Aged Automata & Other Clockwork Creations In Swiss Watch Museums
Mechanical magic is a thing of wonder and myth. For centuries, artisans skilled with tools and gears have been engineering the impossible. Today, the hidden underbellies of machinery both large and small are mostly kept from plain sight in a society where mechanical things are no longer as interesting to most people. Today's most advanced machines operate on levels we cannot even view with our own eyes. Our phones and computers operate with almost no moving parts. The movement is based on microscopic energy moving around in cheaply made circuit boards. The modern era has removed the child-like enjoyment many of us receive from viewing how things work.In Switzerland things are a bit different. At least in the watchmaking regions of the country. There, an adherence to traditional mechanical watchmaking is both tradition and business. Keeping alive the savoir of machines helps the locals remember the history behind today's modern mechanical creations, and inspires those of us who are tick

Swatch Group's ETA Watch Movement Maker Oversteps: Receives Unlawful Monopoly Probe By Swiss Competition Commission
The Swatch Group is the largest watch maker in the world, with a highly complex vertically integrated manufacturing system with a ton of subsidiary and partner companies, as well as watch brands. The goal has always been for each watch component to be made by a company under the Swatch Group Umbrella. They've become so good, that their purchasing of companies and manufacturing arms makes them the premier maker of parts; especially movements. Swatch purchased ETA from Eterna many years ago, which was one of it's wiser decisions. ETA is the premier maker of fine watch movements in the world. They don't produce the highest volume of movements overall, but certainly the highest volume of fine watch movements.Many brands rely on ETA as a source of movements. There are alternatives, but ETA is really the only place to go for most companies' needs. Last year, ETA announced that it would cease to provide movements to watch companies outside the Swatch Group due to high demand. Many feared the

Basel watches traveling to Omega boutiques
Just received a phone call from a sales associate at an Omega Boutique and I was informed all of the watches displayed at Basel 2014 will be traveling around the boutiques in Europe and USA this summer. The 300m, Mark II, Tresor, ect...will be under one roof. For those of you in the Midwest USA, the watches will be in Oakbrook IL on July 29th and July 30th. It's my understanding the watches will be in the stores during normal business hours and one does not need an invitation to attend, although invitations will most likely be sent to individuals that have made previous purchases. I was also told that the watches, while stored in displays cases, will be available for people to try on. Perfect excuses for us WIS to organize a gtg around our respective Omega Boutiques. Keep an eye out for a Chicago gtg in the gtg forum.

Blue milgauss
is the blue milgauss an allocated piece?is it a model that holds its value like a sub or gmt?just saw one in the wild and im intrigued

Friendly Reminder to All SS Skydweller Owners
For the first time in the history of the SS and Two Tone Skydwellers, owners all across the world will have the privilege to change the date in a week's time.IMG_1320.JPGWhat we do then will make history. I want you all to enjoy your cake, so..... enjoy.HR.jpg