Foversta provides a curated selection of wristshots from Belles Montres in Paris, reflecting on the event's evolving landscape and the new organizing team's efforts to revitalize it. Despite some notable brand absences, the article highlights impressive watches from Greubel Forsey, Cartier, A. Lange & Söhne, Montblanc, and Chopard, offering a glimpse into the luxury watch fair's offerings.
Of course a lot of brands were missing especially when we compare the 2013 set with the first years. Of course I much prefer the venue of SalonQP. Of course I would like to seea positive dynamic. But the new organisation team has just arrived in June and time was too short to change the trend. During the press conference, it explained that contacts are already made in order that brands from the main groups come back next year with a target of 60 exhibitors. They will succeed in they manage to explain that some changes are brought to improve the quality of the event.
I trust the team and I think that they will do it. People from the exhibiting brands told me that they already saw improvements when it comes to pure organisation. Good sign. Let's hope that Belles Montres will find again its key role as an event dedicated to a larger audience. After all, Belles Montres Paris was the very first event with this purpose.
Despite the absence of a lot of brands and of independant watchmakers, I could see some interesting watches including a few ones which were displayed for the first time in Paris.
Let's browse the pics:
Greubel Forsey Tourbillon Contemporain WG case, Titanium Dial, a watch I really like even if I prefer the blue version (platinum case):
And in PG:
The Asymétrique features now a PG case:
Thanks to the Cartier team, I could handle a large part of the collection from the most complex watches to the "simple" Tank MC:
Of course, I couldn't miss this 1815 Rattrapante PC:
Montblanc was one of the key brands of the event with a large part of the collection and the presence of a watchmaker:
Working on a Rieussec movement:
I was happy to visit the Chopard booth because some very impressive watches were available:
One of the novelties in Paris, the intriguing Carpe Diem from the very creative Konstantin Chaykin:
JEANRICHARD released a watch dedicated to the famous French rugby club, the Racing Club de France:
This is another novelty, the first automatic and "sportive" watch from Julien Coudray (in titanium):
And gold & titanium:
The Classica 1548 was presented in PG:
Juvenia was not an exhibiting brand but I could see this contemporary version of the Sextant on a wrist of a visitor:
The 4N and its digital display:
Pequignet, after some troubled times, is back on good tracks with a titanium collection:
Girard-Perregaux was also one of the main brands of the event thanks to its full collection... and the Aiguille d'Or watch!
The Constant Escapement movement:
Camille Fournet showed its impressive strapmaking skills with this very original HM3 strap:
Les Artisans de Genève displayed some of their personalizations:
Lehmann was not showing new watches so I decided to shoot this blue dial:
Even if it was far from being the best year of the event, I spent two excellent days there thanks to the warm welcome by the brands and the friends meetings!
Now, I have a lot of expectations for the future and the new organization will have to give the proof of its influence next year. I wish the best for this Salon which remains a pioneer.
Fr.Xavier
