Independents

Well, it's been no secret that I've had my eye out for a RG VH Antiqua for some time now -- and thanks to referrals from some of our leading forum members, I have now fulfilled my wish!

A quick trip to Singapore over the weekend (for Horo's fun summary, see HOME) was sufficient to get this beauty in hand.  And a beauty it is!  Full wearing impressions coming later, but there's a lot to like.  For now, I hope that a few photos will suffice:

And, Horo's great initial wrist shot, taken in lovely diffuse light at the golf club where we had lunch:

A great event with great people, capped off with a new watch -- life could be a lot worse!

Best,

Gary G

nt

Appreciate your note -- it was good to have the opportunity to correspond with you recently on other matters.

Best,

Gary

Congratulatoins Gary!
The Antiqua is such a rupture and at the same time such a satisfying whole.
It is one of those things that just forces one to smile.
Good it is.
Don

Many thanks for your note, Don.  To meet Vianney is to appreciate his free spirit -- it's great to have this embodiment of his imagination. 

Best,

Gary

No message body

When we see it on pictures... we find it ugly or strange... and when we put it on the wrist... we find it fantastic. It is  a watch which has to be worn to be fully appreciated.

Thanks a lot for the pictures.

Fx

I agree that this is a piece that looks great when worn -- although I also like it off the wrist.  I think that time has already been kind to this design, which was considered by many almost bizzare at first but now is firmly established as a classic.

Thanks for your note -- glad you enjoyed the photos.

Best,

Gary

You say it so well that time has been kind to this design.  I remember when I first saw this years ago, I could not believe that someone would buy it.  Now I would love to have one.  This watch is an icon, and has had a tremendous influence on watchmaking.

This one definitely ticks a big box on my list of desires -- I could probably stop right now and be happy, but there's just one more (isn't there always?) that is calling to me...

Thanks so much for the kind words -- I will look forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks!

Best,

Gary

...that should quench the fire - for a few days at least! ;-)

Cheers,
pplater.

This, of course, is the problem!  My friend Larry Seiden says that "the greatest watch in the world is the one that is incoming," and there's a lot of truth to that.  I'm hoping that this will cool me off for a while -- although there's at least one more in the pipe (with any luck it will not hit for a few months...)

Nonetheless, I am greatly enjoying this piece!  I just need to make sure that my eyes aren't (a lot) bigger than my wallet...

Best,

Gary

it is still as avant guard as it was 11 years ago you realize the genius behind the design

great catch Gary!

To me this watch remains fresh, yet looks classic. Not dated in any way. It's really pleasing to look down and see this one, and to be able to appreciate its nuances!

Best,

Gary

I am celebrating your acquisition with a glass of champagne and a piece of cheese brought all the way to Hamburg from Sainte-Croix by no less than Vianney himself - as well as wearing a you-know-what on the wrist!

Sounds like a great celebration -- and I appreciate that you have unleashed it in my honor (and, of course, Vianney's)!

A Janvier would be a real dream -- fortunate is the man who can enjoy that piece on a regular basis

All the best,

Gary

and a true modern icon (at least for me...). Great catch, another stellar addition to your wonderful collection.

 

Best

Andreas

I agree with you -- sometimes folks throw around the word "iconic" a bit too freely, but in this case I believe that it is freely deserved. Thanks very much for your note!

Best,

Gary

  beautiful and quality shots... if one is not already in love with this unique beauty then im sure your pics are sufficient to get him fall in love ... wear it in good health .

 Thanks for sharing.

 Faisal

Thanks very much for your kind words on my photos -- I am still working to take additional shots, and will experiment with different light conditions until I get some more worth posting.

Best regards,

Gary

Wear it with joy and pride. 

I feel almost as if I've been going too fast with acquisitions recently and need to take a deep breath and absorb it all -- but this piece was too good to pass up...

Best,

Gary

and a very very enduring piece to the eyes and our souls

It is only through the generosity of good PuristS friends that I had the opportunity to acquire this fantastic piece!

Thanks, CL.

All the best,

Gary

When the GTG post went up announcing your new acquisition, I knew Gary's amazing photos of the Antiqua would come!

And boy did it come in style! As usual, your photos are publication quality! Vianney should borrow them to use in their press kit!

Being fortunate enough to see an Antiqua in real life before, I absolutely agree with everybody else that it is a watch that MUST be seen in real life. There are so many misconceptions from just seeing photos of it. It is much smaller, much thinner, much classier and much better made than what I have imagined. Vianney is truely a rare genius in this industry.

Congrats again Gary! You pretty much have all the big Indie "holy grails" isn't it, which is a huge achievement by all watch collector's standard! It really is amazing! So congrats not just on the Antiqua but your whole collection as well! I'm keen to know what's that one missing? Max? I would be very eager to see the round-up once you have that one come in!

Enjoy the gorgeous Antiqua with the best of health Gary! I'm sure everyday you'll have that passionate, happy smile strapping the watch on!

First of all, I'm blushing at the praise for my photos -- I really appreciate the positive words, and they will encourage me to keep trying other angles and lighting conditions with this and other pieces.

Thanks also for the kind words on my collection. I don't have every indie piece that I might desire (who does?) but I'm getting close to having the major bases covered, as you say. There is one "grail" that is still missing but I won't mention because I am working over the next months to fill the gap. I also have a second piece coming fairly soon from one of the leading independents, so that won't increase the coverage of makers but should be a cracking watch. And then, of course, if we all send positive energy to Volker, I'll have the Vyskocil VA to add, and that really will cap things off, at least for a while!

I agree with you that it is easy from photos to take this watch as too big, too clunky -- in real life, it is, as you say, thin, elegant, and beautifully made. I think that Vianney's case and dial work is pretty much without equal, and that's saying something.

I will definitely enjoy this one! Again, many thanks for your note.

Best,

Gary

Ah yes, indeed, how can I forget him! I will pray for you and all other in the queue that Volker's magic will be fulfilled sooner! That would be very exciting for the horological world!

I'll eagerly wait for the appropriate time for you to reveal what that other missing one is And also that second piece from the same master! I would love to see the new Big 8, 10 (where are we up to?) photos when the time comes! It would be quite a milestone to see all the major Indies in one collection!

Gary you deserve all the praise! If only I have the same energy and dedication to this passion as you. I have been extremely lazy on trying out photography on my watches and with inspirations like you and others on this forum, I hope I could find some time soon to have a go! I don't even have a light box (DIY or not) yet

Thanks again, Sidney.  I am itching to tell more about future plans, but it's best for now if I keep things under wraps (in one case I am sworn to secrecy, and in the other the potential transaction is not assured and will be some time in the making if it does happen).  There has been enough recent news for me that I want to rest a bit, too!  (I think that my wife will appreciate that as well).

Watch photography is addictive once you get started.  I found that lots of folks on this forum and the "old PuristS" Photography forum are very generous in offering kind critiques and advice.  Takes a lot of trial and error, and I think that most people find that some parts come more easily than others (for instance, I struggle mightily with wrist shots, although I'm making some slow progress).

I will be sure to keep you in the loop as things unfold!

Best,

Gary

 

nt