John Goldberger's Cartier Cintree Collection

John Goldberger's Cartier Cintree Collection

The Clock That Changed The World

Longitude 2000

The Clock That Changed The World

John Harrison's Clock

Arial Adams Interviews Bulova CEO at BaselWorld 2015

Arial Adams Interviews Bulova CEO at BaselWorld 2015

The Jack Heuer Story

The Jack Heuer Story

A. Lange & Söhne Celebrating The 20th Anniversary of The Return Of The German Watchmaker

A. Lange & Söhne Celebrating The 20th Anniversary of The Return Of The German Watchmaker

Yellow Gold Hermes Rolex Daytona

...Rolex Studio Shot Of The Day...

Ultra-Rare

Yellow Gold Hermes Rolex Datyona

1968 Reference 6241

Exploring The Astrolabe

Does Anybody Know What Time It Is?

Exploring The Astrolabe

The history of time measurement has marked the upward surge of mankind, and technology. We know about modern wristwatches, and we know about pocket watches, but how did humans measure time before the pocket watch? They used a curiously magnificent device named the Astrolabe. Kuristas.com has a superb article on the history of the Astrolabe, which I highly recommend reading.

Evan Bench took the stunning images above and below of the Astrolabe and said:

An 18th century Astrolabe. This is copy made in the late 18th century of a popular astrolabe originally designed in the early 18th century. I found this in a souk in Marrakech.

An astrolabe is a historical astronomical instrument used by classical astronomers, navigators, and astrologers. Its many uses included locating and predicting the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets and stars; determining local time given local latitude and vice-versa; surveying; and triangulation.

In the medieval Islamic world, they were used primarily for astronomical studies, as well as in other areas as diverse as astrology, navigation, surveying, timekeeping, Salah prayers, and Qibla. Astrologers of the European nations used astrolabes to construct horoscopes.

This particular astrolabe was made to order as a decorative item sometime in the late 18th century. As the markings are not precise, it would be difficult - if not impossible - to accurately determine astrological events using this piece. The plates themselves are well-scribed and could be used to determine approximate latitude.

The various parts of an 18th century astrolabe as seen above were made in North Africa.

Astrolabes are a historical astronomical instrument used by classical astronomers, navigators, and astrologers. Its many uses included locating and predicting the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets and stars; determining local time given local latitude and vice-versa; surveying; and triangulation.

In the medieval Islamic world, they were used primarily for astronomical studies, as well as in other areas as diverse as astrology, navigation, surveying, timekeeping, Salah prayers, and Qibla. Astrologers of the European nations used astrolabes to construct horoscopes.

The first astrolabes were made in the 3rd century but advanced brass astrolabes did not appear till the middle ages (8th and 9th century).

The plates of this instrument are made of brass but are unusual in that they have been electroplated in gold. The thin layer of gold has been worn off over the years.

This instrument is a copy of a much older instrument used in the 17th century. Astrolabes were often copied and given as gifts. This one is a low quality copy found in a souk in Marrakech. It was probably made in the 18th century. The accuracy of the markings is poor and so it would be difficult to actually use this instrument to make calculations.

Think of it as 18th century "bling": In the 16th and 17th centuries, the possession of an astrolabe lent an element of prestige and intelligence to the owner.

Now it's just a hunk of brass that no one knows how to use. The mathematical principles behind its use are fairly complex. Basically it's a mechanical device for predicting the movement of celestial bodies (usually the moon, sun, planets, and principal stars). It was used in the Arab world in may ways. For one, to determine the times of sunset and sunrise as well as lunar cycles. It could also be used for navigation to determine ones approxiamate longitude and latitude. The North African Moors brought the astrolabe to Europe and it was quickly made popular for navigation and celestial mechanics.

As an instrument of astrology it was used extensively by Sufis (Islamic mystics; especially in the Persian world) to create astrological maps based on events. This small one is not as astrological astrolabe but rather an astronomical one. Astrological astrolabes have detailed astrological charts and maps on the inside and back of the mater. This one has mathematical tables instead.

Many astrological astrolabes are Persian (Iran) in origin.

Cool Tag Heuer Commercial

Cool Tag Heuer Commercial

The History Of The Rolex DEEP SEA Model

The History Of The Rolex DEEP SEA Model

1959 Rolex DEEPSEA 33MM Reference 6532

After having studying Rolex design language history for so may years, I have noticed that a great key to Rolex's success was to experiment like crazy, and often times if something did not initially stick, Rolex would try it again until it stuck or worked, and that appears to me the case with the original Rolex DEEPSEA. The earliest known Rolex DEEPSEA was made in 1956, and the one in the two photos below, which appear courtesy of Fourtane Jewelers, was made in 1959 and has a beautiful gilt honeycomb dial.

Ironically, the case is the same with the original Rolex Yacht-Master which was made as a prototype in 1967, and was resurrected for use again in 1992, when Rolex introduced the watch we think of today when we think of the Rolex Yacht-Master. Same thing with the Rolex Cosmograph designation which was first used on the Rolex Moonphase Reference 6062 in the 1950s, they brought back again with the inception of the Rolex "Cosmograph" Daytona in the mid 1960s.

This next example of a Rolex DEEPSEA appears courtesy of Robert Maron, and it was named in the fourth quarter of 1956. One of the obvious questions, was if this watch was intended to be an homage to the original Rolex DEEPSEA Special Prototypes that set records in 1953 and 1960, and that would be my best guess. Robert Maron points out:

"Original stainless steel case is 33mm in diameter by 12mm thick and has a polished finish. The 6532 is popularly thought to share a case with the early Explorers. However, this is not the case (pun intended!). Instead, the 6532 case has straight case sides and thin lugs, which distinguishes it from an Explorer. It is also 1mm in diameter smaller than an Explorer. "

A Conversation with Benjamin Clymer

A Conversation with Benjamin Clymer Owner & Founder of Hodinkee
Here is a fascinating interview with my pal, Benjamin Clymer, who I recently toured Rolex with in Geneva, Switzerland. In the video you get a real sense of Ben's amazing passion for what he does, and if you are not familiar with Hodinkee, be sure to check it out!

SolidWorks Software for Watch Design

SolidWorks Software for Watch Design
My pal Arial Adams publishes A Blog To Watch, and I just noticed this cool article written by Patrick Kansa entitled "How Software Helps Design Complicated Watches Like The Frank Muller Giga Tourbillon."

Hodinkee Takes An In-Depth Look At The A. Lange & Söhne Grand Complication

Hodinkee Takes An In-Depth Look At The A. Lange & Söhne Grand Complication 

Bell & Ross Aviation Models

Bell & Ross

Aviation Models

A few years ago, I was talking to my friend Brad, about watches, and he told me he had a friend who was a huge watch nut, and he said that his friend was really into Rolex and Panerai, and that most recently he was into Bell & Ross watches, which I had never paid much attention to. Recently I was in the Geneva Airport and I had some time to wait before my flight, so I was looking around at different watches, and I came across a store selling Bell & Ross watches. The Bell & Ross 46MM GMT caught my eye so I tried it on and was surprised that I liked it. The watch is over the top sporty, which went well with my Jolly Rancher Apple Green North Face Thermoball jacket.

I also checked out the 42mm Bell & Ross, BR03-92-PHANTOM which is pictured below. I thought it also looked kind of cool.

An Amazing Story On The History Of ETA The Swiss Watch Movement Maker

An Amazing Story On The History Of ETA

The Swiss Watch Movement Maker

My pal, Ariel Adam's published A Blog To Watch, and he just published a beautifully written article by David Bredan that is titled "A Brief History Of ETA: The Swiss Watch Movement Maker." I highly recommend reading this well researched and fascinating article about the history of ETA.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE LUXURY WATCH

While not exactly accurate, this is an fascinating infographic

President Ronald Reagan Rolex ...

President Ronald Reagan Rolex

Stainless Steel Rolex Datejust: Jubilee Bracelet

California Summer of 1965

I discovered yet another U.S. President wearing a Rolex!!! This time we have Ronald Reagan wearing a stainless steel Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee Bracelet during the Summer of 1965 on his California Ranch. Of course these photos were taken before he was even elected the Governor of California, so he was just an ordinary American Citizen who was semi-retired.

"There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit." –Ronald Reagan

So this means, that Ronald Reagan is the second American President to wear a Rolex Datejust after Dwight Eisenhower. Lyndon Johnson, Gerald Ford and Bill Clinton wore Rolex Day-Dates, and I have heard Richard Nixon wore a Rolex, but I have still not been able to find a photo of him wearing a Rolex. I also think Harry Truman may have worn a Rolex Datejust, but I have not been able to document that either.

"I've often said there's nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse." –Ronald Reagan

"Each generation goes further than the generation preceding it because it stands on the shoulders of that generation. You will have opportunities beyond anything we have ever known." –Ronald Reagan

The photo below shows President Reagan on his ranch in 1983 chopping wood, and his is still wearing his stainless steel Rolex Datejust.

Chopard: 150 Years of Timeless Time Keeping

Chopard: 150 Years of Timeless Time Keeping

Interesting video on measuring time

Measurement of Time

Interesting video on measuring time

Watch Quote of the Day: Albert Einstein on Atomic Power & Watchmaking...

...Time Quote Of The Day...

"The release of atom power has changed everything except our way of thinking... the solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind. If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker." -Albert Einstein

1980 Albert Einstein's Patek Philippe Ad...

1980 Albert Einstein's Patek Philippe Ad

This is a fascinating Patek Philippe ad from 1980 that suggests that Albert Einstein's Patek Philippe is located in the Patek Philippe Museum in the "Patek Philippe Historic Antique Collection," which is very cool. I assume it is likely a pocket-watch, since the ad says "Einstein's Timepiece" but it may be a wrist watch? Either way, it is pretty cool...

Understanding Einstein's Fascination With Time

Albert Einstein's father showed young Albert Einstein a pocket compass when he was a young boy, and Albert was instantly fascinated. He immediately began pondering what invisible forcefield was controlling the needle on the compass. As Albert grew older, he continued his fascination with mechanical devices and started building his own. In the later part of the 19th century, which Einstein grew up in, there was no such thing as a wrist watch for men–only pocket watches.

In 1903 Albert Einstein went to work for the Federal Office Of Intellectual Property in Bern, Switzerland. Albert Einstien's job at the Swiss Patent Office consisted primarily of evaluating electrical-mechanical synchronization of time, thus beginning Einstein's fascination with the measurement of time. It was in the Swiss Patent Office Einstein formed his ideas about the significant relationship between space and time.

Einstein went on to earn his PhD from the University of Zurich in Switzerland in 1905, and in that same year, Einstein published his theory of special relativity. Of course, one of the great questions is, what was Einstein's involvement–if any–in studying how mechanical watches worked? and most importantly, did any of that learning stimulate–or lead to–his theory of relativity?

Albert Einstein was preoccupied with the study of analysis of time and concluded motion through space effects the passage of time. Einstein famously said, "The distinction between past, present and future is only an illusion, however persistent."