Independents

Interesting, nice to see some technical innovation. Although, I find it funny how many will technically innovate but not post timing info. Like the natural escapement , it is a dual impulse motion fitted with two escape wheels. Yet, it was modified to res...  

But I don’t see the brand here?

monochrome-watches.com

don't have that budget for a watch - but what a beautiful beast

At least there's that new " old" escapement. Don't get me wrong, it's undoubtedly a superbly crafted watch, but I think that it's just another 100k independent League player. Where are new ideas like that one by Marco Lang?

but aesthetically this watch could be taken for a Greubel Forsey or a Ferdinand Berthoud. So, not very original (and not my taste visually, but I know it’s only personal). Anyway thanks for sharing this new release. Best, Emmanuel

But do I like the style of this watch? No, personally, I don't appreciate this design, which has become so widespread, of exposing the movement on the dial side. Best, Emmanuel

Reminds me of Cyril Brivet Naudot....without the charm

38.5mm and fantastic hand-finishing. I love it but too late now. There is nothing negative about this release. Darn, this is a bad miss for me.

The initial 12 watches have been sold but there will be another 68 produced (48 in precious metals and 20 special orders). For me personally, this is the most impressive watch released in the last 12 months and I will be trying to get an allocation with M... 

If so, which version did you go for?

because I just ordered a tourbillon. Will update again when it is officially released.

and decided to place a deposit on a Berneron Mirage 34 instead. But if I did decide to go for a Cleguer, it would have been the white gold model. ...  

Immediately after launch I emailed Mathieu and he gave me details of the 3 previous metal options saying there was still availability. I said I’d like to proceed and he replied saying he would look into allocations after W&W. I followed up after the event... 

and they probably just need more time to go through their inbox. Be patient but I would keep reminding him about your request, via email and IG, until he replies.

We are the customer and any watchmaker, even if one who works alone, is obliged in my opinion to reply to potential customers. When one starts a watch brand no matter how small, it is not just about making good watches. It is also about communication and ... 

Nothing wrong for lone wolf. In the past Kari Voutilainen could take weeks or more than a month to reply 1 message.

I must have been fortunate because Kari has been replying my emails within 24 hours since more than 15 years ago. In this competitive watch industry with many independents in the market, customers are allowed to be more demanding and discriminate not only... 

I only care about their watches. Akrivia can reply me in 10 years I don't care as long as he gives me his RRCCII.

We all have our purchasing criteria. For me the whole purchase experience is important which is why I am partial to MB&F who are a very customer centric company and Frodsham too who makes an effort to send a Christmas card annually to all its customer... 

Irrespective of how popular a watch is, a brand must always respond with courtesy to give an everlasting good impression of the brand.

Marco Lang personally replied relatively quickly every time I emailed and was nice enough to say I was too slow Personally I think even if you have a full wait list…it’s not much efffort to at least set up an auto responder 😂

Marco is a star and a lovely man.

I had nearly the same situation happen. Contact and then crickets after asking a few follow up questions about the order. Was committed then turned me off

I actually sent Mathieu another email last week but yet again zero response. Yes I’m turned off completely- it would only take a few seconds to do a polite reply to close off the matter. Very poor approach

It’s funny how one can go from all in to all out that fast for seemingly unrelated issues. I had a similar issue w a different brand order that was already ongoing. Too bad honestly.

So I followed up yet again saying I was disappointed he hadn’t responded. This time I got a quick response saying he had decided not to allocate me one of his watches. What a shame I’m completely turned off by this experience, never had anything like this... 

Tbh I think Berneron is one of the only independents thinking about how to run a sustainable business. I doubt most of the indies will be around 10 years from now, but Sylvain at least has a fighting chance.

I had placed a deposit on a Mirage 34 in lapis lazuli two weeks ago ...  

Very much looking forward to seeing it, and hopefully one day IRL if you come to Paris 😉 Your choice is 👌👌 it’s a stunner; the original Mirage was beautiful but this lapis dial version will be amazing

I hope you are keeping well.

This is exactly what independent watchmaking should be. Not just beautiful finishing or bold design, but genuine technical advancement. Thanks for sharing Bill

I sat with this for a while because I think I should love it but seeing it brought neither excitement nor disdain, not dismissal, just nothing at all. FB center seconds and offset hour minute, GF style half plate, KV style balance bridge with integrated s... 

Surprisingly, it seems to have everything I love on paper but I don't really feel much looking at it because I feel a lot of the new releases blend in. I have been looking at 3970s and the lange striking time ZW a lot more lately lol

…but I don’t ask myself if I want to buy it. I had a long conversation with him in W&W, the person is really talented and the result is this extremely well finished and beautiful watch imho. Is it innovative enough and is the design too much inspired by o...  

Sharing my own interaction with this young watchmarker. Today I PM him asking him about the YG model. In less than 3 hours, he replied me that he does not make YG version (that Hodinkee article has a few inaccuracies), and all his watches are sold except ...