Discover the strange story of spy watches and concealed cameras. From 19th-century England to James Bond, explore the wonders of technology in disguise that pretend to be ordinary watches.
History and stories
Gingerbreads: clocks for everyone
In the United States, the land of opportunity, where anyone could aspire to anything, large-scale clock production began in the mid-19th century with the aim of putting a clock in every home. The days when private mechanical timepieces were the exclusive domain of the wealthy and powerful were gone; no […]
Ancient Japanese clocks: a universe of rare pieces
Japanese history shows us a nation that was closed off in traditionalist feudalism until the 16th century, living in complete physical and intellectual isolation. It was only then that the West began to come into contact with Japan’s thousand-year-old culture, which was rich in refined traditions, but devoid of mechanical […]
Incense clocks: measuring time with fire and fragrances
Before the advent of mechanical clocks, other methods of measuring time were used in ancient times. Incense clocks were most likely first developed in the Far East. Any time measurement system requires a reference phenomenon that occurs with maximum regularity. This could be a spring unwinding, a weight falling or […]
Pneumatic clocks: the ancient public time system of Paris
The Industrial Revolution began in England in the 18th century, reaching its golden age in the 19th century. The energy generated by steam was soon joined by the almost infinite possibilities of electricity. However, few people know that compressed air was also a main competitor of electricity in terms of […]
Caron de Beaumarchais: watchmaker and much more
Some people are born with a talent that makes a lifetime seem too short. Often brilliant and multifaceted, they appear to excel in every field with equal ease. It’s hard to believe that they could have achieved everything the records say they did. This was certainly true of Pierre-Augustin Caron […]