A clock is defined as an instrument to measure, keep, and indicate the time. Clocks are one of humanity’s oldest inventions and they meet a need to measure intervals that are shorter than natural units of say, a day, lunar month, or year. Many devices operating under several physical processes have been used over the centuries, however traditionally the term ‘clock’ was reserved for striking clocks only, anything else was called a timepiece. Nowadays the term ‘clock’ refers to any device for measuring and displaying the time and they have seen some innovations.
Water clocks have been covered in our previous article so we thought it best to start with the advent of newer technology and therefore begin with mechanical clocks. The first mechanical clocks were designed in the early 14th century with the invention of the verge escapement mechanism, a type of escapement which is common to many timepieces. Further mechanisms would later be designed such as spring-driven clocks, pendulum clocks, and electric clocks, all of which brought their own style, which we will cover below:
Designed in Europe sometime between the late 13th and early 14th century early mechanical clocks made use of an escapement device to regulate the release of power through a timekeeping device. Whereas early clocks relied on water power it is thought early mechanical clocks made use of power derived from falling weights and this power release may have been controlled by oscillating mechanisms such as bell-ringing or alarm devices.
The invention of the verge escapement made the development of all mechanical clocks possible whereas previously time was measured by a continuous process, such as the shift of sand, or flow of water, it now became of process of measuring oscillations in the controlled release of power, for example as seen in the later developed pendulum clock.
Early mechanical clocks were used for signaling and notification, such as the timing of services and public events, and modeling the solar system. Many simple clocks were installed in towers and did not require faces or hands – they simply announced the hours or intervals between events. More complicated clocks, however, did have faces and hands.
As mentioned the escapement of a clock was of significant importance to their development and clockmakers soon found the escapement was an important factor in the clock’s accuracy. Building clocks became a technical challenge, and many mechanisms were designed, including the spring-driven clocks which appeared in the 15th century. Technical challenges had to be overcome to keep the rate at which the clock moved constant as the spring ran down.
A crucial development to the spring-driven clock was the development of a spiral balance spring in the 17th century. Known as a hairspring, this device controlled the oscillating speed of the escapement. This revolutionised clocks as it allowed the development of timepieces on a much smaller scale when innovators were able to use the design successfully in pocket watches.
Pendulum clocks were invented just prior to the spiral balance spring, in the mid 17th century. Based on the idea that a swinging bob could regulate the motion of a time-telling device this clock required mathematical calculations to determine how pendulum length related to time. With a pendulum length of 99.4cm determined to equate to 1 second of movement, the first pendulum clock was made. These clocks were popularised by the longcase clock, better known as a grandfather clock.
Originally designed in the early 19th century, early electric clocks made use of batteries and an electric current to power a motor or electromagnet so as to wind a mainspring. ‘Electromechanical clocks’ would be the term given to clocks that used a mixture of either AC or DC current to rewind the spring or raise the weight mechanism for an otherwise mechanical clock. Later, electrical clocks would be designed which would use the oscillations of either the AC power source, a tuning fork, or quartz crystal to measure time.
Where quartz has been used as the timekeeping device these clocks were known as quartz clocks, in the same way that we now have quartz wristwatches. Science has taken things even further now by using atoms on an atomic level as the oscillation device, measurable with advanced technology. These clocks, known as atomic clocks, are the most accurate we have to date and deserve their own article to be published later. Just for an idea though, an atomic clock can be accurate within a few seconds over a trillion years!
We hope you enjoyed this article on the history of clocks. Stay with us for more at Boutique Von Burg.
]]>This internet blog was originally written by a palliative care caregiver who went on to write a full book detailing her experiences in looking after the dying. Essentially during her time at work she recorded the top regrets of the dying and wrote them down so that we may learn from those who pass before us. Without further ado, these are the top regrets she found:
One of the original blog posts, with excerpts from the book, can be found by clicking here: https://www.collective-evolution.com/2013/04/27/the-top-5-regrets-of-the-dying/
I hope we can all learn something from those regrets, given by those in the position to best know.
By writing a bucket list you acknowledge your time on this planet is limited, and giving that it is finite you are forced to really go over what your plans are for the future, and what you want out of it. Therefore writing a bucket list will put your time in focus, as well as numerous other benefits, such as gaining a sense of direction, and purpose, with clear goals set out. Undoubtedly the bucket list, with it’s goal oriented format, will allow you to keep pushing forward, and put your time in perspective, constantly striving for the next improvement. A run-around of our office came up with some of the following as ideas:
Value your time by valuing yourself (and vice versa). With your lifetime ahead of you, and some behind, perhaps now is a good idea to reflect upon yourself and how best that can be improved so that you not only value your time, but have it valued by others. Afterall, it was Morgan Peck, an american psychiatrist, who said: “Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.”I myself will be investing in education this year, with more to come after!
Do you like our ideas? Leave us a comment below.
]]>In our article on famous clocks we have covered some of the largest and most culturally significant timepieces around the world. That leaves a small gap for smaller but nonetheless interesting clocks that already have been or are being developed. Take a look with us at some of these unique timepieces.
Atmos is a brand name for a mechanical torsion pendulum clock manufactured in Switzerland by famous watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre. This special mechanism does not need to be wound manually and instead gets the energy needed to run from temperature and atmospheric pressure changes in the surrounding environment. This type of clock can therefore run for years without human assistance and does so via the expansion and contraction of liquid and gaseous ethyl chloride in an airtight bellows, which drives the mainspring.
Similar to the Atmos Clock, the Beverly Clock, designed by Arthur Beverly, runs by having its mechanism driven by fluctuations in atmospheric pressure and daily temperature changes. These variations cause air contained in an air-tight box to expand and contract, thus moving an attached diaphragm. This creates pressure enough to drive the internal mechanism of the clock, resultantly the clock has not required winding since its creation in 1864.
Sponsored by Amazon’s founder, Jeff Bezos, for $42 million, this mechanical clock is still under construction on private land owned by Bezos in Texas. Said to be capable of keeping time to 10,000 years, a prototype has already been made and once constructed it will be displayed on top of Mount Washington in Nevada. The purpose of the clock has been explained by founding board member of the foundation, Stewart Brand: "Such a clock, if sufficiently impressive and well-engineered, would embody deep time for people. It should be charismatic to visit, interesting to think about, and famous enough to become iconic in the public discourse. Ideally, it would do for thinking about time what the photographs of Earth from space have done for thinking about the environment. Such icons reframe the way people think."
]]>Featuring the highest digital clock in the world, the Federation Tower East, Moscow, stands at 373.7 meters with the clock being 229 meters off the street.
The largest collection of clocks belongs to a man called Jack Schoff, who keeps in his collection no less than 1509 working timepieces. Beginning his collection in 2003, Jack keeps mantle clocks, grandfather clocks, schoolhouse clocks, pendulum clocks, and cuckoo clocks, amongst others. His record was set in 2010.
The largest timepiece ever created had a clock face area of 8.42 square kilometers. Created by Jim Bowers of the USA, the design featured lasers and ‘hour towers’ around a central laser, projecting beams or arms an average distance of 1636.8 meters. The clock was created over 13 months and displayed at Burning Man Festival in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada, where it was used to countdown the time until the burning of the ‘The Man’.
The world’s oldest surviving working clock is a faceless clock based at Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire, UK. Dating back to 1386 the clock was restored in 1956, having struck hours for 498 years, and ticked over 500 million times.
Although watches have been auctioned for tens of millions of US dollars, the most expensive commercially available watch retails for US$1,130,620 and is called the Super Ice Cube, by Chopard, Switzerland. The watch has 66.16 carats of diamonds and is part of an extended Ice Cube range that includes other watches made from pastel sapphires, black diamonds, and rubies.
The most expensive pocket watch sold at auction is Patek Philippe’s Henry Graves Supercomplication. Featuring a staggering 24 complications and made out of 18 karat gold, this watch pulled in US$23.98 at auction in 2014. For wristwatches, the most expensive sold is Paul Newman's Rolex Daytona, a watch belonging to the famous actor. After the watch was lost its rarity no doubt increased the value, so once recovered it fetched US$17.75 in 2017.
A watch movement is defined as the machine parts of a watch except for exterior parts, for example, the case or dial. Currently, the smallest watch movement is designed and manufactured by Citizen Watch Co., Japan. In 2002 their piece was measured at 30 millimeters squared in surface area and 73 millimeters squared in volume.
The first portable timepiece is attributed to Peter Henlein from Germany around 1509. He designed the so-called ‘Nuremberg Egg’, a small, drum-shaped clock that could be carried. Although it only had an hour hand this device was obviously an innovation and introduced the concept of regular timekeeping.
]]>At Boutique Von Burg we have reviewed some of the most famous clocks around the world, as well as the history of various timepieces, however, there is one thing we haven’t touched upon, and that’s the use of horology in fiction and other cultural references. In this article therefore we are covering the most famous clocks as references in works of fiction, read on to find out more (& warning for spoiler alerts!).
Hermoine Granger’s Time-Turner
Set in the Harry Potter universe, Hermoine Granger, Harry’s faithful friend, sidekick, and prolific student is given a special timepiece that has the ability to turn back time. Said to be under the spell of a ‘Hour-Reversal Charm’ this device allowed Hermoine to go back in time for up to 5 hours in order to get more studying done. Thankfully for Harry and his crew the device is also later used to save the day, but I won’t spoil the ending of the book for you.
Tick-Tock Croc
Based in the Peter Pan universe, tick-tock croc is the name given to the crocodile who persistently pursues Captain Hook, Pan’s arch-rival, hoping for another taste of flesh, having previously eaten Hook’s hand. It just so happens that as well as eating Hook’s hand the croc swallowed an alarm clock which produces an audible ticking wherever the croc goes, warning those of her advance. In the 1991 film ‘Hook’ the now dead crocodile is fashioned into a clock tower yet briefly seemingly comes alive to eat the captain following a duel with Pan, thus completing its fate.
Back to the Future’s Clock Tower
Time and time travel are important concepts in the 80’s cult classic ‘Back to the Future’. Having traveled back in time to 1955 Marty, the protaganist, is stranded when his time-traveling De Lorean gets broken. Harnessing the power of a lightning strike determined to strike the clock at a predestined time Marty is able to jump-start the De Lorean in a climactic scene which features in the film.
Countdown’s Countdown Clock
Debuting in 1992 Countdown has become a regular feature broadcast across British television with an almost cult-like following. Becoming one of the longest-running game shows in the world with over 7000 episodes the show is known for featuring its famous countdown clock as a centerpiece to its set.
The clocks in George Orwell’s 1984
In the opening to George Orwell’s classic ‘1984’ we are told “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen”. The meaning of this line is open to interpretation however it instantly sets the narrative that all may not be right with this world, as obviously regular clocks don’t strike 13!
The Doomsday Clock
Designed as a metaphor for humanities proximity to global catastrophe the Doomsday Clock measures factors such as the threat of nuclear war and global warming and displays the level of threat in ‘Minutes to Midnight’, with midnight signifying the hypothetical event. This clock has featured in films and comics such as the Watchmen series and 2009 film.
Groundhog Day’s Alarm Clock
In this 90s classic the films protagonist is destined to relive the same day over and over and is cheerfully awoken at 6 am sharp by his bedside alarm clock. Growing frustrated he attempts to destroy the clock only for it to magically reappear every morning. The clock features as an excellent plot device.
That’s it for now then, if you can think of any more famous cultural clocks we would love to hear from you, just leave us a comment below & stay tuned for more at Boutique Von Burg.
]]>Back to the Future (1985)
An absolute 80s classic, this film premiered in 1985 and would become the highest-grossing film of the year. What continues to be a cultural masterpiece sees the protagonist, Marty McFly, travel back in time and accidentally intervene in his parents’ first meeting, thus putting his own existence in danger. Starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, and Crispin Glover, the film has won a number of accolades over the years and continues to be a part of film pop culture, with sequels, spin-offs, and even its own theme park ride.
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)
Released in 1989, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure is another 80s pop culture teen classic. This film sees Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter as two musically ambitious slacker teens destined to create a future utopia. In order to do this, however, they must first pass their history class so as to not flunk out of school. Needing an ‘A’ for their project they are guided by a mentor from the future (George Carlin) and the film sees them travel through time in a borrowed time machine in a quest to collect notable figures from history and later present them at a show. This film saw moderate box office success and amongst other things is known for bringing attention to Keanu Reeves’ career. The film also has a number of spin-offs, with a third film due to be released in 2020.
Back to the Future 2 (1989)
Also released in 1989, the sequel to Back to the Future sees Marty Mcfly travel forwards in time to prevent another family crisis. Although not as successful as the first film, receiving mixed reviews, the film was a box office success, won several awards, and continues to be a part of the Back to the Future legacy today. The film was famous for a hoax where futuristic technology used on set was passed off as real, namely Marty’s hoverboard, which had not yet been invented.
Groundhog Day (1993)
Released in 1993, Groundhog Day is a hilarious fantasy comedy film starring Bill Murray as a narcissistic weatherman destined to repeat the same day over and over. Whilst a novelty at the start of his experience, this gradually wears on the protagonist, causing him to re-evaluate his priorities in life and change as a person. The film was released to modest success but later attracted critical acclaim, securing a spot in the National Film Registry in 2006.
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt this film sees the protagonist (Cruise) embodied with the power to reverse time. Trapping himself in a time loop that resets the day every time he is killed, Cruise’s character (with the aid of Blunt’s), gradually learns the skills and knowhow to fight off an invading alien horde. The film was a box office success and was praised for its premise of the time loop theme, managing to keep the concept fresh in an already popular if not overused cinema trope.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Just recently released in 2019, Avengers: Endgame is the lastest closing film to the Avengers series in the Marvel Comic Universe. The film sees the superheroes use the quantum realm to travel back in time in order to undo or prevent catastrophe set about by the supervillain Thanos. The film caps off probably the best superhero franchise in recent years, breaking several box office records, including the record for the highest-grossing film of all time, and winning several awards. In case you haven’t seen it, the entire franchise is not to be missed.
The Terminator (1984)
Arguably James Cameron’s big break into cinema, the groundbreaking film The Terminator would be the first in a long and profitable franchise starring no other than the Governator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Sent back in time to assassinate a future resistance leader’s mother before she can bear him, The Terminator would become an iconic part of movie culture and is known for some classic lines as well as further cementing the careers of both Cameron and Schwarzenegger.
Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
Taking the concept of the first film and turning it on its head, the second installment of the Terminator series sees The Terminator, Arnie, now protecting future resistance leader, John Connor, from a more advanced terminator. Again, sent from the future, these terminators are advanced robots set to duel it out on planet earth. The film was praised for its use of special effects and has some notable scenes – walking through prison bars anyone? Definitely one to check out.
Looper (2012)
Released in 2012, Looper revolves around the idea of futuristic criminal organisations using outlawed time loops to send victims back through time in order to be untraceably assassinated by hitmen known as ‘loopers’. The film is thought-provoking in its use of time loops as a concept and stars amongst others Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Emily Blunt. Like most of the films on this list, it received critical acclaim.
Donnie Darko (2001)
Arguably a very bizarre film featuring a monstrous rabbit, Donnie Darko was released in theatre in 2001 to only small success. Originally destined to be straight to VHS it was fortunately screened at the Sundance Film Festival before a small theatrical release. Following a release on DVD and VHS, it would go on to develop a cult following, receiving critical acclaim as a psychological thriller with themes of time travel and concepts surrounding it included.
That’s it for this list! I for one have seen every movie listed and can tell you they are all worth the watch. We hope you’ve enjoyed this article and stay tuned for more at Boutique Von Burg.
]]>The result, in case you haven’t seen it, is 24-carat gold plated stainless steel disc, approximately 1.5 meters in diameter with slits organised in 3 concentric rings around the centre to mark the time with LEDs; seconds, minutes, and hours. Atop the watch features an insectoid type creature, similar to a locust or grasshopper, which is the escapement. Named the ‘Chronophage’ or ‘time-eater’ this insect gives the appearance of eating the time as it passes giving a sinister overall feel to the clock. Interestingly though, the clock is only accurate once every 5 minutes, with the pendulum lagging and playing catch up, a mechanism designed to reflect the irregularity of life.
As mentioned this clock is a local feature to my hometown but has featured in various film and television productions. It is also the inspiration for this article on famous clocks around the world. Here we present the top 5.
Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster, London. The name is often used to refer to both the clock and the tower, though officially the name of the tower in which Big Ben is located is now Elizabeth Tower, renamed from the Clock Tower in 2012 to mark the Jubilee of Elizabeth II.
The clock is a famous London landmark and tourist attraction, and when completed in 1859 was famous for being the largest and most accurate four facing striking and chiming clock in the world. The tower stands at 96 meters, taking 334 steps to climb, and the dials of the clock measure 7 meters in diameter. Interestingly the Great Bell, Big Ben, only strikes on the hour using the original Victorian mechanism, four quarter bells chime at the 15, 30, and 45 minute intervals past the hour.
Having survived bombing during World War II, Big Ben, the bell, clock, and tower, continues to be a British cultural icon, especially in visual media where is it often used to establish a location shot. Big Ben is also the centre of focus for events such as New Years Eve celebrations, where the chimes welcome the start of the New Year.
Situated in Times Square, New York City, this clock is said to see at least a third of a million people each day as they pass through the so-called ‘crossroad of the world’ that is Times Square. Known as a major commercial intersection with historical significance that now serves as a tourist attraction, entertainment centre and neighbourhood, Times Square is also famous for its clock which is featured every New Years Eve during the countdown to midnight, where Americans also celebrate by dropping a time ball, known as the ‘ball drop’, at One Times Square.
Representing one of the most popular tourist attractions in Prague, Czech Republic, this is the oldest astronomical clock still in working condition, and third oldest overall in the world. Having first been installed in 1410 the Prague Astronomical Clock, or Prague Orloj, is mounted on the southern wall of the Old Town Hall in the Old Town Square. This idyllic setting adds to the beauty of the medieval masterpiece, comprised of three main components – the astronomical dial, representing the position of the Sun and the Moon, the Walk of the Apostles, a clockwork show of figures of the Apostles and other figures, e.g. Death striking the time, and a calendar dial with medallions to represent the months.
Comprised of seven skyscraper hotels including the Makkah Royal Clock Tower, A Fairmont Hotel, the Abraj Al-Bait is a complex of mega tall structures and hotels in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Designed as part of a bid to modernise the city and cater to pilgrims in a project known as the King Abdulaziz Endowment Project the central tower, the Makkah Royal Clock Tower, A Fairmont Hotel, has the world’s largest and highest clock face, as well as being the third-tallest building and fifth-tallest freestanding structure in the world.
In addition to these titles, the buildings also claim the title of the world’s most expensive building, with the total cost of construction equalling US$15 billion. As for the clock faces, they measure 43 x 43 meters, making them the largest in the world and apparently visible up to 25 kilometres away. They are also illuminated by 2 million LED lights, making this one impressive structure.
Another famous tourist attraction, this time situated in Munich, Germany, is the Rathaus-Glockenspiel tower. Built as part of the New Town Hall and dating back to 1908 this clock tower chimes and re-enacts two 16th century stories for those in attendance to watch every day at 11 am and 12 pm. Utilising 43 bells and 32 life-sized figures the Glockenspiel first tells the story of of a local marriage between Duke Wilhelm V and Renata of Lorraine, complete with celebratory jousting between knights on horseback. The second story is that of Schäfflertanz, or the coopers’ dance, where, according to myth, there was a plague in 1517 in Munich and in order to bring fresh vitality to fearful dispositions the coopers of the city were said to have danced through the streets. This dance became part of tradition and is immortalised during the display on the Glockenspiel.
That’s it for our top 5 clocks, and of course there are many more that we haven’t covered in this article. Be sure to look them up in your own time, and stay tuned for more articles here at Boutique Von Burg.
]]>Often synthesised in a laboratory for the specific application of use in watches, synthesised sapphire has exactly the same composition with natural sapphire, but comes at a lower price. Sapphire is especially good at being scratch and crack resistant, being the second hardest element after diamond on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, sapphire scoring 9 and diamond a 10. This can keep your watch looking brand new, even after constant use. Due to these properties sapphire is commonly used in luxury watches, but due to high manufacturing costs, as well as engineering costs (requiring diamond tipped cutters to cut), the use of it can be pricey.
The use of sapphire is not without its downsides however – one major disadvantage is that sapphire crystals are brittle and therefore prone to chips, and may even shatter. If this happens sapphire crystals can get in the movement and cause damage.
Mineral glass is a fancy word for ordinary glass which has been heated or chemically treated to increase scratch and shatter resistance. Mineral crystals are quite durable but less durable than acrylic crystals. They normally place around 5 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. They will get some scratches eventually and not as easy to be polished as acrylic crystals. This type of crystal is generally used on low-mid price range watches. A special type of treated mineral crystal exists also, called K1, which has a higher scratch resistance than mineral crystal.
Acrylic crystal, or plexiglass is similar to plastic – it is light, durable and the most affordable type of crystal. It is hard and cheaper to make however the only downside is it is prone to scratches. This material is suitable for childrens’ watches and alike, and is not used in luxury watches. Their advantage however is that they can be polished to remove small scratches.
Although sapphire crystals are the hardest and most scratch resistant of the crystals, care must still be taken so as to avoid unnecessary damage to your watch. As there is no perfect protection for a watch, as hard impacts may still damage sapphire, it must be wrapped when not in use with a cloth or something alike. Also avoid direct contact with other jewellery, for example gem and metallic edges. Due to its hardness, sapphire is often believed to be easy to chip or shatter, and therefore care should be taken when wearing it so as to not catch it on things, and reduce the risk of physical abuse, for example when playing sport.
Unfortunately when a crystal is cracked or heavily scratched immediate replacement is required since dust and water can penetrate and get into the movement. This can permanently damage the watch, or at least affect its performance. Ultimately, no matter what your watches crystal is made of do your best to maintain and preserve your watch – take care of it and it will take care of you!
]]>As alluded to in our previous articles, it is thought the practise of strapping one’s pocket-watch to the wrist came about in the late 19th century, or at least early 20th century, where the practicalities of checking the time by reaching into one’s pocket were unsuitable for conditions such as flying and on the battlefield. Adoption of leather straps then became the normal method to fix one’s watch, becoming a useful way to access the time whilst otherwise engaged. Military use in particular would see the leather wrist strap gain momentum and the early commission of these straps would be the forerunners to the more modern Zulu and Nato straps we see today.
Leather as a material is an incredibly versatile natural material which we feel is worth covering. The material is so popular that now faux leather is also produced as an alternative, and both can be used for watches, but what exactly is leather?
Genuine leather is a typically made from the hide of various animals such as cows, goats, sheep, pigs, horses, and more rarely, alligator, crocodile, lizard, kangaroo, snakes, and so on. In fact leather can be made from the hide of any animal in a complicated multi-step process, though more exotic hides are now less commonly used due to animal rights activism.
As a solution to animal rights sensitivities a process known as embossing means the surface of a more widely acceptable leather can be altered to match the texture and appearance of rarer leathers, for example alligator embossed calfskin leather, where calfskin or cowhide is often chosen as the underlying leather.
Further finishing and alterations can be made to affect the overall finish of leather, for example embossing, punching, stitching and layering of the leather watch straps. Often multiple layers of leather may be combined, or padding cores may be added between layers of leather to give a thicker stronger profile strap. These factors all play in to the overall look and appearance of the strap and are further affected by the use of oils, surface treatments, texturing, and graining, as part of the genuine leather production process. Faux leather straps on the other hand are a little more simple and are simply factory made.
When it comes to the leather strap there are a few widely accepted and traditionally known styles, which we will go into. Further considerations beyond style include the choice of leather, for example with exotic hides such as alligator being tougher and harder wearing, but more expensive, versus cheaper calfskin, which happens to also be softer. Different leathers offer different opportunities to experiment with. Another consideration is colour matching with other items of clothing you may wear, a useful point of interest is that generally the darker the colour of leather, the more formal it is. With these considerations in mind, let us get to the straps.
Stitched leather straps are a common way of bolstering the thickness of leather, and may be used in conjunction with padding and gluing. They find a range of applications including use with rugged Nato and Zulu straps, to the more elegant hand-stitched exotic leather strap. Stitching may be hand or machine made, and generally contributes to the overall look, feel, and character of the strap. Likened to the pinstripes of a suit the stitching can create extra flair, and this can also be achieved with the buckles, clasps, rivets, and staples, known as strap hardware, attached to the strap. Stitching can be seen on our own Claro watch below (https://www.boutiquevonburg.com/brands/brand-watches/claro-watch/men-s-sports-star-black-dial-quartz-chronograph-watch).
Often used synonymously racing style straps and perforated straps both exhibit the trend of having perforations or punch/cut outs in the strap. The original role of this was to reduce weight and help dissipate heat where traditionally the watches were used in rally car cockpits, hence the name. Cut outs are also seen in other aspects of motorsport, such as racing gloves, seats, and seat covers, and this style has been adopted, giving us the perforated strap.
Stylistically it is said that rally straps look best on larger watches, traditionally chronographs, due to their association with motor-racing and aviation. Care must be taken with smaller watches, as large cut-outs may overwhelm or distract from a subtler watch, however overall the use of cut-outs also provides practical cooling, compared to a solid strap. An example of the rally style strap can be seen on our own Claro Sports Star chronographs (https://www.boutiquevonburg.com/brands/brand-watches/claro-watch/men-s-sports-star-black-dial-quartz-chronograph-watch).
Bund straps are broad backed straps to which the watch is fixed. Originating from the German military in the mid 20th century this strap was often used in aviation where it was said the extra backing of the strap helped cushion the feel of the watch on the wrist, as well as protect from weather extremes, and fire. Whilst still made of leather these straps are not as commonly seen, possibly due to their extra bulk, though are still endorsed by some. Due to their association with aviation style watches it is thought that this is the best style of watch to be paired with, if you can stand the heat of the extra leather on a hot day!
We hope you enjoyed our article. Check out our other pages for more news and stay tuned for more!
]]>In his theory of Time Perspectives Zimbardo concluded that our attitude towards time defines a person just as much as their key personality traits, for example, optimism or sociability. Our time perspective, for example whether we dwell on the past, live hedonistically in the now, or are trapped by visions of the future, all predict success, from health, to career, to education, as well as judgements, decisions, and actions.
Using this theory, most researchers believe that our time perspectives are learned and moulded during early childhood, where cultural, social, and religious factors have an effect. Individualistic cultures produce future-focused individuals, whereas collectivist cultures produce past focused individuals. Additionally poorer communities produce now focused individuals. Luckily time perspective can be changed to produce healthier individuals, according to this theory. So what are the time perspective types? Zimbardo identified 5, as follows:
A generally negative view of the past. This type of person will focus on negative personal experiences that still have the power to upset them, which may lead to feelings of bitterness or regret. For example a person might say:
“I think about the bad things that have happened to me in the past”
"I often think of what I should have done differently in my life"
“I think about the good things that I have missed out on in my life”
A warm, sentimental view of the past, where a person experiences nostalgic memories and stays close to family and friends. The upside is happy relationships based on past experiences, however the downside may be a “better safe than sorry” cautious approach to life. For example a person might say:
"It gives me pleasure to think about the past"
"I get nostalgic about my childhood"
"I enjoy stories about how things used to be in the good old times"
"I like family rituals and traditions that are regularly repeated"
A risk-taking, hedonistic approach towards time and life. This person will forgo future gain for instant reward. Driven by pleasure-seeking impulses they may be popular but tend to have a less healthy lifestyle and take more risks. For example:
"Taking risks keeps my life from becoming boring"
"I do things impulsively"
"I often follow my heart more than my head"
A hopeless, helpless attitude towards life and the future. This person feels trapped in the present and unable to change the inevitability of their future. They may feel powerless, causing anxiety, depression, and risk-taking. For example:
"My life path is controlled by forces I cannot influence"
"You can't really plan for the future because things change so much"
Showing concern regarding the consequences of their actions as they work towards achieving future goals and rewards. This person will delay gratification and avoid time-wasting in order to achieve goals. The upside is that they will be focused, however, this may create a feeling of nagging urgency and stress for those around. For example:
"I am able to resist temptation when I know that there is work to be done"
"It upsets me to be late for appointments"
"I complete projects on time by making steady progress"
According to this theory of how we perceive time the aim is to become flexible and adapt our thinking so that we are not just rooted in one mode, which may become problematic. All five methods may become prominent at one point or another, and identifying these points and adapting with a flexible approach is important. Using this theory further the aim is to find a healthy balance and positivity, using our past positively, finding healthy methods to relish the present, and routinely making plans for the future and further improvement.
One such method of changing our perspectives is to ask fairly simple yet significant questions regarding our views, and the forthcoming answers may determine new ways of thinking which are more positive and beneficial. A few examples include:
Old tapes equate to old thoughts which may no longer be in line with what a person has achieved, or how they view themselves. The thoughts , therefore, may not fit with the present and will not be worth replaying other than to take lessons from them.
A vital question geared at getting to the root of whether an issue serves us or not.
Clinging to old negative mindsets and perspectives continue to cause harm and may affect the present by limiting experiences and opportunities, poisoning your life. It may be best to reprocess and let things go.
Possibly one of the biggest questions and most useful in reframing our experiences more positively to help us grow as people.
This question is aimed at moving us from a mentality of scarcity to a mentality of abundance, an empowering state that helps us see the present and may help us see things positively whereas previously we did not.
In the end, your life is your story and how you remember it is up to you! It may take work but according to Time Perspective theory it will be well worth it!
We hope you enjoyed this educational article on Time Perception theory, please read our other articles for more information on time at Boutique Von Burg.
]]>Here at Boutique Von Burg we believe in Western tradition of marking occasions, such as weddings, graduation, and birthdays with gifts that say our time is valued and better spent together. With watches naturally being a ubiquitous reminder of time and the gift of a watch being a keepsake for the receiver there is no better way than to mark celebration with solemnity by gifting a wristwatch to your loved one.
Whilst it is known across some Asian cultures that to give a clock or watch may bring bad luck or mark the time of a relationship coming to an end, Mother Teresa is quoted as saying “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We only have today. Let us begin”, therefore why not live in the moment, marked with a timepiece, after-all each passing moment is all we have.
So if you are stumped for gift ideas and would like to commemorate an occasion, show someone how much they mean to you, and remind them of the time you spend together, here are some ideas for sentiment matched with occasions for you:
Birthdays
Gifting a watch to the young at birthday parties may be seen as a sign of hope that the parents wish their child will be instilled with a sense of value of their time with them and in life. It may also be the start of a family tradition and become a gift they cherish, later becoming a part of family heritage or a coming of age rite.
Graduation
As graduates emerge and make the transition from student to the adult workplace the gift of a watch is something of a bittersweet tradition, marking both the completion of years of study but with a twinge of sadness that they will now have to keep to time regularly to attend working life
Weddings & Valentine’s Day
An intimate gift between lovers, the wristwatch marks the start of something special and perhaps intangible where time spent with a significant other has extra meaning and should be treasured
Christmas
With some people just impossible to buy for, why not enquire about watches? Until recently I had never owned my own, but having been gifted one I feel somewhat naked without it – it adds ‘something else’ to the outfits I wear.
Have you ever gifted or received a wristwatch as a present? We would love to hear more and any stories or feedback you may have.
]]>Introduced in 1969 by Japanese watchmakers Seiko, the quartz movement watch uses a battery connected to a single quartz crystal to produce vibrations 32768 times per second. These vibrations are measured by the device and the precise frequency is converted into a signal pulse every second. This causes a tic, or movement of the second hand each second, and thus keeps the time of the watch.
This method of timekeeping challenged the more traditional methods of using a mechanical or automatic watch, and triggered the quartz revolution, or quartz crisis, with many companies bringing out their own quartz timepieces, and others struggling to keep up with the revolution.
Benefits of a quartz movement include the high degree of accuracy they have, ease of use, with watches not requiring any winding due to being battery run, lower maintenance and higher durability due to the lower number of moving parts, and a smaller cost than mechanical or automatic pieces. Check out some of our quartz timepieces here: https://www.boutiquevonburg.com/watches/movement/quartz
In a mechanical movement the passage of time is measured by a spring-driven mechanism, called a mainspring, which must be wound periodically. This device powers the watch where, in a mechanical movement, the moving parts are often more complicated than in a quartz movement. In fact there are often hundreds of parts in a mechanical movement consisting of springs and gears and due to their steady movement as the spring unwinds these often create an elegant sweeping second hand, with movement multiple times per second.
The benefits to owning a mechanical timepiece are the lack of batteries and ability to power the watch by hand, the craftsmanship that often goes into the watches, making them durable, and the aesthetically pleasing nature of many mechanical timepieces which often have windows and displays in order that you may see their mechanisms working away.
Automatic watches are very similar to mechanical in that both use a mainspring mechanism to propel the watch, the difference is however that an automatic watch has a self-winding mechanism that harnesses kinetic energy from the movement of the watch whilst on the wearer’s wrist. The mechanism then transfers this kinetic energy into winding the mainspring. Often this is done via a weighted rotor added to the watch.
The benefits to an automatic watch include the lack of need for a battery or manually winding you watch. Conveniently, with regular wear, the watch will continue to function, however there is a downside which is without regular wear the watch will also cease to work. Check out our mechanical and automatic movements here: https://www.boutiquevonburg.com/watches/movement/automatic
]]>The origins of Father Time as an image are peculiar and date back to an ancient mix up amongst the ancient Greeks. It was they who began to confuse chronos, their word for time, as well as its namesake Chronos (their personification of time) with their own agricultural god Cronos, who held a harvester’s sickle. The Romans also equated Cronos with their god Saturn, who also held a sickle, and was depicted as an old man, often with a crutch. This lead to the association of the figure of an elderly man with time, and its personification.
The modern look of Father Time, with wings and an hour glass, to mark the passage of time, was completed in the early Renaissance era. Later, Father Time became associated with the Grim Reaper, the personification of death, often taking his scythe. Father Time is also sometimes depicted with a snake tail in his mouth, an ancient Egyptian symbol of eternity and is also sometimes seen with another character and personification, Baby New Year, who characterises the coming year, whereas Father Time characterises the dying year just passed.
It is time, and the close association with death and the consumption of human life that is so intertwined with human existence that has made Father Time so popular and resulted in his depiction across numerous arts, literature, musics, and films over the centuries and across different cultures. Just see some of the artwork below!
Reminders of time and death can also spur on thoughts regarding our finite nature on this planet. Be it a close call, lucky escape, or any other reminder of one’s mortality, death and father time teach us that we are not in control of how much time we get and therefore our time is extremely valuable and should be appreciated. Experience with this will guide us into how best to use time and help us enjoy the ‘now’ and present more. Time and thoughts of death also help us prepare for the future and help us determine what sort of legacy we would like to leave, how to best make use of our time, and how we would see our final days – is there anything that we still need to do?
We hope you enjoyed this slightly morbid article on Father Time and hope you can take some useful messages from it. Stay tuned for more with Boutique Von Burg.
]]>Time management is the process of organising and planning how to divide your time between specific activities, where good time management enables you to work smarter, and not harder, so that you get more work done in less time. This can be the case even when time is tight, and pressures are high. Unfortunately lack of time management and failure to manage time can lead to lack of effectiveness and stress, often causing us to be busy, but not necessarily effective. The following are some of the better tips for time management.
Goals often help create a sense of direction, with a clear focus, clarifying what is important. SMART goals often work best, that is goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely.
MITs, or most important tasks, are best tackled at the start of the day, creating momentum that will help tackle the other tasks that follow.
An example of a tool used to prioritise tasks is the quadrant time-management system. Splitting activities into four quadrants based on urgency and importance tasks are either both, urgent, important, or neither. By tackling tasks in this order time is effectively managed. Better yet if some urgent tasks can be delegated that leaves more time for important tasks which need focusing on.
The ‘timely’ part of SMART goals means setting time limits for your goals and tasks. This is important and what helps further is to get an estimation of the time you think you will need. This way if the goal is not achievable within a certain time you will know when it may be appropriate to delegate some of the challenges to other people, if available.
Taking a break between tasks is a good way to stay motivated and focused. Getting some fresh air, going for a short walk to get the blood pumping, or getting a cup of tea are all great ways to refresh and clear the mind before starting the next task.
Making use of a calendar for long term time management helps plan in advance what specifically needs to be done each day. Similarly, planning ahead at the end of each day can help create a ‘to do’ list full of SMART goals for the following day. This will help get the ball rolling and can be picked up the following morning.
This can be a tricky one but having the courage to remove non-essential tasks and determine what is important can really free up time for what is.
]]>In this scenario, a time traveler goes back in time and accidentally, or perhaps intentionally, kills his own grandfather before the traveler’s parents can be born, thus preventing a future with his own birth, and thus the ability for him to travel back in time in the first place, yet there they are. Paradox or what? This is known as an inconsistent causal loop, and it’s not possible according to the generally accepted rules of causality, i.e. cause before effect, where the past must stay consistent and be exactly what it is, i.e. the past. One way of getting around this problem is the theory of having multiple parallel universes, where meddling with events in the past causes a split and the creation of a new universe, with a different future. Alternatively, by killing one's own grandfather you prevent your own birth, and therefore the possibility of killing your own grandfather, allowing your birth. A further paradox.
In this time loop example, the cause-effect principle is upheld and consistent with events that have already happened and will happen. Any attempt to change the past still results in the known future events playing out. An example includes the terminator, in the film The Terminator, going back to kill John Connor, yet the very act of it’s going back in time leads to John’s parents getting together and creating John in the future. In this time loop, no attempt to alter the past changes the future, as the past is exactly what it is.
Similar to a consistent time loop this is where an item or information from the future travels back to the past, which becomes the same item that is passed from the past to the future. Confused? Here’s an example; in the film Back To The Future, Marty McFly plays the guitar at the school dance. Wanting to impress the folks he plays “an oldie” where he comes from – Chuck Berry’s Johnny B Goode. Chuck’s cousin, Marvin, is present at the dance and phones Chuck so that he can listen in on Marty play. Inspired by the sound he writes a song in the future, which Marty will eventually learn and play at the dance. So the paradox exists – who wrote the song, or was it just ‘there’ and part of history all along?
So there you have it, some of the more frequently known theories and problems with time travel. Now you’ve been here again it’s time to buy that special watch to steer your course through time, best of luck!
]]>The last material to be reviewed in the MGJVB collection is a Swiss-made photo-luminescent pigment called Super-LumiNova (a brand name) used for marking things like watch dials, hands, and bezels, as found here in orange below on the dial and hands of this MGJVB Men's Sport II Chronograph.
This material, Super-LumiNova, unlike its predecessors, is radiation and toxin-free, and was developed to replace radium-based luminous paint products.
Super-LumiNova is used to mark a number of instruments, scales, and jewelry, not just watches, and operates like a light battery - after sufficient activation by the sun or artificial light, the material glows in the dark for hours, with large markings visible for an entire night. This process is repeatable, and the material does not suffer from any ageing effects, it must, however, be protected against moisture. In the case of MGJVB, you need not worry, as this material, used for the watch markings, is protected by MGJVB’s water-resistant cases to 100m!
Examples of colours used include blue, green, and turquoise, with orange, as used on MGJVB being less commonly used.
This article covers just a small part of MGJVB but we hope you found it interesting. Stay tuned for more articles at Boutique Von Burg.
]]>Most luxury watches chose 316L stainless steel as their steel of choice, and there are other grades also available. 316L contains 2-3 percent of molybdenum, which increases the amount of corrosion resistance against chlorides.
Examples of 316L stainless steel use include pipelines, dyeing equipment, paper and pulp equipment, chemical equipment, medical implants, and last but not least, watches and jewelry. The overall advantages of using 316L stainless steel in watches are as follows:
The treatment and buffing of 316L stainless steel is also easy, another advantage to owning a stainless steel wristwatch. To clean a strap simply remove the watch strap and soak in salt water for half the day. This will clean the strap and black deposits will appear on the water. Dry the strap with a flannalette and then dry with a hair cleaner. A second option is to use a soft toothbrush with some cleanser to lightly brush the strap, then rinse with clean water before using the same drying method.
The watch featured in this article is the MGJVB sport II chronograph, found here (https://www.boutiquevonburg.com/brands/brand-watches/mgjvb/men-s-sport-ii-ssb-automatic-chronograph-watch). Hope you enjoyed the short article!
]]>From the old-school pocket watch to the new-school electronic smartwatch recent history has seen a huge development in timekeeping devices. But that’s not all there is to the history of timekeeping and horology, with primitive yet fascinating and clever devices invented and used by a number of civilisations from prehistoric and ancient times these are arguably some of the more wonderful horological devices, steeped in the tradition of their cultural origins. Here at Boutique Von Burg we’re going to cover some of the best primitive or ancient timekeeping devices we have found. Read on to find out more!
As seen at world-famous heritage site Stonehenge as an example, megalithic clocks were left by prehistoric civilisations with no recorded history. It is thought that these devices though were used to tell the time and predict seasonal and annual events. Such a shame that no history was written however perhaps part of the beauty of these devices comes from the mystery behind them.
It is thought that some of the earliest clocks were simple shadow clocks, where objects blocking the sun were used to cast a measurable shadow on the ground, thus the time of day could be told according to the position of this shadow, giving rise to the sundial. The oldest known sundial hails from Egypt and is estimated to date back to around 1500BC. Again some of these dials are gorgeous with carvings out of huge pieces of stone, for example, the Luxor Obelisk found in Paris, France.
Arguably more useful than sundials as they could be used inside, during the night, and also when the sky was cloudy, water clocks have numerous designs but essentially were all based on the flow and physics of water across a measurable device. Although starting off as less accurate than sundials, a number of engineering solutions took place over time, with problems in designs being addressed by ancient horologists. These were also some of the first clocks to have complications, with some water clocks ringing bells, gongs, and capable of having alarms. Historians have water clocks used across a number of ancient civilisations such as Greece, Rome, Persia, and China.
Reliant on the steady consumption of a candle as the flame burns, candle clocks were made of specially made candles set to specific measurements and weight, and marked on the side. Once lit the candle would be placed in a small glass cabinet to prevent the flame from extinguishing, yet still keeping the candle visible. These candles were used to tell the time overnight when sundials no longer could.
Similar to the candle clock, incense clocks were said to burn more steadily and evenly due to a lack of a flame. They were used for religious and cultural ceremonies, and could also have complications attached, such as weights to make an alarm sound once the incense burnt through.
The hourglass was said to be the first dependable, reusable, reasonably accurate, and easily constructed timekeeping device, as well as being somewhat easy to transport. These made them perfect for applications such as sailing, where timekeeping devices would be needed yet difficult to get on a ship or boat. Other applications included industry and cooking. Interestingly it is the hourglass that has come to take on the symbolic meaning of the passage of time and its associations, for example, death, temperance, opportunity, and Father Time, more to be written on him later.
From those clocks and horological devices already covered, from here we move onto special clocks and workings, such as astronomical clocks and clock towers which used a number of mechanisms to tell the time, as well as astronomical position, for example, water power, manpower, or pendulums. From here it wouldn’t be long until the first primitive mechanical watch was made, and that brings us up to speed, arriving at the recent history of timekeeping devices.
We hope you liked this article, stay tuned for more and thanks for reading!
]]>Whilst taking another look at the MGJVB collection I began to admire some of the black titanium-plated stainless steel designs of some of the watches. When advised to explore further I made some interesting discoveries about the watches and the materials used and, being a believer the idea that more information garners greater appreciation, I dug deeper. Read on to find out more about MGJVB!
A number of the MGJVB collection watches have carbon fiber watch dials, denoted by the carbon fiber pattern weave on them. Carbon fiber is a highly advanced material with properties such as high tensile strength, low weight, chemical resistance, high-temperature tolerance, and low thermal expansion, making it suitable for a number of purposes, as you will find out.
Originally produced in 1860, carbon fibers were initially made for use in lightbulbs. Perhaps unsurprisingly carbon fiber is created out of carbon atoms, which are bound together in crystals, which in turn are bundled into fibers which can be woven into a an incredibly tough fabric. These fibers area each very tiny, measuring only 5-10 micrometers in diameter, but when bundled up become part of something more.
Due to its properties, the material is very popular in areas such as aerospace, civil engineering, military, and motorsport, where it is often combined with other materials to make a composite. This stuff has been used to build the latest Formula 1 cars and fighter jets, and now there’s a piece of it in your watch! How cool is that?
Stay tuned for more at Boutique Von Burg.
]]>How lucky for children, they must live in an ever present now with none of their past yet to come back to them, or their future anxieties to bother them. That may also be why they are so unruly and have no capability for adult life, but hey ho, so it goes.
Known as horology, the study and measurement of time, horology has seen great advances in the measurement and development of time and timekeeping devices, just see our previous article (link here)
Starting with the second, an International System of Units base unit, time is built up into minutes (60 seconds) and hours (60 minutes), everyone knows that. But I bet you didn’t know that a second is equivalent to 1/86400 of a solar day, or that actually this representation is slightly inaccurate as well, due to irregularities in the earth’s orbit around the sun.
In fact the best representation, and official International System of Units definition of a second is actually the time taken for 9,192,631,770 cycles of radiation to be produced by the transition between two levels of the cesium 133 atom, or alternatively the time required for an electromagnetic field to propagate 299792458 meters through a vacuum – mind boggling science!
By measuring the time difference between local time, measured by looking at the sun, and time at a fixed location of known longitude (east-west position on the globe) it became possible to calculate the exact longitude of one’s current position. This was essential to sailing as other methods for estimating longitude were inaccurate and caused significant problems, such as going off course, and delaying journeys. As such the problem of longitude was born, and eventually solved with the invention of highly accurate timepieces, known as chronometers, which were accurate at sea. These could measure the time, frequently calibrated to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), with a location and longitude of zero, so that accurate chartering could be made locally.
The UTC is the standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. This was a concept slowly introduced from the 19th century but finalised in the 20th century, where a need to co-ordinate time across nations grew. Prior to this it would be possible to list over 100 different time zones for a single nation, e.g. in the USA. UTC is within approximately 1 second of mean solar time at 0 degrees longitude, which includes Greenwich. This is why GMT and UTC are often used interchangeably.
In sociology and anthropology ‘Time Discipline’ is the name given to social and economic rules, conventions, customs, and other expectations that generally govern the measurement of time, its use as a social currency, its awareness, and expectations regarding the observation of these customs by others. This is an area that has grown over the centuries with development and improvement of timepieces and their availability.
There we go, a few more time-based facts added to your repertoire of party anecdotes. Other guests are going to love you! Stay with us for more at Boutique Von Burg.
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The first material covered in this series is the titanium carbide used for plating the stainless steel case, bracelet and buckle. Titanium carbide is an extremely hard, heat resistant ceramic material, which very rarely occurs naturally in a mineral form known as ‘khamrabaevite’.
Applied to our watches through a process called Physical Vapour Deposition, the material was first discovered in 1984 and has a number of practical uses and qualities. Firstly, I bet you didn’t know that this stuff is almost as hard as diamonds, with its hardness registered on Mohs scale of mineral hardness as between 9-9.5 (diamonds register at 10). Due to this hardness, the titanium carbide on the MGJVB black collection has extremely high abrasion resistance and is resistant to wear and sweat.
Secondly, the material is used for a number of machining purposes, but perhaps the most interesting fact, however, is the fact that this stuff is used on the outside of spacecraft and as heat shielding for re-entry into the atmosphere! We advise you don’t try and use it for the same, but that is a cool fact nonetheless.
That’s it for now in this series of the MGJVB collection, stay tuned for more next time at Boutique Von Burg and check out the full MGJVB collection below!
]]>According to science, time began approximately 14 billion years ago following something called the big bang, the prevailing theorised event and subsequent cosmological model for the origins and existence of the universe. This estimation (closer to 13.81 billion years) is made up from calculations of the observable universe, including observations from physics and phenomena such as redshifting (the change in wavelength of light emitted from a moving source) and background radiation.
Depending upon which religion and cultural beliefs you may have, time is either linear and moving towards the end of time and an afterlife, e.g. as with the Abrahamic religions, or cyclical, as with religions such as Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, and other ancient cultures, such as the Incan and Mayan cultures – leading to rebirth.
Many philosophical views on time exist where according to some time is just an illusion where the future and past are combined and simultaneously present in an everlasting ‘now’. Two main viewpoints exist, firstly the ‘realist’ view, where time is considered a fundamental structure of the universe, a dimension which is independent of events, in which events occur in sequence. The second point of view, the anti-realist view, stipulates that time is simply an intellectual construct, designed in the minds of humans to help them understand events.
Our system for cognitively perceiving and conceptualising time is spread throughout areas of our brain such as the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and basal ganglia. One area, in particular, the suprachiasmatic nuclei is responsible for the daily rhythm, known as the circadian rhythm. This however often responds to environmental cues, such as the sun rising, and in many, the natural rhythm is adaptable and set to 25 natural hours per day when these cues are removed.
As explained in our previous article, regarding children, the conceptualisation of time must be taught as a skill. Humans progress from thinking about time in an abstract, general way, to a spatial way, and one that can be organised.
Taking the realist view, where time ‘flows’ in its own dimension, its flow and the perception of it may be altered by various means. This includes Time Dilation, where time passes differently depending on the speed of an object, and the use of psychoactive drugs which can affect the brain.
Too much to think about? Time may exist, or not exist at all, according to many interpretations of physics and other theories and philosophies not yet touched upon. One thing is certain, however – the purchasing of your own wristwatch will help keep your time, no matter what your views are, and no matter what is happening around you! Be responsible for yourself and invest today!
We hope you liked our article if you have any comments leave them in the section below!
]]>To mitigate the effects of inconsistent gravity on the escapement, and thus improve accuracy of the watch over time, the tourbillon, french for ‘whirlwind’, was developed around 1795 by French-Swiss watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet. The tourbillon – a rotating mount housing the escapement, is designed to move as and reposition itself according to the gravitational forces placed on it and thus reduce the error incurred throughout the day. The tourbillon happens to be my favourite complication (word for a technical feature that does something other than tell time) and in this article I will be presenting and reviewing the various types of tourbillon that add so much beauty to the watchmaking craft.
As the name suggests tourbillons may come with a number of axis upon which they rotate. First designed in 1977 the double axis turbillon preceded the triple axis version by approximately 30 years. Watches sporting a triple axis, or tri-axial tourbillon, tend to be rarer and more expensive, an example is the Vianney Halter Deep Space triple axis tourbillon pictured below.
In the same year the triple tourbillon was created, 2004, the double tourbillon was also produced for a watch known as the Double Tourbillon 30°. Designed as a tourbillon within a tourbillon by Greubel & Forsey, the following year they also presented a watch with a quadruple tourbillon, the Quadruple Tourbillon à Différentiel, with 2 double tourbillons working independently but with a differential between them.
Whereas most tourbillons operate on a bridge supported a both sides, a flying tourbillon is supported on one side only by a cantilever, giving it a unique and minimalistic look.
The tourbillon is just one of many types of complication that can added to a watch. We consider it one of the most beautiful, however, and tourbillons will only be found towards the upper end of wrist watches. Do you have a favourite complication? Let us know below in the comments!
]]>Learning how to tell the time is a skill that can be taught and is essential to understanding other things such as timezones, international time, and also may help children with other skills such as cognitive skills used to process the time. Educators feel that the earlier a child is taught this skill, the better, with most children telling the time at around 5 or 6, and those younger sometimes having difficulty due to not having learned basic maths.
Arguments for the use of old-style analogue watches and clocks are that telling the time on them not only enables us to tell the present moment, but also anticipate and plan for the future with the movement of the hands on the dial. An analogue watch or clock shows the time at the moment, as well as gives a visual representation of the time left within that hour, minute, or day. It is also argued that telling the time on analogue is an important tradition that speaks to history and development of technology, where new technologies are best appreciated with the old. With that said then how do you teach your child how to tell the time (or yourself for that matter), if anyone needs a recap, read on!
Interestingly, before teaching kids to read and tell the time, first they must relate time to their experience and therefore be taught about time itself. The first steps therefore are raising their awareness of time from a young age with simple and fun ideas such as:
So there we have it. With ‘back to school’ issues on the agenda we’ve added our own. Hope you liked our article, stay tuned for more, and watch this comedy from Dave Allen on telling the time as a bonus feature!
]]>Another watch promotion, only this time I’ve taken a dive into the MGJVB collection. Having recently written a piece on the history of MGJVB and why the collection is a slice of quality as well as history with the inclusion of the Valjoux 7750 movement, I thought I’d take a look and pick out my favourite, where the Men’s Sport II SSB Automatic Chronograph jumped out as a possibility. This watch can be found here https://www.boutiquevonburg.com/brands/brand-watches/mgjvb/men-s-sport-ii-ssb-automatic-chronograph-watch
My choice of favourite MGJVB watch may have something to do with the fact it looks a little like my favourite Claro, i.e. it’s a silver sport watch, or it might be something about the sunburst blue sported on both dials that I really like, either way I like the colour, though the dial on the MGJVB version is a little more complicated with the addition of various chronographs and date-of-month, and day-of-week windows/indicators.
The watch comes with a silver tone stainless steel bracelet so immediately fits right in with a summertime sport feel, and overall gives the watch a sort of bulky yet classy look to it. I should know as I see it on my boss’ wrist everyday, but can assure you that has nothing to do with my choice for selection!
To me the only thing missing from this watch is a rotating bezel to complete its sport look as a Dive Watch but otherwise with it’s dome shaped crystal glass it has a really nice look about it.
I like this watch all the more for having done some research into the history of chronographs, see this article here(https://www.boutiquevonburg.com/news/chronographs-and-the-mgjvb-collection), as well as the history of the parts/movement behind it – the Valjoux 7750, see this article here (https://www.boutiquevonburg.com/news/the-valjoux-7750-mgjvb). It just goes to show how a little research into the history of items can really bring out their value. I hope you can find your value at Boutique Von Burg, thanks for reading!
In case you wanted to see further details of this watch, check here: https://www.boutiquevonburg.com/brands/brand-watches/mgjvb/men-s-sport-ii-ssb-automatic-chronograph-watch
]]>For example, in addition to the Valjoux being used as the base movement for a number of brands, including Breitling, Omega, Porsche Design, TAG Heuer, Tissot and Hamilton Watch, there are also a number of derivative movements based on the 7750 to create various alternative chronographs from this highly popular model for a number of other brands.
What is the history of the Valjoux 7750 then, you might ask? Well as alluded to in a previous article the Valjoux 7750 was designed by company Valjoux out of a need to respond to a competitors’ designing of an automatic chronograph in 1969, the first of its kind. Valjoux was placed in something of an awkward spot as they needed to respond to their competitors in order to maintain market share. In order to do this they hired famous horologist, Edmond Capt, who designed the 7750, based on the Valjoux 7733, in 1970.
Due to the Japanese Quartz Crisis (another piece of watch history yet to be delved into here) many companies did not survive the 1970s, and this included Valjoux, who became part of ETA, which in turn became part of the Swatch Group. During this time the popularity of mechanical watches took a large hit and the Valjoux 7750 was all but forgotten, in fact the designs had been ordered destroyed by the company, yet were saved by Edmond Capt instead. Then, luckily for the 7750, in the 1980s the popularity of mechanical watches saw a resurgence and it was the need for mechanical movements that saw the Valjoux 7750, an easy to produce-and-distribute watch movement, catapulted back into the limelight and watchmaking history books.
Things that are special about this movement:
The Valjoux 7750 was therefore highly adaptable and due to its capability for high production it became very popular and the blood line for many automatic chronographs today. Here at Boutique Von Burg we use a regular 7750 in the Sport II MGJVB models but adjust them to a tighter tolerance during the final assembly, making them within higher specifications. We also use modified 7750 models in our special limited editions models, such as the Roman Rattrapante double chronograph with split second function. We hope you can enjoy a Valjoux 7750 as much as we do at Boutique Von Burg, thanks for reading.
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In case you didn’t know then, chronographs are a specific type of watch that are used as a stopwatch combined with a regular display watch. Basic chronographs have an independent sweep second hand which may be started, stopped, and returned to zero by successive pressure on the stem. The more complex chronographs, as with MGJVB, have multiple independent hands to measure seconds, minutes, and hours, or even tenths of a second, as well as the original time. Many watches now, though not MGJVB, also use rotating bezels as tachymeters for other measurements, such as calculations of speed or distance in association with the chronograph features.
The origins of the chronograph date back to early Greek periods where the term “chronograph” actually means “time recording”. Originally time would be written with a pen on a rotating index and the length of the line would indicate how much time had passed. Chronographs have since undergone a number of engineering solutions and rebuilds over the centuries, with a great deal of history in their modelling. This includes watches filled with ink, tapes marked with pens, additions of pushers and quick-reset buttons, and the addition of other complications such as tourbillons and rotating bezels.
The first modern-day chronograph however was actually a fairly simple affair, designed in 1816 by famous horologist Louis Moinet, and sported a 60 second, 60 minute, and 24 hour indicator. This first modern-day chronograph was used solely for working with astronomical equipment and it wasn’t until 1821 that the first marketed chronograph, designed by French watchmaker Nicolas Rieussec would be made for King Louis XVIII so that he, the king, could time horse-races, one of his favourite pass-times.
As mentioned, over the years chronographs underwent significant engineering with the addition of extra features. This made the watches more marketable and useful, with extra roles and uses being found for the watch as it kept up with industry standards. Examples include the use of chronographs in the aviation industry, where the watches allowed for rapid calculations and precise timing of movements. This made the watch popular not only amongst aviators, but also test flight pilots, and, following the limitation of US space exploration by President Eisenhower to test pilots only, astronauts would soon adopt the chronograph as their favourite watch type. Other uses for a chronograph’s timing accuracy included artillery uses in the early 19th century, car racing & driving, and submarine manoeuvring.
As the development of chronograph features would find new roles for it within industry, so would too industry affect the development of the watch, with the addition of tachymeters, flyback chronographs, and water resistance, so it may further suit roles it adapted to. Interestingly, although self-winding automatic watches had been around since the late 18th century, it wasn’t until 1969 that the first “chrono-matic”, that is automatic chronograph, would be invented. This means that the Valjoux 7750 at the heart of the MGJVB collection wasn’t too far behind, and indeed is considered a “god send” and “greatest chronograph movement ever” in its own right – just see this article here ( https://quillandpad.com/2018/09/22/valjoux-7750-the-worlds-greatest-chronograph-movement-by-far-by-popularity-and-numbers/) which highlights how each MJGVB with the Valjoux 7750 at its heart really is a slice of history.
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This story begins then with the brand’s namesake, Mr. George Josef Von Burg, a Swiss watchmaker, who, having learned the trade of watchmaking from his Swiss father, became legendary during the 20th century, establishing several companies and private label brands during his early 20s and going on to establish 2 of the biggest companies in the mechanical movement industry during the 1950s and 60s – SEMAG, and CLARO (named after Claro in Switzerland). These companies would distribute movements and watches under various brand names all over the world.
Mr. Von Burg focussed on 4 key prinicples for his work; quality, precision, durability, and affordability. These principles were taken forward and combined with the Von Burg’s Swiss tradition of expert workmanship and quality to produce the Manufacture George Josef Von Burg collection. The MGJVB in-house designed and manufactured Swiss made mechanical watches were and are created for true watch enthusiasts who appreciate the subtle pleasure of owning and wearing a well-made quality timepiece.
If you browse our collection here (https://www.boutiquevonburg.com/brands/brand-watches/mgjvb), you will notice that all MGJVB watches, originally designed as sports watches, belong to the chronograph family. Therefore, at the heart of every MGJVB automatic chronograph is the Valjoux 7750 automatic mechanical movement. This movement is extrememly reliable, and despite dating back to 1974 is still used in a great majority of today’s automatic mechanical chronographs and so is used here under tight quality control standards. For example, the balance wheel is so finely calibrated that is performs more than 345600 movements per day and is lubricated only with a single drop of oil!
The watches are truly a piece of art and sophistication, with a great deal of precision (one of Mr. Von Burg’s principles!) and thought having gone into the production process so that you may wear the watch with confidence. Humbly boasting a number of collections, from the simple yet detailed Modern Collection, to the stylistic Classic Collection, these watches bring quality (another prinicple!) in a number with a number of options, such as a variety of leather crocodile straps, options for stainless steel or 18K gold plated stainless steel, and bracelet options also available.
Ultimately, when you buy MGJVB you buy a slice of history and guaranteed quality backed by years spent in the design, engineering, and manufacturing of watches. With other in house brands, such as the Claro, also available, the MGJVB collection is seen as the older brother and something appealing to the higher range customer. Today, our companies have spread throughout the world and are still managed by the son and grandson of George Josef Von Burg, both of whom bear his name. Check out their collection here (https://www.boutiquevonburg.com/brands/brand-watch...).
Thank you for reading, if there is anything else you would like to know or if you would like to see any specific content then please leave us a comment below!
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First designed in the early 20th Century the aviator, or pilot’s wristwatch, evolved from a practical need to check the time whilst piloting an aircraft mid-flight. Surely the practise of checking a pocket-watch at this time was impractical, at least aviation pioneers at the time thought so. One such pioneer, Alberto Santos-Dumont, approached his friend, and jeweller, Louis Cartier with the problem, and the first aviator wristwatch was born.
The aviator was, therefore, one of the earliest types of watches, and soon became part of mainstream fashion as we know today. Originally designed to be worn on the outside of flight jackets, aviators came with large leather straps to accompany their large easy-to-read dial, often marked with Arabic numbers, for further ease of use. This was critical, as before on board computer systems everything would have to be timed manually, which is why the aviator wristwatch became so intertwined with aviation.
Additionally, with the advent of new technology, complications were soon added to the aviator, such as 24 hour hands, which will tell the time in two time zones, rotating outer bezels, and chronometers, used in some cases to time precise flying movements, as for example is common amongst test-flight pilots.
One of the first well recognised watches to sport such complications was the Rolex GMT ‘Pepsi’ watch (pictured above), so named because of its red and blue rotating bezel which resembled Pepsi’s brand colours and logo, and allowed for measurement of time in two time zones. This watch was designed in the 1960s at the request of Pan AM founder Juan Trippe, and soon other brands such as Omega and Brietling were involved in development of ever improving aviator watches, becoming evermore popular amongst aviators at the time. It was these brands which would ultimately be shortlisted for NASA’s first space-watch, featured in our article here (https://www.boutiquevonburg.com/news/the-moon-watch).
That's it! Another short overview. If you have any thoughts leave us a comment below!
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