The Original Speedmaster and the Day I Realized I Had a Tacho-Productometer on the Wrist
Like most watch fans, I love Speedmasters. While I only ever own a few watches at a time (compulsive minimalist tendencies), the Speedy...
- Sep 18
- 5 min
My Shameful Affair with a Non-Bienne Watch
As I've mentioned here before, I don't consider myself a collector. Having pretty strong minimalist tendencies, I don't like...
- Sep 15
- 2 min
Rolex in Bienne: Remembering and Fact-checking the First Ever Chronometer Certified Wristwatch
One thing Rolex is famous for, and rightly so, is the precision of its watches. Anyone who has owned a contemporary (and in many cases...
- Sep 12
- 3 min
My Everyday (Bienne) Watch: Triple Wristing with the Artworth Brothers
You may have already stumbled upon the Artworth Brothers on Instagram. The 3 young men from Bienne have a following equivalent to 4 times...
- Sep 10
- 2 min
Electing the Bienne Watch of the Year
So here we are. Days in Switzerland are getting shorter, cooler and more wet. With the steaming summer we've had, this can actually feel...
- Sep 1
- 3 min
Dario Ratti, the Young Watchmaker in the Old Town
Full disclosure: Dario is one of my best friends. But aside from all the reasons why I think he's such a great human being, he's an...
- Aug 27
- 15 min
Republishing Brian Ehrmantraut's "Descent Into Hell", 25 Years Later
When I started getting into watches, and realized the passion was turning into an obsession, I wanted to learn more. Not just to manage...
- Aug 21
- 4 min
My Everyday (Bienne) Watch: Nesat Demirovski and His Aqua Terra
A new series showcasing the relationship people have with what Bienne does best: their everyday watch. Episode One. Nesat Demirovski is...
- Jul 26
- 4 min
12 Cool Bienne Watch Facts You May Not Know
Earlier this month, I asked on Instagram if folks preferred a post about cool unknown Bienne watch facts, or one about what makes Bienne...
- Jul 5
- 6 min
Interview: Armin Strom's Claude Greisler
It's not easy for a watch brand to stand out in Bienne. Unique in so many ways, Armin Strom remarkably manages to do so. Combining the...
- Jun 30
- 5 min
Confessions of a Watch Addict Moving to Bienne
I moved to Bienne 4 years ago, for reasons unrelated to watchmaking. I work in Zurich, for a "tech" company, and Bienne was the closest...
- Jun 13
- 4 min
The MoonSwatch, Anchoring Omega for Decades to Come
Guest Post - For the first time on MIB, a post not written by yours truly, but by a guest author, conveniently also called Alex. Alex is...
- Jun 6
- 7 min
Interview: Erich Fehr, Mayor of Bienne
Erich Fehr has been the mayor of Bienne since 2011. Bienne, Biel in German, is a city of 55,000 people and the largest bilingual city in...
- May 16
- 5 min
Understanding “Speedy Tuesday”, the Watch World Phenomenon Celebrating its 10th Anniversary
A few months ago, like many watch enthusiasts do every week, I posted a photo of an Omega Speedmaster on Instagram with the...
- May 16
- 7 min
Interview: Doxa CEO Jan Edöcs
Meeting and interviewing Jan Edöcs, CEO of Doxa Watches, was special in two ways. First, he heads a brand that is among the true legends...
- May 14
- 3 min
The Rolex AD Situation in Bienne
3 months ago, Villiger, the historical Rolex authorized dealer in Bienne, stopped distributing the brand. Why exactly this relationship...
- May 12
- 3 min
The Amazing Rolex Collection at the Nouveau Musée de Bienne
When one thinks of watch brand museums in Bienne, Omega and Swatch inevitably come to mind. Both companies have considerably invested in...
- May 6
- 4 min
Watches with "Bienne" on the Dial
Watches are very much about provenance. Where a timepiece was made is a key part of its history, its quality and, well, its value. Many...
- Apr 12
- 2 min
Help the Red Cross in Ukraine, Win a VIP Bienne Watch Tour & a MoonSwatch
Update: target reached 10 days before the campaign closing, thank you to all the donors! While 2,000 CHF is obviously a modest amount at...
- Apr 11
- 5 min
Interview: The Speedmaster Collector Who Dreams of Visiting Bienne
Alex lives in Paris. He and his wife are the proud parents of four daughters. Alex is also a watch person. In particular, he has a thing...
- Apr 8
- 2 min
The Pirate Flag Outside Swatch Group HQ
After posting about this on Instagram today, and some of the feedback I received, I thought it would be worth going a bit deeper on the...
- Apr 6
- 2 min
MoonSwatch scarcity, seen from Bienne
10 days have now passed since the MoonSwatch was introduced to the world. I don't think anyone expected the frenzy the as made in Bienne...
- Apr 6
- 3 min
At Horage, Thinking Different Is the Norm
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of seeing quite a few watch companies from the inside. But visiting Horage's research and...
- Apr 1
- 2 min
Wristwatches Now Mandatory as of Age 6 in Bienne Schools
An unprecedented measure is set to take place as of the beginning of the next school year in Bienne: starting Monday, August 15 2022, all...