The Pays de Gex region, which borders Switzerland and Geneva, reverberated with the sound of racing cars tackling the 6.4km course of the Montée des Légendes ("Legend Hill Climb") last weekend in the presence of champions like the double Le Mans 24 Hours winner Romain Dumas, 1981 world rally champion Ari Vatanen and his colleague Guy Fréquelin, Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean, two-time French hill climb champion Sébastien Petit, multiple European champion Simone Faggioli and the star among stars, nine-times world rally champion Sébastien Loeb. It was an exceptional line-up of drivers at the wheels of legendary cars from the world's of rallye, track, mountain and even Pikes Peak. 

Those who read WorldTempus in English might be less familiar with Serge Panczuk than our French-speaking readers. Serge first started writing for us back in 2012 and his articles in French, presenting watches from a collector’s point of view, have always been well-liked by our readers. As a frequent long-haul traveller, Serge often has periods of 15 hours on a plane when he is disconnected from the world, giving him plenty of time to delve deep into the story behind a watch. 

Instagram is full of videos of anonymous gloved hands ceremoniously opening up a watch box. What’s most striking is not the reverential way in which the task is accomplished, although there are probably brain surgeons who take less care when opening up a skull. What’s incredible is that, because of these videos, the general public can at long last see what watch boxes look like!

Modern watchmaking was born from the sea, on the first ships that set out to explore what was still a flat planet. 

On September 17th, Hublot opened its first directly operated London flagship boutique on New Bond Street, one of the most prestigious luxury shopping destinations in the world. The moment also marked the extension of the brand partnership with Chelsea FC for another three years – firmly establishing Hublot as the watch brand who loves football!

The Bovet monumental clock installed in the Asterium Tower in Seoul has received the A’ Design Award, which recognizes exceptional achievements in terms of architectural design worldwide. This new distinction perfectly embodies the personal view of Pascal Raffy, the owner of Bovet 1822, which is to never dissociate traditional fine watchmaking from art, design and architecture, so as to offer collectors and aficionados of fine timepieces the noblest expression of time.

Chanel’s historic commitment to the Métiers d'art goes back to its founder, Gabrielle Chanel, who was already collaborating with the biggest artisans of her time in the creation of her iconic products, such as the shoemaker Massaro for the production of the two-tone shoe (1957), the master jeweller Goossens for her baroque costume jewellery (1954) or the fabric flowers specialist, Lemarié, who has been exclusively making the camellias, emblems of the House, since the 1960s. 

Stéphane Bianchi has been appointed CEO of the Watchmaking Division, with effect from 1st November 2018. He will directly lead TAG Heuer, with the CEOs of Hublot and Zenith reporting to him.