In a world where automation and mass production dominate, the beauty of handmade watches reminds us of the enduring value of craftsmanship, artistry and the human touch. While watches primarily serve a practical purpose for time telling, they have perpetually served as canvases for artistic expression. With the skilled hands of artisans, watches become works of art that capture the essence of time itself rather than being just timekeepers.
Though mass production may be frowned upon by purists, the merits of mechanical monotony still play an essential role in contemporary watchmaking. Even the best in class harness it to their benefit. Essential and complex calibre components benefit from the precision a CNC (computer numerical control) machine-controlled cutting tools offer, especially when tolerances are measured down to mere micrometres. Crafting such parts by hand — while possible — are painstaking as they already are, but replicating them consistently in volume borders on being impossible.
The same rings true when working with high-tech materials such as milling sapphire blocks for watch cases and crystals (the former notoriously requires at least one hundred hours and diamond bit drills to mill) or sintering ceramic components (the pieces are sintered in furnaces well above 1000°C) — machines still play a pivotal role in the manufacturing process where the human hand lacks.
Yet despite it all in the watchmaking industry more than any other, computer-aided designs and other cutting-edge technological processes confirm the capital importance of the human touch (or eye). Only a gimlet eye can discern and interpret the nuances and minute final details which will go on to make each watch such a unique object.
Preserving Tradition
Denne historien er fra October 2023-utgaven av MEN 'S FOLIO Singapore.
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Denne historien er fra October 2023-utgaven av MEN 'S FOLIO Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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An Electrifying Ride
With a pack full of features, the Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 4MATIC SUV promises luxurious, joyful and fuss-free journeys.
Full Circle
The Macallan travels back in time with the TIME:SPACE to celebrate 200 years of whisky-making mastery.
Maturity in Spirit
The Glenrothes' revamped Core Collection mirrors our human bildungsroman, revealing the artistry behind the maturation process with its latest pop-up.
Benvenuto a Locanda
There is no experience more impactful than an honest meal and earnest hospitality, so Locanda makes for an appealing culinary stopover that should not be missed.
A Genuine Article of Fusion
Quenino by Victor Liong is the resident fine-dining hideout of Artyzen Singapore, its degustation menu showcases the best of Asian cuisine melded with contemporary Western savoir-faire.
The Last Word
As the Official Timekeeper for the Olympics, there is a tremendous onus that comes with the role. After all, the Olympics is the world's stage where human excellence is measured down to the minutiae. By that standard, OMEGA's competence in the timekeeping field is also measured.
From Paper to Metal
Men's Folio visited the Cartier Manufacture and Maison des Métiers d'Art earlier this year to discover the unparalleled craftsmanship and innovation within those wall
Mavericks Amongst Traditionalists
Fashion watch brands are finding their feet amidst century old watchmakers as their maverick approach sets them apart from the current landscape of watchmaking.
The Case for the "It" Watch
As much as watches in popular culture being necessary might be an unpopular opinion, here is why it is crucial to the survival of the passion we all love.
Heavy Lidded
In the masculine world of grooming, the sport (or art) of decorating one's lids with darkened kohl has been practised amongst niche circles, reserved for only a few brave men willing to go - or draw - the lengths of a sharp winged liner. Given the past decade's adoration of the bare-is-best routines, the notion of lined eyes has been mostly cast away. However, as the return of the Indie Sleaze movement returns, confronting the pressing question cannot be put off any longer. Should the world be opening its eyes and waking up for the return of \"guyliner\"?
