Insight
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Richard Mille and rocket-science materials for watches
Hi everyone, As you may have notice, although I mainly post about Patek, I’m also fond of Richard Mille’s execution regarding watches. I wished to come up to a major subject about what RM is: the manufacturing technique and, more precisely, the materials. As far as Richard Mille is concerned, materials choices and crafting are a significant aspect of what the brand is, whether we are talking about cases or movements’ structures. They select from the most innovative sectors what can be applied to watchmaking, sometimes at the cost of a significant development time. Its founder Richard Mille, a racing cars aficionado, always had in mind to start from what…
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New 2022 Patek Philippe bracelet lockable size adjustment system
Hi everyone, In 2018 and 2019, Patek Philippe had unveiled 2 major evolutions for its fold-over clasp design: a “2 pushers” fold-over clasp, more secured and convenient to use (2018, still valid today); an adjustable links display, allowing to easily adjust the bracelet’s length (2019, this is the feature that has just been improved in October 2022). I posted in early 2021 an article about those 2 improvements that you can find here. However, in October 2022, together with the launch of the Nautilus 5712/1R, the new 5811G and the 5990/1A, Patek Philippe has released an evolution of the bracelet size adjustment mechanism that was presented in 2019: they call…
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Patek Philippe 2019 – The “Profiles” case
Hello everyone, Even after we spent quite some time with watches, I noticed we often miss out on cases’ details. Especially considering what they precisely offer for someone who loves craftsmanship and how brands create appealing aesthetics. The case profile is all about what makes a watch’s attractiveness, whether for aesthetical reasons or for what it says about the effort and skills that was put in its designing and crafting execution. It is because of such well chosen details that an object is better in the end. Nowadays, brands often promote their watches through a size increase: thicker case, huge lugs, width starting over 42mm etc… This is even true…
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Intro to the origins of Patek Philippe’s wonderful Minute-Repeater aura
Hello everyone, I thought I should have a look at why Patek Philippe’s reputation in Minute-Repeater history is at such high level today. I’ve been taking my time, like most of us, discovering, exploring the world of watches in general, and of Patek Philippe in particular. I knew a few about their mastery for this very special complication and what the brand represents in the Minute-Repeaters’ rebirth and evolution. However, I left it aside for later down the road. I enjoyed a few of the videos that can be found whether on Patek’s website, YouTube etc…, but I knew it would take time to go deeper in their history. Aside…
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2018 and 2019 Patek Philippe bracelet novelties: a new fold-over clasp and new expandable links
Hi everyone, As they did with the recent upgrade from the 324 caliber to the 2019 26-330 caliber, Patek Philippe introduced quite discreetly 2 other technical features they didn’t talk loudly about. On the one hand, the brand presented in 2018 a new fold-over clasp with the 5740G Perpetual Calendar Nautilus and 5968A Chronograph Aquanaut. On the other hand, in combination with this same buckle, we were provided in 2019 with a new adjustable links display within the 7118 Ladies Nautilus bracelet (diamond-set bezel versions). Edit October 2022: the adjustable display has slightly changed as introduced in the new Nautilus references released in October 2022 (5811G, 5712/1R and 5990/1A). Cf. the…
