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Auguste Fiedler, Master of Modernist Watch Advertising

January 27, 2022 By Stephen 1 Comment

Although modern advertising is finely crafted, it can’t compare to the impact of the classics. To my eyes, the greatest watch advertisements came off the press of Auguste Fiedler of La Chaux-de-Fonds between World Wars I and II. His poster style advertisements mixed elements of German Plakatstil and French Art Deco movements, and are just as striking today as they would have been on the avenues of the 1930s.

Filed Under: Commentary, History Tagged With: Advertising, Buren, Cortébert, Cyma, Election, Elgin, Eterna, Excelsior Park, Fiedler, General Watch, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Leonidas, Oris, Revue, Tavannes, Unitas

IWC, Porsche Design, and Titanium Watches

October 5, 2021 By Stephen Leave a Comment

On April 25, 1981, attendees at the European Watch, Clock, and Jewellery Fair in Basel got their hands on something completely new. IWC introduced the Porsche Design Titan chronograph, the first titanium watch available for sale. The revolutionary material caught the watchmaking world off guard, and the Titan helped IWC and their partner Jaeger-LeCoultre survive the quartz crisis. This is the story of the watches created by legendary designer Ferdinand Alexander Porsche and the radical utilitarian watch designs he created with IWC. It’s also a story of how materials and design can spark customer enthusiasm and sales.

Filed Under: History, The Watch Files Tagged With: Citychamp, Eterna, Hublot, IWC, Marc Newson, Omega Speedmaster, Orfina, Porsche Design, Titanium, Valjoux 7750

The Thin Watch War | The Watch Files: January 12, 1979

February 23, 2021 By Stephen 4 Comments

On January 12, 1979, the Swiss watch industry announced the thinnest watch ever made: The Delirium, developed by Ebauches SA for Concord, Eterna, IWC, and Longines, measured just 1.98 mm thick. It wasn’t a big seller, but was a PR exercise to show the world that the Swiss were innovating like the Japanese. And the novel design paved the way for another announcement four years later, the Swatch.

Filed Under: History, The Watch Files Tagged With: André Beyner, Anthony Kable, Anton Bally, ASUAG, Citizen, Citizen Exceed Gold, Concord, Delirium, Ebauches SA, Elmar Mock, Ernst Thomke, Eterna, Europa Star, Gerry Grinberg, Jean Lassale, Longines, New York Times, Paul Renggli, Renata, Seiko, Tiffany

Eterna Majetek and Longines Tartarugone: Czech Aviator Watches

January 10, 2017 By Stephen 1 Comment

A friend who lives in the Czech Republic recently mentioned that he loved the classic Eterna Majetek pilot’s watch. Since I had heard of the Majetek (and similar Longines Tartarugone), I decided to delve into these pieces a bit more. Here are my thoughts on these impressive classic pieces, as well as the new Eterna Heritage Military 1939 homage.

Filed Under: Grails Tagged With: Czech, Eterna, Eterna Majetek, Longines, Longines Tartarugone, pilot

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Auguste Fiedler, Master of Modernist Watch Advertising

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