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Letter from the Editor
It’s hard to believe that we are already three months into 2015—the old adage of “time flies when you’re having fun” apparently has its merits. And thus, as we move into the spring, visions of travel, fast cars, and the thrill of summer nights fill the heart and mind. This is where we begin our latest issue of TimePiece Magazine, with travel. It is something that has always been part of me—the call of exotic places throughout the world tugging at my imagination. In this issue, we take you on a journey to some of the most beautiful places in the world—places that embody the essence of the history that has formed the world as we know it. From the 800th Anniversary of Magna Carta to the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, there are anniversaries to commemorate and a world waiting to be explored. Of course, no issue of TimePiece is complete without a spotlight that exemplifies why we live for watches and for the art of horology. Thus, we bring you The Never Ending Story: The legacy of Michel Parmigiani. And lastly, what would the spring season be without the enticement of sitting on a patio in the evening, enjoying a perfect view while sipping the perfect Scotch Whisky. We bring you our top eight picks of our favorite Scotch and all they have to offer. As we continue the year together, I sincerely hope that you enjoy this issue of TimePiece Magazine, and that you have the opportunity to commemorate a 2015 anniversary while exploring fascinating out-of-the way places.
Sincerely,
E. Mark Baran
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The Never Ending Story The legacy of Michel Parmigiani By Máire O’Callaghan
Much has been written about Michel Parmigiani, which isn’t surprising. He is a man who has dedicated his life to creating horological masterpieces, and who has spent forty years restoring over four hundred and fifty years of watchmaking history. Today, Parmigiani Fleurier watches are the heirlooms of tomorrow.
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The birthplace of watchmaking history
exceptional craftsmanship—so much so that it became the guiding principle for the Parmigiani Fleurier brand: “This notion of perfection in craftsmanship is the guiding principle that inspires me,” stated Michel Parmigiani. “It is the history of these masterpieces, linked with the philosophy of the period and with the work of all craftsmen, that provides the essential motivation that enables me to view the future; an exemplary lesson, and highly inspiring for everyone who has discovered its substance.”
The twin manufacturing towns of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle constitute a unique urban and architectural entity: they have been wholly dedicated to watchmaking from the eighteenth century until the present day. Since the eighteenth century, the integrity of the watchmaking vocation of the two towns has been absolute.
The founding of the Parmigiani Fleurier company
The founding of Parmigiani Mesure et Art du Temps Workshop
In 1996 backed by the Sandoz Family Foundation, Michel Parmigiani founded Parmigiani Fleurier. The knowledge and experience amassed from forty years of devoting himself exclusively to restoring historic timepieces, became the cornerstone of his new company. Since its beginning, the company has been built on a powerful conviction: restoring the value of Swiss watchmaking art as heritage by making it part of an ongoing tradition of manufacturing expertise.
Michel Parmigiani was born in 1950 in Couvet, Switzerland, which is just ten minutes from the Swiss watchmaking town of Fleurier where today he bases his company, Parmigiani Fleurier. He studied watchmaking at the Fleurier Watchmaker’s School, a school that has taught the art of watchmaking for over 150 years. He also attended watchmaking schools in Switzerland’s watch valley, La-Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle.
Early in Michel Parmigiani’s career he restored historical timepieces. In December 2001, in an interview with Michael Friedberg of TimeZone, he said, “The illustrious masterpieces that passed through my hands demonstrated the ultimate technical expertise of the master horologists of the past, and made me humble in the face of these exceptional creations.” With this background and with his passion for restoring historical timepieces to their original condition, in 1976 Michel Parmigiani established his Couvet-based restoration workshop, Parmigiani Mesure et Art du Temps. An example of his exquisite restoration work is the Montre Sympathique watch created by the renowned Abraham-Louis Breguet, and his contribution to the reconstruction of the astronomical clock built by Giovanni de Dondi in the middle of the fourteenth century. For Michel Parmigiani, “It is a rare pleasure to restore a timepiece. Setting it free from the ravages of time and man equates to bringing it back as a temporal truth essential to our memory.” During the 1970s, Michel Parmigiani was going against the tide as this was during the “quartz crisis” when the focus of the quartz revolution turned from invention to production. Thus, the market was flooded with new, highly accurate and inexpensive timekeeping instruments. By 1978, quartz watches had overtaken mechanical watches in the marketplace. This massive swing in economics plunged the mechanical Swiss watch market into a dark time of little innovation. By the late 1980s, Swiss watch employment dropped over 71%. Michel Parmigiani persisted, and would never admit that it was no longer possible to practice the art of horology and to follow in the historical continuity of this profession.
The timely connection that transformed the workshop into a company
In 1980, Michel Parmigiani’s world was transformed. He met the Sandoz family. Heir to the Sandoz pharmaceutical group today known as Novartis, the Sandoz family is the holder of one of the most impressive collections of pocket watches and automatons in Switzerland: the Maurice-Yves Sandoz Collection, treasures of priceless historic value. At that time, Michel Parmigiani became the official restorer of the Maurice-Yves Sandoz Collection. He became the collection’s guardian, a delight to him because of its
After Michel Parmigiani had demonstrated his unequaled talent as a watchmaker and restorer, Pierre Landolt, a Sandoz family head, encouraged him to create his own brand and to start his own company.
The first years were marked by the completion of several inhouse calibres, including the two Parmigiani Fleurier eight-day mechanical and self-winding movements, still running today, as well as the creation of the iconic Kalpa watch. Restoration has remained at the heart of the Parmigiani Fleurier brand as Michel Parmigiani continues to restore works of art, preserving them for future generations: 1986 – La Cueillette des cerises Pocket Watch. 350 hours. Maurice-Yves Sandoz collection. 1990 – Pendule Sympathique Clock by Breguet. 2000 hours. Patek Philippe Museum. 1998 – Planetary Clock by François Ducommun. 1500 hours. Castello Sforzesco, Milan. 1998 – Breguet Portico Clock. 350 hours. Museum of Decorative Arts, Paris. 1999 – Pistol with songbird. 500 hours. Patek Philippe Museum. 2000 – Perrin Frères pocket watch. 160 hours. Maurice-Yves Sandoz collection. 2003 – Mirror with songbird by Frères Rochat. 300 hours. Maurice-Yves Sandoz Collection. 2007 – Yousoupoff Egg by Fabergé. Maurice-Yves Sandoz collection. 2009 – Peacock Egg by Fabergé. Maurice-Yves Sandoz collection.
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The founding of the Sandoz Family Foundation Watchmaking Centre
Shortly after the founding of Parmigiani Fleurier in 1996, the Sandoz family saw that to create an authentic brand they not only had to conceive movements, but they also had to manufacture them. Since then, the Sandoz Family Foundation has been developing a Watchmaking Centre based around the Parmigiani Fleurier brand. This comprehensive centre for industrial craftsmanship encompasses all the areas of expertise required to create a timepiece, producing everything from the balance-spring and the train wheel to the case and dial; each link is brought together to form a verticalised, independent manufacture, fostering creativity and guaranteeing optimal quality. The five business divisions that form the manufacture are first and foremost dedicated to their sister brand, Parmigiani Fleurier. They also make their skills and products available to selected high-end watchmakers. With their spirit of innovation, flawless production quality, and respect for Swiss industrial tradition, each of these divisions breathes new life into watchmaking expertise: 1.
Les Artisans Boîtiers – When acquired in May 2000, it was already the hub of the most prestigious expertise in high-end watch case manufacture. The company can manufacture cases of any complexity, material or shape, no matter how original.
2. Atokalpa – Joining the Watchmaking Centre in December 2000, Atokalpa specializes in the production of traditional gears. It carries twenty different roles, enabling all the components of a watch gear to be expertly produced, using machines as diverse as a bar turner and a laser machine. 3. Elwin – When incorporated into the Watchmaking Centre in January 2001, Elwin was already a respected supplier, specializing in bar turning and producing specific components, often complicated, that it processed using high-precision micro-mechanics. 4. Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier – Created in 2003, Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier is the Watchmaking Centre’s engineering powerhouse. It produces high-quality manual and automatic mechanical movements and additional modules, and provides a wide range of products to many haute horlogerie brands. Each of the calibres is given a surface finish of exceptional quality, using diverse operations such as the decoration and hand beveling of all components. 5. Quadrance et Habillage – It was founded and incorporated into the industrial structure in December 2005 to achieve self-sufficiency in production and to enhance the Watchmaking Centre’s essential creativity. The luxury watch dial is a true work of art. Its base, machined by a numerically controlled machine at the Quadrance site, can be left plain or feature guilloché work. With its sister companies forming the manufacture and encompassing all the areas of expertise required to create a timepiece, Parmigiani Fleurier’s production chain has total independence. As a result, can offer its own distinctive collections: the grand complication Toric models, the modern Kalpa and Tonda lines, and the strong identity of the Bugatti watches.
The founding of the Fleurier Quality Foundation
In 2003, Michel Parmigiani joined forces with some great names in the watchmaking industry—Bovet Fleurier S.A., Chopard Manufacture S.A., and Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier—to set up the Fleurier Quality Foundation with the purpose of establishing innovative aesthetic and technical criteria for the certification of mechanical watches. On September 27, 2004, the Fleurier Quality Foundation (FQF) hallmark was inaugurated. Representing the first certification to be open to all producers of mechanical fine watchmaking, the certification encompasses a set of demands that assure the final customer of the precision, durability, and exclusive aesthetic quality of the timepiece’s finish. The goals of the Fleurier Quality Foundation are to: • • • •
Establish criteria for technical and aesthetic watch construction Issue an attestation of quality as a written certificate Place a logo on the timepiece Contribute, as far as its means permit, to training in the field of haute horlogerie
It has been over ten years since the inauguration of the Fleurier Quality Foundation. During that time, it has established itself as the most demanding certification in the watchmaking world as it challenges timepieces in their entirety. The only certification to do so.
The restoration of the value of Swiss watchmaking art as heritage
Michel Parmigiani and the Sandoz family have helped to restore the value of Swiss watchmaking art as heritage: Through their innovation and inspiration they have made it part of an ongoing tradition of manufacturing expertise:
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The Sandoz Family Foundation Watchmaking Centre – Through its six business divisions, the Centre for industrial craftsmanship includes all the areas of expertise required to create a timepiece: “... each of these divisions breathes new life into the watchmaking expertise which is our heritage, day after day.”
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Parmigiani Fleurier – Through the Watchmaking Centre and five its sister companies, it has full control over the realization of each component, giving it complete independence with no other consideration than mechanical feasibility. With its independence, it enjoys freedom of creation and balances the legacy of classic timepieces with modern mechanical functionality.
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The Fleurier Quality Foundation – It delivers the most exacting certification in the Swiss watchmaking world, challenging a timepiece in its entirety and attesting to the precision, durability, and exclusive aesthetic quality of the finish.
Michel Parmigiani has restored and conserved Swiss watches for generations to come, and his company has engineered and crafted timepieces that will last for generations. Because of this, the Michel Parmigiani story will never end. He leaves a legacy of exquisite restoration work on priceless historic pieces, and Parmigiani Fleurier fine timepieces that echo our history and that embrace our future—timepieces that will, in time, become priceless heirlooms. Michel Parmigiani was right to persist. He proved that it was possible to practice the art of horology and to follow in the historical continuity of this profession.
Challenging a Timepiece in its Entirety The Fleurier Quality Foundation delivers the most exacting certification in the Swiss watchmaking world By Máire O’Callaghan Do you know how well your watch is tested before you spend your money and put it on your wrist? You now own it; you should know. Further, do you find the various watchmaking criteria designed to inform and reassure you, confusing? Would it surprise you to know that none of these criteria meet all the expectations you are entitled to when spending a considerable amount of money on a prestigious timepiece? This is why the Fleurier Quality Foundation set itself the challenge of uniting, within a single certification, a series of exclusive demands to assure customers they are buying a watch that meets five certification criteria. The certification procedure is conducted objectively under the supervision of a Technical Committee that is independent from the founding brands: Bovet Fleurier S.A., Chopard Manufacture S.A., and Parmigiani Fleurier S.A. Parmigiani Fleurier has built and finished a family of timepieces to the Qualité Fleurier standard, the latest timepiece in this collection being the new Tonda Qualité Fleurier. With a timepiece such as this you will know how well your watch is tested. You will know that it will meet all your expectations—and more.
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Attain assurance with FQF Certification
Here are the five complementary test procedures your watch has passed if has attained the Fleurier Quality Foundation certification— FQF La haute horlogerie certifiée.
1. 100% manufactured in Switzerland
The materials, the design and the project’s theoretical conception can come from anywhere in the world, but timepiece production must be done entirely in Switzerland. This distinguishes watches with the “Swiss Made” label from watches with the Fleurier Quality Foundation certification. An important distinction as the “Swiss Made” label has few additional controls, and only 50% of the watch “head” has been produced in Switzerland. The Fleurier Quality Foundation does not tolerate exceptions, and it stringently verifies provenance.
2. The movement must have a finish of exclusive aesthetic quality
Several exclusive aesthetic finishing criteria are laid down in an extremely precise set of specifications. The Foundation subjects each part of the watch to microscopic scrutiny to evaluate its level of workmanship and to guarantee absolute excellence, yet without in any way affecting technical reliability: •
Materials – Metal, traditional ceramics, precious or avantgarde materials must be used.
•
Exclusive Finishing – A decoration must necessarily be visible on the maximum thickness of the plate or on the visible part of the bridge, as well as in the main recesses. No visible burrs must be present and the functional zones of the steel parts must be polished. The shaped parts must be bevelled, polished and, where technically possible, have lines drawn out with file strokes.
•
Means – Manufacturing procedures for decorations may be either mechanical or manual. Operations carried out in bulk only are not tolerated.
3. The movement must be COSC Certified
COSC is a neutral body dedicated to evaluating high-precision watches according to a set of specific tests involving changes in temperature and position spread over several days. It appraises each movement individually, granting the certificate to models that have emerged successfully from this battery of tests that testify to their faultless timekeeping precision.
4. The movement must have passed the Chronofiable Test
Movements submitted for Fleurier Quality Foundation certification must have passed Chronofiable tests, which are performed in an independent laboratory. These comprise various stages: •
An aging cycle corresponding to six months of normal wear
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Test cycles designed to measure the pull-and-push forces on the stem
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Test cycles designed to measure the forces exerted on the pushbuttons (chronograph controls, correctors, etc.) and the turning bezel
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Tests on reactions to magnetic fields
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Shock-resistance tests using a heavy pendulum or striker, except for delicate complications
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Water resistance test
5. The running of the finished watch must pass the FQF Fleuritest
The Fleuritest is what makes the Fleurier Quality Foundation certification process unique. It is the most demanding certification of Swiss watchmaking in the world—a Fleurier Quality Foundation certified watch confers on the owner the distinction of being exclusive, of wearing a timepiece of the highest aesthetic and technical quality. The Fleuritest is the fifth and final test in the Fleurier Quality Foundation certification process—and it is undoubtedly the most impressive and the most exclusive. Developed solely for the Fleurier Quality Foundation, the Fleuritest machine features a wear simulator that is unique. Imagine a large propeller performing three-dimensional movements. The propeller is linked to a computer so that it recreates daily life situations such as putting on a pullover, going jogging, or looking for something in a bag. Calmer phases follow that are aimed at corresponding closely to a full 24-hour cycle on the wrist. Your timepiece is being tested for each aspect of your daily life. The Fleuritest machine measures the timekeeping precision of the watch with absolute accuracy—it tolerates no differences outside the range of 0 to + 5 seconds per day—making it one of the most demanding devices in existence. If the watch has passed this final rigorous testing, the Foundation issues a certificate specifying the number on the movement and the case. Your watch is then entitled to the certification: FQF La haute horlogerie certifiée.
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Discover the new Tonda Qualité Fleurier from Parmigiani Parmigiani has been involved with the prestigious certification label since 2004, and this is not the first of its pieces to meet the rigorous test criteria required of Certified Haute Horlogerie. The new Tonda Qualité Fleurier offers superior chronometric performance to that of its predecessors, and has been entirely reworked in terms of design and aesthetics. The result speaks for itself: Elegant, timeless and classic with a subtle vintage touch. The Tonda Qualité Fleurier is built on the Parmigiani Fleurier calibre 4000 with a power reserve of 55 hours. The unique feature of this movement is its series-mounted double barrel, which helps to stabilize the distribution of energy and ensure its transmission to the regulator at a constant level. Hence, whether the tension is at its maximum, when the movement is fully wound, or at its minimum, when the power reserve has run down, the power inside the mechanism is stable and maintained to ensure perfec timekeeping. Fleurier Quality Foundation certification also requires a very high quality aesthetic finish on the movement. The gold oscillating weight on the Tonda Qualité Fleurier and the crossed Côtes de Genève decoration on the bridges, illustrate the attention to detail and fine craftsmanship that have long characterized Parmigiani Fleurier. The Tonda Qualité Fleurier is about the fundamentals, evoking simplicity, tradition and high quality through the Parmigiani Fleurier codes. It represents the very essence of what can be achieved in a watch—hours, minutes, seconds and date, all certified to guarantee exceptional precision. The Fleurier Quality Foundation certification is now, after a decade of work, seen as the most exacting in the world of watchmaking. It is the only certification that challenges a timepiece in its entirety. With the uncompromising demands of its five complementary test procedures, the Fleurier Quality Foundation has driven the three founding brands—Bovet Fleurier, Chopard Manufacture, Parmigiani Fleurier—to excel as they are submitting their timepieces to be judged by one of the strictest aesthetic and technical standard criteria in the Swiss watchmaking industry. Simply put, it is a quality benchmark that inspires watchmakers to strive to excel from initial design to assembly, and beyond: “The Qualité Fleurier is the only chronographic test in the world that concerns a finished watch that is encased and ready for sale. Parmigiani Fleurier dedicates a family of timepieces to the Qualité Fleurier standard, but the beneficial effects of this hallmark radiate way beyond the collection that bears its name,” commented Michel Parmigiani, President of Parmigiani Fleurier. “The unremitting severity of this procedure has generated a requisite for refinement which spans over the whole Parmigiani Fleurier collection and constitutes, much like the standard meter measure, a benchmark for excellence.” Watches with Fleurier Quality Foundation certification are as far from fifteenth century watches as the 2014 Aston Martin DBN9 Volante is from the 1927 Ford Model T. They are the watches of the twenty-first century, and they offer assurance that your watch has met the criteria of the most demanding certification in the world. In our next issue of Timepiece Magazine we will explore the history and background of the Fleurier Quality Foundation and its founding members.
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Part The Making of a Watchmaker The journey to become a master watchmaker continues By Måire O’Callaghan
T
o become a master watchmaker you need a passion for watchmaking and untiring enterprise. Bas Quadaekers has those attributes. It’s been five months since he started his watchmaking journey at Vakschool Schoonhoven. He has a long road ahead of him: four years of serious study, hands-on training, and thousands of hours of classroom and benchwork. In the last issue of Timepiece Magazine, we left Bas learning how to saw and file, assemble and disassemble movements, and practicing his measuring skills. He continues to be dedicated to learning the intricacies and complexities of becoming a master watchmaker. Let’s see what he has learned since then:
Cleaning and washing parts
His latest assignment has been to learn how to clean and wash parts in white spirit and oil the 6497: “You start with disassembling the movement, then thoroughly clean every part in white spirit. The ruby jewels need to be 100% clean, and when the white spirit doesn’t dissolve all the dried oil and other stuff, you can clean it with Rodico, which is the blue ‘gum’ that watchmakers use for all kinds of things.” For Bas, the Incablock shock system, a common shock system used in most modern Swiss watches, is the hardest part to clean. He explains, “These jewels are so incredibly small ... if you hold them a bit too tight with your tweezers they will get airborne and you will never find them again.” Once Bas has cleaned all the parts, he has to assemble and apply the right oil/lube on the jewels and other points of friction.
Replacing and adjusting the height of jewels
Bas has also learned how to replace and adjust the height of jewels with the jeweling tool. Bas describes the intricacies of this task: “When a jewel is pressed into a bridge too deep it can jam a gear between the main plate and the bridge, and when it’s too high the gear can move too much up and down which can cause extra wear on that gear and other gears and pinions.” He says, “It’s important to know how to adjust jewels and how to replace them with a new one when they are worn out.”
Cleaning, oiling and repairing movements
Bas has to clean and oil a lot of movements, build a routine, and get better at doing it. As well, he is given watch movements that do not work and he needs to find and fix the problem. He has also learned how to repair toothed wheels in clock movements when they are missing or when one is damaged.
Repairing toothed clock wheels
He says it is a challenge to saw and file a piece of brass into the same shape as the other teeth: “I learned how to first saw off the tooth and saw and file into the wheel until you are halfway through the wheel, then you have to make that cut larger and straight with a file. After that, you take a small, thin piece of brass and saw and file it so it’s the same thickness as the tooth, then you have to fit this into the space you filed, then solder this so it won’t come out. Now you have to file this piece of brass into the same shape as the other teeth.” Along with Bas’ vocation to become a master watchmaker, Bas is starting a collection of watches and is looking forward to sharing his passion for horology with other collectors and enthusiasts. Currently, Bas owns five watches: a stainless steel Cartier Tank solo; two Seiko dive watches, a SKX007 and a SKX013; a Hamilton khaki; and a vintage Omega from 1968. He switches them every week so they all get enough wrist time.
In Issue 5 of Timepiece Magazine we will continue to follow Bas as he meticulously works through the thousands of hours it will take him to become a master watchmaker. It takes passion and a strong vocation to persevere and to learn the minutiae of the profession. He has the determination and diligence to realize his dream of working as a watchmaker at Patek Philippe in Switzerland.
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Let History be your Travel Guide By Måire O’Callaghan
We have a bumper crop of anniversaries this year in some of the most scenic and historic places in the world. You can walk by the River Thames, stroll through formal gardens, hike nature trails, visit museums and art galleries, shop for antiques and accessories, climb stone steps to ancient ruins, drink a pint of English ale, or swim in the ocean and soak up the sun on an exquisite beach. Follow the 2015 Anniversary Trail and you’ll commemorate many historic events while discovering fascinating out-of-the way places and exotic destinations.
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800th Anniversary – The Magna Carta
On June 19, 1215, King John of England signed the Great Charter of the Liberties or Magna Carta (Latin for “the Great Charter”) at Runnymede, near Windsor. Magna Carta was drafted to make peace between King John and his rebellious barons. It promised the protection of church rights, protection for the barons from illegal imprisonment, access to swift justice, and limitations on feudal payments to the Crown. Magna Carta’s history of being annulled and resurrected makes interesting reading. Most people are familiar with King John through the Robin Hood movies, where he is always depicted as a devious, unscrupulous character. He was a poor king, trying to wrest control of the throne while his brother, King Richard I, was imprisoned abroad, and inciting through his behavior a baronial rebellion, a civil war, and a war with France. You wouldn’t have expected Magna Carta to endure, but today phrases such as “To no one will we sell, to no one deny or defer justice or right” have become enshrined in the legal systems of Britain, the U.S., and beyond.
Walk the Magna Carta Trail
To celebrate the 800th Anniversary of Magna Carter you can take the four-day Magna Carta trail from the City of London to Windsor: • •
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Day I – Visit the Heritage Gallery in London to see the 1297 Magna Carta sealed by Edward I, and the Temple complex where the barons confronted King John. Day 2 – Visit the dedicated Magna Carta room at the British Library where you’ll find two of the only surviving four copies of the 1215 version of Magna Carta and other original medieval documents. Day 3 – Visit Runnymede, the water-meadow and ancient meeting place by the River Thames where King John sealed Magna Carta in 1215. Day 4 – Visit Windsor Castle the home of King John. It is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world.
This is just one of six trails you can follow to commemorate the 800th Anniversary of Magna Carta. Details of these events can be found online, just search for Magna Carta 800th.
200th Anniversary – Battle of Waterloo, Belgium
The battle that finally ended French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte’s career was fought on Sunday, June 18, 1815. According to the Duke of Wellington, the battle was “the nearest-run thing you ever saw in your life.” The defeat at Waterloo ended Napoleon’s rule as Emperor of the French, and marked the end of his Hundred Days return from exile. When Napoleon was sent into exile the second time, it was to St Helena Island, a remote Atlantic Island 1,193 miles off the West coast of Africa where he died May 1821.
The Battlefield
The battlefield is located in Belgium, just over 9 miles south of Brussels and 1 mile from Waterloo. You can easily visit the site of the battle from Brussels, and you can find details of the bicentennial events online by visiting waterloo200.org.
Brussels
When visiting Belgium, stop off in Brussels, the capital of Flanders, Belgium and Europe. Originally a fortress, it developed into a market square and eventually evolved into the political, economic and social center of the Flemish capital. You’ll have lots to see in the city from exploring Grand-Place to strolling the galleries of the Royal Museums of Fine Art.
Grand-Place
Grand-Place, a beautiful medieval, spacious cobbled market square, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can enjoy hospitality at one of the many terrace cafes, or catch one of the events or concerts held throughout the year.
Over 600,000 Flowers at Grand-Place
From August 12 to August 16, 2015, another anniversary is being celebrated in Brussels: The 20th Flower Carpet. The Flower Carpet is 75 meters long by 24 meters wide with 1,800 square meters of begonias and around 300 cut flowers per square meter. A hundred volunteers assemble the carpet in four hours. The first Flower Carpet of Brussels was created in 1971, and has been held every two years on the Grand-Place since 1986.
150th Anniversary – The End of the American Civil War
On April 9, 1865, in the Appomattox Court House, General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Confederate army to General Ulysses S. Grant after a bitter four-year struggle. The Confederate States of America were formed February 9, 1862, with Jefferson Davis, a West Point graduate and former U.S. army officer, as president. On April 12, 1861, at 4:30 a.m. the Civil War began when the Confederates under General Pierre Beauregard opened fire with 50 cannons upon Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. To commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the end of the American Civil War, you can visit many war sites from Fort Sumter in South Carolina to Appomattox Court House in Virginia, the meeting place where Generals Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee worked out the conditions of the surrender of Confederate forces.
Charleston, South Carolina
Travel to Charleston with its 300 years of history, visiting the Old Market area, and historic homes and churches. From Charleston you can take a boat to Fort Sumter and explore the fortress where the first battle took place.
Appomattox, Virginia
When you visit Appomattox Court House National Historical Park you’ll not only see the antebellum village where the surrender took place, but also over 1,700 acres of parkland. You can stroll around the country lanes and check out the lawyer’s office, the original general store, and the tavern where Ulysses S. Grant set up printing presses to make parole notices for the thousands of Confederate soldiers who surrendered.
100th Anniversary – The Gallipoli Landings
On April 25, 1915, during World War I, more than 20,000 ANZAC troops (Australians and New Zealanders), disembarked onto the shores of Gallipoli in an attempt to destroy Turkish artillery units. They were defeated in a bloody combat that continued until December 1915. Gallipoli is a peninsula in northwestern Turkey, close to Istanbul.
Gallipoli Peninsular
To honor the 36,000 Commonwealth Servicemen who died, you can tour Gallipoli to commemorate ANZAC Day. You can visit the memorials on Turkey’s Gallipoli peninsula and at Canakkale that tell the story of the Turkish struggle to defend the Dardanelles. Gallipoli has translucent seas and spectacular beaches. The old town of Gallipoli perches on a limestone islet, connected to the mainland by an arched bridge. You can walk to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Canneto, the Hellenistic fountain, and the baroque cathedral dedicated to Saint Agatha.
What’s Nearby • •
Troy – Explore the ruins of Troy, the center of ancient civilizations that existed over 4,000 years ago. Troy is 321 km from Canakkale. Istanbul – Head to the Blue Mosque to marvel at its six minarets and the thousands of Iznik tiles that cascade a sea of blue over the interior. Then visit Topkapi Palace home to a collection of ornamentation that once belonged to the city’s fifteenth-century sultans and harems. As well, stop by the Basilica Cistern—Istanbul’s “sunken palace”— that appeared in the James Bond movie From Russia with Love. For shopping, go to the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s most famous souks with nearly 60 streets and thousands of shops.
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50th Anniversary – Sir Winston Churchill
2015 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Sir Winston Churchill. He died on January 24, 1965, at age 90 with his wife Lady Clementine Churchill and other family members at his side. To commemorate the anniversary a unique exhibition, “Death of a Hero,” will be held at Chartwell.
Chartwell, Mapleton Road, Westerham, Kent
Chartwell was the much-loved Churchill family home and the place from which Sir Winston Churchill drew inspiration from 1924 until the end of his life. The rooms remain much as they were with pictures, books and personal mementoes evoking the career and wide-ranging interests of Winston Churchill: writer, painter and family man. The hillside gardens reflect Sir Winston’s love of landscape and nature. When you walk through the gardens, you’ll see breathtaking views over the Weald of Kent: weald is the name given to an area in south east England that stretches from the marshes of Kent to the New Forest in Hampshire—120 miles long and 30 miles wide.
A Jock of all Trades – Churchill’s Cat
When Winston Churchill’s family left Chartwell to the National Trust, there was one special condition: Chartwell must always be home to a ginger tomcat with a white bib and four white paws, in memory of Winston’s beloved pet, Jock. You can visit Jock VI, a rescue cat, at Chartwell. He has taken on many responsibilities such as catching mice, welcoming visitors, and sleeping in the sunshine.
What’s Nearby •
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Titsey Place and Gardens – Set in more than 3,000 acres, this historic manor house and gardens are set in the dramatic scenery of the North Downs—a ridge of chalk hills in south east England that stretch from Farnham in Surrey to the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent. “Downs” is from Old English dun meaning, amongst other things, “hill.” Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve and Visitor Centre – An extraordinary array of birds live within this peaceful nature reserve. Facilities include a shop, tea bar, museum and nature trails. Squerryes Court – A manor house built in 1681. Lived in by the Warde family since 1731. Old master paintings, furniture, tapestries and porcelain, all collected during the eighteenth century. There is a lake, borders, restored formal garden, and tearoom with cream teas.
60th Anniversary – The Lord of the Rings
On October 20, it will be 60 years since the English academic JRR Tolkien completed his epic fantasy, The Lord Of The Rings. The final book, The Return Of The King, was released 12 years after he started writing the first of the three volumes. The Lord Of The Rings trilogy was written after Tolkien was urged by his publishers to produce a sequel to his tremendously popular The Hobbit. The story of Frodo and his quest to destroy the all-powerful One Ring has been the inspiration for countless other fantasy novels and the source material for one of the most popular film franchises in movie history. The Lord Of The Rings movie trilogy was filmed entirely in some of New Zealand’s most beautiful locations. Over 150 locations were used with much of the movie being shot near major landmarks and tourist centers. You can either take a self-guided tour or join an organized tour. Visit New Zealand and follow Frodo’s hairy footsteps:
Matamata, North Island
You can visit the Hobbiton movie set, which is enclosed in the corner of a 1,250 acre sheep farm in New Zealand’s Waikato region. It’s a peaceful setting with no cheap tourist gimmicks. You’ll find dozens of characterful little hobbit holes built into the hills made with bricks and timber, thriving gardens and little pathways that lead down to the lake and the village’s famous inn, The Green Dragon, where you can enjoy a pint of English ale. The pub is a replica of the inn that was featured in The Lord Of The Rings trilogy.
Wellington, North Island
On the slopes of Mount Victoria, just a 10-minute drive from the modern city of Wellington, you’ll arrive at the scene where the terrified hobbits hid from the Black Riders. If you venture to the top of Mount Victoria you’ll overlook a quintessential New Zealand scene: the harbor, the ocean, and 360 degrees of Wellington City.
Kaitoke Regional Park, North Island
The park’s lush rainforest provided the setting for Rivendell and the Fords of Isen. The upper Hutt River in Kaitoke Regional Park was used for the Fords of Isen battle scenes and the voyage of the Fellowship to Amon Hen. The Park contains just over 6,000 acres of mature native forest, and is home to rare birds such as kaka (forest dwelling parrots), yellow-crowned parakeets, and many New Zealand falcons.
Tongariro National Park, South Island
Explore the Tongariro National Park and you’ll take in vistas of Mordor. The park, a World Heritage Site, encircles the volcanoes of Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu and features some of New Zealand’s most stunning landscapes: emerald lakes, alpine meadows and hot springs. All three volcanoes are alive, but people still ski down the slopes and hike to the craters—a monitoring system provides an early warning of eruptions. By trekking the park’s Tongariro Crossing you’ll take in the vistas of Mordor. It’s a one-day trek that traverses the terrain along the slopes of all three mountains. You’ll see awe-inspiring volcanic scenery and spectacular views of Lake Taupo and Mt Taranaki. You’ll find the steaming craters, old lava flows and thermal lakes make for an unforgettable experience.
Enjoy your journey— let history be your travel guide.
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The Austin Humane Society will be bringing special, furry guests for the whole family to meet—adoptions can be arranged that day. In addition to the animals, guests will also be given the opportunity to see the very latest in Ferrari’s 2014 line-up of exotic sports cars.
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With summer almost upon us, it’s time to celebrate winter’s end with an event for the whole family. Jack Ryan Fine Jewelry & Timepieces, in conjunction with the Austin Humane Society, is proud to present the Second Annual Food-Fun-Fur & Ferrari event on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
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visit www.jackryanjewelry.com/FFFF to register.
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Scotch Whisky: A soft, smoky nose, a deep sweet taste, and a lingering finish By Máire O’Callaghan
There’s something deeply satisfying about that first hint of what’s to come. The anticipation when you pour the Scotch, the color, that smoky, earthy aroma. The ritual of the scotch whisky lover: you tilt and turn the glass, releasing and enhancing the aroma; you nose the whisky; you take a sip, just enough to coat your mouth, letting it “travel” to various parts of your tongue. Then you taste it and you drink it.
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Or, after nosing and tasting, you can add a drop, just one drop, of water. If adding a drop of water isn’t to your taste, just add more Scotch. As for the vexing question of Scotch “on the rocks”—it’s an absolute sacrilege and a positively barbarous innovation that should be banned. In my view, that is. Drinking Scotch is an art. You can make the ritual of drinking Scotch as complicated or as simple as you want it to be. The traditional image of red velvet smoking jacket, glass of whisky and cigar in hand might still exist, but today that image of a man and his Scotch and cigar, the traditional image of manliness, has been somewhat watered down. Women are joining the ranks. We women love our Scotch. I’m halfway through a bottle of Glenfiddich 12-year old single malt, and it’s sitting next to me while I write. It’s extremely tempting. The rituals that surround Scotch Whisky vary depending on where you are and who you are with. It’s a drink for solitary times, a drink with friends who are as discerning as you are when it comes to Scotch, and it’s a drink that takes the chill off when you’re out walking in the country. Scotch Whisky is a drink for all seasons and all occasions. And it’s a drink that has to be produced in Scotland, and nowhere else. Scotland is split into four distinctive whisky-producing regions. Each region uses the same basic process to produce whisky across the country, but subtle variations mean single malts from each region have unique characteristics and flavors: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Islands (Islay and Skye) – Peaty and Maritime Highlands – Smooth and Floral Speyside – Fruity and Delicate Lowlands – Light and Fresh
Let’s take a look at some of Scotland’s top single malt whiskies. The details have been taken directly from each distillery’s website.
The Macallan 30 Year Old
Region: Speyside A rare, well aged whisky from Macallan. Color: Pale gold. Nose: Rich, exotic, heady and aromatic, orange. Palate: Intense, macadamia nut and vanilla with a hint of sandalwood and black cherry. Finish: Soft, silky and extremely elegant.
Jura 30 Year Old “Camas an Staca”
Region: Isle of Jura Nothing moves fast on the isle of Jura, but there’s one aspect of life here that stays the same above all others. The Camas an Staca is Jura’s largest standing stone and its stately grandeur is the inspiration for this bold, rare 30 year old. Its monumental flavor couldn’t exist without the island’s pure spring water, clean air and generations of tradition: sometimes moving slowly is a good thing. Awarded Platinum Medal at the Beverage Testing Institute 2013, and Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2013.
Glenfiddich 30 Year Old
Region: Speyside An exceptional expression that has spent at least 30 years in Spanish Oloroso and American bourbon oak. Every cask nosed, selected and married by our Malt Master for the finest balance of hearty oak and honeyed warmth. Color: Rich bronze. Nose: Finely balanced with substantial oakiness matched by fruit and luscious sherry notes. Taste: Complex and seductively woody, emphasized by a floral sweetness. Finish: Exceedingly long, honeyed and warm. Awarded Gold Medal 2012 International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC), and Gold Medal 2013 International Spirits Challenge (ISC).
Bowmore 25 Year Old
Region: Islay One of the most storied distilleries in Scotland, Bowmore has created yet another memorable malt. A whisky to be savored slowly, every delicious drop of this exquisitely balanced malt has been matured for a quarter of a century in North American bourbon and Spanish sherry casks. On the eye deep, rich mahogany. Breathe in intense sherry and stewed fruits, with a trace of Bowmore smokiness. Sip delicious toffee and hazelnut, woven together with just a hint of sweet peat smoke. Savor the mellow, gentle and incredibly complex finish. Awarded Gold Medal 2014 International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC), and Silver Medal 2014 International Spirits Challenge (ISC).
Glenmorangie 25 Year Old
Region: The Highlands The rarest and oldest member of the Glenmorangie family, this is a single malt of notable class and intensity. Full bodied and sumptuous, matured in a range of casks including American white oak, Oloroso sherry casks and French Burgundy casks before being blended back together in exact quantities, the Glenmorangie Quarter Century is complex, bursting with deep flavors, and a perfect testimony to our knowledge and experience. Aroma: The first impression is of dried fruits— blackberries, cherries, plums and dates interwoven with chocolate and coffee. Taste: Big and full flavored. Deep forest fruits burst on the tongue with mouth-watering blackberries and redcurrants emerging with bramble jelly. Finish: Long and gentle, with brambles and warming spices.
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Laphroaig 25 Year Old
Region: Islay Laphroaig 25 Year Old is the perfect marriage of sherried, oaky flavors from the European Oloroso Sherry Casks and the creamy, smooth, sweet flavors from the ex-American Bourbon Barrels. The Oloroso Sherry Casks and ex-American Bourbon Barrels were filled with newly distilled Laphroaig spirit from day one. Color: Bright Red Gold. Nose: At bottling strength the aroma seems quite closed giving only a rich, sweet scent but a touch of water releases all the multitude of different flavors. The initial sweet, sherry sweetness is quickly followed by the time honored Islay peat tang. After this opening burst of flavor there is a smooth fruit ripeness that complements the tang of salt in the background. Body: Rich round and full. Palate: The burst of peat that fills the mouth is quickly restrained by a sherry sweetness that slowly develops into spicy apple fruitiness. Finish: Very long and warming leaving a distinct tang of Islay. Awarded 2010 International Wine and Spirit Competition – Gold Medal Best in Class.
Highland Park 18 Year Old
Region: Orkney Islands Considered by many whisky writers across the globe as the “industry’s favorite whisky,” Highland Park 18 Year Old is a masterclass of balance, complexity and refinement. Lingering layers of sweet honeyed malt, meet characterful dried fruit notes, marzipan and golden syrup, all wrapped up in swathes of our distinctive, subtle floral peat smoke. A whisky, which reveals more layers with every glass you enjoy. Color: Natural color, burnished gold, clear and bright. Nose: Rich, mature oak, top note of aromatic smoke. Palate: Rich, full flavor, honey and peat. Finish: Soft, round and long. Scooped a trio of awards in the 2015 Ultimate Spirits Challenge.
Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old
Region: The Highlands Royal Lochnagar Distillery one of the jewels in the Royal Deeside crown is situated beside her Majesty the Queen’s Scottish Home, Balmoral Castle. Age old traditions and craftmanship produce one of Scotland’s most exclusive whiskies. Royal Lochnagar draws its pure water from the Scarnock Springs and uses this water with local barley which has been malted, then ground into grist. The nose has sweet toffee, malt and vanilla. The palate is smooth and sweet with flavors of fudge, honeycomb, and green apples. Nose and taste some of these exceptional single malt Scotch Whiskies. As George Bernard Shaw, the Irish playwright, said, “Whisky is liquid sunshine.” And we all need more sunshine in our lives. Just think, it’s just a bottle away.
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Around Christmas time I took this picture of my Panerai Luminor Marina 005 at the “Trail of Lights,” which is a huge display of Christmas lights in Austin. I thought the bright lume on this PAM was a great complement to the colorful lights.
Here’s my Bell & Ross Monopusher at Top Golf. I love this driving range. Although I’m an awful golfer, I’m pretty good at day drinking and talking trash to my friends while hitting balls.
I scored an invite to theCHIVE headquarters and had the time of my life. Its HQ has a fully stocked bar, pingpong tables, big screen TVs, and scantily clad ladies running around. I’m still trying to figure out what I have to do to get hired.
Enjoying the Miami views with my Cartier Santos XL 100. There’s something about Miami that I love.
I can’t think of a better watch to wear to the racetrack than a chronograph Daytona. I took this picture at the Circuit of the Americas during the Lone Star Le Mans. Fun times.
Last year, I was fortunate enough to visit the Bell & Ross U.S. headquarters in Miami. When I stopped to look over their repair work, I saw this beauty and had to try it on. This is one of their extremely rare gold tourbillon pieces. They had to pry it off my wrist when it was time to leave.
Here’s a great picture of a stainless steel Rolex Daytona I don’t remember taking. Mostly because the beautiful girl serving the tequila had a heavy pour hand and I couldn’t help coming back to see her every few minutes. What else would one need a chronograph for?
I took this picture of two watches from the Bell & Ross Flight Instrument Collection in their natural habitat. I love these pieces because they are designed to look like instrument gauges from an airplane cockpit. I took these pictures mid-flight at about 2,000 feet.
Here’s a picture I took at the Texas Rodeo and Carnival with a Maurice Lacroix Gravity. I love the contemporary design of this piece, but I really love carnival food more.
It was on one of my camping trips that I took this picture. My goal is always to get as lost as possible then find my way back home. I’m wearing a Maurice Lacroix Pontos S Diver this time.
I took this picture of the SevenFriday Big Block at its Flash Party in Vegas last year. That’s one company that knows how to party.
Serie #4 s
I took this picture at a really cool event organized by Jack Ryan Fine Jewelry in Austin, Texas. Collectors were invited to watch Master Spring Drive watchmaker, Mr. Ikukiyo Komatsu, tear down their spring drive movements while enjoying beer and sushi.
Boys like toys and I’m no exception. I took this picture of a few of the toys while practicing my target shooting skills. I‘ve come to the conclusion that I need more practice.
Here’s a quick picture I took at a private party hosted by Johnnie Walker with my Hublot Big Bang. I couldn’t resist snapping a shot of this beautiful bartender preparing the perfect cocktail.
Hublot Big Bang at the famous Austin City Limits Music Festival. Yes, they do serve bottles of wine in Nalgene bottles. Nothing beats them when it comes to festival refreshments.
Around the world in 80 watches 33 w w w. j a c k r y a n j e w e l r y. c o m
“simply amazing”
Timing is everything.
Seafire 42mm Chrono White
Available at Jack Ryan Fine Jewelry + Timepieces W W W. J AC K R YA N J E W E L R Y.C O M
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