2012: my Harry Winston year
foversta
Harry Winston is not a brand with very high production figures: only several thousands of watches are produced per year. However, 2012 was a very busy year with a lot of novelties for my deepest pleasure! I propose you a wrap-up of the main events of the year to show you that the Harry Winston world didn't stop during the past year!
As usual during the SIHH week, I discovered the new Histoire de Tourbillon. For me, it was almost a shock! What a bulky watch! And what a strange shape!
However, there was a special alchemy which worked: the behaviour of the 3 Tourbillons managed to offset the feeling of heaviness to create a watch with a lot of paradoxes...
I will not tell you that this watch is my cup of tea because it is obviously not. But I considered it as fascinating. And well, a big emotion was welcome to start the new year!
A few weeks later, we organized on the forum a contest to discover who was the watchmaker involved in Opus 12 and what were the main features of the watch.
It was not easy because Emmanuel Bouchet and Centagora were not very well known except if you work in the watch industry. And believe me, the situation has changed now! Opus remains a fantastic way to put under the spotlights the most gifted watchmakers. So I couldn't wait to discover in the metal this intriguing watch and to meet Emmanuel Bouchet at the Basel Fair. And I was not disappointed!
The Harry Winston Booth:
As usual during the SIHH week, I discovered the new Histoire de Tourbillon. For me, it was almost a shock! What a bulky watch! And what a strange shape!
However, there was a special alchemy which worked: the behaviour of the 3 Tourbillons managed to offset the feeling of heaviness to create a watch with a lot of paradoxes...
I will not tell you that this watch is my cup of tea because it is obviously not. But I considered it as fascinating. And well, a big emotion was welcome to start the new year!
A few weeks later, we organized on the forum a contest to discover who was the watchmaker involved in Opus 12 and what were the main features of the watch.
It was not easy because Emmanuel Bouchet and Centagora were not very well known except if you work in the watch industry. And believe me, the situation has changed now! Opus remains a fantastic way to put under the spotlights the most gifted watchmakers. So I couldn't wait to discover in the metal this intriguing watch and to meet Emmanuel Bouchet at the Basel Fair. And I was not disappointed!
The Harry Winston Booth:
And Opus 12:
Opus 12 was not the only watch presented at the Fair. I would like to highlight two important changes in the collection:
- the redesign of the Premier case to give a more contemporary style to the watch:
- the redesign of the Premier case to give a more contemporary style to the watch:
- the addition of the Premier Feathers line made of 4 watches with dials created by marquetery of pheasant or peacock feathers:
At the end of the Basel Fair, I knew that Harry Winston didn't unveil all the novelties of the year and that some nice surprises would come later...
Just after the summer holidays, one of my fav Ocean was presented: the Ocean Tourbillon Big Date.
Sometimes, we find the watches are too big without any reason. But this time, the size was perfect despite the huge diameter. Why? Because it gave the opportunity to enjoy a superb Tourbillon floating in the air...
Just after the summer holidays, one of my fav Ocean was presented: the Ocean Tourbillon Big Date.
Sometimes, we find the watches are too big without any reason. But this time, the size was perfect despite the huge diameter. Why? Because it gave the opportunity to enjoy a superb Tourbillon floating in the air...
This watch made me think about the Histoire de Tourbillon in a sense: a contrast between a powerful design and the delicacy of the Tourbillon. I loved the idea to make all the space around the Tourbillon free. I almost forgot the big date display!
A few days after, Emmanuel Bouchet was in NY to present to the American clients Opus 12. We took advantage of his visit at the 5th avenue building to organize a chat with him through Twitter and Facebook. I could ask him several questions and the full transcription of the chat were published on the forum. I was happy to learn more about the watch and its technical challenges.
A few days after, Emmanuel Bouchet was in NY to present to the American clients Opus 12. We took advantage of his visit at the 5th avenue building to organize a chat with him through Twitter and Facebook. I could ask him several questions and the full transcription of the chat were published on the forum. I was happy to learn more about the watch and its technical challenges.
October was a black or dark month with several novelties using black cases. Frankly speaking, I'm no a fan of these watches even if the combo worked pretty well with the triple Retrograde chronograph:
With the Z4, I much prefer the "classic" Zalium version:
With the Z4, I much prefer the "classic" Zalium version:
In November, I crossed the Channel to visit the SalonQP perfectly organized by James Gurney. Harry Winston was one of the main exhibitors and I was happy to be able to handle again some watches I previously discovered.
But I experienced some "first time encounters" at the Harry Winston booth like with this version of the Triple Retrograde Chronograph:
The Midnight line is becoming more and more important in the collection and the Midnight Automatic Blue dial is an excellent proof of this key role:
I liked its slender case and also the use of such colour wich is not enough used in the watch industry IMHO. A simple and elegant watch whose beauty is reinforced by the dial colour.
But the best moment of the Salon was not the visit at the booth. It was the conference made by Emmanuel Bouchet supported by Anne Ducourtioux. The audience could ask them all the questions about Opus 12. Most of the time was dedicated to describe the way the two barrels work and how the energy was handled by the movement. A very interesting conference!
At the end of the same month, I could browse again the whole collection at the Salon Belles Montres in Paris:
The star of the show was Opus 12 and I couldn't resist to put it again on my wrist:
I could also make this Z6 strike:
And enjoy the dial balance of the Ocean Triple Retrograde Chronograph:
And to finish the year... Harry Winston opened a new point of sale very close to my office!
Harry Winston will be even closer to me in 2013 than in 2012 so you can imagine that another busy year is coming!
So stay tuned here to enjoy similar surprises during the next months!
I would like to thank the Harry Winston team for the warm welcome during all these events, in any place in Europe, Paris, London, Basel, Geneva...
Fr.Xavier
But I experienced some "first time encounters" at the Harry Winston booth like with this version of the Triple Retrograde Chronograph:
The Midnight line is becoming more and more important in the collection and the Midnight Automatic Blue dial is an excellent proof of this key role:
I liked its slender case and also the use of such colour wich is not enough used in the watch industry IMHO. A simple and elegant watch whose beauty is reinforced by the dial colour.
But the best moment of the Salon was not the visit at the booth. It was the conference made by Emmanuel Bouchet supported by Anne Ducourtioux. The audience could ask them all the questions about Opus 12. Most of the time was dedicated to describe the way the two barrels work and how the energy was handled by the movement. A very interesting conference!
At the end of the same month, I could browse again the whole collection at the Salon Belles Montres in Paris:
The star of the show was Opus 12 and I couldn't resist to put it again on my wrist:
I could also make this Z6 strike:
And enjoy the dial balance of the Ocean Triple Retrograde Chronograph:
And to finish the year... Harry Winston opened a new point of sale very close to my office!
Harry Winston will be even closer to me in 2013 than in 2012 so you can imagine that another busy year is coming!
So stay tuned here to enjoy similar surprises during the next months!
I would like to thank the Harry Winston team for the warm welcome during all these events, in any place in Europe, Paris, London, Basel, Geneva...
Fr.Xavier
Comments:
Mark in Paris January 8th, 2013-15:39
These Opus watches are something to be seen... I always had difficulties in finding some interests in jewelery companies that decided to enter the watch area: there was a legitimacy issue I couldn't accept. I'm not into the other HW's watch collections, but still, HW has really done a fantastic and st...
foversta January 9th, 2013-12:10
Thanks Mark! Be sure that we will have a lot to say in 2013! Best regards. Fx
Dr No January 11th, 2013-14:53
How appropriate the year started . . . . . . with a shock, and ended with a pleasant surprise! Perhaps the Powers That Be located the new Paris boutique near your office by design. Thanks for the retrospective, F-X . . . 2012 was indeed a year of significant introductions for Harry Winston. Co...
foversta January 11th, 2013-15:28
Thanks Art for your words! And again, my mission for 2013 will be to start many threads in the forum! ;) Fx
mkt33 January 11th, 2013-15:06
Thanks FX, this year end summary has caused me to make a new resolution for 2013... To visit the Harry Winston forum! I've always loved the triple retrograde complication but how did I miss that floating tourbillon? (Who designed this?) Thanks for the recap. Best, Mike
foversta January 11th, 2013-15:21
That's a very good resolution! About the floating Tourbillon, I don't know who designed it. But the Triple Retrograde Chronograph, I have the answer: Emmanuel Gueit himself! Thanks! Fx
ED209 January 11th, 2013-18:05
The HW 2012 year Thanks for the 2012 summary of HW. Will be interesting to see what treasures HW has for 2013. Regards, ED-209
foversta January 12th, 2013-11:35
Rumors say that 2013 will be also very active! So I'm in the starting-blocks! Thanks Ed! Fx
dxboon January 11th, 2013-22:12
Even if the designs... ...are not always to my taste, I applaud Harry Winston's daring and absolute commitment to high-end watchmaking. Looking at the pictures, their bold outlook on what makes a watch interesting aesthetically and mechanically is readily apparent. Great post, ...
foversta January 12th, 2013-11:33
Thanks a lot Daos! One of the purposes of the wrap-up was to show the different styles offered by Harry Winston! Thanks for your message! Fx
0-10-10
Load More Comments
Next Article
foversta
Salon Belles Montres 2012: Harry Winston
foversta
Like in 2011, Harry Winston was one of the main exhibitors at the Salon Belles Montres which took place last week in Paris. I wasn't very lost when I wished to join the booth since its location was exactly the same than last year. But of course, the contents of the case display were a bit different with highlights on some of the 2012 timepieces. As usual, we start by setting the scene: The star of the exhibition was obviously Opus 12: it created the same impact than in London thanks to the magic of the hands ...
© 2017 - WatchProZine