Horological Meandering

Our good friend flamenco started a thread on Friday's WristScan forum calling for shots of simple watches. It was a very refreshing theme and, from a personal perspective at least, one which resonated both deeply and wistfully. Visit the thread if you hav...  

PP 5296R ...  

...and a great shot of a great watch, Zhege. "Plus one" on the Calatrava - any Calatrava! Cheers, pplater. ...  

support ! My collection have moved to mostly 3 hands over the years, and away from cluttered and busy dials. I can now appreciate the finer things ie movements, and that has become the most impt criteria for a purchase these days. One close up :- And a co...  

...certainly one of the best iterations from the brand so far. looking forward to your further posts, flamenco - no pressure! :-) Cheers, pplater.

Ferrier, the Moser is ....... :D Minus the micro rotor that is. Damn ! Now I need to have a productive week !

Stunning piece! :) Best Blomman

what they say about an apple a day ...... :D

Simple can be hard to do well, but I think this one does it pretty nicely. Look forwards to what others come up with. grumio ...  

...but there is no substitute for the original when it comes to 'form following function'. What a watch! It is almost a sin not to have had one in the collection at some point. The WG has a 'ruthenium' type dial which is simply impossible to capture: Chee...  

this watch, of all watches, succumb to the current 'watch obesity' trend when JLC up-sized it. Here's hoping it's only a trend, and JLC see the light and return to offering a more traditionally proportioned version in the future. grumio

Here is one anno 1958... Best Blomman ...  

Thanks for sharing the pic. Part of what I find appealing about mine is that is part of a history of making these slim and elegantly sized dress watches from JLC that extends over several decades. It is easy to see the 'family resemblance' when you look a... 

But do not dispare - fashion will turn around! :) Best Blomman

...where DO you find them, Blomman??? Many thanks for that one - a very important inclusion in the thread. Cheers, pplater.

Well, a Bastordo never tells... Sorry! ;) Best Blomman

And this one is less simple, but still simple with a slight twist: ...  

Living proof of the phrase 'pure and simple'. Lovely watches both. Cheers, pplater.

You have influeced me to have a closer look at VC! :) Both are beautiful, but the Patrimony I find more and more appealing! Best, my friend Blomman

Vacheron is well worth your attention, and you could not go wrong with a Patrimony, my friend. Best, respo

...as that would quickly become the end of available pieces for the rest of us! :-) Cheers, pplater.

There are some much worse (Paris based) Purists here! They are like vacuum cleaners - fast and efficient when it comes to grab all the watches! ;) Best, my friend Blomman

I fear the worst - given their history and close connection to JLC... Do I really dare to open that can of worms...?! ;) Best, my friend Blomman

Regards, Richard. ...  

Of course, PSM gets even simpler again, as you know: :-) :-) :-) Cheers, pplater. ...  

:-( Best, Gary

That one should not hurt you. THIS one, on the other hand (no pun intended) - ;-) Cheers, pplater. ...  

The Violet Hand reaches from the great beyond! What wuz I thinking??? Glad it is in the best of all possible homes. All the best, Gary

Suck it up, cowboy! ;-) Cheers, pplater.

The blue dial MUT is just to die for! :) Best Blomman

I posted my favorite on Wristscan, but I really love this one as well. My one and only VC. Ginger ...  

in your possession. Great! Which movement, if I may ask? Oliver

Oliver - I have been busy (grandchildren and work) so have not had time to respond to your comments during the past few weeks. I hope all is well with you and your family. Our company's travel freeze means that my daily work with Berlin is now all virtual... 

You have a remarkable eye for beautiful watches; never a 'dud' in your collection! Cheers, pplater.

I'd like to hear more about that one. I will do a search and see if you have posted more about it previously, but that is a lovely watch. Best, respo

Cazalea ...  

You have doubtless been responsible for many people having a second or third look at the GS line. Certainly, your regular enthusiasm and posting was in part responsible for this one - Cheers, pplater. ...  

For me, a simple watch can pass on the second hand, it is even more impressive WITHOUT second hand. So, this one would qualify: http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/8666/ttr31red1.jpg As well as this one: http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/6691/cali24925.jpg ...  

What a shot of the red little thing...wow.... So giving it back? Mo

But my on the wrist report will be on line on the very first days of September. Be prepared to suffer. ;) Best, Nicolas

Wasn't it exciting when the 249 was released - even for a post-V skeptic? ;-) Thank you for fanning that flame: You must have a few more simple watches hiding in the drawer, Amanico; how about it? Cheers, pplater. ...  

One of the first to get it in France... With a special LE number: 249. ;) So no scepticism at this moment. THat came after. As for simple watch hidden in the drawer, yes, I have some still hidden, but it all depends on what you mean by simple/. Isn't that... 

Cheers, Tim ...  

and your picture doesn't help! ;) Best, my friend Blomman

. . . as it gets . . . ...  

What a good idea! ;-)) There are few people who have such a marvellous 'eye' for simple watches as yourself, Art: and perversely fewer still who also have as many Perp Cals!!! Cheers, pplater. ...  

poetic.... mo ...  

Enjoying a lot Mo

UG Polarouter, http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/7082/imag3985.jpg and since I'm mostly a chronographs addict, here's one with a clean layout Carrera Dato 45 http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/8610/imag0183006.jpg cheers, L ...  

The Carrera is also very interesting, and not often seen. Thanks! Cheers, pplater.

Astonishing yellow/bronze patina indeed on this 1st Gen Polerouter, The Dato Carreras are not the most common that's true, this is the 2nd execution, the 1st execution (bi-compax with date at 12) is even more scarce having been produced only for some mont...  

Love cream dials! :) Here is some choco PolErouter... Best Blomman ...  

...how these tiny simple watches can be appealing, Genta's talent was on its way Thanks for posting this Bioman, the choco patina is very appealing L

One started from white, the other started from black... 50+ years later they are both in the brown/cream shade... I wonder what will happen in another 50 years!? :) Best Blomman

Simple, in all senses: Cheers, Nilo ...  

What about it guys? Bim? Daos? Nico? Others? Cheers, pplater.

The boys from the old world are on vacations. Let's do a LLD roll call as soon they return to work. Cheers, Nilo

cheers fernando ...  

But I really would like to see the Red one before making up my mind.... Best Blomman

I guess this is my favorite and those have that "plain" look (in a good sense) too Best Andreas ...  

This is one of my favorite these days ... (is it a yellow or a RG one ?) With the perfect shirt and jacket cuff! Thanks for the picture Andreas. Cheers, Mark

it is YG - my only one in that metal but for the look of the RL I think it is a great fit! Best Andreas

and it is not the 1st time I see a YG RL. Very nice combination. Thanks ;)

...is there not, that Lange can give us such wonderfully complex watches (the mighty Double Split, the PLMs, Tourbograph, Dato Perp etc) and still manage to claim some of the iconic 'simple' watches such as the RL, 1815 and Saxonia? The most recent PLM ma... 

From 2006, when Vacheron Constantin first launched the Excellence Platine collection: Bill ...  

...which prevents that particular piece, Bill, from being utter, utter perfection is the 'pt 950' stamp at 5 o'clock. Perhaps we can think of it as Vacheron's Crawford beauty spot?? ;-) Cheers, pplater.

I'm glad to have the beauty mark there! :-) Bill

Hope you like it. Love your deBethune, what a classy watch is that. GEO ...  

What's not to like? As brands go, is there any other brand which has made done so much to define simplicity and elegance as its trademark? You could have posted most of your [substantial] Cartier collection into this thread! Thanks so much. Cheers, pplate... 

Simple but huge WOW factor IMO. ...  

...that simplicity and elegance are not the domain of the older watch or the older brand. Beautiful! Cheers, pplater.

Moreover, the main bridge is of a shape which is faintly echoed in the later open-dialled De Bethune models. A nice touch, if it was deliberate; a nice coincidence if not. Photo to follow later. Cheers, pplater.

...  

What a discriminating collector you must be! :-) :-) :-) As said in reply to Andreas, it is impressive that ALS can give us the best of the complex and the best of the simple. Cheers, pplater. ...  

And Flamenco for the influence! Been watching and enjoying myself each break during the day! :) As you know most of my watches falls under this category: Simple, tow or three hands and in some occations one or two complications (date & alarm) but stil... 

Here you go - Unfortunately, the answer to your question about the amagnetic inner case must be 'probably not' (given its competition raison d'etre) but it has not been possible, yet, to raise the courage to take a case-opener to the watch! The answer is ...  

Thank you for sharing this one, Pplater! :) I don't know how many times I have looked on the Be-Ba over at Steve's pad... But he has a cunstom made case back - and no ref of the original. Hopefully he reads this and can offer an answer! Best Blomman

Not mine, but I wish...! Best Blomman ...  

An unusual JLC, and a very attractive one. Do you have the biggest collection of JLCs in the world? Best, respo

But my friend was faster than me on this one! And it's a complete set from her birth year with box and papers - so of course she should have it! :) Best, my friend Blomman PS. I am not even close to have a large collection - I know some collectors both in... 

Must admit I have no idea it even existed. And what a sight !

First ever flyback chronograph never equalled in its simple elegance. Here with plain simple 2 registers dial and stepped bezel. Pure class. A poor mobile phone shot of a superb 'simple' watch. best Z' ...  

...you really should drop in more often. How about a photo from you? From memory, isn't there a Dorn in the watchbox which fits the bill? All the best, Cheers, pplater.

They are definitely my most preferred type, from a design point of view: I believe simple is harder to do well than complicated. These pictures are a complement to a recent post on the VC Forum about movement photos. And for a few non-VC variations: (This...  

Fun game to match the faces to the movements. Best, respo

It's always a treat to photograph the Simplicity and Observatoire, but variety is the spice of life, no? I was tempted to feature the JLC MUT, but there are already some great shots of that piece in this thread -- and I seem to have misplaced that PSM RG ...  

If you ever want to misplace that one, Gary, please misplace it in my house. ;-) That is one of the VCs I dream about. Best, respo

...I will ask for your address! Best, Gary

To find the outer edges of the theme and turn them back in on themselves! Elaborate but complete simplicity - an oxymoron in the metal! Cheers, pplater.

What? Not a heavily breathing idiot? Oh...never mind... Best, Gary

...at least when it comes to my photographic efforts! I thought those two VC shots looked pretty flat on the site, and also didn't like the clutter on the vertical one, so here are some fresh versions which I hope show some improvement: There -- now perha...  

gorgeousness all around, end even inside: Cheers, Magnus ...