Horological Meandering

Just back after two days at the Salon Belles Montres: gallery of wristshots

 

The doors of the Salon Belles Montres are closed now and after two days of visit, I propose you my usual gallery of wristshots of some pieces I had the opportunity to handle.

About the event by itself, I really think it needs fresh ideas now and to be rethought.

After 6 years at the same place, with the same booths, the same decoration, a strange feeling of deja-vu is starting to become apparent. Moreover, the opening cocktail of Thursday evening is the perfect example of what to not do in a context of luxury industry: too many people, corridors too crowded, the need after 20 minutes to have a bowl of fresh air outside and a crowd composed of 80% of people who clearly don't care about watches.

I think that the organisation of this cocktail which could be an important event to celebrate the brands and their staffs in such prestigious city as Paris should change its format.

I also regretted the absence of some brands like AP, JLC which are key players and which were present the years before. But in these cases, the brands had their own agendas, their own events in 2012 and this can be understood.

Despite these flaws, Belles Montres remains a perfect place to meet people and to discuss with friends! It is its main virtue: a gathering point which can't be ignored. But again, I think that time is coming to add fresh concepts for the next edition!

I propose you to browse some pictures I took during these two days.


One of my fav watches of the year, the Opus 12:

And the Ocean Chronograph Tri-Retrograde:

This is the prototype of the Tourbillon Contemporain worn by Stephen Forsey. The power reserve indicator is different from the final version.

The Androgyne with a black outfit:

When Chopard reaches the high frequency:

Shall I need to introduce this watch?

The Devon Tread 1 Steampunk is crazy, is unwearable, is huge... it is the reason why it is an unforgettable experience!

It is not midnight so I'm not allowed to turn the crown and to make visible the hidden part of the dial:

This Corum is a LE edition dedicated to the French market:

The Tourbillon watch from Lehmann. Due to the design of the Tourbillon, I think that it comes from MHVJ because it is very similar to the Leroy Tourbillon.

It was a pleasure for me to see again the HYT:

Belles Montres was the scene of one of the first appearance of the Corbusier Trilogy:

My fav one, a superb and luminous dial:

A new brand, SuisseMecanica which aims is to propose watches with a powerful case:

Julien Coudray Tourbillon:

I'm glad to see the 4N working, at last!

A nice reedition of a chronograph from the 30s by Vulcain. It is sadly powered by an automatic movement:

Carl F.Bucherer presented its whole collection to the visitors. The brand is not well known in France so Belles Montres was a good way for them to unveil its watches.

The Type 22 by Haute Couture Horlogère, a brand created by French expert Romain Réa. The concept behind is to be able to offer a high level of personalization for each watch of the collection:

I couldn't miss Benoît Mintiens and his Ressence watch!

This watch by Konstantin Chaykin was maybe one of the most interesting of the Salon. A new way to tell the time, the same way that the russian people say it (it is 3:17 of the night) if I understand well.

Thanks a lot for all the staff members for the warm welcome during the Salon!

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