I was a bit surprised to learn that the smallest mechanical watch movement in the world wasn't something new. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 101 mechanical watch movement watch originally designed and put into watches in 1929. It's purpose was to be a technical achievement as well as a movement small enough to be placed in the fashionably tiny women's jewelry watches of the time. Years later the Calibre 101 movement is still around only having undergone minor changes over the past 80 years. The movement now contains more parts in the same small area - 98 to be exactly, and has more typically been fitted with gray gold bridges and decorated surfaces.

The movement is quite little. 14mm long by 4.8mm wide, and only 3.4mm thick. Of course the movement is manually wound. The Calibre 101 movement is very rare. Only about two dozen of the movements are made by Jaeger-LeCoultre each year. Not just anyone can put the tiny miracles together as it requires extreme care and skill. When I first learned about the movement I wondered by no one has made a smaller movement since? Surely it is something we can do even if it is not practical. Well, that is the point I think. Making a mechanical movement smaller than the Calibre 101 makes no practical sense - all. If you need to go smaller just go with quartz. No one is even going to wear a watch so smaller it requires it. I have been watch faces on rings, and they obviously use a quartz movement as it is so much more practical. Imagine winding a ring watch. Thus, unless some enterprising watch maker feels it is their life mission to innovate into the unwise, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 101 is going to be the smallest mechanical watch movement around for perhaps another 80 years.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Interesting that Alfred (A.) Dunhill keeps working with Jaeger-LeCoultre on making timepieces. The first cooperation came with the recent Jaeger-LeCoultre Art Deco Atmos Regulator clock for A. Dunhill, a $70,000 mega-mantle clock using the legendary atmos clock made by Jaeger Le-Coultre. Now comes a more subdued partnership with A. Dunhill designed watches that features Jaeger-LeCoultre movements. This particular timpiece is the newly styled A. Dunhill Facet watch that uses the typical angle cut case and sapphire crystal. It makes for an interesting look, and sapphire crystals such as this are clearly more expensive to produce.

The dial features vertical texturing for decoration and classic Arabic numerals that look like they are done in Times New Roman. The subsidiary seconds dial is inset a bit, helping to add depth to the area. The case comes in either 18k rose or white gold and is 36mm wide by 50mm tall. Inside the watch is a manually-wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 822 movement which is rectangular-shaped as you might have guessed. You might be asking why it is that Jaeger-LeCoultre is helping Dunhill, what is essentially a competing brand by providing them with movements. Plus, there is no mention at all of Jaeger-LeCoultre on the dial of the watch. Why is that? Well The latter question I cannot explain, but because both Dunhill and Jaeger-LeCoultre are part of the same parent company - the Richemont Group, the partnership makes sense. This is not the first time the Jaeger-LeCoultre with its movement making skills has been asked to lend a hand. Some of the brand new Ralph Lauren watch brand timepieces also feature Jaeger-LeCoultre movements inside. The new A. Dunhill Facet watches will be available soon for between 3,600 and 6,900 euros.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

BNB Concept is of the most important companies in the luxury watch making world today. BNB Concept is starting to get in the watch making game with their Confrerie Horlogere (click here for more information on the ImmenSEAty movement that is one of the pictured items in the gallery below), but their forte is in the design and manufacture of ultra-high end complex watch movements. Some of their clients prefer to be kept confidential (watch companies are sensitive), but others are proud of their relationship with BNB Concept. These companies include, but are not limited to Bell & Ross, Concord, and Romain Jerome. In total they have 28 clients at this time.

The Confrerie Horlogere is BNB Concept's newest venture is will be in the business of creating highly complex, highly original, and highly limited watches. The timepiece are accompanied with something never before seen with a watch - a lifetime warranty. Yes this makes sense on watches costing small (or large) fortunes, but this does not diminish their capacity to break on occasion. I would feel quite reassured if the exclusive Confrerie Horlogere watch I purchased came with such a warranty, mainly because I know they are of the only people in the world able to fix their watches.

With all this watch industry notoriety and demand, BNB Concept is an incredibly good place to work. Located in Duillier just north of Geneva in Switzerland, the roughly 150 employee company has workers with an average age of just 27 - very young for the watch industry. The clean, open, and creative environment encourages personal projects and has an incredible allure - flexible hours. BNB Concept is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Employees can work anytime they like (save for the cook). There are output expectations, and deadlines, but for the most part employees can come and go as they wish, an incredible benefit to working there, realized in just a handful of companies. Where do I sign up?

Ariel Adams publishes the popular watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

This set of Mechanical Watch Movement Cufflinks set in 18K gold is designed for timepiece collectors or creators, or just for lovers of history as they are created from gears, levers, and jewels taken from watches of the early to mid twentieth century. A mix of antique and modern appeal, each authentic vintage cuff link will have slight variations in shape and size. Gift boxed complete with authenticity certificate, set shown here in gold available for $1404. Also available in sterling silver, and if you like this look also check out the mechanical watch movement pendant and chain.

Via BornRich