Grail Watch

The search for the grail is the search for illumination

  • Grail Watch Reference
  • The Watch Files Podcast
  • History
  • Commentary
    • Grails
    • Reviews
  • Collection
    • Watch A Day
    • My Watch Collection
  • Reference Materials
    • Watch Brand and Model Pages
    • Reference Database
    • Primary Sources
  • About Grail Watch
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2022 · Log in

How I Uncovered Mulfi, Dulfi, and Henri Müller

June 25, 2021 By Stephen 3 Comments

I hope that this somewhat-pointless research project into Dulfi, Mulfi, and Henri Müller helps illustrate my approach to learning about the history of the watch industry and my reliance on primary sources for information. We can trace the foundation of Henri Müller & Fils with confidence and can definitely know the dates of establishment of Mulfi and Dulfi. We even have some images of ads and watches that came along the way.

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Breitling, Collectors Table, Delba, Dulfi, Europa Star, Fred S. Mandelbaum, Georges Caspari, Gigandet, Henri Müller, Indicateur Davoine, La Chaux-de-Fonds, La Fédération Horlogère, Montbrillant Watch Manufactory, Mulfi

How the Chronograph Became the “It” Watch Complication

June 23, 2021 By Stephen 2 Comments

Chronographs are so popular that cheap fashion watches today often feature bogus subdials with non-functional hands and pushers. But once upon a time, a chronograph was a simple tool seen more as an advanced stopwatch than a true complication. What was once a utilitarian tool for soldiers became an upscale choice for doctors, then an iconoclast choice for young people, and now a sign of fine watchmaking.

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Breitling, Breitling Chronomat, Chronograph, Daniel Roth, Europa Star, Excelsior Park, IWC Da Vinci, Leonidas, Martel, Nathan Weil, Patek Philippe

The Entire Industry Invented the Automatic Chronograph

May 13, 2021 By Stephen 1 Comment

Automatic watches were hot in the 1950s, and chronographs were cool in the 1960s. But bringing these technologies together was not at all straightforward! Three different automatic chronograph movements were launched in 1969, and the story of their creation reflects the state of the industry at that time as well as the inevitability of technological progress.

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Breitling, Buren, Chronomatic, Dubois Dépraz, Heinrich Stamm, Heuer, High-Beat, Martel, micro-rotor, Seiko, Speed Timer, Zenith, Zenith El Primero

What Does “Montbrillant” Mean to Breitling?

May 5, 2021 By Stephen Leave a Comment

What exactly does “Montbrillant” mean? Although the word has been associated with Breitling for over a century, the answer might surprise you! Montbrillant is not a person or even a place, really. It’s an idea, and represents brilliant marketing a century in the making!

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Breitling, Couleru-Meuri, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Léon Breitling, Octo, Saint-Imier

My Take on the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2020 Headlines

November 13, 2020 By Stephen Leave a Comment

The Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève ceremony took place yesterday, November 12, 2020. Although attendance was limited to winners and helium-filled balloons, the ceremony once again proved both the importance and self-importance of Geneva as a center for the luxury watch industry. Although most of the prizes went against my choices, some were well-deserved and no one asked for my vote in any case!

Filed Under: Commentary Tagged With: Alain Silberstein, Awards, Breitling, Breitling Superocean, Breitling Superocean Automatic 48, Breitling Superocean Heritage II, Davide Traxler, Delirium, Georges Kern, GPHG, Habring2, Jean Lassale, Kenissi, Louis Erard, Ming, Parmigiani Fleurier, Piaget, Piaget 9P, Piaget Altiplano, Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept, Tudor BLack Bay, Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight

Breitling Datora 592: Funky Chronograph

April 18, 2018 By Stephen Leave a Comment

Today I’m wearing another watch I’ve previously written about here. I bought this Breitling Datora as a bit of a “fixer-upper” back in 2014 and promptly sent it out to be serviced. It’s now a fairly regular “wearer” in my watch box.

Filed Under: Collection, Watch A Day Tagged With: Breitling, Breitling Datora, Breitling Datora 592, Bretiling, Chronograph, Strap, tonneau, Valjoux, Valjoux 7734

1970 Breitling Datora 592: My Fixer-Upper

August 4, 2014 By Stephen 4 Comments

This is a web site about grails: Watches people spend their lives looking for. Approximately zero people will spend their lives looking for a beat up, common, 1970’s Breitling like this Datora 592. But I bought it, and I thought it might be interesting to my readers to know why and what I’m doing next.

Filed Under: Collection Tagged With: Breitling, Breitling Datora, Breitling Datora 592, Datora, Valjoux, Valjoux 7734

Breitling Co-Pilote 7651 Chrono-Matic

February 19, 2014 By Stephen Leave a Comment

Here is a lovely early 1970’s Breitling “Co-Pilote” 7651 watch with the famous Chronomatic movement. It was seriously huge at the time, but today 48 mm is simply “large”. This makes it eminently wearable, not just a safe-queen. The black PVD bezel is cool, but the replacement bracelet is unfortunate.

Filed Under: Grails Tagged With: 7651, Breitling, Breitling Chrono-Matic, Breitling Co-Pilote, Chronomatic

Latest Posts

What is a Lépine Watch Movement?

Bulova Accutron, the Watch of the 1960s

The Rise and Fall of Leonidas and the Beau-Site Factory

Droz and Degoumois: Berna Watch Factory

From Atelier to Factory: Usine Centrale, Saint-Imier

Is Longines the World’s Oldest Watch Brand?

The Rise of Mass-Produced Watches at Les Longines, Saint-Imier

Auguste Fiedler, Master of Modernist Watch Advertising

How Edmond Jaeger and Jacques-David LeCoultre Joined Forces

Ringing In 2022 With a Look at Horological History

About

About Grail Watch

Favorite Sites

  • The Watch Files Podcast
  • Watch Wiki
  • Europa Star
  • The Naked Watchmaker
  • Perezcope
  • ScrewDownCrown
  • Lugs and Lume
  • Horolonomics
  • Le Monde Edmond
  • Plus9Time
  • Reddit /r/Watches
  • Seiko & Citizen Watch Forum
  • The Watch Lounge
  • WatchBase
  • Watches by SJX
Posting....