A Blog to Watch
March 15, 2007 4:01 PM   Subscribe

Watchismo is a blog dedicated to portable timepieces, spotlighting the spectacularly beautiful (and spectacularly expensive), among the rare handcrafted artifacts such as this watch made from wood, or this one made from bone. [Via]
posted by jonson (19 comments total) 8 users marked this as a favorite
 
That bone watch is exquisite.
posted by lekvar at 4:06 PM on March 15, 2007


Bookmarked that blog. I have a lot of trouble finding watches that I consider attractive, and here is a whole blog of them. Awesome.
posted by BrotherCaine at 4:14 PM on March 15, 2007


I've got the opposite problem. I'm too poor to buy the watches I find attractive, and I'm not even talking about the high end ones.
posted by lekvar at 4:22 PM on March 15, 2007


That site is awesome jonson. Thanks.
posted by eyeballkid at 4:29 PM on March 15, 2007 [1 favorite]


I have a bone watch, actually it's bone and fur. And blood. And very possibly some organs. I call it a 'dog'.

It's incredibly accurate. If I don't feed it, or let it out at very specific times, she rings her 'alarm', a sound which the neighbors have described as a 'cacophony of yipping and ruffing'.

Looking at the wonderful craftsmanship of bone watch here, I think I made the wrong choice in going for a breathing timepiece.

Mechanical watches rule. Excellent link (as usual) jonson.
posted by quin at 4:58 PM on March 15, 2007 [1 favorite]


There's a great video about this on the coolhunting podcast.
posted by sixacross at 5:16 PM on March 15, 2007


Very nice blog, and awesome watches. I love mechanical watches (and clocks), but a rarely wear a watch. Go figure. I do own a beautiful old pocket watch that is wound with a key, but I rarely use it because I'm lousy with watches, and they tend to disappear on me. I guess I'm old at heart and love mechanical things.

quin, it is amazing the accuracy of the dogwatch. You'd think something so organic would not be so reliable. I will have to disagree with you: I am completely happy with my current dogwatch.
posted by Eekacat at 5:18 PM on March 15, 2007


Great post! My dad collects watches. I'm forwarding the link to him.

My favorite: http://watchismo.blogspot.com/2006/12/relic-of-future-vianney-halters-antiqua.html
posted by figment of my conation at 5:28 PM on March 15, 2007


I was looking at the expensive one before. The numeric font on that timepiece is really cool. Good post.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 5:52 PM on March 15, 2007


Awesome blog, I love wild watches, had bookmarked this but not seen the amazing wood and bone timepieces. Another (large) wood timepiece.

The Zadora watches are marvellously over the top, kitchly lavish. I'm a sucker for blue guilloché (love that alluring geometry).

The Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology has courses in watch (horology) technology. I like the futuristic design of this watch on their site.
posted by nickyskye at 8:03 PM on March 15, 2007


This blog is practically guaranteed to give William Gibson a huge, watch-related boner.
posted by sparkletone at 8:10 PM on March 15, 2007


Very nice blog covering avant-garde watches, thanks jonson!
posted by falconred at 9:27 PM on March 15, 2007


I visited the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva last week, which has an incredible collection of absolutely stunning pocket and wristwatches, including one made out of bone and wood - even the chain is wooden.
posted by jontyjago at 2:31 AM on March 16, 2007


I love this blog, after following a link to it months ago, it really keeps me fascinated and amazed. Since discovering it, I've noticed the number of watch-centric magazines that are available in some periodical stores. Hooray for high-end timepieces, especially in an age where cell phones are serving the same function [for some].
posted by Busithoth at 7:01 AM on March 16, 2007


Great to see this site posted here. I'm a huge fan and in the last year or so I've become increasingly obsessed with wristwatches. I'll also recommend Poor Man's Watch Forum and TimeZone's forums. Great places to see lots of great homegrown "watch porn"!
posted by Ekim Neems at 7:14 AM on March 16, 2007


Don't forget, he sells many rare watches on the business arm of his site.
posted by JBennett at 7:17 AM on March 16, 2007


There are case makers like Zadora, who throw a generic watch movement that they did not design or create into a lavish case, and then there are real watchmakers like Patek or Waltham or even the humble Elgin.

Case makers are the bastard stepchildren of the watchmaking industry. Generally horologists don't consider them to be worth more than the cost of the movement inside (usually less than $100).

Now, Van Der Klaauw is a watchmaker who uses ebauches from ETA, and totally reworks the movement. He's a watchmaker.
posted by Sukiari at 6:52 PM on March 16, 2007


If you like looking at really intricate and expensive handmade watch movements, check out this catalog for upcoming auctions at the Antiquorum. I like this Tourbillon Squelette (estimated to go for $70,000 - $90,000!) The Watchismo Times post has a better highlight of goodies than just looking through all the lots.
posted by Rhomboid at 5:48 PM on March 29, 2007


heh, oops, meant to post that in this thread not here, but I guess it's apropos in either
posted by Rhomboid at 5:49 PM on March 29, 2007


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