Baselworld/SIHH

It has been a long time since my last post. A new professional challenge with lots of travelling and my family with small kids are my priorities. I was very happy to be able to spend one day at the Baselworld.

Here are some impression in chronologic order - I will post them without further redo and will revisit some brands in more details later on.

Morning: what watch to wear today? Ok, lets take the vintage Helvetia which is never wrong, because the brands doesn't exist anymore. However....wrong date, it shows the 27th.  after five minutes....still some work to do...(the two discs move from 31to 32 and so on...)

ok, finally ready to go!

on the highway towards Basel...a nice spring day

arrived. Just before 10 am....

time for a coffee! Ok, off we go...first to the AHCI booth...

Lang and Heyne from Dresden.

Paul Gerber shows a few pieces with Japanese Porcelain dials. Fascinating. More information to follow.

Romain Gauthier.

L'Epee. This would make a nice addition to my desk.

This one oven more so: L'Epee for MB&F

Chinese Enamel painting from Beijing.

Karl Voutilainen

Frank Jutzi (AHCI)

Dubey & Schaldenbrand

Dubey & Schaldenbrand

Appointment with H. Moser & Cie. The new Venturer...

dome sapphire crystal

new movement with 3 days power reserve (prototype decoration)

Perpetual 1 with DLC coated black titanium case

movement with blackened bridges.

END OF PART 1

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the pictures are really not as good as I hoped, but I guess you get the idea. I will post some more information on the new Moser models later this month

Best

Stefan

I'm eager to see photos of the slate grey dial Venturer.  Does it have some blue in it?  Did they mention when they expect to have them in ADs (specifically US for me)?

I have no photos of the slate grey dial.  can only offer the press photos. At any rate, the slate dial looks stunning. A very classy combination.

best

Stefan.

I love Indies !!

Wasn't familiar with the term....and had to look it up. But you are right, the Indies or Independents are the most interesting part of Baselworld, IMO. Given an unlimited budget, I would be more than happy to buy only Indies.

Best

Stefan

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One day in Basel – Part 2

 

Before we are moving to the “Palace”, where many of the smaller and creative companies are located…..

…how about an addtion to your iPhone? (sorry, I didn’t note the brand).

It doubles as wrist-watch, if you don’t mind to stand out of the crowd J

 

Ok, now we are at the Palace, a kind of a high-end tent structure which houses some of the most interesting brands of the Baselworld.

First I am stopping at Antoine Martin, where founder and CEO Martin Braun introduces  the news. This is a Tourbillon Big Date, which was actually introduced in 2013 , and can be considered the smaller brother of the Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon.

High end moveent with the AM trademark big balance wheel and very technical, but in my eyes attractive movement layout and finish.

 

Here is the new masterpiece by Martin Braun: The Tourbillon Astronomique. Tourbillon with very large balance wheel that features the following indications: 3D moon, sunrise and sunset dials, star sign, equation of time, day and night indication. On the backside, there is a small world map with an indication of the declination.  I am sure I must have forgot some functionalities. Limited to 12 pieces

Next to AM is Arnold & Son. Personally, I like this brand, especially the instrument collection. First is the DSTB (Dial Side True Beat), a limited version (50 pcs) to celebrate 250 years of Arnold & Son. Self winding movement diameter 38 mm, domed and white lacquered dial, RG case 43.5 mm.

Another novelty is the CTB (Chronograph True Beat). Movement diam. 30.4 mm, NAC grey treated, stainless steel case 44 mm. The true beat hand and the chronograph hand give leave the impression of a split second chronograph.

Another True Beat model, with retrograde date indication.

Another interesting brand – or rather watchmaker – is Konstantin Chaykin from Russia. The watch shown here is called Carpe Diem. The main character on the watch is the ancient god Chronos, who had birthed time, th first element of creation.  Hour indication on the small dial, minute indication by the hourglass, day of the week indicator on the right hand side (next to the crown – indication by the astrological  sign)

A lady watch by Konstantin Chaykin with “mysterious” time

Urban Juergensen: platinum case, enamel dial and chronometer escapement. A dream of every collector.

 

 

Even more exclusive: Tourbillon minute repeater in platinum.

Lehmann Schrammberg (form the blackforest region in Germany). I must admit that I really like the details of this watch. The stunning blue dial, the inhouse dial, the perfectly matching color of the date disc and so on….

Movement side: note the fixation of the strap and the rotor with a saphir disc providing undisturbed view of the movement.

 

Here is the famous Winter Nights for PuristS by G&S The dial is made of damascene steel, that shows wonderful patters in various colors. Made inhouse.

Movement side. A smaller watch with an automatic movement was also shown.

 

A nice watch by the French manufacture Peguinet. An interesting alternative to other more known brands

 

Finally Manufacture Contemporaire du Temps. Stunning pieces IMO. This year, a new movement featuring the same rotating elements cased in a round watch was shown.

 

END OF PART 2

 

if the 12-hr and date dials were reversed in size.  From a functional perspective, who needs a date dial that dwarfs the time dial?  If it's purely novelty, I'd think they lose potential sales with the configuration as shown.  They have mine.  Argh.

It doesn't make sense. To their defence, AS&S has other nice models with truebeat seconds. The Chronograph looks very nice indeed.

Best

Stefan

Hi,

For one day in basel.  I spend 4 days and never feel like I can spend time with everyone and you have taken great pics which

require sit downs with each company.

I have an off topic question....can you tell the story of your Helvetia?  I spend alot of time in the vintage

world but have no reference of your model. 

Thanks!

Finally, part 3 is ready.

The last visit at the “Palace” was MB&F. Famous for their watches in futuristic design, MB&F also offers a collection called the “Legacy Machines” which would be my preferred choice. This year, a new version of the legacy machine was shown. See Don Carson’s excellent report for more details and outstanding pictures. (Don, you have to teach me  how to take such great photos!)

ahci.watchprosite.com =

 The Legacy Machine Nr.1 Xia Hang Performance Art piece features a small alien figure which bows or raises his head depending on the state of the power reserve

Legacy Machine LM 2

Moving  to the main exhibition hall where the big brands are.

New PP stand - is the message transparency but also privacy for its guests? At any rate an progressive concept.

New Patek Philippe Nautilus Travel Time Chronograph Ref. 5990/1A. See also the following post:

basel.watchprosite.com

New PP 5960/1A-001 with steel bracelet.

The PP enamel versions are simply stunning. I have no suitable words to describe them.

 
I never imagined I could get fascinated by the feathers of birds. But I spent a lot of time admiring the vivid colours, the various shades, nuances and reflections on the dial.

PP 5077P-100 St. Pierre Cathedral, Geneve in PT. White enamel applied on a dark base using a fine brush or a needle. This technique is apparently called "Grisaille du blanc Limoges". There is always something to learn....

Dome table clock PP 1670M in amber tinted Bacchart crystal. Entirely hand engraved - approx. 60 - 70 hours of engraving by a "meilleurs ouvrier de France" - a high distinction awarded to the best craftsman of France. Unique piece.

PP 1647M. Domed table clock painted in cloisonné enamel inspired by a illustration of the Vevey wine festival I1905. Unique Piece.

Moving to Jaquet Droz

GRANDE SECONDE QUANTIEME in Steel with cotes des Geneves. Atractive entry level offerings of JD in my opinion,

JD is famous for is artistic dials.  PETITE HEURE MINUTE PAILLONNEE. A dream and a piece of art.

Another beautiful piece. THE ECLIPSE IVORY ENAMEL. Did I mention that I am fond of enamel dials? Also available in black enamel, mother of pearl and onyx dials.

GRANDE HEURE GMT with ivory coloured enamel dial.

Petite Heure fishes from the Atelier d'Art collection

END OF PART 3