Hand-washing is favourite theme of mine – the introduction of good hygiene measures changed the fortunes of the city in the 19th century after all, as a story in The Economist reminded me. If you are reading this, you and I are likely in Singapore, a city that is famously and fastidiously spic and span. It is also the world’s only true city-state. It went through its own massive hygiene projects after Independence that played an important role in securing its future. Now, this is not a story about the city; it is indeed about hand-washing – more specifically, being unafraid to get our watches wet in the act. We live in a weird time that has actually made this outlier of a subject something to be taken seriously.
To restate the relevance here, the wristwatch faces certain difficulties post-pandemic, beyond the obvious sales ones created by lockdowns and the collapse of global tourism. For this brief piece, I want to focus on wearability.
Denne historien er fra Autumn 2020-utgaven av World of Watches.
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Denne historien er fra Autumn 2020-utgaven av World of Watches.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
BRAND ELEVATION
On the sidelines of Geneva Watch Days, Bulgari CEO JeanChristophe Babin talks about the challenges of having one brand identity across all categories, and tells us what he really thinks of watch fairs.
EVEN MORE HANDS
For the third year in a row, the collective WOW team shares the watches we ponied up for. As always, we include a couple of fantasy pieces and more than a few fails.
CONCEPTS AND CONSEQUENCES
What is the legacy of concept watches? What happens when the show is over and it is time to actually manufacture them? How do these ticking research labs translate into actual, wearable timepieces...if they ever do?
THE QUESTION OF SUCCESSION
In the watchmaking industry, a company’s longevity is oftentimes measured not in decades but in centuries. What then happens to a brand beyond its founders? We speak to three CEOs to answer this question.
LEAPS AND BOUNDS
The quest to add one day to a month every four years may seem like a mundane task in the digital age, but achieving this mechanically is anything but.
FLIP SIDE
Omega celebrates the first human flight orbit the moon with a new Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon.
SNAPPING BACK
A powerful showcase for a one-of-a-kind constant force mechanism, the Girard Perregaux Neo Constant Escapement is now available for everyone.
GO FOR GOLD
Forty-five years after Piaget released its allgold Polo 79 luxury sports watch to critical acclaim, the maison revisits this iconic collection with a new ultra-thin movement.
CLEAR WINNER
Hublot's fourth collaboration with Takashi Murakami puts the artist's joyful flower motif at the centre of a bold new case design.
HISTORICAL TRIBUTE
Parmigiani Fleurier launches a new version of their Tonda PF Hijri Perpetual Calendar with a vivid green dial.