Author: tapir_ffm

The «Gemba Walk»: a manufacture visit to the watchmaking factory of Formex (and Dexel)

Wikipedia: In business, «Gemba» refers to the place where value is created Here: A visit to a «real» watch factory {reading time: approx. 5 minutes – plus 35 pictures; alternatively (only in German, though) you can watch the YouTube video here (the Formex part starting at 00:57:30): Fifth Wrist Ohne Hemmung } In April this year,…
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26/09/2023
The «Gemba Walk»: a visit to La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle

Wikipedia: In business, «Gemba» refers to the place where value is created Here: A Photo Love Story about «l’homme et le temps» – man and time {reading time: approx. 10 minutes – and some 80 pictures} Join me on the journey to the centre of watchmaking: La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle. You may see and read…
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18/06/2023
Editorial: Lundis Bleus – where watchmaking is extremely cool and hot at the same time

At the end of last year I travelled again to my favourite (my wife strongly disagrees, so I am there rather rarely- and alone) holiday destination: La Chaux-de-Fonds and the surrounding «watch towns». One of the reasons for this visit was a stopover at Lundis Bleus, an independent watchmaking brand, specialising in enamel (and stone)…
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20/03/2023
Editorial – Kieser Design – how a watch is actually made

Kieser Design is a relatively new brand from Frankfurt, Germany, producing watches, which don’t look like your average timepiece. To make the best use of this article, have a look at https://en.kieserdesign.de first, to get an impression of the kind of watch we are talking about. The basic idea of Matthias Kieser designing this watch…
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26/02/2023
Owner review: Ming 17.09

When MING announced the new Ming 17.09 I actually was still in no-new-watch-for-at-least-a-year-mode. But the new offering was so attractive to me in terms of design and price that I reluctantly decided to try the annoying ordering procedure. But then – this was communicated from the start – I had to wait 12 months! You…
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07/07/2022
Owner Review: Vintage ZentRa

Often you hear, that the watch virus was passed on from father to son. Not so in my case. My father was always wearing cheap department-storesque quartz watches. Actually I purchased the last one he wore, as my mother – I must have been around 20 this time – asked me to buy him a…
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29/06/2022
Editorial: Kieser Design – how a watch is actually made

Kieser Design is a relatively new brand from Frankfurt, Germany, producing watches, which don’t look like your average timepiece. To make the best use of this article, have a look a https://en.kieserdesign.de first, to get an impression of the kind of watch we are talking about. The basic idea of Matthias Kieser designing this watch…
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19/04/2022
Owner review: Sinn 8820 – Maybe the most underrated diving watch

The Sinn 8820 was the first new, mechanical watch I ever purchased. I have, however, sold it in the meantime, but maybe my experience is of value for some of you anyway. The Sinn 8820 also was (as far as I know) the first titanium watch from Sinn, released shortly after Lothar Schmidt took over…
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04/12/2021
Editorial: A Visit to ochs und junior in La Chaux-de-Fonds

In the run-up to the first European GTG of Fifth Wristers in La Chaux-de-Fonds back in September 2021, I had the opportunity to meet the team of ochs und junior at their premises. Kornelia, the head and owner of ochs und junior, together with Ludwig Oeschlin, gave me an insight into their recent history, the…
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31/10/2021
Owner review: Hermes Slim d’Hermès

For my (no offence!) compass of values Hermes is a brand which is not dear … it is ridiculously expensive. However, their mechanical watches are an exception of that “rule”. While still costly, they are quite affordable compared to the relevant competition – and relative to other products of the brand they are a bargain.…
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28/10/2021