Weekly Roundup: 31 January 2014
While it is certainly hard to focus on events outside the SIHH in the world of watches this week, rest assured that the globe continued to revolve and there were other happenings. Here is a summary of some of them.
Give Me Five! Happy Chinese New Year Of The Horse
This New Year rings in the year of the horse, and thus a select group of horse-themed watches by high-quality watch manufacturers.
A sign of respect, though perhaps not necessarily authenticity as some crucial elements (such as the color red) are not in evidence, these ticking treasures celebrating an extremely festive moment of Chinese culture are unique heirlooms in and of themselves – mainly thanks to the rare, handcrafted work that goes into them.
Unexpected Answers: A Round Table Discussion Of SIHH 2014
This coming Monday will be the start of the 2015 edition of the SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie) in Geneva, although our coverage will begin on the weekend with a few of the independent brands. To get you in the SIHH mood, here’s another look at our recap of last year’s exhibition.
Did you ever wonder what it sounds like when journalists get together among themselves and chat about impressions from a week-long watch fair? If so, wonder no more because here we’re providing you with the opportunity to listen in on some private conversations between well-known tastemakers of both the print and online worlds right here at Quill & Pad.
Welcome to our post-SIHH 2014 discussion in which we bring you some of the best and most educated opinions in our industry on the fair, the mood and the watches we saw right here!
360° Views Of The 2014 SIHH
Take a 360° tour of the 2014 SIHH! As the first big watch exhibition of the year, the annual SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie) in Geneva attracts plenty of interest. However, as a very restricted, invitation-only trade show, it is difficult for the watch-loving public to get an idea of what the SIHH really looks like.
Piaget Altiplano 900P Ultra-Thin: Contender For The “Galaxy On The Wrist” Award
A galaxy like our own Milky Way is a wondrously thin disk of stars, planets, and gas clouds orbiting a super massive black hole. I would venture to say it is one of the most fundamental shapes in the universe as a majority of all visible mass is held together in one of these magical space-plates.
Give Me Five! 5 Stunning Artistic Dials Even Men Might Appreciate From SIHH 2014
While it seems that “métiers d’art” could be considered a catchword, trend or even buzz phrase in modern high-end watchmaking, the reality is that when luxury brands take the time, energy, and cost to create these unique elements, it results in some of the most magnificent artwork available in horology today.
Got A Minute? Daniel Riedo, CEO Of Jaeger-LeCoultre
In September 2013, the surprising announcement was made that Jérôme Lambert would be leaving his position as CEO of Jaeger-LeCoultre, where he had been for ten years, to head up Richemont sister brand Montblanc. The new man at the helm of the venerable manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre is Daniel Riedo.
Give Me Five! 5 Perpetual Calendars From SIHH 2014
This year’s SIHH is full of complicated revelations. And, even more surprisingly, we have found at least five perpetual calendars at the fair, all of which are very different in approach, design and even price.
Got A Minute? Michael Friedberg, Moderator Of IWC’s Collectors’ Forum
Michael Friedberg is the moderator of IWC’s Collectors’ Forum at www.iwc.com and is also an unofficial goodwill ambassador for IWC, talking to journalists, other collectors, and SIHH visitors.
Rotonde De Cartier Astrocalendaire Perpetual Calendar: A Greek In French Couture?
Greece. It’s the birthplace of western civilization, democracy, and science. This country lays claim to some of the most brilliant minds in philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, and politics that the world has ever seen. All of these wonderful thinkers developed the most advanced ideas of their day, some of which are as true today as they were 2,600 years ago when they first began pondering the big questions.
The Greeks are even credited with inventing the first analog computer in the first century B.C., which they used for predicting astronomical positions and eclipses. Fast forward through 2,000 years and a descendent has been born, one with Greek heritage of astronomical proportions. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)
So I would like to continue by nominating the Rotonde de Cartier Astrocalendaire Perpetual Calendar as the Greekiest thing to ever be built by a quintessential French house such as Cartier. Some of you might already be agreeing, but for the more stubborn of you I would like to elucidate my thinking and hopefully by the end you will be saying, “opa!”