Another Year, Another Fab Salon QP has opened its Doors……

SalonQP is with us once again, and at its fabulous location of the Saatchi Gallery on Kings Road in London. Tonight 6th November 2014 is its opening Night and by some strange and unfortunate coincidence I double booked and was unable to attend…. maybe something to do with my Birthday, How inconsiderate of my mother all those (cough… cough…) years ago. But I will be there tomorrow, woo hoo.

Well we thought we would give you a little insight on what you can expect from London’s very own Fine Watch Show, this may not be exactly what you expect as we are going to try and look at some of the less publicised exhibitors along with the usual fabulous stalwarts of the show and fast becoming the UK’s go to watch guys.

So let’s begin with some of the more common known names to our readers Bremont – this fabulous British Institution (well it’s getting there) will be showing its wares at SalonQP again this year and I’m sure anyone attending will be welcomed as always by the Bremont team and Brothers, I’m personally looking forward to get to grips with the Bremont Boeing colab-watch,  I just really like the crisp clean look of this watch and along with other c0llaborations Bremont has achieved a fantastic timepiece in my opinion.

I do hope the Bremont collection makes it’s way to the Show, as production is on way and deliveries are expected in December… if its not we will still be able to take an up close and personal look at the Jaguar and Chivas Regal collaboration watches along with the lovely Wright Flyer Limited edition Timepiece too.

Yes, that’s the watch that has the new Movement in it and caused a bit of stir after its launch in July… In House movement or NOT… that’s all been cleared up now and a little miscommunication or words taken out of context a little shouldn’t take away from the fact that bremont have moved on with manufacturing watches in the UK and made great strides in getting the UK watchmaking industry back on track, So the Wright Flyer and it’s Part Developed and Designed movement the BWC/01 which will be making their debut at SalonQP. They have been busy in Henley this last year… Sticking with UK Watchmakers/designers and ones that have made significant strides in the past year and first time exhibitors and a Watch Review Site Favourite we have Christopher Ward, this affordable watch manufacturer has again in collaboration with Swiss watchmakers and ateliers, which they now own have created there own in house movement the SH21 which is housed in the C9 Harrison 5 Day Automatic which was launched in July 2014.

The C9 Harrison 5 Day is a lovely piece and stands along the C900 Single Pusher which we have reviewed hands on and the C9 Jumping Hour and C900 Worldtimer which both have Christopher Ward JJ movement which have been designed and made by a wiz of a watchmaker Johannes Jahnke, who you could meet at SalonQP and see him at work….

Here’s some of the collection you could be feasting your eye’s upon at SalonQP over the next few days from Christopher Ward.

Moving on but sticking with the UK, we have our lovely and formidable Giles Ellis from Schofield Watches…. Schofield has always Launched a watch at Salon QP and this year is no different with the introduction of the Beater, which comes in three metals… Bronze, Titanium and Steel and here is a photo from Schofield Watches own twitter feed of the watches from today’s SalonQP.

The Beater has been launched at SalonQP and the first look at these new creations by Schofield Watches was this evening, again a bad reason to miss tonight’s event, but I cant wait to get hands on tomorrow.

So The guys that brought us The Signalman, Signalman DLC and Blacklamp, with that fabulous case have stepped on again using more materials. Its not only the watches you get from Schofield its an experience when you purchase one of their timepieces, the selection of fabulous straps are amazing, not to mention the torches, pen knives and other accessories they have come up with, the latest being  a Schofield Pen, all of these accessories are made using only the finest materials and workmanship.

As I said I cant wait to see what Giles has up his sleeve for next year, but first tomorrow.

With time catching up to me, I thought I’d sneak in just a couple more for you to consider visiting…. well I would definitely visit the next two at SalonQP.

First up is a Belgium based brand who I first come across in Basel last year even though they have been around a tad longer than that… Raidillon 55.

Raidillon is a Belgium brand named after a corner/curve on the old Spa circuit, and the 55 was the maximum number of cars allowed to race on the Old Spa Race Track, so a very apt name for a race inspired watch brand.

All of the Raidillon watch collections are powered by Swiss Movements and the majority are Chronographs and come in 38mm and 42mm cases. Another great aspect is that all Raidillon watches come in strict limited editions of 55 pieces a very nice touch in my eyes, and they are priced well for the quality of design, build and movement.

Raidillon 55 are a first time exhibitor at SalonQP and as I understand it are a first time exhibitor in the UK, so its a great opportunity to get hands on with these great watches and see for yourself what I’m banging on about.

Think of it this way I have decided to add them to a post which has three of the best British watch brands we have available to us today so that must mean something… I hope.

Here’s a look at some of their pieces.

And the final place I would like to tell you to visit during SalonQP and its a must for all watch aficionados and that stand is Wolf… Wolf Watch Winders, I personally have one and they are great and fabulous value for money.

Oh and another of our favourites who will be there is Nomos Glashutte, again another must visit watch stand for the pure simplicity of design and fabulous cases, along with some amazing German Glashutte engineering.

I’m sure I’ve missed a few, probably a lot but I will give you a greater insight tomorrow.

Due to time and needing some sleep before venturing to SalonQP tomorrow I leave it there, but will be tweeting photos and providing a review of the event over the weekend, So why not tune back in to The Watch Review Site and see what I get up to at London’s only Fine Watch Show….

Small is beautiful — from Glashütte

The Nomos Glashutte Orion 33 Rose Timepiece

As with usual Nomos Glashutte tradition we have another pre christmas launch, this year it is one for the ladies with the Orion 33 Rose, In the words of Nomos themselves

“It has become a kind of Christmas tradition by now: in time for the festive season we introduce a new model. This year’s Christmas surprise will certainly put a smile on women’s faces. We introduced our wristwatch Orion 33 rosé at SalonQP at the beginning of November—and of course I’d like to share the information with you too.  We hope you’ll like our latest model!”

Press Release by Nomos Glashutte

This year’s celebration will be in rosé. More delicate, yet decidedly grown up—that’s this year’s Christmas watch from NOMOS Glashütte. A present that lasts through time Glashütte, November 2012.

Under the tree in plenty of time: Orion 33 rose is the name of the new little sister of the familiar Glashutte watch—and it is this year’s Christmas surprise from NOMOS Glashutte. The youngest member of the 33 family looks like the original Orion with its gently curved case and fine stainless steel lunette. But it is smaller—and seems even flatter than other hand-wound watches from NOMOS Glashutte. With a diameter of just 33 millimeters, it is especially becoming on delicate wrists. The light rose hue of the dial—bove every suspicion of kitsch—latters the skin and eye and goes with velvet or silk, cord or tweed. A Sunday-best watch for every day, optically delicate and technically very robust.

All this makes the new Orion 33 rose from NOMOS Glashutte the perfect surprise for your savvy sister, your best girlfriend, your best beloved, and all the other fantastic women in your life. And it’s a gift that lasts— lifetime and longer.

Starting in November, this new model will be available for 1320 pounds from the best authorized watch retailers in the UK and at www.nomos-store.com.

Nomos Orion 33 Rose – Technical details

Movement: α (Alpha)—anufactory caliber with manual winding

Case: stainless steel, tripartite;

Diameter 32.8 mm; Height 8.54 mm

Domed sapphire crystal glass;

Domed sapphire crystal glass exhibition case back,

Dial: galvanized, silver-plated, rose; stamped indexes, diamond-polished, gold

Hands: steel, gold-plated

Water resistant to 3 atm or 30m

Strap: velour

Reference number 325

Baselworld watches: Dare to be different

27 February 2012 | By Alex Doak

The labyrinthine halls of BaselWorld reward their more adventurous visitors with a host of hidden gems and less-trumpeted oddballs. Alex Doak reveals the quirkier corners of the Messe

Titanic-DNA Chrono Tourbillon by Romain Jerome
Just in time for the centenary of the doomed White Star Line vessel, Romain Jerome is launching a new flagship (pun intended) for its signature Titanic-DNA Collection. A rare watch, each of the three steel, black PVD or red gold versions will be issued in a mere nine-piece limited edition. The metal of the bezel, which fuses materials from Titanic that were recovered from the depths of the Atlantic and steel from the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast where it was built, is deliberately rusted and stabilised in its corroded form. Combined with the open-worked mechanical wonders whirring away within, Romain Jerome’s distinct ‘steampunk’ aesthetic has evolved spectacularly, whether you find the whole conceit tasteful or not.

H1 by HYT
There’s always at least one so-crazy-it-has-to-be-seen concept at BaselWorld. You can rely on TAG Heuer on a virtually annual basis, joined in recent years by Chanel and its dial-side crown and Concord’s outrageous liquid-power-reserve C1 QuantumGravity. So it’s no surprise that Concord’s former chief executive, Vincent Perriard, is behind new brand HYT, whose H1 indicates time with a capillary of two immiscible liquids, pumped back and forth by two hydraulic bellows. Horological think tank of the moment Chronode SA is behind the movement, fresh from similarly mind-boggling projects for watch brands MB&F, Urban Jürgensen & Sønner and Harry Winston.

Zürich by Nomos Glashütte
A brand finally enjoying the success it deserves in the UK at the hands of distributor The Alexander Collections, Nomos Glashütte’s Bauhaus beauties could well be the best-value ‘manufacture’ watches on the market. They start at well under £1,000 – something to do with the fact this quirky German company has chosen to reinvest in R&D during its 20-year lifespan, rather than marketing or advertising. Nomos’s top-end Zürich is the first of two Hannes Wettstein-designed watches featured on these pages. It has an iF Design Award already under its belt, and a new steel case back version launches this year for the more budget-conscious collector.

Picture 001

Galet Secret Tourbillon Double Spiral by Laurent Ferrier
It’s the Chinese Year of the Dragon, so given the watch world’s massive reliance on the Asian market as the western economy limps on, it’s no wonder that we’re seeing a flock of fire-breathing timepieces at BaselWorld. This piece from Laurent Ferrier is particularly clever – as you’d expect from a man who, up until a few years ago, served as head of product development at Patek Philippe for 37 years. Either on demand, or in passing, a 240º aperture is unfurled, revealing a beautiful, ivory-coloured grand feu enamel dial on gold with a hand-painted dragon. But if that doesn’t impress you, there’s a double-spiral tourbillon ticking away inside, not that Ferrier would ever be so crass as to show it through the dial. You can take the boy out of Patek…

ALT1-WT World Timer by Bremont
If you’re veering from the beaten path to see Fortis, a visit to the Swissotel by Hall 4 is also recommended. Here you’ll find BaselWorld’s other must-see satellite brand, Bremont, whose ebulliently English English brothers are sure to offer you a warm welcome and – at last – a decent cup of tea. Bremont has only been going for 10 years, but its rugged aviator chronographs are strapped to wrists in theatres of war the world over. The ALT1-WT is the first world timer from the British brand, a civilian version of a watch they designed specifically for C-17 Globemaster transporter crews, which debuted last year at SalonQP.

Mach 2000 Marquise By Lip
The 1970s revival continues apace this year, and it’s arguably thanks to the influence of Lip and its searingly original, but ultimately futile last-ditch launches of 1974 and 1975. Even nowadays, the watch world is relatively bereft of big-name designers (something to do with the closed nature of the Swiss industry) but France’s biggest manufacturer, faced with trades union turmoil and liquidation, took the unusual step of enlisting no less than six industrial designers to try to jump-start its fortunes. Famous for drafting the seminal lines of SNCF’s TGV train, Roger Tallon, who died in October last year, was the most out-there, and his D-shaped Mach 2000 watches have proven to be the most enduring for Lip’s modern revival at the hands of Manufacture Generale Horlogere.

Carbon Fibre Drass by Anonimo
Once unfairly known as the ‘poor man’s Panerai’, owing to its adoption of the Richemont brand’s Florentine case and strap-making facilities when Panerai moved to Switzerland, Anonimo has transcended the fashionability of its forebear with aplomb. It has earned countless professional endorsements thanks to its bulletproof casing and fantastic value. This new three-hander model features on-trend carbon fibre elements, but instead of the usual DLC or PVD coating, its steel case is sandblasted in a proprietary process called Drass. The alpha male’s choice.

Tread 1 Version F by Devon Works
Devon Works is a design lab dedicated to creating innovative luxury products that exemplify the American spirit, from supercars to superbikes and now superwatches. The Tread 1 is an audacious spider’s web of nylon conveyor belts driven by four tiny microstep motors. It was nominated for the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2010 for Best Design and Concept Watch – the first time a US watch brand had ever been included. New for 2012 is Version F, picked out in orange. Plus, still veiled in secrecy at the time of press is its follow-up, Tread 2, another micro-mechanical wonder developed within the US aerospace industry’s network of suppliers and engineers. These watches have to be seen to be believed.

24 Hour by MeisterSinger
Another cult brand in the making, MeisterSinger’s USP is almost agonisingly simple: a single hour hand, with a fine enough point to read off the minutes between the hour indices. The use of the musical ‘fermata’, or ‘pause’ symbol, as its logo reflects MeisterSinger’s guiding philosophy of a more relaxed perception of time – no frantic sweep seconds dials here – and the new 24 Hour takes things one step slower. Now you can see the whole day at a glance, giving the wearer the chance to focus on the important things in life.

Alarm Chrono GMT by Fortis
Fortis is a BaselWorld satellite brand but it is well worth the two-minute stroll from Hall 2 to the Dorint Hotel. Fortis has irresistible action-man credentials that extend all the way into orbit, on the wrists of Mir’s cosmonauts. The brand’s 100th anniversary this year will be marked by a number of special, but always utilitarian, pieces – most notably this, the world’s first alarm automatic chronograph GMT, found in Fortis’s F-43 Flieger line.

Sparc MGS by Ventura
Often overlooked or simply unbeknown to visitors of BaselWorld is the Palace – a huge marquee behind the car park containing niche, independent brands that are too cool for school (or rather the stuffy Académie Horlogère Des Créateurs Indépendants in Hall 5). Make sure you see MB&F, Urwerk, Ressence and personal favourite Ventura – a luxury digital brand finally revived last year after a worrying hiatus. Fronted by Pierre Nobs, Ventura was the first to make an automatically wound digital watch in 2000, packaged in achingly hip Jetsons style by Hannes Wettstein.

Korona K0 by Sarpaneva
Son of Finnish jewellery designer Pentti Sarpaneva and nephew of iconic product designer Timo, Stepan Sarpaneva was destined for a life of creativity and craftsmanship. He graduated from The Finnish School of Watchmaking – a surprisingly prolific feeder for the Swiss industry – and cut his teeth at Piaget and Parmigiani, among many others. Stepan moved back home in 2003 to concentrate on his own Gothic-brutalist designs, inspired by the melancholy of the Finnish winter, working alone from a corner of Nokia’s abandoned cable factory. The Korona K0 is his first sporty piece, water resistant to 300m.

Giant Black by Mondaine
Like Mini, whose modern incarnation of a design classic has evolved into a full-blown brand in itself, Mondaine has, in its 20 short years, taken its wrist-born tribute to the Swiss Railways Clock down all manner of avenues, while always preserving the spirit of Hans Hilfiker’s classic 1944 design. This year’s sumptuous 42mm-diameter Giant, equipped with a Ronda quartz movement, tells us that black on black is still a hot trend for 2012.

Force 4 Shadow by Offshore Limited
Offshore Limited is a new French fashion brand that you’ll find over in Hall 2 at BaselWorld. It is currently enjoying huge success among the Euro jetset crowd
as a fun but high-end holiday or weekend watch. Designed with an eye for extreme sports, the watches are equally at home on the piste, the quaysides of St Tropez or the buzzy nightspots off the Champs-Élysées.
The chunky proportions and exuberant colours are all bang on trend, and given the pieces’ weighty build
quality, you’ll be hard pushed to find a better alternative to TechnoMarine, which seems to have dominated this niche for too long.

Source: http://www.retail-jeweller.com/products/watches/baselworld-watches-dare-to-be-different/5034235.article