cazalea
[Seiko Moderator]
20972
There is a good story
I was visiting Switzerland with a TimeZone tour 12 years ago, and we went to visit BlancpaiN. Of course, J-C was already out but he had a warm heart for BP. We were having dinner in a touristy swiss restaurant ...
and Biver came in, breezed around the room, told his life story (first time for most of us to hear it) ...
and about his cheese, and his farm, and "Big Bang"
and how he designed watches. As he was drawing and gesturing with his pen, I took off my watch, opened the back, and asked him to sign it. He did.
Everyone was jealous except the guy who got the sketches (which are probably valuable now).
A few years later I sold all three of these watches and dove into Grand Seikos.
Cazalea
Autographs. Movie stars - not interested. Sports stars - shrug. Horological masters - absolutely. The bromance for watchmakers is part of the passion of watch collecting. Here are several. Mostly identifiable. Let's see others.
Enter your post text Enjoy and let's see yours. Cheers. Mitch....
Here you are, Mitch!
I have Roger Dubuis, below, and Peter Speake Marin that I have to look for in my office. Here it is, next to the printed one. I also asked the master to sign the "passport" of the watch. ...
History indeed - this is likely the LAST ever George Daniels autograph
George Died on Oct 21 2011! What a Piece of history it is indeed Thanks for posting, Mitch
No watchmakers - but Astronauts in the context of Speedmaster.......
....Buzz Aldrin (first Speedy on the moon), Ed White (first Speedy in EVA) and - missing here as I have no photo readily available - Wally Schirra (first Speey in orbit). Buzz Aldrin original signature Ed H. White original signature on original NASA Kodak...
Absolutely correct. I got the autograph at IGOTT. A funny story about that. I knew Paul and Ruth from a number of visits previously.
During IGOTT Paul and Ruth drown to the desert and brought back for me a sheriff\'s badge from a ghost town. I wore it proudly for the rest of the time at the meeting and still treasure it.
A composite of a few watchmaker autographs in my possession
I must confess, collecting autographs of watchmakers is a bit of a hobby of mine (probably because it scratches "the itch" and I will likely never own their watches as they are out of my $$$ league). Here are some "reasonably rare ones" to add to the gall...
George Daniels autographs 1976 - 2009
In honour of Mitch's magnificent (and absolutely coveted by me) George Daniels autograph from 2011 (2 weeks before George passed away); here are a few more George's signature with dates. Budding graphologists - pls feel free to compare the great man's pen...
This is amazing
Great stuff mate. Would love to have a GD autograph in the collection.
No, never got to meet the great man.
But I became fascinated with George\'s work in about 2009 (roughly when I started getting seriously interested in horology). I was not bold enough to get in touch with him while he was alive (mainly because there was no way I could afford any of his piece...
That would be great! My Daniels obsession is definitely firmly established
Would love to see the other signatures that came with your watch Btw, are you planning any more podcasts. You certainly have good stories from the watchmakers you\'ve met. Would be great to hear them.
This is going to take some searching
Here's a J-C BIver inscription inside of my Half-Hunter BlancpaiN I have several of Paul Gerber, and will start hunting! Mike ...
Paul Gerber autograph inside
On the back of the spare dial of PuristS P10 watch other side ...
Mike, how did you get Biver to sign your Blancpain?
There is bound to be a good story associated with that.
There is a good story
I was visiting Switzerland with a TimeZone tour 12 years ago, and we went to visit BlancpaiN. Of course, J-C was already out but he had a warm heart for BP. We were having dinner in a touristy swiss restaurant ... and Biver came in, breezed around the roo...
Excellent tale, Mike! As I suspected it would be
Thanks for sharing. Btw: that Pul Gerber Retro Twin is/was a beauty!
Yes, it was. And it went to a Purist that time
Crown was too small though - along with the watch case being about 33-34mm Mike ...
You've got one of the biggies( possibly the ultimate) there Mitch!!!
I have a few from my book collection... Dear friends... Jokers too... This has a couple of duplicates ;-) 4 pretty important Independent Watchmakers I\'d say.... Fun thread my friend, great to see these, Cheers, Tim ...
Holy Molly, Tim
That just "broke the Internet" in my house! That is a monster definitive collection there! I am Super jealous
Wow Mitch... nice collection...
I will have look through my book case to find some of mine... but can't beat your collection. This one I see all the time as it is on my cow in my office Cheers! Andrew ...
I may have some, from the JLC People...
Magali Metrailler, who was one of the ones in charge of the design: I may have something from Jerome Lambert, too... I have to check... Best, Nicolas ...
Not a watchmaker but THE MAN who restored the Harrison clocks - Rupert Gould!
My latest acquisition: Absolute hero of mine and the author of the master work on John Harrison marine chronometers. This is a rare signature on a reprint of the original lecture he delivered in 1935. He was an amazing man! (Recommend you read the Jonatha...
Cheers, Mitch
Yes, I am thrilled with that Rupert Gould signed item. Currently working through his Marine Chronometer masterwork. Amazing erudition in that volume
Another autographed item to add to the mix - a pretty special combo IMHO
"Watchmaking" BOOK - signed by George Daniel AND Roger Smith together. Dated 1999, which would have been just when they were working on the Daniels Anniversary pieces design AND when the first Omega De Ville Limited Edition model was released with George\...
Thank you, sir! Means A LOT to get a "WOW" from THE Mitch K! ;-)
I was very lucky to snag this one! According to Roger and Caroline (who were kind enough to answer my email) - this one is a true rarity or possibly even unique and there wouldn\'t be that many double-signed GD & RWS books out there at all. As you can pro...
Was thinking about what to trade for it. Probably could tempt but ......
This is truly something special as I consider mine to be as well. This truly is evidence of the passing of the torch. Did you get the signatures from the two?
Oh I am easily lead astray - and I am sure, you of all people, will have something to tempt with :-)
I\'ll shoot you a PM to have THAT conversation. You are right about this book bring a witness to the symbolic change of an epoch. I hadn\'t thought of that. Sadly I never got to meet GD. But I do have a real appreciation of his prodigious talent and perse...
You are a dangerous man!
dangerous, I say! But if you are game, I may have 1 or 2 GD-related items you may find of interest. Cheers
Dangerous, little old me? Not likely. I am interested in anything Daniels. I have just ordered his book on Breguet. I am trying to find the book that he wrote about escapements. Once I have that then I will have all of the books he has authored.
I am sure that you can tempt me but i think that the Swatch that I have to trade might not be of equal significance (though you never know as you can never have enough cow bells).