The Return of Aged Leather Straps in Watchmaking
A whiff of salt and petroleum: the return of a leather that tells a story In a world where everything shines too quickly, the aged leather strap returns as an…
Julien Aguettaz
413 posts
I am passionate about watchmaking, having worked for Swiss watchmakers and as a digital strategy consultant.
How to Recognize a High-Quality Automatic Movement
Why the quality of a movement isn’t always visible to the naked eye You turn the watch over; the sapphire caseback reveals a ballet of wheels and a half-moon rotor.…
These Vintage Military Watches Are Winning Over a New Generation
From wartime tool to style icon In recent years, vintage military watches have stepped out of collectors’ dusty display cases and onto the wrists of a new generation. They…
3 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Collectible Watch
A market of passion, not illusion On a Saturday morning, a collector hesitates in front of a vintage diver with a delicately speckled dial. The seller swears it’s “all…
Why the Blue Dial Remains a Symbol of Masculine Elegance
Blue, a shade that tells a story There is, in a blue dial, a silent promise. That of understated luxury, of masculine elegance that doesn’t seek approval yet naturally…
These Micro-Brands Are Shaking Up Luxury Watchmaking
The quiet wave that changes everything In the hushed display cases of high watchmaking, a new vibration is being felt. It isn’t the tick-tock of the great century-old maisons,…
Why Collectors Love Bicompax Chronographs
Two sub-dials, a dial that can breathe, a functional elegance inherited from aviation’s golden years and the paddocks: the bicompax chronograph speaks as much to the heart as it…
The 10 Most Sought-After Watches on the Pre-Owned Market
On the pre-owned market, certain watches set the pace. They’re passed on, scrutinised, coveted. At the crossroads of watch culture, iconic design and carefully managed scarcity, these pieces draw…
How to Set an Automatic Watch Without Damaging It
The setting ritual: a gesture of watchmaking culture Setting an automatic watch is not merely a technical operation: it’s a ritual. The discreet click of the crown, the silky…
The Strong Comeback of Vintage Quartz Watches
A quiet revenge For a long time they were relegated to supporting roles, blamed for having triggered the mechanical crisis. Yet vintage quartz watches are back in favour, carried…
This French Watch Rivals the Swiss
When France Takes a Seat at the Swiss Table In the Morteau valley, on the banks of the Doubs, French watchmaking has never stopped beating—sometimes under its breath, often…
Why the Submariner Remains the Most Copied Watch in the World
From instrument diver to cultural icon You might spot it on a diver’s wrist, peeking from under a tuxedo cuff, or topping the front page of an enthusiasts’ forum.…
These Titanium Watches Appeal to Fans of Sport and Elegance
The lightweight metal rewriting the rules At a time when menswear is blending tailoring with performance, titanium is the natural choice for the wrist. Long confined to aerospace and…
How to Maintain a Mechanical Watch Day to Day
A ritual, more than a routine Caring for a mechanical watch day to day is a way of cultivating an art of living. Behind every tick-tock are polished bridges,…
5 Iconic Watches Designed by Gérald Genta
Gérald Genta, the architect of horological desire There are designers who decorate time, and others who architect it. Gérald Genta unquestionably belonged to the latter camp. A tireless autodidact,…
This Watchmaking Complication Still Fascinates Collectors
The tourbillon, a miniature theatre that never grows old One glance is enough to understand: a rotating cage, a pulsing balance, flashes of mirror-polished steel. Here is a complication that…