Horological Meandering

Hi All,

 

Singapore is like watch heaven for me. Singapore and Hong Kong are the closest major watch hubs that I can reach and were the first places I experienced true haute horlogerie, so both have a special place in my heart.

 

On this occasion we visited Malmaison, L’Atalier and a couple of Sincere Fine Watch stores. All the staff were most accommodating. Most of the watches are wrapped in their protective plastic nappies, but the photos will still give you a feel for the watches we played with.

 

Hope you enjoy as much as I did!

 

Andrew

 

 

The ambience at L'Atalier is very inviting for the horology connoisseur, and the coffee's not bad either!

Vianney Halter display. A working model tourbillon escapement (I will upload a video soon) and the Trio. Quite a hunk of watch, particularly in RG, and so different from the case of the Antiqua. Bravo to Vianney for producing such different cases.

Romain Gauthier's characteristic dial design and beautifully finished movements.

The talk of the moment, the Laurent Ferrier Tourbillon with double spiral. While the movement is beautifully finished and the tourbillon bridge design a delight, I found myself marvelling at the case which is wonderfully classical but with a modern twist. It sits perfectly on the wrist. The double spiral is very difficult to observe, even with a 10x loupe, but it's nice to know the engineering is there in the escapement design. I am less enamoured with the hands and dial, although the black dial with RG case is a delicious combination.

The Audemars Piguet Edward Piguet tourbillon with black (yes, it’s black) mother-of-pearl plates.

The new A. Lange & Sohne 1815 Flyback Chronograph. Personally I still have a soft spot for the original. But this has a more modern and 'cleaner' feel with the larger subdials and no pulsometer scale.

And my favourite watch of the day, Vianney Halter's Antiqua. This was the first time I had strapped one on my wrist and it is perfectly sized (smaller than I expected) and sits very comfortably. The RG case, with an almost brass look, just adds to the 'steampunk' ambience of the piece. My next grail? Possibly.

My 40mm Dead Second F.P.Journe, the Ludovic Ballouard Upside Down (notice the Journe 'family' resemblance), the original 38mm Tourbillon Souveraine with Remontoir and the Halter Antiqua. What a line up!

The Perpetual Calendar Moonphase watches remain my favourites, but this more simple update with grand date and moonphases for both hemispheres is nicely done.

A lovely iteration of the ultra-slim dress watch in RG from Vacheron Constantin. Where's my tuxedo?!

Breguet Classique Chronograph. Love the rose-engine engraved snail guilloche and red highlights on the tachometer scale. WG case

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Anniversary. I found this case rather thick (although the 45mm case diameter is OK because of the short lugs) and heavy on my wrist. A well fitted strap is essential. But the sapphire bezel and the dial are very cool.

Andrew

There's no place like HoMe (but Singapore's not a bad place to visit)!

and great pics. as usual from you.The antigua looks great on your wrist.5 years watch celibacy huh ?.I can sense it would be your next grail piece, arriving sooner rather than later.

Imagine a tax deductable trip AND coming back with another tourbillon- that LF is to die for!!

Julian

Hope I can join something like this one weekend!!  Just 7-hour flight....  HK would be closer, though (4 hours)....

Ken

Love the Ludovic...

Can't wait to visit Singapore and Hong Kong to check out these impressive watch shops. They are truly unique watch stores that I don't think I've ever seen resembled anywhere else in the world.

I was probably in town last couple of weeks.

 

I was totally tied up and at work...had to miss that!

Apologies!

It would have been fun in SG. You introduced me to Vianney at TEMPUS2 which I always appreciated. See you and Dolly in Vegas, and next time in SG.

Regards

Andrew

Looks like you had quite a time in the boutiques. Those Vianney Halters are very impressive. And at the other end of the design spectrum, I also like that VC ultrathin.

Certainly beats the local shopping options…

grumio

NT

I love that watch...sadly, it can only be a dream. Maybe if I won Singapore Sweepstakes? Hm...

with the Journe tourbillons and the Antiqua next to each other. Great report. I am repeating myself but Singapore must be the promised land.

Best

Andreas

Another great travel report, Andrew!

 

 

Thank you, now Singapore is a MUST visit one day place for me!

 

 

Best

 

Blomman

And I'm glad to see Vianney's watches !

Fr.Xavier

.. have aged very well. Classical but modern with interesting lines and case shapes. They just get better and better over time.

Andrew

......*sighs* as I live vicariously.

The Antiqua (for the steampunk streak in me), the Upside Down and the Breguet for me please...oh and I wouldn't mind your  watches, heh.

Thanks for the kind words, aptronym. I didn't know you were a steampunk fan! Although there have been a few, here are a couple of steampunk threads that should not be missed. I post the links in case you did!

Steampunk .

Watches as machines .

Regards

Andrew 

i think all the watch shops here are pretty similar with their line ups.

... yourself lucky to have access to so many brand boutiques as well as specialist authorized dealers. You would not find an independent watch on sale within 1000 Km of me. I agree that it can get repetitive in SG, but it's a problem I would be willing to put up with! ;-)

Andrew

Great photography Andrew. You really got around!

- SJX

Four Boutiques, an informal interview with Laurent Lecamp about his new brand "Klepcys" (report and photos to follow) and dinner all in the space of a few hours.

And I consider you one of the kings of watch photography, so I appreciate your kind comments. I am discovering that taking reasonable photos under boutique lighting is not so easy!

Andrew

Thanks for the tour Andrew. Don't be so hard on yourself the pics look great. Beautiful watches, there were more than just one Grail watch in that line up. Thanks for sharing!

Cheers
SamEE