Mark in Paris
[Purist]
10488
Not at all !
We may all feel the same to put some beauties forward but, as far as I'm concerned, I just have to remember how I feel when I'm looking for articles on purists and I'm happy to find in the search engine what I want.
Furthermore we start to know you a bit and we know it's not your "style" 
Have a great week-end Gary,
Cheers,
Mark
(ex-Boréale)
So six guys go into a restaurant...
...in this case for our pre-SIHH planning lunch! One of our stalwarts was absent due to a flu bug and was sorely missed, but we did manage to get through our detailed spreadsheet of planned activities for the upcoming Geneva trip and share some watches as...
A bit of a flurry of recent acquisitions
...but I agree that we should have saved a few Euros and Francs in anticipation of SIHH! Best, Gary
Great watches will always be good to pursue
...and catch -- no matter whether it is the week before the show or the month after! Best, Gary
It is a true feast!
Again, what an impressive gathering of watches! Thanks a lot for the great pics Gary! See you in Geneva. Fx
Looking forward to seeing you, FX!
Counting down the days -- arriving GVA next Saturday, and the usual schedule of events to follow, with a few fun twists this year... All the best, Gary
Wow... Some serious heavyweights!
Showing some of the best pieces out there... A true feast for the eyes! Sure I will see you around Geneva/SIHH, how long are you in town for Gary? Cheers Andrew
Hey Andrew
Still remember meeting you walking across the bridge! Will hope to see you. Arriving Saturday, in the city through mid-day Weds. and then out into the countryside as usual to visit with some of our favorite independents and (this year) enjoy a factory tou...
Must learn!
Never open GaryG's posts starting with guys entering restaurant :) What fleshpot of astonishing pieces as usually thank you for nightmares Best Damjan
I just like to share! :-)
If there is ever a post that could cause you health problems, I will warn you in advance :-) Best, Gary
A real banquet!
Always a pleasure to see your gatherings Gary.....Thanks. Hopefully see you at SIHH. Mo
Thanks, Mo -- hope to see you as well
We will be visiting with DeBethune while in town -- a brand that always reminds me of you... Best, Gary
Our traditional schedule
Part of the week in town, part out in the countryside with independents... Best, Gary
Glad you enjoyed it, Ronald!
...and it was also an outstanding Italian feast for the group, arranged by one of our members... Best, Gary G
Stellar Report
as always. The Roger Smith really cathes the eye, not something we see regularly ! Great photos under the challenging circumstances ! Ming would be pleased :) Thanks for sharing !
Thanks, flamenco
Agree with you -- I was really taken by the Roger Smith. The Series 2 has been on my radar screen for a long time, and while I favor the open dial version I wouldn't reject this one by any stretch of the imagination! Ming is a tough, but fair, judge -- no...
I've been to and have done my share of GTGs —but holy moley!
Hello Gary, Inspiring. So many grail-worthy timepieces there. Thank you for the great photos and a brilliant job sharing this report. Best wishes, Joel
Glad I was able to give a sense of the atmosphere
We always have a blast when we get together, and my pals always have something interesting (old or new) up their sleeves! Best, Gary
Great GTG
Great photos as always Gary. Thanks for sharing. Have a good trip to SIHH. Regards, ED-209
Fingers crossed
...that our trip will be as enjoyable as in past years! From the schedule we've put together with the help of others, advance signals are good... Best, Gary
Where are the stuff for
the stomach..... As usual great post Gary, hope to see your full report visiting inde Cheers,
Thanks, Quan -- but as I think you know...
...with very rare exception I am not someone who photographs food in restaurants! Never got into the habit, and I strongly prefer to photograph the watches at events like these :-) Best, Gary
Great pics...
...awesome watches ! Maybe I'lll get to meet you in Geneva Gary. Andrew and Mo and know where I am, somebody should drag you along for a coffee, or else I'll try to hook up somewhere sometime during the week... Looking fwd to catching up with you too, SJX...
Want to meet you this year, Rob!
Allen had great things to say about meeting you last year, and I do know where you hang out :-) May be able to make it over on Saturday afternoon or Tuesday early pm -- hope to see you! Best, Gary
A beautiful gathering of watches!
Enjoy your time at SIHH! I'm sure you will get many beautiful photos to share with us all! Looking forward to seeing them! Cheers, Daos
I will do my best, Daos!
We have a number of visits set up, and I can say with some certainty that there will be some shiny new pieces to show... Best, Gary
Incredible
What a group. The Roger Smith is just wonderful. I always picture this watch in colored gold but steel suits it just fine! Thanks so much! Best Andreas
The Smith really did appeal to me
Those blued hands and the matching numerals are quite visually appealing -- and the height of the watch gives it real presence despite not being in a denser metal. Best, Gary
Gary, your posting of such amazing photos...
... always seems to be the custom. That RWS is, well... I'm speechless, really. You can really sense the George Daniels DNA in such a piece. And while I love the exhibition case back, it is one of those rare watches that never really needs to be turned ov...
A pleasure, Scott!
And I mean that, as it is such a treat for me to see these marvelous pieces owned by my friends that I feel compelled to share them here. Of course, I look a bit silly with my small-scale photo set-up, but in some ways that's part of the fun... Best, Gary...
FANTASTIC collection at this restaurant..
would have loved to be a fly on the wall.. thanks for sharing
A pleasure to share
Great hosting by one of our members, who has a great friendship with the restaurant owner and as a result scored us a private room and some great food and wine! Best, Gary G
Awesome Watches!
I don't think I could focus on lunch haha! I really do like that Bregeuet Perpetual and the SS Roger Smith!
I'm glad you gave the Breguet some love...
...as it really is stunning -- the larger (but not too large) size takes a delicate classic and gives it real presence. Best, Gary
Gary, as always, very impressive gathering!
Hope there was a guard in front of your table :-) Would love to join one day!!!! Ken
We are careful, Ken
Don't want to be predictable, as there are bad guys out there -- but we felt very secure in this particular location :-) Best, Gary
Hope you are still hungry ...
for some cheese, soon. Paul Gerber - any front side pictures? You see I am very hungry :-) Oliver
Cheese, please!
Looking forward to it! I'll look, but I think the only Gerber front shots were in the group table shot sequence (there is one in the post). Best, Gary
The only weakness ...
of the Retro-Twin is probably the size ... See you soon :-) Oliver
Here's another shot of the Gerber, Oliver
Tough for me to do proper white balance and contrast adjustments as I don't have access to the physical watch anymore, but here's my attempt: Best, Gary ...
Some of my dreams at night look just like this!
Wow, these are all such fantastic watches. I wouldn't even know where to begin in my yearnings for them, though the RW Smith might edge out the others as my absolute favorite. Regards, Jon
Me too!
Although that Apple ad with the Williams sisters is pretty cool, too... :-) Best, Gary
Didn't know the Smith watch
A discovery for me. However, I knew the others! A rare gathering of beautiful and meaningful objects. Thank you Gary for caring about us after each of these GTG :) Cheers, Mark
Glad you are eager to see!
I do worry a bit that these posts will be seen as "showing off" too much, but I am sincerely grateful to have the opportunity to see these watches in person and do very much enjoy sharing them with you and the rest of the gang here. Best, Gary
Not at all !
We may all feel the same to put some beauties forward but, as far as I'm concerned, I just have to remember how I feel when I'm looking for articles on purists and I'm happy to find in the search engine what I want. Furthermore we start to know you a bit ...
Beautiful Roger Smith!
Lovely photo as always Gary! The Roger Smith Series 2 is a beautiful watch! I especially love the one with custom engraving but this one is also a stunning piece! The thing I like about Roger's dial is that it has a "raw" feel to it - the small "imperfect...
Raw feel
Well put, Sidney -- on this dial there is a bit of "bleed" from the blue numerals onto the dial in some places. To be frank not to the tastes of some in our group, but I rather liked it... Best, Gary