Independents

traineract
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Speake-Marin London Chronograph

A piece I have wanted to see in the metal for a long time. Received a message from my friends at World of Watches II (WOW II) that one piece of the London Chronograph came into the store. Very excited, I immediately fixed up a date to head down to see the piece. Having read many articles about it in 2016, I tried to forget everything that I have read and see it on a clean slate.


My initial thoughts: This is really a very charming piece which really hits you when you hold in and look at it in the metal. My pictures, and also others I have seen online, doesn't relate the right feeling. Having read up on PSM quite a bit recently, and also some of his interviews, this piece really encompasses what independent watchmaking and what PSM is about. Independent watchmaking is all about freedom and with this piece, you really see the freedom in making a watch like this; unrestricted by conventions and pure in spirit.

Secondly, this piece just exudes the DNA of PSM so strongly. Aesthetically speaking, you get a very distinct double digit Valjoux chronograph look, akin to the vintage chronographs look from the 1970s/80s. This is evident in the pump pushers, the layout of the sub-dials, the markers on the side of the dial. Understand that the red 12 is also a nod to traditions. Yet, in true PSM spirit, there is a contemporary twist to the vintage design with the funky red and blue combination, the gothic 3, 6, 9, and red 12. The black (pvd? DLC?) coating on the side of the case is also another contemporary touch. The other interesting detail is the floating sub-dial, something I have yet to see in another piece. And as usual, you have the iconic Piccadilly case, foundation hands, and topping tool motif in the middle. On a random note, I like the London above the 6.

Having once owned a vintage Croton Chronomaster Valjoux 92 chronograph from the 70/80s, the London Chronograph felt oddly familiar, yet it feels like a completely different beast altogether. Looks vintage, feels contemporary. And I can totally imagine Mr PSM himself repairing countless Valjoux 72, 92, etc from that era and it probably feels like a time travel machine in doing this up.

I guess I got too excited and wrote quite a bit. Let the pictures do the rest.  


Floating sub-dials


Black coating on the side of the case. Logo on the crown, something different from the Serpent Calendar crown.


Pump pushers. Old school


Red gothic 12. Not so old school


Motif. London. 6.

Some people have qualms about the movement finishing. I did not inspect using a loupe, but while it doesn't have the kind of finishing you'd expect for this price point, somehow it felt more "correct" to keep it that way. It is more consistent with the whole watch design and spirit of it. This piece is not about the finishing. Anyway, some pictures of the movement


Valjoux 92 with column wheel


Movement shot

Thanks for reading! These are all my personal thoughts on the piece. Wish to have a chance to hear from PSM one day on the motivations behind this piece.