About the magazine

A couple of years ago I had the sudden urge to put my opinion about watches on the internet. Just like a Grand Seiko dial designer that sees a frozen lake and suddenly is bubbling with inspiration, I spun up a blog, checked for a domain name and suddenly it was live. This was the birth of Three-Quarter Plate.

My name is Ferdinand, and I write long-form reviews about watches. I’m happy that a few contributing editors have published their reviews here as well because it brings different perspectives and covers a wide range of watches and tastes.

Ferdinand Vogler, Founder and Managing Editor of Three-Quarter Plate

There is no strict content plan. Sometimes an article sits around for much longer than I’m comfortable with because it’s just not ready yet. I wish someone would sit down with their tablet, a cup of coffee, and a comfy chair to read through Three-Quarter Plate, even though I know that’s a romanticized view.

Thanks for taking the time to read. You’re a rare species who isn’t hooked on wrist rolls accompanied by blaring music.

What watches interest you?

I am always amazed by the sheer amount of new watch releases every single day. I’m interested in watches, their history and the people behind the brands, that will still make them relevant many years from now. I’m bored by the 100^th microbrand that just released a new GMT version with a meteorite dial. The watches featured on Three-Quarter Plate don’t have to cost the equivalent of a new car or be produced in the thousands. If a story has a clever design and a “special something” that reveals itself after looking twice, I’m all in.

I’m based in Bern, Switzerland, which is located in the heart of Swiss watchmaking. Most brands are never more than 1–2 hours away from my doorstep.

Watchmaking course — Never trust me with your watch, but I deepened my fascination of watchmaking by attending multiple watchmaker crash courses. So here’s a nerdy photo with a loupe on my forehead!

What is important to you?

My goal is a design and reading experience, that larger, commercialized blogs can’t offer, since the time required for the quality and depth of information in my articles would never be financially viable for others.

I publish hands-on reviews in a detail level that is unmatched by other publications.
I explain complex horological topics in an easy-to-understand manner.
I don’t differentiate between women’s or men’s watches. They’re just watches, and I want to present them that way. If possible, you’ll see different wrist sizes in my photos.
I refrain from using AI to create unreadable, boring slop.

If you understand German, I appeared in two podcasts. There we go into detail about why I think the written word still has a place in today’s wonderful world of watches. You can listen to this on the Zero Reset podcast and on Fifth Wrist Radio.