Zenith Grande Class 03.0520.4010

In light of news that former Zenith CEO Jean-Frederic Dufour - the man who turned Zenith around following some less prosperous times (and pieces) - has moved to the captain's chair at Rolex has sprouted a certain nostalgic desire to dig out one of Zenith's transcendent pieces, the Ultra Thin. The Ultra Thin is, second to the El Primero itself, a bedrock for Zenith, a steady pulse in times both good and bad. Inspired by the clean vintage look popular for most of the twentieth century, it leaves the clutter of modern design behind in favour of saying few words, but choosing them well.

The top news stories from all the best watchmakers in the world, including Ressence, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Omega, plus Watchfinder wins 'Watch Retailer of the Year' at the 2014 UK Jewellery Awards.

We've talked previously about the chronograph in its various forms within these pages; now we're going to expand on one of the most desirable - yet least understood - components of a high-end stopwatch: the column wheel.

From the great ancient Chinese and Arabic thinkers, to a cottage industry that transformed the fortunes of a post-reform Switzerland, watchmaking has transcended the development of technology like no other industry. With sales of premium Swiss watches increasing year on year, it's a trade that competes on a global scale, with 28.6 million units worth a staggering £13.8 billion leaving the landlocked confederation in 2014. It stands to reason then that the turnover of skilled watchmakers is following a similar boom, but the truth is contrary—the number of trained watchmakers has dropped by as much as 95% since the watchmaking heyday of the 1950s. It's a troubling time for the global watch industry, even if it remains unspoken, and something needs to be done. Tony Williams, former Breitling Head Watchmaker and current Watchfinder & Co. Head Watchmaker, talks watches, watchmaking and why we should all be more concerned about the quiet death of the skilled watchmaker.