Posts for Editorials

Watches in Depth - Collecting Vintage

2012 March 12

In recent years we in the watch industry have seen an explosion of popularity in one sector of the market – vintage watches. In the last 20 years vintage watches have been steadily rising in value, and demand is getting stronger each year. You can see the influence of this demand in the new watch market, with almost every major company making re-editions of classic designs or retro-themed timepieces that attempt to capture the stylistic essence of vintage models. Vintage, it seems, is the in thing – not just in watches, but also in cars, clothing, music, furniture… Every part of the market seems to be under the influence of old-world design.

Luck and Bell & Ross - a Story from a Client

2012 March 01

This week we share an interesting story of loss and recovery from one of our clients.

Watches in Depth - Oddball Complications

2012 February 13

So far in the Watches in Depth series I’ve given coverage to the most important and most popular forms of complication – chronographs, tourbillons, calendars, and repeaters. These complications are well served in the current market. What about the odd complications, the one offs, the rarities that never became widespread? This feature is to highlight the forgotten complications that are often overlooked and under served in the modern market.

Watches in Depth - Movement Calibres

2012 January 30

When perusing watch reviews and blogs, you’ll often read about ETA and Valjoux movements, or perhaps “manufacture” calibres. Perhaps you have heard of module complications or modified calibres in various brands. To the uninitiated this sort of under-the-hood jargon can be a bit confusing, and it warrants some clarification. Even seasoned watch lovers might not be aware of what is involved in the creation of a watch movement, and how many brands share common parts and calibres. So in the spirit of watch nut education, I present the latest instalment of Watches in Depth – Movement Calibres.

Jason on ABlogToRead - Vintage Omegas

2011 November 30

This week I wrote a brief guide on collecting vintage Omega watches for Ariel Adams at ABlogToRead. Mr. Adams recently had the opportunity to visit the Omega museum at the Biel facility, and provided many excellent photos of some of the key pieces in their collection. I have a personal interest in Omegas made before the 1980s and have a small but growing collection of various models from the 1950s to 1980s, so I wrote this article to share my passion with budding collectors looking to get into Omega.

Watches in Depth - Minute Repeaters

2011 October 29

In the realm of complications there are certain functions that surpass all others in terms of complexity. You have the tourbillon, the most common superfluous complication out there. You have the perpetual calendar, the mechanical calculator that computes the leap year cycle. You can have a myriad of lesser complications combined together. But for the true watch lover, nothing beats the king of haute-horlogerie – the mighty repeater complication, one of the most difficult mechanisms to execute and one of the single most expensive complications to purchase.

Watches in Depth - Calendars

2011 August 29

Calendar watches are the single most common complication in modern watchmaking. They are so ubiquitous that most people wouldn’t even think they are a complication at all – we’ve become so accustomed to having a date on our watches we take it for granted. The irony in this complacency is that the calendar mechanism can be one of the most difficult and expensive complications to produce when you have to factor in leap years.

Watches in Depth - The Tourbillon

2011 August 15

When it comes to complications, the tourbillon is the top tier of the watchmaker’s art. It is one of the most difficult complications to execute, one of the most expensive to buy, and one of the most superfluous in function. Tourbillons have had a sort of renaissance in the last 20 years, with ever more exotic and exponentially more complex variants, but the basic principle dates back to the 18th century when Abraham Louis Breguet was looking for a way to beat gravity.

Watches in Depth - Chronometers

2011 July 28

For centuries the pursuit of accuracy and stable rate in clocks and watches has been the driving force behind innovation and quality. The pursuit of accuracy is a cause that has significant trickle-down effects to even the least expensive mechanical watches, much moreso than the pursuit of ever-more complicated pieces. Where a highly complex watch is a bold and visible display of watchmaking prowess, the pursuit of absolute precision is the application of immense skill that often goes unnoticed by the consumer. The chronometer is a finely crafted mechanical watch that exhibits the highest degree of accuracy possible, with official certification to declare it as such. Outside of high-complications, the building of chronometers is one of the top tiers of watchmaking.

Watches in Depth - The Chronograph

2011 July 15

One of the most popular complications in watchmaking is the chronograph, the watch that doubles as a stopwatch as well as a timekeeper. It’s been one of the most prolific complication in the 20th century, second only to the basic calendar complication, and are accessible from entry-level Swiss brands all the way up to the top of the watchmaker’s craft. The chronograph has a long history in fine watchmaking, and has long been a symbol of mechanical prowess combined with everyday functionality. After having become so popular and commonplace, many people overlook just how complicated a fine chronograph mechanism really is.

Watches in Depth - Mechanical vs Electronic

2011 June 20

Not too long ago I wrote an FAQ on watches and watch technology for the benefit of our readers and clients... In the spirit of my original FAQ I have decided to begin a series of in-depth blogs on specific subjects – different complications and their variations, the engineering and mechanical work involved in a movement, how a watch is serviced, and other topics for people who wish to learn more about luxury watches.

Matt Baily and AskMen Grand Prix Pre-Party Thursday June 9th

2011 June 03

On Thursday, June 9th AskMen.ca will be hosting a Montreal Grand-Prix Pre-Party event at the Time Supper Club (997 Saint Jacques Ouest, Montreal) sponsored by Cadillac. Matt Baily's will be on hand to give style and consumer advice about watches, alongside cigar experts from Casa del Habano, car experts from Cadillac, style experts from Le Pascha, and couture advisors from Pelligrino Castronovo. Doors open at 7pm and the party goes until 10pm. Come join us for a night of fun, fashion, and luxury!

Rolex Patent Pending Double Red Sea Dweller

2011 May 02

This week, Jason profiles one of the most significant collectible Rolex sport watches - the "Patent Pending" Double Red Sea Dweller ref 1665.

Maintenant Ouvert les Dimanches - Now Open Sundays

2011 May 01

Now Open Sundays – Maintenant Ouvert les Dimanches Matt Baily’s is now open Sundays from 12-5 starting April 24th! Matt Baily’s est maintenant ouvert les dimanches de 12h a 17h, du 24 avril!

Jason on ABlogtoRead - On Vintage Watches

2011 April 29

This week Jason has contributed a blog post to ABlogToRead.com on vintage watch collecting.

Jason on AskMen.com - On Choosing a Watch

2011 April 26

An interview with Matt Baily's Jason Cormier on choosing the right watch and how to pick a watch size.

A Brief History of Marvin Watches

2011 April 18

The Marvin Watch company has been around for over 160 years, and this week Jason gives a short history of the brand from 1850 to the present, covering the development of the company, its disappearance, and its rebirth in 2002.

A Brief History of the Rolex Daytona - Part II

2011 April 04

In part two of his profile of the Rolex Daytona, Jason explains why the Daytona has become one of the top collector's pieces in the vintage watch market.

A Brief History of the Rolex Daytona - Part I

2011 March 28

In part one of three part series, Jason gives a brief history of the Rolex Daytona - a watch that is celebrating 50 years of production in 2011.

Pandora March 2011 Bracelet Promotion

2011 March 03

March 2011 Pandora Promotion - From March 10-12th Receive a Free Pandora Lobster Clasp Bracelet with purchase of 125$ or more!

Follow us on Twitter!

2011 February 23

Follow Jason, Mel and the store on Twitter! Jason_mattbaily, Mel_mattbaily, and Matt_Baily.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Watches - New FAQ

2011 February 16

Jason unveils his mightiest creation - a comprehensive Luxury Watch FAQ for beginners and experts alike. Browse the Matt Baily Knowledge Base for info on everything watch related from complications, servicing, warranty info, history, and more. http://www.mattbaily.ca/watch-faq/

5 Great Summer Luxury Watches at Matt Baily

2010 July 15

Summer time offers us warm weather and a plethora of activities. This Baily Blog post lists five of the best summer watches available at the Matt Baily boutique in Montreal QC, Canada.

The Story of U-Boat Watches From Matt Baily to Baselworld 2010

2010 July 09

From 2005 to 2010, Matt Baily has been a proud authorized retailer of U-Boat watches. During that time the we witnessed the company re-invent itself and their products get better and better. Whether you are a fans of large, luxury watches or not, there is no escaping the intrigue of Italo Fontana's designs. This Baily Blog entry recapitulates U-Boat's past five years as seen from within the Matt Baily boutique.