A Week in the Pocket with the New Hamilton Railroad Watch
I usually don't write watch reviews on this blog for a number of reasons. The main one is that Made in Bienne is first and foremost about what's "behind the watch": the people, the places, the history. Today though, I'm making an exception.
JFK’s Inauguration Watch at the Omega Museum
When writing a new blog post, I always try to look for a catchy title. Not clickbait, of course, but something that briefly summarizes why, in my humble opinion, it’s worth taking a few minutes to read it. That usually implies correlating the
From Bienne to Your Dream Watch with Miguel Bolea
Every time I think I’ve just about seen it all in the world of Bienne watchmaking, someone proves me wrong. Miguel Bolea did just that. He is the founder of DYW Bespoke. DYW stands for “Develop Your Watch”.
From Lancaster to Bienne, Hamilton Turns 130
In Switzerland, Biel/Bienne is known for its diversity. A German and French bilingual town, within commute distance to Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lausanne and Bern, it hosts people from all across the country. Walking down the streets
From Rolex Hairsprings to French Pastries, Charlotte Ernandez Shows a Delicate Taste of Bienne
“Charlotte’s” quickly became my go-to bakery in Bienne when it opened 2 years ago. And while the fantastic St Honorés and pear tarts are the reasons I keep coming back, I must confess I was often intrigued
How It Took Rolex a Century to Own Its Movement Manufacture
I know, it sounds odd: Rolex is renowned for doing just about everything in-house. Yet, the brand with the crown only acquired the company that makes all its movements in 2004. This post, itself based on
Vintage Speedmaster Trends: an Interview with Julien Vallon
Julien Vallon likes to fly under the radar. But those who know Swiss watchmaking circles are well aware of his role as one of its important players. Like both sides of the Moon, but without a dark one, Vallon runs two distinct
The Refreshingly un-Bling Watch Culture in Bienne
There's one thing I personally don't like about the world of watches. It's when watches are about everything but actual watchmaking: watches as status, watches as an asset class, watches as an accessory part of
Interview: Thomas Funder, the Danish Designer Inspired by Bienne to Create His Own Watch Brand
Thomas Funder is based in Zurich. As such, his watches can’t be said to be “made in Bienne”. However, the reason I was so keen to interview him for this blog is that, as a watch designer, Funder truly is “made in Bienne”.
A New Gold Coin Makes Swiss Watchmaking and Bienne Artist WES 21 Shine
Today, the link between traditional watchmaking and collectable coins reaches a new, unprecedented level: Swissmint is launching "Timemachine", a gold coin celebrating the Swiss watchmaking tradition. With a face value of
