Independents

you had 40k to 55k CHF to spend on one watch and it had to be chosen from one of these independents and one outsider. Your criteria would be a watch with exemplary finishing, highly accurate and reliable, sized between 38mm and 39.5mm, an exclusive watch ...  

You have a wonderful selection of timepieces, truly beautiful!!! I my choice would be between the Rexhepi Rexhepi (black dial with rose gold) and the Credor. Both are so different and stunning in their own unique way it would be nearly impossible to choic... 

Yes they are all great watches in their own right. The Credor is arguably terribly understated and it is actually the lowest priced of the four making it an attractive option. Rexhep Rexhepi's movement is quite something and even the dial design is elegan... 

we can't pick two!!

You have a Remontoire I recall so I do not blame you for putting that in first place. The watch was released almost two years ago but it competes well against the Basel novelties and I believe it will continue to do so year after year. The Chronometre Con... 

I‘m still researching. Also, I‘m not sure whether there is a sales point in the EU. But definitly an interesting watch.

A Collected Man in London is the AD for Akrivia. Or I guess you could go to Geneva and visit Akrivia

Because of all the trouble with customs, I‘m not really interested to buy a watch in switzerland. But then, I pretty much never go to london. This basically means, that the RR is not a real option for me and I‘ll spend my money elsewhere

buying a watch in Geneva would be problematic when it came to reclaiming the Swiss tax. Alternatively you could try the watch on at Geneva and then RR will ship it ex tax to your home country (assuming your home country has zero import duty on watches lik... 

Gotta to have both, Grönefeld Remontoire 1941 & Rexhepi Chronometre Contemporaine

I can see the Remontoire and RR being the popular choice here but I can only afford one!

Remontoire is limited. I have not read anywhere whether chronometre contemporain limited/not. + You will fell different kind of love, achievement and happiness every 8 seconds for the rest of your life

but I cannot imagine Rexhap making too many of them. Still, the Remontoire is a compelling choice. I cannot say no to it and my love affair with this watch has been going on for over a year and a half now.

If forced to choose, Akrivia or Credor. All the best, Alex

and for your candour! Quite interestingly, no one has chosen the Vianney Halter yet.

I would speculate that the look holds people back in that case. Look forward to the conclusion of your thoughts. All the best, Alex

This is Vianney's most conservative offering but it still pretty 'outside the circle' watch in line with his creativity. One might argue that as the Rexhap is almost 40% dearer than the Credor, it has an unfair advantage. I just want to make sure whicheve...  

..failing that any watch by the independent maker from Japan, Hajime Asaoka. Best, John. ...  

Do you know the size of the Hajime Asaoka? I must embarrassingly confess that I know little about this brand.

..this is 42mm. Best, John.

Unfortunately, I can pull off wearing a 42mm watch with my small wrist. But I wish I could as I would then be keen on the rare offering from Charles Frodsham, the world's oldest makers of chronometers. Sublime movement and a ceramic dial! ...  

And I have an appointment to try it on for size on 4 May. Apart from the size, the £60k retail price is outside my budget but I really need to see this watch.

John.

since it is a pretty rare watch with only one sales outlet and an annual production of ten to twelve pieces. Thanks John!

...so I would go that way, but Gronefeld is amazing as well. Good luck in your decision.

You have the perfect handle! Both the Gronefeld and RR have the most beautiful movements. I need luck and a bit more money

...I easilly admit that I find the Remontoire extremely attractive 😉. I know you won't be surprised by my answer my friend... Mike

You are the champion of independents and sorry that I did not include the Laurent Ferrier in this list but it is slightly too large for me. I think the movement of the Remontoire is extremely difficult to resist even when compared to say a manual chronogr... 

There is nothing that I do not like and Grönefeld's finishing of that amazing caliber is absolute outstanding. Vianney Halter would be my second choice. GEO

for Vianney. But I see the Gronefeld remains the popular choice. And like you, I like all four watches but only one is close to being affordable. Thank you Geo.

but i d spend 50k for a PP rare handicrafts.

a PP rare handicrafts will cost a lot more than the CHF55k limit that I have placed. If I am incorrect, please PM me because I too would definitely consider one! I can see that you would prefer to buy from an established brand and your choice of the Credo... 

No message body

but unless I am willing to part with some of my watches (which I am unwilling to), a Patek handicraft watch remains a dream.

with so many nice choices: 1) Ludovic Ballouard upside down 2) Vianney Halter Classic 20th Anniversary 3) Christian Klings Open Version 4) Jean Baptiste Viot Paris Chronometer S

I am afraid the choices are limited to the four in the photo but as per your earlier thread and with the above reply, you have chosen the Vianney. Surely a sought after and rare watch. Thank you very much for your suggestions.

nt

because this a tough field to emerge the winner in. All four watches are the holy grails of many but I think at this moment of time, the Vianney is the one I am least keen on, probably due to my conservative views on design. I can imagine my liking the RR... 

But after that I would consider UJ cause it’s a poor mans KV ... 👽😀

the UJ although falling into the price bracket does not fall into the size bracket. Nice watches though but I want a watch which has KV's level of finishing rather than compromising and arguably the RR and Credor are at least as well finished as any KV bu... 

But i dont have to tell you what my choice will be😉 . Although i have a deep respect for Akrivia (gorgeous movement) and VH (very unique design)and Credo my patriotic side will Choice my Grail watch , the Steel Gronefeld with a original Salmon dail 🤤 🙏🏻🤗.... 

even before writing this post!! And you should not blame you patriotism because I am pretty sure even if you were Swiss, being a great supporter of the independents, you would probably have chosen the Gronefeld. All these watchmakers are pleasant humble f... 

There all great watches , just a matter of which one gives you the most goosebumps at that time i think. If one day i could i would own them all 🙏🏻( dream collection)

that if you wanted to in the next ten years, they could all be yours! For me, I have placed a 'fancy watch' embargo on myself so only one at most.

I never could give myself a embargo like that 😬 . The only obstacle i have to deal with is my bank account 😁

of my depleting bank account that I have to enforce an embargo!!

I'd search for more options. I love the stunning Gronefeld movement, but to me the window for the speed regulator at 9 spoils the whole dial. The Credor could be a probable winner among those in the pics. I'd probably go for a Voutilainen anyway. Good luc... 

Unfortunately the KV is at a different price bracket but if it wasn't, I would choose that too. But your choice of the Credor is great because that dial is too die for. One really needs to look at it under a loop to appreciate the dial and hand painted ha... 

Grönefeld of course. What else? ;-) ok I’m Dutch so what did you expect...

the Gronefeld is one heck of a watch and would take some beating even if it was not Dutch!! I love the Remontoire and Tim and Bart did say that would get in touch with me when the 25 pieces of steel come close to the end of their production. Thanks for yo... 

in any price bracket!!

.. I would go Akrivia. I saw one (not this one), I met the watchmaker, and I had a very good impression. Just my personal opinion and preference.... Good luck hunting! Ken

Rexhap is a terribly enthusiastic and passionate individual. I had seen all his other watches but perhaps my mindset is too conservative as none of them really appealed to me apart from the excellent movement finishing. This more conservative offering how... 

After coming back from Basel and tried a few of them, I'm struggling amongst EXACTLY the same list...

I am glad in a way that I did not make it to Basel this year because if any of those watches were tried on, I would be having sleepless nights for at least a week! The fact that you are deliberating on EXACTLY the same list makes me feel I am in good comp... 

I'm very partial to the aesthetics and architecture of the movement. And I think the choice of dial, while on your part maybe was to take the watch into the price zone for the comparison, is actually one of the few dials which blend well with the aperture... 

I too like the VH Classic but like you, I feel it does not deliver enough compared to the others. I personally prefer this dial for the Remontoire although my friend watchonthewrist would suggest the salmon dial. Something about the silver dial makes the ... 

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to the rose gold Remontoire or the bracelet but I have tried the rose gold remontoire and although is is nice, I believe the stainless steel version is more understated not to mention it is only being produced in 25 pieces. ...  

But in reality, a Gronefeld with any dial will look great!! I just prefer the sober silver dial in a stainless steel case.

I was just looking at these when my bad idea (has its own thread) came up. Personally, I really like the idea of having each watch I have be able to be a daily wearer (with the exception of a gold bracelet watch I would like to have even though it's not s... 

The Credor is almost the safe reliable choice! It is quite interesting that you feel that the RR will have superior finishing to the Credor because I always thought that only Dufour's Simplicity could upstage the finishing on the Eichi indeed is a compli... 

Love the art deco dial style, reminds me of great vintage dress watches from Vacheron & Patek. Love grand feu email. Love how clean the movement looks without much text. It’s all about the movement - architecture & finishing. I know it is only a prototype... 

Just a note the that Chronometre Contemporain dial is not in grand feu enamel but in vitreous enamel which is like a porcelain enamel. Please excuse my ignorance but I am not sure if both types of enamel differ a lot. I too am taken by the platinum versio... 

I actually would love to see the black enamel dial with silver-colored markings/numerals/text on the Pt case. I wonder if the Rexhepi brand will offer more customization if you pre-order. Like a deep blue color enamel dial. Or changing style of the hands.... 

I am in Malaysia so finding a good watchmaker will be quite challenging! Rexhap has confirmed that for now a stainless steel case will not be possible but he will not rule out the possibility in the future. When it comes to customisation, I salute Kari Vo... 

He vertically integrated what he needed to ensure a strong business

with his focus and expertise on dials, it was inevitable that he would acquire a dial factory. More control, more versatility and probably a higher margin too!

If you are choosing between the GR or the RG Credor, I will choose the GR. The RG Credor Eichi 2 just doesn't feel right for me. It is still nice but feels 'lesser' than the platinum version. But between the GR or the Eichi 2 Platinum, I will choose the l... 

Apparently the rose gold Eichi has a rounder bezel and slightly curved glass to give it a softer look in line with the rose gold case. I really need to try it on. At these prices, one really has to try on an intended purchase and I look forward to try on ... 

Imagine the team behind Eichi 2 and what they are striving to achieve. That's real soul and character. In term of aesthetic soul and character, I will go with a old Journe Resonance with shiny dial, which still fit your budget. But if you are just choosin... 

I agree with you on all counts even with the FPJ Resonance but that is a new Resonance is actually above my budget and besides they only make it in 40mm now. I am partial to the 38mm FPJ watches. Although the watchmakers of the Eichi had undoubtedly the s... 

The Grönefeld Remontoire has me mesmerized, the precision of the dial and the amazing finishing of the movement wins my vote. The strap is also very comfortable and well made. I have been a fan of the Remontoire since it was introduced, may even like it m... 

and have been a fan of the Remontoire since day one. Meeting the Gronefeld brothers has made me want the watch even more! Saying that second place to the Remontoire is nothing to be ashamed of for the RR! Thank you for your choices!