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SalonQP – UK’s Fine Watch Event in Photos – Part Two

D Constant — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 22:48:52 +0000

Our Take of SalonQP in Photos -Part Two…

Well if you follow us on Twitter and Facebook you will know we have been out and about at SalonQP at The Saatchi Gallery in London from Thursday evening through to yesterday, The Watch Review Site has already brought you some shots from the event, here are a few more to get to grips with.

So where shall we start today, well maybe with a few photographs of the event itself,

and here we have the Bell and Ross Stand with Community Ambassador Simon Cudd and Danielle…

and another

And this is Simon Cudd doing what he does best…. No not the one above but the one below on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram getting the Bell & Ross name out there as always.

moving on from B&R to the Bremont Stand at SalonQP

With a Bremont Pocket Watch, I do have to say they do put together a good stand at Bremont, Innovative, always something to look at and friendly as pie…

It’s a really nice piece we think… and here are a few more of the Bremont stand

and Don’t Forget the Bremont Victory on my Wrist…

and here is another taster of the Victory Watch, we will be issuing a detailed analysis of the Bremont Victory soon on The Watch Review Site

Moving on from our friends from Bremont Watch Company to DeBethune and William and Son of London who represent a number of brands and watchmakers out of their Mount Street Outlet.

and now for the De Bethune DB28, a nice watch not dissimilar in shape to the ZR012 Experiment Nitro Glycerine, or URWERK UR-200 series with their strange case lug fitments is that a far as they go in similarity, bearing in mind the movements and independent background of the later two… We have had the hands on pleasure with all, yes all including the Nitro Glycerine and UR-210.

Looking at it again, OK the crown is on the top and Lugs are different but that’s really it in comparison’s, anyway here are a few more pic’s of the DB28

and the back

We will do a more personal review on the De Bethune DB28 later on in the coming weeks… For now here are a few more De Bethune timepieces on show at SalonQP.

And now for a treat for the attendees at SalonQP, Vacheron Constantin had an engraving and enamelling positions within there stand and allowed the general public to even get to grips with the engraver and bearing in mind it is one of only 5 (I think that is what they said) in the world, it is something to be very proud of for Vacheron Constantin and SalonQP for getting it here to the event. We managed to get some photo’s for you of the engraving machine and enameller

and here is a little close up..

and a member of the public using the engraver

and now for the enamelling

I think that will be enough for now, but look out for more tomorrow on our adventure at SalonQP in pictures, we have a little hands on with the new Meridian Watches, British hand made watches and sticking to the British theme we have some great shots of the Robert Loomes offerings, and that is fully British made even down to the movement, we have not seen this for over 40 years… Along with a little more form our friends at Schofield Watch Company and even some Jaeger-LeCoultre and the link with Aston Martin.

Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Contemporaine Ref 81180

Martin Green — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:06:36 +0000

Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Contemporaine reference 81180 – Do we need more?

Written by Martin Green
Sometimes high end watch making seems like an endless challenge of making watches as complicated as possible. Especially in the last decade we’ve run out of complications to combine, since everything has already been tried. So we come up with different ways of showing the time or speeding up hands to such an extent that probably in a year of two you can hear a loud bang from under the crystal of your watch, created by a hand that went through the sound barrier as soon as you engaged its chronograph.

True classics die hard, but sometimes a dash of current times can do even a classic good!

Stuff of dreams but about as necessary as sugar coated cherry on top of your apple sauce, since most occasions in life are perfectly served by a simple, elegant watch with two hands. One hand is inconvenient but three or more hands only add stress. Many brands are still making such watches, often in color combinations that are as classical as a pair of Brogues with rib cord pants. Yellow gold and off white dials still reign supreme in this part of the watch world. But there are other options. One of them is the magnificent Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Contemporaine reference 81180.

40mm of contemporary delight! picture by Alex Ghotbi

The case of the 81180 is all in platinum, which still represents a minor part of the market. Although demand is increasing only 2.6 percent of all Swiss watches were made out of this metal in 2004 (source Johnson Matthey). A pity because not only is platinum very exclusive, this metal also has a warm, soft glow that sets it apart from the less regal white gold, not to mention the plebeian steel! By being a white metal you can dress it up or dress it down just as easily as you change your own wardrobe.

Vacheron Constantin even helps you by equipping the Patrimony 81180 with a grey dial. A regal companion when you wear your pinstripe, while almost sporty looking when you jump into your 501’s! It also gives the watch a sense of unity yet without being boring or old fashioned. That is of course also why Vacheron Constantin added “Contemporaine” to this watch name, though probably in reference to to its size! No 34, 36 or even 38mm diameter but a healthy 40mm! That gives wrist presence but also offers Vacheron Constantin with a slight dilemma.

The brand is one of the royals when it comes to the production of ultra slim movements, and the Vacheron Constantin 81180 has one in it, the manual wind caliber 1400 to be precise. A dream of a caliber that is about half the diameter of the whole watch: 20.65mm! Although sapphire case backs are all the rage, Vacheron Constantin fortunately thought that a closed case back was a better option than to fill up the extra space with a huge (platinum) spacer. Some might call it a waste of the finely finished, Geneva Seal recipient caliber, with its chamfered edges and highly polished jewel counter sinks. Actually a closed case back also has its charm. It suits the watch’s straight forward design, and honestly, wouldn’t you rather have platinum resting on your wrist than a piece of sapphire crystal?

Vacheron Constantin finishes the watch with a nice Mississippi (yes, no Louisiana this time!) alligator strap, with its signature Maltese Cross transformed into a buckle. This still is one of the coolest pin buckles available, period, and actually almost a reason by itself to treat yourself to a Vacheron Constantin. Overall the Patrimony Contemporaine reference 81180 is a watch for almost anytime, anywhere, always appropriate, never too much or too little. Perfection in its most simple form, which almost, yes almost, gives you the desire for little more.

You may like the following articles on The Watch Review Site – Girard-Perregaux 1966 Chronograph or the GP 1966 Full Calendar

Original article content can be viewed at http://www.watchmatchmaker.com/brands/vacheron_constantin/vacheron-constantin-patrimony-contemporaine-reference-81180-do-we-need-more.html