UK Edition 2025 – The Daily Telegraph

|  WATCH YOUR TIME

17

EDITORIAL

© LUC BRAQUET

É D I T O

atchmaking echoes the world of automo-

biles in many ways; through its universe,

its spirit, its performance, its vehicles and

engines and across all eras. This issue follows in the

tracks of watchmakers involved in racing or working

alongside drivers, of those who draw inspiration from

cars to create timepieces, and above all, of those who

continue to uphold the art of mechanics. Fine automo-

tive engineering, among the foremost muses for fine

horological mechanisms, serves as our compass.

Today’s horological mechanics inspire cross-gen-

erational passion and foster communities of collectors

and enthusiasts ever eager to share their discoveries.

Watchmakers often speak to them directly, offering lim-

ited editions, one-off pieces, and reinterpretations of

now-legendary models. And women are no longer an

afterthought – not only do many freely opt for watches

traditionally deemed masculine, but they now enjoy

an increasingly diverse selection of female-centric

watches, particularly when it comes to complications:

it’s no coincidence that the annual Grand Prix d’Horl-

ogerie de Genève (GPHG) has had a dedicated “Ladies’

Complication” category for over a decade.

On the sportier side, chronographs naturally lead the

charge. With the ability to measure short intervals, just

like the timing instruments used in racing, they thrive

in arenas where performance is key, most notably in the

world of motorsport. In this edition, Noel Capri hits the

road, captured through the lenses of talented photogra-

phers Luc Braquet and Romin Favre, creating a narrative

thread that highlights how watchmakers maintain ties

with the automotive world, not least within Formula 1,

celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

But above all, what we’re celebrating here is hor-

ological mechanics as an art form — an art that has

flourished ever since timekeeping stepped beyond the

bounds of necessity and utility. At the high end, watch-

making is indeed an art, the 12th, if you will, in tribute

to the 12 hours traditionally displayed on a watch dial.

Fittingly, “Craftsmanship of mechanical watchmaking

and art mechanics” has been inscribed on UNESCO’s

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

of Humanity since 16 December 2020.

As an art form, horological mechanics is stepping into

the spotlight more and more often, showcased through

increasingly creative stagings. More than ever, it seeks

to captivate and stir passions, an enthusiasm that will

now have a global stage every October the 10th: in ref-

erence to the customary 10:10 display on watch dials,

this date is now officially recognised as International

Watchmaking Day. ■

Editorial by Marie Le Berre

E D I T O R I A L

Mechanically Yours