Chronos Japan March issue (vol. 102) is now on sale!

Chronos May issue (vol. 102) on sale April 3rd

■First feature [Switzerland emergency coverage!] Development continues: New movement 2022

The watch market has been dramatically transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic, monetary easing, and China's financial restrictions. While the situation varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, the world is experiencing an unprecedented boom. This situation has spurred the development of new movements. Once-silent complex mechanisms have been revived, and manufacturers are seeking to boost their product appeal with new automatic movements that offer significantly improved performance.

So how has the "engine" of watches changed over the past few years? Let's take a look at the changes that have occurred over the past few years, based on our first on-site visit to Switzerland in three years.

■Second Feature: Portrait of an Iconic Piece 71 Bulgari Octo Finissimo

Since its release in 2014, Bulgari's Octo Finissimo has swept watch awards around the world. This watch has overturned the notion that thin watches are not suitable for everyday wear, and has also broken many records for the thinnest movement. How did the Octo Finissimo, originally a derivative model of the Octo, become the world's thinnest watch?

■Third Feature: Why Micro Maison is so popular

Micro Maisons combine the characteristics of both mass-produced manufacturers and independent watchmakers - consistent quality and a high level of artistic creativity - at a high level. Demand for watches made by these micro maisons has been growing rapidly in recent years. Until now, this genre was seen as the destination of enthusiasts who had already experienced a variety of watches, but why has it come to gain such support? We explore the reasons.

■Watch Paranoia Chronicles No. 49: "The Style of Michael Tay, the World's Leading Watch Connoisseur"

The Hour Glass is one of the world's leading retailers, based in Singapore. At the helm is Michael Tay. As the third generation of the founding family of The Hour Glass, he has been involved in the watch industry since childhood, and is a watch connoisseur who has cultivated his keen eye in both hobby and business. We take a closer look at his unique style and how he has managed to balance hobby and business and build The Hour Glass into what it is today.

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