Posts

The Business of Watches Podcast: Christie's Remi Guillemin On The Fundamental Shifts In The Auction Market Driving Record Prices

Image
```html From Blog‑Writer to Christie’s Watch Specialist: The Rise of Rémi Guillemin From Blog‑Writer to Christie’s Watch Specialist: The Rise of Rémi Guillemin Photo credit: Oktay Köseoğlu When you think of the world‑class auction houses that dominate the fine‑art market, watches rarely take center stage. Yet, in the past few years, a single individual has helped shift that narrative at Christie’s. Rémi Guillemin—a French watchmaker, engineer, and self‑taught horological historian—has become the auction house’s first dedicated watch specialist , marrying rigorous scholarship with the high‑stakes excitement of auctioneering. A Childhood Steeped in Horology Born and raised in France, Guillemin was surrounded by the ticking of mechanical wonders from a very early age. An engineering education gave him the technical foundation to dissect a movement, while his innate curiosity turned hobby‑collecting into a lifelong passion. In 2015 he launched a blog called “W...

Hands-On: The Longines Hydroconquest 39mm

Image
```html Longines HydroConquest 39 mm – A Balanced Dive Watch for the Modern Adventurer Longines HydroConquest 39 mm – A Balanced Dive Watch for the Modern Adventurer Photo credit: Sairam Rasa Design & Build – Sporty Elegance in Stainless Steel The Longines HydroConquest 39 mm strikes a sweet spot between a robust dive instrument and a dress‑ready timepiece. Its 39 mm stainless‑steel case feels substantial without being bulky, offering a comfortable wrist presence for both casual wear and underwater pursuits. The unidirectional rotating bezel boasts a matte black ceramic insert – a material prized for its scratch‑resistance and contemporary aesthetic. A sun‑burst blue dial sits beneath a domed sapphire crystal treated with anti‑reflective coating on both sides, ensuring crystal‑clear readability in any light condition. Applied hour markers and Super‑LumiNova‑coated hands provide excellent legibility after dark, while the solid stainless‑steel bracelet, complete...

Coming Soon: DOXA × Hodinkee

Image
```html Why Doxa Is Making a Quiet Come‑Back in the World of Dive Watches Why Doxa Is Making a Quiet Come‑Back in the World of Dive Watches When you think of iconic Swiss dive watches, the image that often comes to mind is a sleek, stainless‑steel case crowned with a bold, orange dial – the signature look of Doxa. Founded in 1889, Doxa has spent more than a century perfecting the art of underwater time‑keeping, and recent collaborations with Hodinkee have shone a fresh spotlight on the brand’s heritage. The model at the heart of the latest discussion is the Doxa Sub 3000 Automatic . Inspired by the original 1967 prototype that first introduced the now‑familiar orange “Doxa orange” dial, the Sub 3000 blends vintage charm with modern reliability. A 42 mm stainless‑steel case houses a Swiss‑made automatic movement, while the unidirectional rotating bezel, luminous hands, and sapphire crystal provide the functional depth‑gauge that professional divers demand. Beyond ...

Lunar Pilot Black Hole: the dark side of Bulova

Image
```html Lunar Pilot: Using Black‑Hole Moons to Propel the Next Generation of Spacecraft Lunar Pilot: Using Black‑Hole Moons to Propel the Next Generation of Spacecraft Imagine navigating the cosmos by “surfing” the gravity of a black hole’s moon instead of burning endless tonnes of propellant. A groundbreaking study published this week proposes exactly that – a lunar pilot system that turns the orbital dance between a massive black hole and its natural satellite into a high‑efficiency propulsion aid for deep‑space missions. The Core Idea The researchers show that by timing a spacecraft’s trajectory corrections to coincide with specific phases of a moon’s orbit around a black hole, the probe can harvest a natural gravitational assist. The moon’s motion creates a periodic “gravity tide” that, when intercepted at the right moment, adds kinetic energy to the vehicle without any fuel expenditure. How It Works – A Quick Walkthrough Identify a suitable black‑ho...

The limited release Arsène Lippens Artigiano collection returns with dials cut from a different cloth

Image
```html Introducing the Arsène Lippens Artigiano Collection: A Celebration of Timeless Craftsmanship Renowned watchmaker Arsène Lippens has unveiled the Artigiano Collection , a series that pays homage to the art of traditional Swiss watchmaking while embracing contemporary aesthetics. Each piece in this collection is a testament to meticulous hand‑finishing, innovative engineering, and a deep respect for horological heritage. Design Philosophy – Where Art Meets Engineering The Artigiano line draws inspiration from the master artisans of the past, evident in the collection’s intricate dial work, hand‑engraved bridges, and sculpted cases. Lippens blends these classic touches with modern materials such as forged carbon, sapphire‑backed dials, and ethically sourced 18‑carat gold, creating watches that feel both historic and forward‑looking. Key Highlights of the Collection Artigiano Classic 42mm – A sleek, stainless‑steel case with a guilloché dial, featuring a visible autom...

How to Use a GMT Watch: A Complete Guide to Setting, Reading, and Tracking Time Zones

Image
```html How to Master Your GMT Watch: A Step‑by‑Step Guide GMT watches are more than just elegant timepieces – they’re practical tools for travelers, business professionals, and anyone who needs to keep an eye on a second time zone. In this guide we’ll walk you through exactly how a GMT watch works and the simple steps to set and use its dual‑time feature with confidence. 1. What a GMT Watch Does A GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) watch adds a second hour hand that makes a full rotation every 24 hours. This “GMT hand” lets you track a secondary time zone alongside your local time. Most models also feature a rotating 24‑hour bezel. By aligning the bezel with the GMT hand, you can instantly read the time in another part of the world. 2. Setting Your GMT Watch for the First Time Pull the crown to the correct position. Usually the first click is for date, the second click for time. Set the main hour, minute, and date hands to your local time. Align the GMT ha...

Breguet Classique Tourbillon 7357: the evolution of the species

Image
```html Breguet Classique Tourbillon 7357 – A Masterpiece Where Heritage Meets Haute‑Horlogerie Breguet Classique Tourbillon 7357 – A Masterpiece Where Heritage Meets Haute‑Horlogerie The Breguet Classique Tourbillon 7357 is more than a limited‑edition wristwatch; it is a dialogue between the brand’s storied past and its cutting‑edge future. Designed for collectors who cherish both the elegance of tradition and the thrill of technical innovation, this piece stands out as a benchmark of contemporary haute‑horlogerie. Design & Case Encased in a 44 mm round case of polished 18‑carat white gold, the watch exudes refined opulence. Its deep‑blue enamel dial, executed in Breguet’s signature “guilloché” technique, is framed by hand‑finished Arabic numerals that echo the brand’s 18th‑century roots. The sub‑dials are adorned with a delicate “Breguet” hand‑guilloche pattern, reinforcing the watch’s classic aesthetic. A sapphire crystal with anti‑reflective coating safegua...