Discussion
Went to Salon QP last night at the Saatchi Gallery on Kings Road - some awesome watches on show there, if anyone fancies a look. Details on their website: http://salonqp.com/
Some very nice Nomos watches on show with their own movements (including a very nice GMT version) - I didn't realise they're part of the Glashutte brand
JLC have some very special watches of historic importance on show plus an area for watchmaker benches for their watchmaking classes (all booked) - am going again today to have a go
Lange & Sohne had some lovely pieces, as did Vacheron Constantin
There's a bookshop too for anyone interested
Some very nice Nomos watches on show with their own movements (including a very nice GMT version) - I didn't realise they're part of the Glashutte brand
JLC have some very special watches of historic importance on show plus an area for watchmaker benches for their watchmaking classes (all booked) - am going again today to have a go
Lange & Sohne had some lovely pieces, as did Vacheron Constantin
There's a bookshop too for anyone interested
Cheers, I think our illustrious leader was there too...? (Not Ronnie Wood!)
As was pointed out on another thread there are quite a few British makers there too - Bremont, Schofield, Peter Speake-Marin, Uniform Wares, Roger Smith.
Very jealous!
(This is an interesting one at random - Ressence )
As was pointed out on another thread there are quite a few British makers there too - Bremont, Schofield, Peter Speake-Marin, Uniform Wares, Roger Smith.
Very jealous!
(This is an interesting one at random - Ressence )
Edited by andy_s on Friday 11th November 09:22
CardShark said:
Pretty sure that's right 
That makes sense. The goody bag from Nomos had 'Glashutte' also written on it and I thought they were associatedThe Nomos representatives and PR had explained the history behind watchmaking in Glashutte, so the champagne clouded my memory....it was a tough evening
Bremont had a huge amount of interest on their stand, more than any other manufacturer actually
I went yesterday. A good venue for it this year, plenty of space and not too crowded.
I throughly enjoyed it - the people occupying the stands are really committed to showing off their brands - no sales pitches or pressure though.
I handled a few pieces which I cannot afford, but which were interesting to see. It also helped a lot on my quest to find the perfect dress watch (some interesting stuff from Piaget on that front).
The one stand I was slightly disappointed in was the JLC stand. A very interesting showcase of their movements, the repeater was superb, but would have been good to see more from their range.
I throughly enjoyed it - the people occupying the stands are really committed to showing off their brands - no sales pitches or pressure though.
I handled a few pieces which I cannot afford, but which were interesting to see. It also helped a lot on my quest to find the perfect dress watch (some interesting stuff from Piaget on that front).
The one stand I was slightly disappointed in was the JLC stand. A very interesting showcase of their movements, the repeater was superb, but would have been good to see more from their range.
Chaps,
Apologies, the past few days have been busy to say the least. I was at SalonQP on Thursday evening. Thoroughly enjoyable it was too. It was fantastic to see great displays from some of the big names, but also representation from some more boutique brands. For example I enjoyed a great 15 minute chat with Peter Speake-Marin, the owner of Glycine and, although I didn't get to talk to him (mainly because I was staring in hushed adoration at the Daniels watches) Roger Smith was there too.
Brands are arranged over a couple of floors of the Saatchi gallery, and at £15 on the door tomorrow, if you're within reasonable travelling distance I'd say that it is absolutely worth the trip, not least because the Saatchi is in a great position at the Peter Jones end of the King's Road for other-half distraction...
I've got some video and pics to upload, but a few of the highlights for me were:
Daniels/Smith
I was captivated by the Retrograde Hours, with Tourbillon, pocket watch. This was displayed with the open movement showing.
Nomos
Hadn't seen these in the flesh before, but the WeltTimer (SP?) was glorious, and such a lot of watch for the money.
Lange
Well, all of it. Obviously!
Almost worth the £20 to see these in the flesh...
Heuer
The highlight is definitely the 1/1000th second timer. This watch has two movements, IIRC an automatic for the 1/1000, and then hand wound for the watch itself. This is just a technological study and there are only three watches worldwide. Apparently the power reserve on the 1/1000 is 90 seconds! Amazing technological tour de force and fantastic to see it spinning and then stopping with such accuracy. I admire Heuer for their advances in technology, even if I don't care for the Tag element of the logo.
Zenith
The Striking Tenth is just gorgeous to see in the flesh. Zenith went through a terrible design phase a couple of years ago, but seem to be getting it back now IMHO. I don't care much for the Blashford-Snell tribute Stratos, but it was great to see the El Primero he's been wearing for the past 40 years, as well as the Ghandi watch.
Glycine
Not a brand I'd paid much attention to in the past, and they were only showing the Airman SST and the Airman 18, but alongside both were gorgeous examples of their forebears, and I now really, really want a Glycine Airman (pumpkin). Just beautiful, and the one they had a lovely aged dial. On the list.
Bremont
I really like Bremont. A british watch company that seems to want to do things differently, has some lovely designs and some unusual collaborations that don't seem to make great commercial sense (for example they make a watch which you can only buy if you're C17 Globemaster crew - I had no idea). Their display was really good - pretty much entire range and the guys are super approachable and friendly.
Plenty of other stuff to see at Salon QP, including a huge display of JLC (including that lovely display case featuring all their Reverso calibres which is quite something).
I only wish I'd had more time. I'll certainly be back next year.
S
Apologies, the past few days have been busy to say the least. I was at SalonQP on Thursday evening. Thoroughly enjoyable it was too. It was fantastic to see great displays from some of the big names, but also representation from some more boutique brands. For example I enjoyed a great 15 minute chat with Peter Speake-Marin, the owner of Glycine and, although I didn't get to talk to him (mainly because I was staring in hushed adoration at the Daniels watches) Roger Smith was there too.
Brands are arranged over a couple of floors of the Saatchi gallery, and at £15 on the door tomorrow, if you're within reasonable travelling distance I'd say that it is absolutely worth the trip, not least because the Saatchi is in a great position at the Peter Jones end of the King's Road for other-half distraction...
I've got some video and pics to upload, but a few of the highlights for me were:
Daniels/Smith
I was captivated by the Retrograde Hours, with Tourbillon, pocket watch. This was displayed with the open movement showing.
Nomos
Hadn't seen these in the flesh before, but the WeltTimer (SP?) was glorious, and such a lot of watch for the money.
Lange
Well, all of it. Obviously!
Almost worth the £20 to see these in the flesh...Heuer
The highlight is definitely the 1/1000th second timer. This watch has two movements, IIRC an automatic for the 1/1000, and then hand wound for the watch itself. This is just a technological study and there are only three watches worldwide. Apparently the power reserve on the 1/1000 is 90 seconds! Amazing technological tour de force and fantastic to see it spinning and then stopping with such accuracy. I admire Heuer for their advances in technology, even if I don't care for the Tag element of the logo.
Zenith
The Striking Tenth is just gorgeous to see in the flesh. Zenith went through a terrible design phase a couple of years ago, but seem to be getting it back now IMHO. I don't care much for the Blashford-Snell tribute Stratos, but it was great to see the El Primero he's been wearing for the past 40 years, as well as the Ghandi watch.
Glycine
Not a brand I'd paid much attention to in the past, and they were only showing the Airman SST and the Airman 18, but alongside both were gorgeous examples of their forebears, and I now really, really want a Glycine Airman (pumpkin). Just beautiful, and the one they had a lovely aged dial. On the list.
Bremont
I really like Bremont. A british watch company that seems to want to do things differently, has some lovely designs and some unusual collaborations that don't seem to make great commercial sense (for example they make a watch which you can only buy if you're C17 Globemaster crew - I had no idea). Their display was really good - pretty much entire range and the guys are super approachable and friendly.
Plenty of other stuff to see at Salon QP, including a huge display of JLC (including that lovely display case featuring all their Reverso calibres which is quite something).
I only wish I'd had more time. I'll certainly be back next year.
S
It was my first visit, and I loved it. Having only recently become obsessed by watches seeing so many stunning timepieces was fantastic. I was worried that looking at watches there would have resulted in a sales pitch, and as I couldnt afford 95% of them I might feel a bit intimidated. However everyone just wanted to show off the watches and chat. I was speaking to a guy at the Heritage display and hadnt come across them before, he chatted about their history and then placed one on my wrist. Asking how much, he said that one was 60k, I said I wish I could afford it to which he said he was just pleased I liked it so much. True work of art.
The VC area was my highlight, to see unique pieces and how they were made was eye opening. I have a new respect and understanding for the high end watches and why they cost so much!
The VC area was my highlight, to see unique pieces and how they were made was eye opening. I have a new respect and understanding for the high end watches and why they cost so much!
Stuart said:
Glycine
Not a brand I'd paid much attention to in the past, and they were only showing the Airman SST and the Airman 18, but alongside both were gorgeous examples of their forebears, and I now really, really want a Glycine Airman (pumpkin). Just beautiful, and the one they had a lovely aged dial. On the list.
Such an underrated brand Not a brand I'd paid much attention to in the past, and they were only showing the Airman SST and the Airman 18, but alongside both were gorgeous examples of their forebears, and I now really, really want a Glycine Airman (pumpkin). Just beautiful, and the one they had a lovely aged dial. On the list.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Stuart!
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