the basics of watches! “What Am I Looking At?” seemed to be the best place to start; In the article, I discuss what exactly makes up a watch, what the most common complications are, and what separates a mechanical watch from its electronic and battery-powered counterparts. If you’re a complete and utter noob in the watch game, this one is for you – hopefully it will help you get a better understanding of some of the essentials of watches, before getting into the more complex stuff!
Art of Complications/Métiers d’Arts
Do you consider yourself familiar with the world of watches? Do you know what an escapement is and what a crown does, but still unsure about all that hoopla on the dial? Well, I’d say these articles are tailor-made for you! If you have a watch with additional crazy features – or you want to know more about them – then the Art of Complications is surely your gig. If you appreciate more of the fine artistry that occurs on the watch itself, rather than any complex additions, perhaps take a look at our Métiers d’Arts series instead!
Art of Complications – Tourbillons
If you’ve ever seen a crazy spinning thing in a watch, it’s most likely been a tourbillon. This article touches onto the essentials of what makes a tourbillon good, and how some watchmakers have home out of their way to make them great. Meaning ‘whirlwind’ in French, the tourbillon essentially defies gravity to ensure that time is always told accurately, regardless of how the watch is positioned! The article investigates further into how this happens, as well as the most common types of tourbillons you can find in the watchmaking industry!
Art of Complications – Perpetual Calendar
Before Casios, or Atomic Time, or smartphones, how were people able to tell accurate time, especially to the calendar? Well, that’s what the perpetual calendar was for, of course! This article dives into the influence of the Gregorian Calendar (the calendar used by most Western countries), as well as how the perpetual calendar came to life almost 3 centuries ago. It also covers some of the very best examples of the perpetual calendar you can find today, such as in Patek Philippe or the aforemorentioned Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.
Métiers d’Arts: Enamel Dial Creations
Meaning “Art Professions,” the Métiers d’Arts series focuses more on the creative artistry of watchmaking rather than the engineering artistry of mechanical complications. A technique practised for millennia, the art form of enamelling has taken countless forms, with one of them being within horology. This article briefly touches on the history of enamelling, as well as how the watchmakers of today still use it in their designs. Again, this article outlines some of the industry’s best enamellers, including the likes of Jaeger-LeCoultre and even Rolex.
In Person
Of course, there’s only so much you can learn from the articles, and the level of insight you can get from the brands alone is extremely limited. So, why not ask the people behind them? We at WatchAdvice – primarily Matt Clymo, writer and Editor-in-Chief – have had the pleasure of going toe-to-toe with some of the finest minds that the industry has to offer, picking their minds about their experience in the watch world, as well as what they see in the future of the industry.
Nicolas Gong, Managing Director for A. Lange & Söhne Asia Pacific
“From the founder to the second generation through to the fourth generation who brought back the brand, it is very unique because no brand has disappeared for 40 years and then been re-established again!”
Nicolas Gong
In attendance at an A. Lange & Söhne in Sydney was Nicolas Gong, who serves as the Managing Director for the Asia Pacific branch of the brand. In conversation, he revealed his passion for the brand and its history, citing the brand’s unique heritage and growing market in the Asia Pacific region.
He strongly resonates with the brand’s core philosophies and approach to craftsmanship, and believes that the ideal way to spread awareness for the brand is through reserved and personalised approaches. However, he is not ignorant of the challenges that lie ahead. Growing interest for a German watch brand in Asia is fraught with difficulty, but Gong – who joined with A. Lange & Söhne in the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic – is no stranger to such difficulties.
Simon Philip Wolf V, Creative Director And CEO Of WOLF
“You take this sterling silver jewellery and you put it in one of my WOLF jewellery cases, and you open it 35 years later, it will be in the exact same condition.”
Simon Philip Wolf V
On a different side of the watchmaking spectrum is Simon Philip Wolf V, Creative Director and CEO of WOLF Watch Boxes. Celebrating their 190th anniversary this year, Simon’s entrepreneurial spirit and zeal were evident in the way he conversed about the brand he headed.
In his sit-down with WatchAdvice, he outlined the history behind the eponymous watch box company, as well as the importance of maintaining an innovative culture and legacy as the brand’s fifth-generation custodian. He also touches on the challenges he faced in attempting to establish the brand in America, as well as his vision for greater sustainability in the development of his products.
Carole Forestier-Kasapi, & A Year In Review With TAG Heuer
“I want to solve something or to propose an evolution regarding the function, regarding the display. I don’t want to just invent for the sake of inventing. I want to give something back through the invention. So to solve a problem, to have another interpretation for the display, that’s what I want to do.”
Carole Forestier-Kasapi
WatchAdvice’s conversation with Carole Forestier-Kasapi was revealing of the vast experience that TAG Heuer’s movement director has within the watch industry. In reviewing the achievements of TAG Heuer in 2024, her illustrious career has resulted in her bringing her talents to the La Chaux-du-Fonds brand, namely within their recently released Carrera and Monaco Split-Seconds Rattrapante timepieces.
While much of her focus was, understandably, on the massive strides she had made alongside former CEO Frédéric Arnault, she was still able to provide insight on the highs and lows of creating some of the brand’s newest cutting-edge timepieces.
