Independents

Hello all I recently had the pleasure to visit Beat Haldimann's workshop together with a watch collector friend from California. Both the workshop and the watches made a lasting impression on me. So I thought I might share my memories with you: Follow the... 

. . . and, if I may be excused for being a bit fanciful, Beat's atelier strikes me as a place of enchantment. The machinery from long ago that is capable of creating watches that retain the essence of the craft from the Golden age lends a special charm to... 

A very refreshing read. many thatnks for posting it (and I ahve a weakness for b&w photos). nick

Your beautiful pictures and writing bring back wonderful memories for me. The whole area of Thun and Merlingen seems to have this magical atmosphere. I will definitely have to visit again soon....  

Unless I'm mistaken I can recognise Beat's face in the glass plate of the table and that floor looks quite familiar to me, too... So, it seems that you know exactly what I wrote about, since you were as fortunate as to experience the "Haldimann effect" yo... 

Great report and outstanding photography. - SJX

I have been writing to Beat twice but get no reply and I guess they have no retailer too. If anyone hapens to know its retail price , case dimension of H1, please PM Me I must say this watch is very pure. My main concern is servicing.....can anyone help m... 

very well.I have been trying to photograph my watch but none of them seems to show the true beauty of the H-1. But then there is where the fun begins. Harish

I would love to own an H1 and photograph it from every (un)thinkable angle. Maybe one day... Thanks, Valentin

Hi, Valentin, Harish, The H-1 is a very, very special piece, and has repeatedly made my favorite watch of all time list for many years running. Most who see it in person, including many industry veterans, have consistently used the term "pure" in decribin...  

... a piece of journalism - no, a fine piece of prose - worthy of its subject. Many thanks. Cheers, pplater.

Superb B&W pics ...very well layout too. Look forward to Beat sharing which design-detail of the pocket-watch inspires his next creation. (The spade-shaped hands??) Your B&W reminded me to re-'see' Kazuyuki Takahashi's book. Kong

allowed to let you know whether your guess was right or not. I can only say that Beat's idea is indeed charming. As for the book you mentioned, I seem to have a knowledge gap and I hope it's not too embarrassing to ask: who's Kazuyuki Takahashi? Thanks ag... 

K.Takahashi, he is the photographer that shot Daniel Roth & Philippe Dufour for the book - Les createurs du temps. Oh...shall wait to see Beat's new creation. Hey...you are a tall guy Kong

nt

Beautifully written and photographed, and you are obviously speaking from the heart. Cheers Tony P