bernard cheong
7182
The Biretrograde Perpetual Caledar ...an landmark timepiece
My personal take on this watch is that it has great potential to be a classic.
It is already out of production!
It is in platinum, and there are a few in yellow gold around....extremely rare.
It was made between 1989 and 2000. Yes 11 years, but not in great numbers, and very unlikely to be seen in the secondary market, due to the profile of its customers and its very high price (especially in those days of the mid 90s).
It was the FIRST HW watch, movement was designed by Roger Dubois and Jean Marc Weiderrecht.
Roger uses the same module in his movements today.
Jean Marc has his own laboratory called Agenhor which specialises in modules and complications.
It is the FIRST TIME retrograde indicators were seen in perpetual calendars...before Roger used it in his own company, and Frank Muller.
The initial pieces were Frederic Piquet 71P base till 1996. Then the GP 3000 was used till 2000.
The case siganlled the Premier design which is today the hallmark of HW.
Jean-Claude Gueit, a reputed designer at the time...who later became head of design at Piaget for 12 years.
The tiny window at the 12 between June and August is a leap year indicator.
Personally, I feel that if any one can hunt down in the secondary market, or can find one around new...this may be one of the most sought after pieces in the coming decade, with the rapid rise thru the ranks of manufactures that I predict for Harry Winston.
