IGOTT II: Independent Watchmakers Showcase

Can you believe it? For the 10th PPRO Anniversary, the Executive Team offered us a superb present.

They succeed to gather 7 ( ! ) Independants:

Mr Gerber, Ballouard, Gronefeld, Busser, Voutilainen, Speake Marin, and our dear fellow, AHCI Moderator, Don Corson.

One historical picture, to remember this event:



What is an Independant watch?

This is something I always wondered, as I'm far from being an Expert on this matter, so I couldn't miss this opportunity to see this " horological phenomenon ", and to try to get it.

I must confess that when it comes to originality and Innovation, my criterias are Manufactures such as Ulysse Nardin and Jaeger-LeCoultre, which, in my opinion, perfectly achieve this purpose.

I spent a lot of time speaking with Max Busser, Bart Gronefeld, Kari Voutilainen and Peter Speake Marin, and, from these discussions, they found the words, the answers I only intuitioned:

- You buy the watchmaker, and not only the watch.

- You support the watchmaker.

- I would add a third answer, which is a consequence of the two first: With an Independant watch, you get, somehow, a piece of Art, and like in Art, the expressions on the time pieces are as different as their authors are, as you will see below.

1/ Peter Speake Marine:

If we should buy the watchmaker, I must say that we should buy several of these watches, as Peter Speake Marin is a real gentleman, a great Monsieur, always " disponible " and cool.

The case displays different movements and dials, from the wise to the more original, all showing an indisputable " PSM DNA " a Signature:



The open dial sister:



A touch of Poetry with this starry dial:



Unless you're more attracted by blue dials:



The movements, too, are dign of interest showing a pleasant decoration and level of finish:





2/ Max Busser is certainly one of the very champions in mad creations.

These 2 examples are a perfect illustration of this spirit without limits:

" Flying high "...



And what about this Froggy eyes?



I would well see these " opus " ( no pun intented, Max ) on some Architects or Designers wrist.

Not everyone's taste, but is it worth always getting consensual watches?

Not very legible, but, as Max said it very well, do we really buy watches to read the Time?

Fresh, a bit provocative, certainly interesting and original.

3/ Don Corson:

Another sympatethic offer, just in time for our 10th Anniversary, the UFO Tourbillon, the antithesis of the pretentious watch.

This is a 42 mm case, made in titanium, housing an in house movement, and displaying a Half Flying Tourbillon.

Sober, discrete, at its creator's image:





4/ Gronefeld.

This was my coup de coeur, during the IGOTT II.

Bart is a very interesting Monsieur, passionate, with a great sense of Humour, and so moved to be there, with his " brothers in arms " and with us.

He came with two pieces:

A sophisticated Minute Repeater Tourbillon, reflecting the savoir faire of the brand, blending strenght and complexity... Very interesting:





Much simpler, but not less interesting, the " One Beat ", which is a " Seconde Morte ".

The case is 43 mm big, available in stainless steel or rose gold, with a very nice dial, an original move of the second hand, as its name suggests it, and nicely finished.



The movement is another interesting part of the watch, finished with care:



With a nice presence on the wrist, this orginal and fine watch is my personal coup de coeur, in the Independants family.

5/ The " Kayzer Sauzée " of the Independants, Kari Voutilainen:

Here, the approach is more conventional than the others, but the level of finish is simply breathtaking.

I had the pleasure to share the same table than him, during our first dinner, and to play with the white gold one.

My wife, who was just seated at his left said ": This is the nicest watch I've ever seen, you really should get it " which is not really a compliment for my current collection, but which says a lot, about this watch.



I will let the pictures do the speech, as the watches speak very loud:

The White Gold:







The Rose Gold piece unique:



You will notice that the movement has a different finish.



Here, all the parts of the watch have an equal level, in terms of bienfacture and pleasure.

Brilliant.

What I would also say is that these Independants are true gentlemen: They have a lot of respect for their competitors job, a bit like if they all ( and I now think that I shouldn't mention " like if " ) belong to the same Confrérie, which is something I didn't always heard and felt in the watch industry.

An interesting fresh air blowing on the Watch Universe, and a pleasant experience to live.

Best,

Nicolas.

PS: I do apologize for not having been able to take pictures of ALL the watches which were displayed here.

It is not that they are lacking of interest, it is just that I was really short of time. This message has been edited by amanico on 2011-06-06 00:07:28 This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2011-06-12 20:12:49