New releases – Schwarz Etienne 1902 Synergy by Peter Speake

The brand’s latest “co-authored” timepiece is dedicated to the Manufacture’s power reserve complication. This interpretation by the English watchmaker features a multi-level dial construction conceived to enhance depth and create a floating effect through shaped sapphire crystal. The 39 mm Grade 5 titanium case houses the Manufacture manual calibre with twin barrels MSE 311.00, offering a 120-hour power reserve.

 

Vintage boxes - Longines (1950s)

ENGLISH (il testo italiano è in fondo alla pagina)

Longines presentation boxes were among the richest in information. The English text printed inside the lid suggests that the relevant timepiece was meant for the leading market of the time, that of the United States - “The world’s most honored watch – 10 Worlds Fair Great Prizes – 28 Gold Medals Awards – Classified “first” by the Great Government Observatories – Official watch for Championship Sports the world over – The premier watch of Aviation, Exploration, & Science”. Both sides of the lid feature some of the medals mentioned in the text. A color catalog of the time is shown above the box.  
Do you like vintage boxes? Then The Museum Collection is a must-read for you. The book about 100 milestones of 20^th Century watchmaking features a wide selection of presentation boxes in the Appendixes. Watch the video clip about the publication and download the 15-page preview.
The vintage boxes presented in this Blog are not featured in The Museum Collection.

ITALIANO
Le scatole Longines erano tra le più ricche d’informazioni. Il testo inglese all’interno del coperchio indica che questo esemplare era destinato al mercato più importante dell’epoca, quello americano. “L’orologio più premiato del mondo – 10 Gran Premi nelle Fiere Mondiali – 28 Medaglie d’Oro – Classificato “primo” dai Grandi Osservatori Governativi – Orologio ufficiale dei grandi eventi sportivi in tutto il mondo – L’orologio preferito dall’Aviazione, dall’Esplorazione e dalla Scienza”. Su entrambi i lati del coperchio sono riprodotte alcune delle medaglie citate nel testo. Sopra la scatola appare un catalogo a colori dello stesso periodo.

Ti piacciono le scatole d'epoca? Allora The Museum Collection è la lettura che fa per te. Il libro (in inglese) su 100 icone dell’orologeria del Novecento contiene un’ampia selezione di scatole vintage nelle Appendici. Guarda il video sull'opera e scarica l'anteprima di 20 pagine del Volume 1.
Le scatole vintage presentate in questo Blog non appaiono in The Museum Collection.

New releases – Awake Son Mài – Guilloché main

These three limited editions of 200 pieces each bring together two crafts spanning two continents – the Guilloché Main, perpetuated in Italy by the Renzetti family using 19th-century machines guided by human skill, and the Vietnamese art of Son Mài lacquer, applied in multiple ultra-thin layers and subsequently polished. Inspired by the colors and reflections of celestial phenomena, the Sunset, Alba and Borealis models feature 38 mm stainless steel cases that house the automatic La Joux-Perret Caliber G101, offering a 68-hour power reserve. Price : € 2,650 excl. taxes.

 

New releases - Niton Prima

Designed as a contemporary interpretation of the brand’s heritage, this timepiece connects past and present through the brand’s signature jump-hour display, registered in 1928, a shaped movement crafted to Geneva Seal standards, and an architecture echoing historic creations. The inaugural Souscription series, limited to 19 pieces in platinum and 19 in rose gold, has been fully allocated. Niton is now transitioning into a small production series for the end of the year, representing the total capacity for 2026.

 

Vintage Rolex library - Part 3: The World of Rolex (1987)

ENGLISH (il testo italiano è in fondo alla pagina)

This is the third and final instalment of the mini-series about documents I could not include in Rolex 1961-2025 for lack of space. I posted instalments 1 and 2 on 16 April and 16 May, respectively.

 

Published in 1987, The World of Rolex details several aspects of the activities performed at the Geneva site. At the time, the latter and Rolex Bienne, the company in charge of designing and manufacturing movements, were still independent entities.

 

“The human touch”. Two pages are devoted to “the skilled craftsman who, patiently, builds the movement.” His hand “must be steady but flexible (…) This masterly touch (…) is the product of years of rigorous training.”

 

“Bringing a dream to life”. The pictures show draughtsmen working at Computer-Aided Design desks. “The Rolex workshops are clean, spacious, quiet and well-lit to offer the watchmaker and ideal ergonomic environment in which to practice his craft.”

 

“The case”. “Forged, machined, polished and repolished, the original block of metal is patiently converted with skill and delicacy into a rugged but elegant case (…) The Oyster case is guaranteed waterproof to a depth of at least 100 m.”

 

“The right training”. The Geneva site houses a training centre “operated for the benefit of the watchmakers employed by the jewellers that are Rolex agents, and its aim is to give them a thorough knowledge of Rolex watches (…) In this way, after-sales service can be obtained with confidence throughout the world.”

ITALIANO

Questa è la terza e ultima puntata della mini-serie sui documenti che non ho potuto inserire in Rolex 1961-2025 per mancanza di spazio Trovi le prime due puntate nei post del 16 aprile e 16 maggio scorsi.

Pubblicato nel 1987, Il mondo di Rolex tratta diversi aspetti delle attività svolte presso il sito di Ginevra. All’epoca, quest’ultimo e Rolex Bienne, società incaricata di progettare e produrre i movimenti, erano ancora entità indipendenti.

“L’aspetto umano”. Due pagine sono dedicate al “tecnico competente che monta pazientemente il movimento.” La sua mano “deve essere ferma ma flessibile (…) Questa perizia magistrale (…) è il prodotto di anni di formazione rigorosa.”

“Trasformare il sogno in realtà”. Le immagini mostrano i progettisti al lavoro nel reparto del design computerizzato. “I laboratory Rolex sono puliti, spaziosi, silenziosi e ben illuminati, in modo che l’orologiaio possa svolgere la propria attività in un ambiente ergonomico ideale.”

“La cassa”. “Forgiato, lavorato e lucidato più volte, il blocco metallico originale è trasformato pazientemente in una cassa robusta ma elegante (…) La cassa Oyster è garantita impermeabile a una profondità subacquea di almeno 100 m.”

“La formazione giusta”. Il sito di Ginevra ospita un centro di formazione “destinato agli orologiai impiegati presso I punti vendita Rolex. Il suo scopo è fornire una conoscenza perfetta degli orologi Rolex (…) In tal modo, è possible garantire un servizio post-vendita affidabile in tutto il mondo.”

    

New releases – U-Boat Classico Polarized Dark Mistery

 

The timepiece’s most distinctive feature lies in a system of polarized lenses that, through the rotation of the bezel, shifts from absolute black to a visible dial. When the latter reveals itself, it appears in a three-level beige tone. The 47 mm case is offered either in satin-finished steel or in a black version enhanced by a DLC treatment. On the left side sits the brand’s characteristic crown cover. The Sellita SW200 automatic movement is visible through a distinctive U-shaped crystal.

New releases – Angelus Tinkler 1958

This tribute to the original repeater model is available in a double limited edition of 15 gold and 25 steel pieces. The 38 mm case houses the in-house A600 caliber, a self-winding movement offering a 70-hour power reserve. By pressing the pusher at 9 o’clock, it strikes the hours and quarters. Each hour is marked by a strike on the first gong. If necessary, the calibre then performs a double strike on two gongs to signal each quarter hour, up to a maximum of three sequences.