Christophe Claret Poker Watch Geneva Watch Week 2014

DonCorson · 2014-01-19T12:56:52Z

Explore Christophe Claret s Poker Watch at Geneva Watch Week 2014. DonCorson details the brand s gaming complications and innovative designs.

Christophe Claret at the Geneva Watch Week 2014

Christophe Claret has been active producing high end watches for more than 25 years now. Up until 5 years ago his production was almost exclusively for 3rd parties, under then major names in the watch industry. He only rarely sold pieces under his own name 'though. That changed 5 years ago when he started his own brand Christophe Claret with the introduction of the Dual Tow watch. In now only 5 years he can claim that he has a collection of exclusive watches with 8 models in production.

Those watches fall into 3 collections:
1) Traditional Complication Watches
- Kantharos, Soprano, Adagio
2) Extreme Complication Watches
- DualTow, X-TREM-1
3) Interactive Gaming Complication watches
- Baccara, 21 Blackjack.

Today is the press conference for the introduction of the next watch in the Gaming watch collection the Poker Watch.

The "Salon Petit" at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva is standing room only for this event.

The watch itself automates a poker game for 3 players. Each player gets their own cards that as screened from the view of the other players by louvers. The challenge in this game is the fact it uses all 52 cards of the deck. To be able to incorporate this the Poker watch uses 4 disks, one of which is made of saphire so it is partially transparent in certain positions showing the card on the disk below. Two pushers activate the deals after rounds of betting. At each activation of a pusher a gong sounds in true Christophe Claret tradition.
The movement has no less than 655 parts and approx 72 hours of autonomy with its double barrels. The Poker is available in 4 versions, black PVD titanium and white gold, black PVD titanium and red gold, monochrome black PVD titanium with blue spinel hands and monochrome black PVD titanium with red ruby hands.
A final surprising dail, a breath forming condensation on the watch saphire reveals a pin-up girl. Welcome to Las Vegas! (I was not able to get a picture of that, but I did see it!)

The back of the watch is a roulette table as in the other Gaming watches.

The rest of the collection was, of course, also on display.
First the Interactive Gaming Complication watches:
The 21 Blackjack.

The Baccara

The Extreme Complication Watches
The X-TREM-1

The DualTow

And lastly the Traditional Complication Watches
The Kantharos

The Soprano

The Adagio

Some last pictures of the new Poker watch.

Finally Christophe Claret couldn't help but let loose a teaser for BaselWorld in about 2 months time. He will be adding a Complicated Ladies watch collection. I am looking forward to see what he has up his sleave.
Don

Key Points from the Discussion

While acknowledging the superb technicalities of Christophe Claret's creations, the contributor expressed less enthusiasm for the design and concept of the gaming watches, finding the 'playfulness' on an expensive wristwatch unappealing.
The brand demonstrates significant talent, with particular appreciation for models like the Kantharos and Soprano, though the Poker collection's appeal is debated despite recognizing the watchmaker's mastery.
Christophe Claret is lauded as a master in watchmaking, highlighting the high regard for his technical prowess.

The Discussion

RicardetCie

Jan 23, 2014

He is THE GOD!!! [nt]

Mark in Paris

Jan 23, 2014

A talented brand

I'm really encline to like the Kantaros and the Soprano. On the other side, I'm not sure about the Poker collection. Even if I can recognize his mastery as a creative watchmaker, I hardly can find them appealing. Anyway, thanks for sharing the event Don, Mark

moc

Jan 25, 2014

Thanks Don…great report

I am always quite surprised by CC creations,the technicalities of which are always superb. I am less keen on the design and concept of the watches though. The 'poker' ,well..too playful ,I never liked these sort of playfulness on a expensive wristwatch….never understood it neither. Mo

Christophe Claret Poker Watch Geneva Watch Week 2014

Key Points from the Discussion

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