Montblanc’s New Classics
(Opening image: Montblanc 1858 Geosphere in steel.) Watchmaking’s obsession with heritage is branded deep into the DNA of Swiss manufactures. That poses a problem, as the industry’s other major obsession is novelty (and no amount of persuasion will stop the brands referring to their new watches as novelties). It is possible for the two to […]
Slim d’Hermès GMT and L’Heure De La Lune
(Opening image: Slim d’Hermes GMT Rose Gold ) The last decade has seen Hermès edge closer to centre-stage in the watch world, demanding and receiving equal billing with larger and longer-established maisons. Two launches at this year’s digital-only Watches & Wonders show exactly why. As part-owners of Vaucher Manufacture, Hermès have access to high quality […]
Sports And Romance, The Cartier Pasha
(Opening image: Cartier Pasha – the original model from 1985.) Although we would all like to believe, just because of the romance of it, that the Pasha was originally designed by Cartier for the Pasha of Marrakesh in 1933, the reality is that it was first debuted in 1985 and was intended to be their […]
Breaking Moulds: The Independents
Opening image: Speake Marin ONE & TWO Openworked Tourbillon. In this day and age new watch releases from independent manufacturers tend to occur throughout the year. That said, a number have saved their new creations for Watches & Wonders 2020. Speake Marin have continued to develop their “One&Two” openworked tourbillon design with their in-house self-winding […]
The Skill Of The Technocrat
Despite all the troubles this year, Vacheron Constantin have not disappointed, unless you count ours, sequestered in our own houses and unable to see their creations. First up is a spectacular pair of perpetual calendars for the Overseas collection. They are impressive on a number of dimensions: housed in the iconic rose gold Overseas case […]
Honorato Del Hierro
Brilliant, modest, and with a great sense of humour, Honorato del Hierro is an artist with an eclectic career behind him, including IT Engineer and local Chief of Police, but the constant in his life has been painting. As he says, “I just have to paint.” Now a highly recognised artist in the region, his […]
The Iconic Trench Coat
How far is it from battlefield to catwalk? Not very far when you look at the trench coat, a classic that in the century since it trod through the mud of Flanders remains, in essence, unchanged on the catwalks of Burberry, Hermès and Bottega Veneta today, but for a few tweaks here and there. Originally […]
The Glenturret 15-year-old in spirit
A modern twist on an old classic Once perceived as the ultimate gentleman’s drink associated with prestige and sophistication, whisky has stepped out of its elitist bubble in recent years, attracting a new, much more diverse crowd of drinkers. Of dark spirit liquors, single malt whisky is the most popular among adults in the UK, […]
Christie’s Magnificent Jewels Auction
Four Seasons Hotel. Geneva 13th May 2020 Cartier was always avant-garde, the jeweller and clockmaker to the upper echelons of society. The French maison’s designs were elegant and refined, the very best of what could be achieved and money could buy. From founder Louis Cartier to the other family members who were involved with the brand, the […]
Hide away in the heart of the alps
Based in Val D’Isère, in the heart of the majestic French Alps, Hip Hideouts is a relatively new company born of the desire to offer luxury fully catered, highly designed chalets and one hotel and without a reindeer cushion on sight. Before the global lockdown, I-M challenged Jeremy Webb to sample of one of their […]
