SalonQP – The Watch Review Site Photo Diary – Part 4

So for Part 4 of our Photographic tour of SalonQP 2012, and we promise you will see the Zr012 Experiment Nitro-Glycerine this time, along with the Gronefeld One Hertz and a little Hermes plus a few more individual shots….

So as promised here it is in the flesh as it may be…. the C3H5N3O9 or Nitro-Glycerine Watch by the guys behind URWEK and MB&F as presented to us at SalonQP by Ian Skellern or Under the Dial as you may all know him.

The first photo is of the C3H5N3O9 on my wrist if you couldn’t guess

and now for a few more different angles of the Experiment on the wrist and against the odds and looks it fits superbly and comfortable on the wrist even my small 6 3/4 inch wrist, which by chance is exactly the same size as Ian’s, this great fit is all down to the moving top lug and positioning, but more on this in the full article coming soon on The Watch Review Site.

Just look at how it hugs the wrist below.

and the strap is nice too, and it closes by itself effectively no pressure required

Enough of the WOMW shots, as need to keep some back for the article and onto a few other photographs of this limited edition masterpiece, oh and we are told a Rose Gold version is in the pipeline…

As for that wankle movement here is a clear one for you movement fanatics, and watching it turn and move is a sight, its so perfectly balanced and needs to be.

We nearly forgot the caseback of the Experiment ZR012 C3H5N3O9 an piece of work itself, whereas the face and top of the case is very space age, mechanical and heavy looking, the case-back has been made more subtle more organic and animal like, softer to contrast the front of the watch but compliment it also.

and a close up of the Power reserve

I think that is enough to wet the apetite and from one fantastic and strange movement to another great movement made by the Gronfeld brothers Bart and Tim out of the Netherlands and the Gronefeld One Hertz, well a version of… First lets show you a number of Gronefeld watches including the Rose Gold GTM-06 all on show at SalonQp before we move onto the Titanium and Orange One Hertz Fire to give it the proper name

Here is a closer look at the Gronefeld GMT-06

And now for the Gronefeld One Hertz Fire…. Apt name based on the colouring of the dial and markers

and now for the movement on the One Hertz Fire, which I have to say is a lovely sight… if you have not guessed I’m a fan of a nice looking modern stylistic movement.

and again

The obligatory wrist shot, yes we do try and wear the watches we photograph so we can get a feel for the weight and comfort factor.

Moving on from Gronefeld as we can’t just keep showing you photo’s of the One Hertz Fire, so now we move onto Hermes, starting with a little look at the Hermes stand at SalonQP and the latest movement which enabled them to begin making ladies watches as Mechanical Automatics and not Quartz.

Now on to the watches that Hermes have to offer

and just one more Hermes automatic watch

Now that is nearly the end of our SalonQp Photo diary, just one more article to post tomorrow and that will include the likes of Jaeger-LeCoultre, Guiliano Mazzouli, Schofield Watch Company and Speake Marin…

SalonQP Photo Diary – Part 3

Well this is now becoming a Saga is it not, the third part of our SalonQP visit (Part 1 is here, and Part 2 here) has some fabulous highlights, including our hands on with Meridian Watches brand new watches launched at the show, along with some time with Gronefeld’s Titanium Orange and Black One Hertz Watch and its in house movement with it’s exceptional quartz like second hand. We also had a very special time with the Experiment ZR012 Nitro-Glycerine or C3H5N3O9 amongst others…

Ooh we forgot the Robert Loomes timepieces we spent a little time with, have to say Robert and his partner were very open and honest about their timepiece and its resilience a great team and would love to visit the manufacture soon to get an insight in the watch-making process of a pure breed fully British Watchmaker and thats even down to the movement an original adapted Smith… I think this is a good starting point for Part 3 of our Photo diary and here goes with the Robert Loomes Stand at SalonQP

and here is the men’s watch, known as the Robert Loomes Robin Watch as we said British from its heart all the way to the tips of the strap…

and for the ladies version, with a lovely striking purple strap

On to the movement, this has been hand engraved by Robert himself, he didn’t like the machine engraving which is present in his literature and was at odds to mention that to us… and he is right and as for his engraving work he has been self taught, yes.

As we said at he heart of the in watch is a 1950s English movement. Originally made by Smiths, this is the same mechanism that Sir Edmund Hillary famously carried to the summit of Everest entirely re-worked for the Robin watch.

Oh and the obligatory on the wrist shot

Sticking with the English or British theme lets get on to the Photographs with Meridian Watches, the New British based watch maker, who prides itself on everything being hand made in Great Britain, well everything except the base movement which is undoubtedly Swiss.

There are white or black dial variations, and Stainless Steel, Meridian Black ( not PVD, IP or DLC but a special formulated Meridian Black) and a Meridian Black Aged Version Case which is probably my Favourite. Just one more thing you have some with small seconds at 6 o’clock or 9 o’clock.

and here is the Meridian Black Aged Case Version on my Wrist  

and the SS case white dial on Simon of Meridian Watches Wrist too

and a little touch we like is the Crown which can be seen here…

As we are on the British theme we thought it may be appropriate to show you a little more of the Schofield Watch Company Stand and will issue Part 4 later with the ZR012 Experiment and a few more highlights of the show.

So here are some Schofield shots

Giles Ellis of Schofield with our Competition winner

Now for a couple of shots of both Giles and Matt doing what they enjoy at SalonQP

and we cant leave without having a shot of the watch itself, this is the Signalman DLC on the Wrist, not my wrist but Giles’s

Hope you enjoyed Part 3 and look out for Part 4 very soon with the ZR012, Gronefeld, Speake Marin to name a few… I think we have some JLC and Hermes too.

SalonQP – Our take in Photos.

By The Watch Review Site Team

Here is our take on SalonQP and the watchmakers we visited during our visit today, P.S. we did not have the camera on the Thursday evening reception but it was a fantastic night and thank you once again to James Gurney and QP Magazine for putting together such a great event…. Thanks guys and girls, much appreciated by the UK watch fraternity…

Well we have had the pleasure of attending SalonQP at the Saatchi Gallery on Thursday Evening and this afternoon, and thought it was time to let you into some of the watchmakers and people we bumped into on our travels…

Here is a little extract of the numerous photographs we took during our visit, we will be writing detailed takes on all of the below over the next few days/weeks. If anyone has a favourite please comment and we will prioritise.

Bell & Ross 

We were introduced to Simon Cudd B&R ambassador by the lovely danielle for those who don’t already know it, great to put a face and voice to a twitterati… youy can follow Simon on Twitter @SimonCudd

The Bell & Ross BR01-92   46mm Stainless Steel – We liked it even on my Piddly 6 3/4 inch baby wrists.

Bell & Ross BR03-94 Commando   42mm a little more appropriate for my wrist but I keep getting drawn to the BR01

Side by side but the photo doesn’t do the size difference justice, the BR01 on the left is a substantially bigger looking watch and I for one really like it, but either would do hint hint B&R… P.S one for Hands on Review would be much appreciated.

Moving on from B&R to Schofield and our friends Giles and Matt, do they talk the talk and actually they also walk the walk, Schofield as a brand and watchmaker has become a well known name within the watch community and for no small reason the Signalman is a fabulous timepiece and has received acclaimed reviews across the board… Not only do the guys give you a great watch but the entire package and ethos of Schofield and Giles is superb, the packaging, the strap options, the DLC, the travel case are all meticulously designed and constructed and no stone in unturned for unrivalled passion in their product… Good Job Guys and look forward to many more designs and concepts soon.

Schofield Watch Company – you can follow The Schofield Watch Company @SchofieldWatch on twitter

As for the Pics, here goes

The Schofield Guys, Matt Hopwood and Giles Ellis – Sorry guys about the photo but needs must….. 

Schofield Signalman GMT PR on the Wrist – 44mm diameter it’s a lovely piece and next delivery should be in for Feb/Mar 2013 available for pre order.

Schofield Signalman DLC on the Wrist – 44mm diameter I may prefer this one limited to 100 pieces again next delivery should be in for Feb/Mar 2013 available for pre order but selling out fast.

They said it’s hard to get a good photo due to the doomed sapphire crystal and AR coating, this is probably my best attempt.

One of the Schofield Displays at SalonQP

Revelation Watches

So far that is only 2 of the many watch brands and makers at SalonQP so moving on we got collared by (or should we say we collared) Revelation, now this Brand was new to us but we have been really take by their RO3 Chronograph, with a Dubois Dépraz movement decorated inhouse. But what makes this watch stand out other than its looks and feel is the fact that you can set the dial as Black or as seethrough so you may see the movement, hopefully the photos do it justice. Just one thing the watch we had on our wrist and is photographed below is a prototype and the final version is slightly different asthetically, the ones photographed in the case are the final design.

Revelation Ro3 – 45mm diameter in both SS and Black IP

Revelation R03 with Black dial – bezel set all the way to the left

Same Watch Revelation R03 but with bezel set all the way to the right so you can see internal movement.

We do really like these and will be giving you a lot more information on the Revelation Brand and its watches, because the R01 and R02 are also great pieces to write about, especially the tourbillon, with a balance wheel moving with the second indicator. Keep them peeled.

Oh we also visited URWERK and had a little time with the UR-210 and UR-1001 (now that’s a pocket watch and a weighty one at that)

URWERK UR-210 up close and personal – do we need to say more

URWERK UR-210 on the wrist 43.8mm wide & 53.6mm long

It’s surprisingly fits fabulously well and is extremely comfortable to wear which has a  lot to do with the setting of the strap pins and shape of the watch.

URWERK UR-210 caseback – a little easier to photograph under all those lights…

Moving on to the UR-1001 Pocket Watch, I just wish I had a set of scales to weigh it as it was hefty and weighty, you know you have a lump of mechanics when you pick this up.. But it is all about the movement as with teh UR-210 above.

Sorry about the reflections – But here is the UR-1001 Pocket Watch

Side by Side the URWERK masterpieces..

We also passed by our friends from Glashutte in Germany with both NOMOS Glashutte and Meister Singer Exhibiting at SalonQP, we took a few snaps of a couple of the pieces here

The NOMOS Glashutte Zurich – 39.7mm diameter.

One of the Nomos Teams latest timepieces with Blue dial, again photo doesn’t do the dial justice it is exceptional and a very clean cut simple wonderful watch.

NOMOS Zurich – Blue and Brown faces 

Now onto MeisterSinger another Glashutte representative and again clean timepieces but with Single hand, yes most of their pieces are single handed timepieces

MeisterSinger Singulator – 43mm diameter I know I said single hand and it is but it has two sub-dials which indicate the minutes and seconds too, for when a single hand just doesn’t do it…. Lovely timepiece fits well again even on bony wrists like mine.

This shows the dial and sub-dials a little clearer.

MeisterSinger Singular – this is a one hand Chronograph with pin needle second hand and minute  sub-dial

I’m probably edging on the side of boring at the moment so will quickly show you some snaps of our little vivist to Seiko and their GPS  Solar Astron and Tag Heuer, First SEIKO ASTRON

Now to Tag Heuer

SalonQP – the UK’s Only Fine Watch Exhibition

 
Following on from our initial SalonQP related article in respect of the Bremont Victory and Admiral Lord Nelson’s Pocket Watch we follow on with a look at what we can expect from this years extravaganza, along with a little background on the event too. 

Britain’s leading watch publication, QP Magazine, is pleased to announce that following record numbers of visitors and exhibitors at last year’s event, SalonQP, the UK’s only fine watch exhibition, is returning to the Saatchi Gallery on 8–10 November 2012.

SalonQP, the UK’s only event devoted to fine watchmaking, returns to the Saatchi Gallery this November for its fourth edition. Every year SalonQP showcases the very finest in contemporary horology, and 2012 will be no exception – renowned grandes maisons such as Jaeger-LeCoultre, Vacheron Constantin and Piaget will appear alongside a wealth of independent watchmakers including MB&F, Urwerk and Speake-Marin. Watch collectors, enthusiasts, commentators and industry insiders alike will gather to handle, consider and discuss nearly 1,000 pieces from the world’s leading brands.

As in previous years, the event promises to introduce the newest watches and brands to the UK as well as feature a programme of demonstrations and discussions from the brightest and best in contemporary watchmaking. Up close and personal – that’s the joy of SalonQP. No sales pressure, just the brands, their watchmakers and their watches. SalonQP is a unique opportunity for watch aficionados to gather and pore over the latest and the greatest in the world of watchmaking, here in the unique settings of the Saatchi Gallery, London – there is nothing quite like it.

This year SalonQP will host a number of intimate roundtable talks, with Maria Doulton, of The Jewellery Editor, running two discussions highlighting women’s watches. What’s more, there will be a preview screening of The Watchmaker’s Apprentice, a film about the late Dr George Daniels CBE MBE – one of the greatest watchmakers of the past 200 years – and his only apprentice, Roger W Smith. The film includes the last ever interview with Daniels himself. Special tickets have just been released to view the film on the afternoon of Friday 9 November, featuring an exclusive introduction by Roger Smith.

As for the watches themselves, SalonQP is a unique event providing a relaxed atmosphere and the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the world’s best timepieces with no sales pressure. To give you a taste of what to expect at the event, we have listed below a small sample of this year’s highlights:

• Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Sphérotourbillon. Widely considered best in show at SIHH, this watch is sure to draw crowds at SalonQP. Part of the brand’s Duomètre line, it employs a ‘dual-wing’ design using two separate power sources – one for timekeeping and one for regulation/complications.

• TAG Heuer’s MikrotourbillonS. A UK launch exclusive, TAG Heuer will present the MikrotourbillonS at SalonQP. CEO Jean-Christophe Babin justly boasts, “We set a new record for a mechanical chronograph with the Mikrograph. For the first time ever we’ve combined the ultimate precision of 1/100th of a second with the ultimate accuracy that only a tourbillon can guarantee.” Get your cameras at the ready!

• Urwerk’s UR-210. In another exclusive, SalonQP will be the first opportunity for fans of the eternally future-looking Urwerk house to experience their jaw-dropping new UR-210 ‘in the metal’. With previous design inspiration ranging from the Apollo Space Programme to Duchamp, this latest model is sure to challenge and engage. Details are still strictly embargoed for this remarkable piece but suffice to say, it will knock your cogs off.

• Harry Winston’s Opus 12. Continuing the Opus tradition of working with only the most extraordinary craftsmen, this piece was designed in collaboration with Emmanuel Bouchet. Daring to be different, this masterpiece features no hour or minute hand.

Opening its doors on Thursday 8 November with a VIP reception, the exhibition continues throughout Friday 9 and Saturday 10, including the Legend of Kremlin Vodka Cocktail Reception on the Friday evening.

You can follow further SalonQP announcements as the roster of stunning watches continues to evolve, on Twitter at @salonqp.

All images and photographs courtesy of SalonQP

A Wankle Movement Timepiece by C3H5N3O9 – The ZR012

C3H5N3O9 is a new company/marque created by the conglomeration of Felix Baumgartner & Martin Frei of URWERK and Max Büsser & Serge Kriknoff of MB&F with the sole purpose of experimenting with different and more far fetched ideas, concepts and creations without imposing on their respective brands. It’s not often we see such a collaboration between competing watchmakers, but the outcome of this collaboration may mean its the way forward for maybe some other luxury brands that want to push the boat out and try something new without detriment to their own brand.

Yes it may be a costly excercise to launch a new brand just for concepts and ideas, but its minute compared to the cost it could have by derailing an existing well known and reputable high end luxury brand. Don’t forget the costs of designing, engineering and creating the timepieces would be the same under the brand name or new company so the only additional costs are brand marketing and awareness, which can be high but again C3H5N3O9 have also taken a new stance on this too, by simply setting up a website, utilising their existing teams I assume and then touting the watch out to a number of their contacts within the watch world and watch writing world. Then they sit back and watch it roll…..

So is this the way forward for high end Swiss Marque’s or is this just the boys of MB&F and URWERK Experimenting…

So C3H5N3O9 was born (Oh the name is the chemical make up of nitroglycerin) and the result has been the Experiment ZR012 and RG012, both the same model with the only differential being the material used for the case ZR being zirconium and RG being 18k Red Gold, and yes they call the watches Experiment ZR012 nad Excperiment RG012.

Experiment ZR012 by C3H5N3O9 features Wankel engine (most popularly known for its use in the Mazda RX8) inspired hour and minute indications in an asymmetrical zirconium case with articulated and compound lugs. As can be seen the watch has taken influences from both marques, we see elements of both brands in both the case and movement.

The press release says “At first glance the time appears to be indicated by centrally rotating triangular rotors; however, the triangles are actually Reuleaux polygons; they rotate eccentrically rather than centrally and track complex epitrochroid curves rather than circles. The system was inspired by the Wankel engine, which features orbital Reuleaux polygon rotors rather than the reciprocating pistons that power the majority of our cars and machines today.”

In laymen’s terms you can read the hours using the lower red marker with markings between 0 and 12 and minutes on the smaller and upper red marker on the two triangularish shaped cogs or discs, with marking 0 to 60 and individual minute markers inbetween. The photo below shows the time as 8.28

As we understand it the movement was the brain child of the URWERK part of the collaboration, as they had the wankle concept sitting on the drawing board without taking it further, which they have done in the ZR012 this C3H5N3O9 initial offering.

As for the case a little space agey maybe, well this was the MB&F concept with independent designer Eric Giroud, It is 55mm long, 44mm wide and 17mm deep, throwing in the lugs it is 75mm long, 47mm wide and 25mm deep.  The lugs are articulated at the front and compound on the rear to wrap ergonomically around the wrist and ensure a greater comfort level on the wrist.

Moving onto the caseback we have a power reserve indicator which adds to the llok and feel of the timepiece. The movement is manually wound and has a 39 hour power reserve. We also see a large screw down crown present for the watches winding and time setting as normal.

Are we seeing a new luxury brand in the watchmaking fraternity or is this just an Experiment of grand scales…. 

Both parties state that “C3H5N3O9 is an experimental platform, not a luxury brand”.

For those interested the ZR012 and Rg012 are available direct from C3H5N3O9 and are being made in limited editions of 12 pieces each at a price of 110,000 Swiss Francs, thats approx. £72,500 GBP and $115,000 USD. To order you need to place a 33,000 Swiss Franc Deposit. For more info why not visit the C3H5N3O9 website

C3H5N3O9 Experiment ZR012 – Technical Details

Experiment ZR012 is an edition of 12 pieces in zirconium
Hours and minutes are indicated by two Wankel engine inspired Reuleaux polygon rotors tracing epitrochoid curves

Case
Dimensions without lugs: 55mm x 44mm
Case and lugs: Zirconium case with titanium lugs
Number of case components: 60
Compound front lug, articulated rear lug
Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment both side
Water resistance: 30m – 100’ – 3atm
Strap and buckle: Brown calf leather strap. Titanium and white gold folding buckle.

Movement
Movement dimensions: 32.65mm x: 41.35mm: 11.55 mm

Number of components: 328

Number of jewels: 42

Manual winding

Power reserve: 39h

Balance frequency: 28’800

Finishing: satin finishing, sandblasted, circular graining on movement, black PVD treated components, black ruthenium treated components

Number of plots to create epitrochoids for hours and minutes: 180

Tolerance between hour and minute indication rotors and inside of epitrochoids: 0.20mm

In a Watch World Far, Far Away: Futuristic Watches

The Watch review site presents articles written by Meehna Goldsmith The Watch Lady

Written by Meehna Goldsmith

Watch Review Futuristic Watches 

From Time Machine and Brave New World to Star Wars, Blade Runner and The Matrix, we are fascinated by the future. Usually, these worlds are portrayed as post-apocalyptic nightmares where the human species is undone by their own doing. An everyman, our hero or heroine, bucks against the evil system in power to save humanity.  Win some, lose some.

Urwerk Zeit Device UR-1001

 On planet earth, we measure our lives against the clock of hours, minutes and seconds. The perpetual calendar allows for the counting of years. But in the universe’s time, a hundred years is just a drop in the sands of time, which Ikepod interprets with their Hour Glass. Yet, the universe knows no bounds in terms of time. The earth is billions of years old. So how does one account for and capture this infinite expanse in a timepiece?