Independents

top 5 AHCI and top 5 mainstream watches preferred by AHCI enthusiasts?

Originally done by CL back in June of 2007, it was an interesting and very well-subscribed thread. As suggested by Dr No and a few others, perhaps an annual survey of this type could be done as it was interesting to see what currently preoccupies the minds and wishes of WIS in this neck of the woods. 8 months have passed since that survey was done, admittedly an eternity in today's breakneck pace of things. Thought it would be curious to see if your choices had changed...

Mine are :

AHCI
1. Kari V Decimal Repeater #6
2. P Dufour Simplicity
3. Roger Smith 2
4. Journe Grand Sonnerie
5. Gruebel Forsey Invention #1

Mainstream are:
1. JLC Gyro Tourbillon
2. Lange Datograph Pisa Edition
3. RM 009
4. AP Concept Watch 1
5. Patek 5016

Big changes on my choices as I seem to have retained only one chronograph from my prior post wherein I was overweight on those.

added to Editor's Pick

This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2008-02-04 10:45:08

How we changed about our perception of the top 5, or 10 ( maybe 10 is easier, no?).
Can we mix Independants with the others?
A mix should maybe have more sense, to give an exact value about our appreciation of the independants., IMHO..
Let me think about it, and I play!
Best.
Nicolas This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-02-03 00:32:02

Feel free to give your opinion/suggestions and adjust/do as you please Nicolas. Basically just an exercise to see what are the current crop of AHCI and mainstream pieces occupying the minds of the people here. In the spirit of CL's original post, no hard and fast rules on this one Looking forward. Ånd thanks!!

AHCI:

1. Kari Observatoire

2. Vyskocil VA

3. Speake-Marin Shimoda

4. Vianney Antiqua

5. Prescher double axis Tourbillon

Mainstream:

1. JLC Duometre

2. UN Royal Blue Tourbillon (OK, sue me...)

3. IWC Ceramic Doppel 3786

4. Lange World Time

5. Parmigiani Hebdomidaire

Best,

Gary G

Max Busser et al (1 and 2)

Vianney Halter

Volker Vsykocil

Dufour

Greubel Forsey

 

Not neccessary in this order...
1/ UN Freak, for its innovation, the mother of all the concept watches, and the First to introduce the Silicium and the new technology it represents in the Horology world.
2/ Patek Celestial 5102: Noit an useful complication, but I love its poesy...One of my grail watches...
3/ Patek 5110P, useful complication for travelers, poetic complication for the others...
4/ JLC Gyro Tourbillon 1: Wow, I was completely mad looking ait it..A chance I don't have the money to buy it, I'd take it! One of the most interesting grande complication watch...A Reverso platinum tourbi skeleton is, IMHO a nice alternative...
5/ JLC MMR titanium: For its incredible look, and sound.
6/ Panerai radiomir platinum Pam 21: For its strong, beautiful look, this tritium index + Brown dial is Wowowowwowow, and the Rolex Cortebert Vintage movement is wowowowow too..I know, not very elaborated argument...LOL
7/ Vacheron Constantin new Chrono + Perpetual Calendar in platinum....I love its 42 mm platinum case, its beautiful designed dial, the finish...I'm in love.
8/ AP Royal Oak Concept: Unwearable, but what a look!
9/ Lange Datograph in platinum...The only wathc I want to wear with the caseback on my wrist...
10/ The one and only independant of my Dream List: FPJ Double Resonnance iwth the Ruthenium dial...For its extraorinary esthetic, and its beautiful movement.

Well, that's my crazy dream list...Dreaming is gooood for health!
Best.
Nicolas

To track how our personal tastes change....at least publically ...

Here goes....

Independants:

1. Journe Dead Seconds

2. Journe Resonance

3. Roger Smith Series 2

4. Kari Voutilainen Observatorie

5. URWERK 103

6. MB&F HM2 - One of the nicese watches I have ever seen

Mainstream

7. Lange Datograph

8. PP 5070

9. Rolex GMT Master II

10. AP RO Jumbo

Honorable Mention

11. AP Skeleton Perpetual Royal Oak

12. PP 5159 - New Perpetual

13. Journe Calendrier

14. Vianey Halter - Trio or Antiqua

15. Rolex Milgauss

16. AP RO Offshore Rubber Clad

17. Vacheron Perpetual Chrono

18. The new watch that James Dowling posted on the Independant Forum

19. Grubel Forsey - anything! (except the Double Tourbillon Secret - call me silly, but for that kind of money, I want to drool on my wrist all day long)

20. PP 5396 Annual Calender (I wish it came in WG?  Maybe Basel 2008??)

 

Ok - now I'm depressed.....

Go Giants! 

Best regards,

asg

AHCI

Kari Voutilainen Decimal repeater

Greubel Forsey 24 sec incline

Uhrwerk 201

Jean Daniel Nicolas 2 minute tourbillon

FPJ Vagebondage

 

Mainstream

a AP grande Complication

JLC Gyro tourbillon

VC Malte perpetual callender chronograph

RM 012

Daniel Roth Lumiere

 

Cheers,

 

Michel

“...what currently preoccupies the minds and wishes…”

 

If this is the question, then here, in order, is what would (and largely does) preoccupy my mind and wishes on a top ten wish list:

 

1. Philippe Dufour  - Duality  (Roman dial)

2. Philippe Dufour  - Simplicity  (Guilloche dial)

3. Philippe Dufour  - Duality  (Guilloche dial)

4. Philippe Dufour  - Simplicity  (Roman dial)

5. Kari Voutilainen – Observatoire

 

You can have the mainstream. I’ll keep going:

 

6. Kari Voutilainen – Decimal Repeater 8

7. Kari Voutilainen – Masterpiece 7

8. Christian Klings – Tourbillon

9. Peter Speake – Marin -  ‘Eternal Phoenix’

10. Volker Vyskocil – V -30/45-01-A

 

Thank you for reviving the thread: what a fascinating journey of self-discovery! Now off to the shrink to examine this OC revelation in greater detail….

 

Cheers,

pplater.

1. 3939H
2. Patek 5101 10 day tourbillon
3. RS S2
4. Patek 5140
5. Pateks next in house Chrono

. . . I'll add a caveat - my list of 'independents' includes independent watchmakers, but not necessarily AHCI . . . first, the independents:

1. Vyskocil 30/45 01-A (*)
2. Parmigiani Kalpa QF
3. Dornblüth 99.2 (**)
4. RGM 222 [incoming, cal 921 version]
5. Dornblüth 04.0 (now discontinued, but I'd snap one up on the secondary market if possible)

The mainstream candidates are:

6. Omega central tourbillon, 4th gen (*)
7. Omega Constellation Double-Eagle titanium chrono (**)
8. Glashütte Original anthracite Panoreserve (**)
9. Glashütte Original russet Panomatic Chrono (*)
0. Patek Philippe 5105 (*)

(*)=candidate for my last watch ;-)
(**)=candidate for my next watch

Right at this very moment, I would say that my final collection would be most felicitously realized with #3 and #6, but I could see acquiring #7 (and deleting my Speedmaster Mk II) complemented by #1, #9, or #10 as a valid alternative. Cordially, Art

Art, no GO PanoRetroGraph on the list? Been there, done that? Something about it offends? Would be fascinated to know the views of "Dr GO"...

 

Cheers,

pplater.

. . . I'll give it my best shot. Essentially, I lose interest in a movement when it's endowed with multiple complications . . . my tastes have always run to the simple, or the simple enhanced with a single complication. The grand comps that fascinate so many of us leave me cold, for the most part. The PRG is one of the few highly complicated watches that I like, but I don't find myself wanting to own one, if that makes any sense. The Panograph is a highly desirable design, but it's no longer in production, and I hate buying complicated watches without the benefit of a warranty. I believe the G O regulator tourbillon was on my list last time, and it's been replaced by the russet PMC . . . I still find the regulator tourbillon interesting, but now that the PMC has finally been stripped down to it's bare essence, it's become a much more desirable watch - the original versions were too ornate for my tastes, while the Navigator versions suffered from a residual sense of overkill for what should be a utilitarian watch. The new brushed rose gold limited edition complemented by a demure russet dial strikes me as a tasteful execution of high horology without leaving an aftertaste of excess . . . cordially, Art


This message has been edited by Dr No on 2008-03-03 06:20:44

Thank you, Art, for dignifying the somewhat impertinent enquiry with those comments and for the generosity of spirit evident in your thoughtful (and thought-provoking) reply. In just those paragraphs you have provided a more detailed and revealing insight into the interests and approach of one of the doyens of this familia horologica than might have been achieved in any number of posts otherwise.

 

Appreciatively,

 

Cheers,

pplater.

. . . my pleasure, pplater . . . most cordially, Art

and I'm lovin' it! Best, Miki

. . . with a custom strap . . . it'll be posted as soon as I get it, Miki . . . cordially, Art

 

Independents:

Kari Voutilainen Decimal Repeater

Kari Voutilainen Observatoire

Philippe Dufour Grand & Petite Sonnerie

Beat Haldimann Central Tourbillon H1

Opus V

 

Mainstream:

Audemars Piguet Grande Complication

Vacheron Constantin Skeleton Minute Repeater

Patek 5078

Richard Mille RM004

Richard Mille RM012

This message has been edited by Allen on 2008-02-03 12:05:24

AHCI:

1. George Daniels: Any of his creations

2. Philippe Dufour: Simplicity

3. Vianney Halter: Goldpfeil

4: F. P. Journe: Resonance

5. Peter Speake-Marin: Shimoda

 

Mainstream:

1. Lange: Anniversary Langematik

2. Patek: 2526

3. Patek: 2497

4. Lange: Datograph

5. Lange: Pour le Merite

 

 

INDEPENDENTS:

1) Dufour Simplicity 37mm Guilloche or 34 mm Roman faux enamel dial.

2) Kari Observatoire

3) Urwerk 103.08

4) Beat Haldimann flying tourbillon

5) Can't think of any at this moment. Would like to choose Vianney but I really prefer his watch to be manual wind instead of automatic.

MAINSTREAM :

1) Pisa Dato

2) Journe Tourbillon (yes...Journe is mainstream to me )

3) Patek ref 96 stainless steel

4) Patek 5015

5) Patek 5050 platinum

The choice should be just one in each category to be meaningful with our small sample size. Psychologists tell us that by "giving up" others on our (cop-out) long list, a true selection is made...a bit like the old question: You can only save one person from your burning house. Your mother or your wife? 

My choices:

Independents: Vyskocil 30/45 01-A (no change from last time)

Mainstream: Patek Philippe Ref 5959 split-seconds chronograph (new entry since my last visit to Geneva in October 2007)  Previously: Chopard LUC Chrono One

Regards,

MTF

....your mother-in-law or your wife....

 

Cheers ;-)

pplater.

but my mother-in-law was even better! Go figure, must be great genes. Best, Miki

perhaps a new thread with Forced Choice as the heading. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Love your choices by the way...

.

This also makes me think and helps me realize what I truly like the most.

AHCI: Vianney Halter Goldpfeil 

Mainstream: Anniversary Langematik

your example is simply gorgeous.
Lovesss*CL

I would then just keep Anniversary Langematik  -- I simply love it. If I could have one more simple watch, then it would be 2526.

Thanks John for your kind words. I love your selection of Simplicity and 5970G. One simple watch and one complicated (with all the most useful complications), just perfect and representatively classics in the modern age.

My problem is that I have never seen one Simplicity in metal. Maybe after I have it, I will change my mind.

would have to narrow down to perhaps P Dufour Simplicity/Kari Decimal Repeater #6 and Lange Datograph Pisa Edition/RM009. Each of the choices I have made at this time signify a pleasant memory associated with dreaming/deliberating/pursuing/acquiring? the pieces.

What making these choices/doing the poll have had, at least for me is the nourishing effect of evaluating what I truly value and like. @ the same time, maybe providing a window into the hearts of fellow enthusiasts, where we all are in our stages of collecting/appreciating watches. For me at least, a sometimes too vivid reflection of life which serves as a nice mirror to see what we might miss otherwise.

I would like to thank EVERYONE's kind words and participation in this poll... Kudos to CL who did this originally and to TM, for continuing to allow us to have this place, a wonderfully PURE place, the purest place in all of horology. Thanks a lot TM!!!

You will be my hero if you get that piece.
THE BEST ,imo.
*CL