BaselWorld: Beat Haldimann
DonCorson
BaselWorld 2013 : Beat Haldimann
Beat Haldimann was again present this year at BaselWorld in the independents tent known as the "Palace". Beat was showing his iconic H1 and the new H11 watch. Going from the central tourbillon above the dial of the H1 to the central balance wheel seen throught the back, the H11 is a reduction of complication, but without any reduction in the care.
As always Beats watches are made without resort to CNC using the best production technology of the '70s. Picking up the H11 one sees immediately the heritage of the watch. The H1 and the H11 both come from the same stall. While the H11 lacks the contrast of the almost flashy baroque tourbillon planted in the completely serine case, the shine of the H11 comes from the extreme understatement that it embodies. If it is possible for understatement to yell at full voice it is doing so in this watch.
This is a typical case of a watch that you need to hold in your hand, strap on your arm and let it talk to you. I was sceptical from the pictures, but convinced in person. I think that Beat has another winner.
Beat Haldimann was again present this year at BaselWorld in the independents tent known as the "Palace". Beat was showing his iconic H1 and the new H11 watch. Going from the central tourbillon above the dial of the H1 to the central balance wheel seen throught the back, the H11 is a reduction of complication, but without any reduction in the care.
As always Beats watches are made without resort to CNC using the best production technology of the '70s. Picking up the H11 one sees immediately the heritage of the watch. The H1 and the H11 both come from the same stall. While the H11 lacks the contrast of the almost flashy baroque tourbillon planted in the completely serine case, the shine of the H11 comes from the extreme understatement that it embodies. If it is possible for understatement to yell at full voice it is doing so in this watch.
This is a typical case of a watch that you need to hold in your hand, strap on your arm and let it talk to you. I was sceptical from the pictures, but convinced in person. I think that Beat has another winner.
Comments:
cisco June 18th, 2013-06:28
My favourite watch of 2013 But I'm biased the independant I prefer. Thanks for the photos Don, it will remain a dream for me that's another amazing watch from Haldimann. cheers Francois
Goldenlutin June 18th, 2013-14:08
The movement of H11 makes no horological sense to me There is something "wrong" for me about the H11. Why making a large movement with a tiny barrel and a relatively small balance wheel? When you look at the movement you just see empty space everywhere. All elements would fit in a much smaller movement. For...
cisco June 19th, 2013-06:04
You seems to know a lot... but I don't get your point Why do you want an extra large balance wheel? and a huge barrel? Are your considerations technical or aesthetical? You may have noticed that the balance is central so that you can not have huge barrel in the opposite side of the balance wheel like in old ...
Goldenlutin June 19th, 2013-14:22
well my point is... that it might be" funny" to have the balance wheel in the middle of the movement but the way it was done by BH just does not make sense because 3/4 of the movement are not used. It looks like if a small lady-size movement was put into a big movement. This...
cisco June 20th, 2013-05:57
Ok now I get it I understand your critic, it still doesn't bother me, I like it for what it is and what Don explained in the presentation, its ultimate simplicity. Moreover the movement is more simple than a tourbillon, an automatic one, or the LM1. Again, I do understan...
WatchCollectorCB June 20th, 2013-06:34
If you don't like it, don't buy it or try to change it ;) ..... ..... If you don't like the style of a watch or the technique in a watch, just don't try to change it and you don't have to buy it, because there are other brands. It's like with the cars, some like Audi, other VW or BMW. Some like Haldimann (as I do), ot...
Goldenlutin June 20th, 2013-13:16
It is neither about liking it or not.. nor personal taste I see what you mean but it's not about liking it or not as one cannot, obviously, argue about individual tastes. As watchmaking is still (or only) micro-mechanics at the end, there are technical solutions that can be objectively qualified as being better ...
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Baselworld 2013: Sarpaneva
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It is always a pleasure for me to meet Stepan Sarpaneva. Of course, to discover its new watches and ideas but more important, to listen to him, to enter his specific own world. You may think that Stepan lives in Finland? No, no, you are not right. He lives elsewhere between the Earth and the Moon, on an intriguing territory with a mysterious atmosphere...
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