1. From “Do Not Resuscitate” to Dominant World Power: A History of the Swatch Group

The Swatch Group is, by far, the most powerful and influential player in Swiss watchmaking. Some of you might know the Swatch Group as the parent companies of brands like Breguet, Omega, Tissot and more; but they also control ETA, whose movements can be found in so many other brands, and Nivarox, the world’s foremost supplier of balance springs. Today, the watch industry is undergoing something of a transition, with brands scrambling for alternative suppliers or looking to go in-house because of the Swatch Group’s desire to limit distribution of ETA movements and components vital to watchmaking, But how did the Swatch Group come to be? And why does the Swiss watchmaking industry owe so much to this entity? Find out why and more in this article.

Source: Worn & Wound

2. My Vintage Rolex Buyer’s Guide.

Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that vintage Rolex watches are big amongst collectors right now. Just last November, an “RCO” Paul Newman Daytona sold for over a million dollars. However, the world of vintage Rolexes is a wildly confusing one with many different references and variations between them, how do you tell which is which and how can you be sure you are getting the real deal? The short answer is this: unless you are a seasoned veteran, vintage Rolex watches can be tricky to acquire. That said, this article provides very handy and easy to understand tips that you should always bear in mind.

Source: Rolex Passion Reboot

3. The High-tech World of Old-world Watches

Smart watch this, smart watch that. While the rest of the world continues its fascination with smart watches, we watch-lovers know better. The real innovation is really with what this article calls “old-world” mechanical watches. In the past couple of years, we have seen more watches using unconventional materials such as ceramic and silicon to make better, more accurate and more lasting timepieces. This article provides an overview of some of the most important innovations in the past couple of years, and shows that there are still secrets for watchmakers to uncover.

Source: The Economist

4. Datograph Under a Microscope

A. Lange & Söhne is famous for the exquisite finishing of its movements and its Datograph watch is widely considered to be one of the most desirable chronographs ever made. But have you wondered just how great is the finishing on a Datograph? Wonder no more, because a kind forum member has just posted high-resolution macro photos of the movement of a Datograph and it is really quite something to behold.

Source: PuristSPro

5. How Watchmaking came to Glashütte

Glasshüte is a small town in Saxony, Germany, not too far away from the border with the Czech Republic, and yet it is home to no fewer than eleven watch brands and is synonymous with fine German watchmaking. Brands like A. Lange & Söhne, Glasshüte Original, Nomos and Tutima all call Glasshüte home. But how did this small town become the watchmaking hotbed that it is today? Is there a special reason why brands all gravitate towards Glasshüte? Read this to find out.

Source: Monochrome