Horological Meandering

I have been hooked by watches made by independents for quite some time and started collecting them a few years back. Here are some of the latest additions:

Ludovic Ballouard's Upside Down in platinum -

The blue dial with applied indices is indeed mesmerizing:

The whole concept is funky

The twelve plates require a lot of energy to turn, which explains the short power reserve:

Moser & Cie Perpetual 1 in palladium -

The simplicity of the dial for a PC is beyond belief:
 

The instantaneous date through which one can adjust it forward and backward is also a main attraction

Here are some earlier pictures I have posted:

Laurent Ferrier's Galet micro-rotor in WG:
 

What a gorgeous movement!

Roman Gauthier's Prestige HMS in white gold -

Even the watch holder is sexy

A creative way to wind the watch:

Habring 2 with unique organge indices:

A practical daily beater:

The MIH watch - an annual calendar. Need I say more?

The chrono counter at the back is innovative:

The F P Journe Octa chronograph, one of my all-time favorites: 

How can I ever forget to mention Kari Voutilainen's Observatoire?

No doubt THE holy grail:

Richard Mille's RM23, if you consider that an Independent -

A gorgeous piece that is frequently found on my wrist:
 

Last but not least, the F P Journe Titanium Tourbillon, my latest love:

I know I am still missing a lot - PSM, de Bethune, Roger Smith, George Daniels, Dufour etc., but I am sure I will get to them over time

Hope you enjoyed the pictures taken by Ogygia. As you can tell, his photo skills have improved significantly over the last four years

Sam

Ludovic Ballouard, fancy, intriguing quite mesmerizing, really nice. The Moser, well have been in love with this PC for a while. Aaaahhhh! Laurent Ferrier and the micro-rotor, sublime! The Romain Gauthier is very interesting, the workmanship reminds me of Philippe Dufour, exquisite, not so sure about the crown on the back though. Harbring, as you say a daily beater although I would prefer to wear the MIH on a daily basis, I really like minimalism. Journe, I have heard too many "bad" things about his chronos, not sure about it, but it does look very nice and the mouvement too. Now Voutilainen, what an exquisite piece of horology, love this Observatoire, the mouvement is a marvel and the dial is to die for. Richard Mille, well, not my cup of tea I am affraid.

Thank you for the lovely pictures.

Cheers. Francois

 

The FPJ Octa chrono is working perfectly so far, fingers crossed...

Thank you for the kind words Francois.

Best

Sam 

indeed, you are a man of exquisite tastes. Bravo.

Cheers. Francois

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Every piece is a master piece!

What to say about those amazing timepieces?, you have there some of the nicest examples of Haute Horlogerie.

 

Congrats, and thanks for sharing them with us.

 

 

cheers

 

 

Vte  

samwam,

Salmon dials are to die for.....Christie's recently auctioned a 5004 Salmon dial in Hong Kong and I was almost tempted.....

Best

Sam

Of an amazing collection!  

NT

but the entire collection is something to behold.  Both the timepieces and the photography are magnificent.

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chosen with great taste and knowledge.

Like I said in my other post, I learned a lot from my friends in this forum

...is the fact that your enviable collection represents much more than a personal quest. It is also (some would say primarily) a meaningful and material expression of support for the maintenance of the smaller producer who is upholding important traditions under threat from technological advancement and economic reality. Well, maybe not RM or FPJ these days; even they, however, would have struggled in the early days without benevolent patrons such as yourself.

On behalf of other Indie fans everywhere, thank you for your solid support of our mutually appreciated artists.

Cheers,
pplater.

your compliments rather flattering

Thank you for the kind words and encouragement. To a large extent, it is people like you and other friends on the forum that provide stimulation for the personal quest for the pinnacle of horology.

Best

Sam

Best,

What a tremendous collection of indies, Sam!  Mouth-watering, to be sure -- especially as photographed by your friend Ogygia...

look forward to seeing some of those beauties up close soon..

Eric

Hi Sam!

All of the watches you’ve introduced are fascinating and rich of character.

I’d like to share with you my opinion on some of them.

The Moser & Cie Perpetual 1 has drawn my attention some years ago, when I wanted to realize a sort of review of the watches equipped with a big date (you can find the thread here: home.watchprosite.com ). In that occasion I’ve declared that I was “impressed by the Moser's ingenious simplicity”. I’d like to post a technical drawing that shows how this big date works (picture taken on the internet).

The Roman Gauthier Prestige HMS makes me curios about its winding crown. I wonder if it’s easy to use. For sure, a similar system gives an extra-pleasure: this very close physical relation with your timepiece must be enthralling, I would say… almost… sexy!

The MIH watch is, between your selection, the only one I’ve seen IRL: I remember that -despite its simplicity and understatement- it has a very strong presence on the wrist. I also think it's an important  modern watch, not only for its original aesthetics, but also for its mechanical innovations (by Mr. Oechslin) and for the concept and story behind it. I hope, one day, to visit the Musée International d’Horlogerie and to buy this watch exactly there.

The Kari Voutilainen Observatoire is - without hesitations - a top-watch, but please let me express a little disapproval on the roman indices: to my eyes, they should be curved. This characteristic is particularly evident on the 8.

About the F. P. Journe Titanium Tourbillon I can only say that – for me – its beauty is nothing less than shocking. I honestly have to say that, for me, amongst these spectacular watches, it's absolutely the number one. Congratulations, Sam!

At last, a little provocation: if you really love the Indies, your true Holy Grail should be a pièce unique, intended as a watch you design yourself. In my experience I can say it's an hard task, something like an insane bet, even for the simplest, basic watch. The stress is worth it??? Well, honestly, I'll know only when I'll have mine pièce unique on my wrist…. I'm sorry, I don't want to post any anticipation on it, but I can confess that it has one thing in common with your F. P. Journe Titanium Tourbillon: the case material.

Ciao,

 

 

Elio

Really appreciate your insightful comments, and the interesting drawing really Moser. Today I have it on my wrist.... because it is Feb 28, every watch nut's dream date. I can't stop fooling around with the date....forwards and backwards. What an ingenious design! As for the piece unique, I must confess I haven't gotten to that state yet, but I guess I will one day.

Best
Sam

...thanks for the pics Sam!
Take care my friend,
Rob