Horological Meandering

An evening with Lionel & Richard.

A small group of enthusiasts got together for drinks and dinner and to meet Lionel Ladoire and Richard Piras last night. Luckily, I had my point & shoot with me to capture some of the evening’s highlights.

My initial impression of the Roller Guardian Time was guardedly reserved as it appeared under the dim lighting to be a rather bulky piece with a thick leather strap and an equally enormous but impressively designed buckle. On closer inspection, everything made sense and I could see the raison d’être of such a timepiece. Again, photos do not capture the true qualities and intricate workmanship of this watch but suffice to say I was pleasantly surprised by the overall design and execution of this three dimensional timepiece. There are all sorts of holes and openings where one can discover details hidden in the depth of the movement. In fact the deepest hole gapes in the middle of the hour ring. One can see at the bottom part of the mainspring barrel, the design of a spider web. The proprietary movement uses a micro rotor similar to the cal.240 as used by Patek Philippe and was developed by Philippe Michel Ruedin of ASXP.

The evening started off sedately with drinks at the outdoor patio but at dinner we were treated to a dining extravaganza that had overwhelmed every one present; with a sixteen-course menu each paired with a different wine or liqueur. The innovative Michelin star chef turned the dining experience into an event with his presentation and creativity. The was termed x-treme Chinese cuisine. It was a blast!

Many thanks to Lionel, Richard and the inimitable Denis for inviting me to such a fun filled event. I savor the friendship and the opportunity to partake in an evening of wine, watches and laughter.

Here are the quick & dirty:

The man (L.L.)